Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (AFICE) is looking for individuals to work as Community Representatives, who will find host families for international students and will work with them and their families. Call Anne Ring, 866.462.3423.
The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Various positions are available. To volunteer, call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 x112 from 1-5 pm, Monday through Thursday.
The Artists League of the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club invites you to drop in Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to work on independent projects in watercolor, gouache and collage. This is a self-directed workshop that provides a supportive environment for those wishing to concentrate on their painting and an opportunity for painters to learn from each other! Your $3 donation benefits free art programs for local youth. 1210 Fourth Street, Santa Monica. Info: 310.310.2273.
Baha’i Center in Santa Monica is located at 3102 Colorado Avenue, 310.394.7971 or santamonicabahai.org.
Beyond Baroque offers free writing workshops including Monday night Literary and Experimental Fiction, 8 p.m., Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8 p.m., Wednesday night poetry, 8 p.m., Thursday night alternative screenplay, 8 p.m., Saturday afternoon poetry 1:30 p.m., and fourth Saturday of the month morning poetry and prose 11 a.m. Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, 681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, 310.822.3006.
Clarity, a new faith-based group, meets every Sunday evening, 7 to 8:15 p.m., free, Magicopolis, 1418 Fourth Street, www.clarity.la.
Do You Have the Heart for Hospice? Roze Room Hospice seeks volunteers to provide support and companionship to terminally ill patients and their families. Training is free. We have patients at home and in nursing facilities in throughout the Westside and Los Angeles. For more information, contact Kathleen McMahon, Volunteer Coordinator, at 323.938.1155 or volcoord@rozeroomhospice.org.
Donate blood on Monday and Wednesdays at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th Street. Hours for donations vary, so call to schedule an appointment. 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or 1.888.POR.FAVOR.
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a 12-step program for those struggling to control their relationship with food, has three meetings every week in Santa Monica. Tuesday, 7 to 8:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Youth Lounge, 1220 Second Street, Santa Monica; Wednesday, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Unitarian Universalist Community Church, The Cottage, 1260 18th Street, Santa Monica; and Saturday, 9 to 10:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church, Room 101, 1008 11th Street. Santa Monica. Free. Call: 800.600.6028 or see: www.foodaddicts.org.
Food Addicts Anonymous has free meetings every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 West 83rd Street, Westchester. There are no dues or fees, just the desire to abstain from the foods we crave. foodaddictsanonymous.org.
It’s hip to be square. Fun and fitness set to music. New class in Square and Line dancing every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Marine Ave Park, 16th and Marine Avenue, Santa Monica. Eight sessions, $42 for Santa Monica residents (others $46). Sponsored by the Red Ribbon Squares in association with Santa Monica Parks and Recreation. Information: 310.312.0410.
Kentwood Players will hold auditions for the musical “Parade” on Saturday Jan.15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Westchester Playhouse located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles, http://www.kentwoodplayers.org
The Marshall McLuhan-Finnegans Wake Reading Club meets first Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lloyd Taber Marina Del Rey Library, 4533 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, 310.306.7330 or venicewake.org.
Meals on Wheels West needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound people in Santa Monica. Deliveries are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. To volunteer call 310.394.7558.
Mt. Olive Film Night, entertaining and thought-provoking films shown on the second Saturdays of each month, supper at 6 p.m., films start at 7 p.m., free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard, 310.452.1116.
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra, Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 1001 18th Street, Santa Monica. 310.313.3726.
A New Grief Support Group for Parents who have lost children to addiction, drugs, medications, alcohol. Santa Monica near Ocean and Montana Avenue. Dates and times TBA. 310.917.5008. graspsantamonica@yahoo.com.
Pacific Jewish Center-The Shul on the Beach, has started a free lecture series, “Monday Night Connections,” at 8 p.m. with Rabbi Eliyahu Fink, who will explore connections between Torah concepts. The class takes place at the synagogue’s “annex,” 726 Rose Avenue, Venice, 310.392.8749.
Pranic Healing Sessions and Meditation. Whether you’re stressed, in pain or just in need of inner peace, PRANIC HEALING can help. Master Choa Kok Sui’s PRANIC HEALING is an energy healing technique that utilizes “prana” or life energy to promote physical, emotional and mental health. It has worked successfully with ailments ranging from asthma, arthritis, cancer, to addictions, stress, depression and phobias. Aanad Saagar Fridays, 1318 Second Street, #21, 6:45 p.m., Guided Meditation, 7:15 to 9:30 p.m., healing sessions. Contact: Isabel 310.883.8371 Suggested love offering $10. pranichealingsm@yahoo.
Pregnancy Support Group, ongoing on Mondays, facilitated by Sahaja Douglass, MA, LMFT and Aleksandra Evanguelidi, LM, CPM. This Support Group will focus on building community, releasing fears about birthing and mothering, and offering a safe place where questions can be answered by health care professionals. 2 to 4 p.m., $25, 11965 Venice Boulevard, Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310.566.7690.
Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve general well-being. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Church, California & 11th Street, Santa Monica. Free, but free will contributions welcomed. For more information, call 818.268.9841 or go to www.lowselfhelpsystems.org.
Meditation for People Affected by Cancer, free workshop intended to help improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Join Malcolm Shultz, JD, MFT as he guides participants in the art of meditation using a variety of techniques, including mindfulness, breath work, and visualization. For cancer patients and their families. Every Thursday, 6 to 6:45 p.m., The Wellness Community West Los Angeles, 2716 Ocean Park Boulevard, Suite 1040, 310.314.2555.
Sand and Sea Speakers Award-winning Toastmasters club meets Monday nights
7 to 9 p.m. Improve your communication skills in a positive, fun environment and practice becoming a better public speaker. Guests visit free. 1920 Santa Monica Boulevard in Santa Monica. Call Steve, 310.450.8589 for more info.
Santa Monica Oceanaires barbershop harmony chorus invites men of all ages and voice parts to sing each Tuesday, 7 to 10 p.m., Church of Christ, 9733 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, oceanaires.org, 310.202.1380.
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Division’s website answers many residential and business customer queries. To learn how to set up recycling programs at apartment buildings, what to do with unwanted electronics devices, where to drop off bulky items like refrigerators, and answers to many more questions go to smgov.net/swm.
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 South Bundy Drive. West Los Angeles and at the Madison campus, 1310 11th Street, 310.434.3400.
Soroptimist is a service organization available to help women and children. Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month, 310.395.6168.
Santa Monica history! The Santa Monica Conservancy conducts downtown walking tours every Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets are $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for non-members. For reservations, call 310.496.3146 or go to smconservancy.org.
Volunteer and Docent opportunities are available for women, men, active seniors, and students 17 years up in the newly built Santa Monica History Museum and Cultural Center featuring Santa Monica treasures. Orientation meetings will be held. To apply: e-mail: aengstrom@santamonicahistory.com or call 310.598.1155.
Volunteer to conduct guided programs for school groups and the general public, host a nature center, or patrol park trails. For more information contact Lisa Ann Carillo, 310.858.7272.
Yoga for the Community! Flow Yoga, Wednesdays 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 12 to 1 p.m. Classes are on-going, drop-ins welcome. No experience necessary. Classes taught by Coco Yellin, know for her life-affirming teaching styles. Suggested donation:$8 per class. Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Boulevard, 310.452.1116 or mtolivelutheranchurch.org.
Yoga Classes by Donation, Sundays at 11:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Kathmandu Boutique,1844 Lincoln Boulevard, hathayogawave@gmail.com, 310.392.4711.
The YWCA Santa Monica / Westside has classes for adults and kids, plus free exercise for women with cancer and free programs for girls in middle school. For more information call 310.452.3881 or go to www.smywca.org.
Zen meditation group led by Sensei Daishin Buksbazen, teacher at Zen Center of Los Angeles meets weekly on Wednesday evening at the Hill Street Center, 237 Hill Street, Santa Monica. Meditation instruction for newcomers held at 7 to 7:30 p.m., Zazen from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Dharma talk the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Sensei Daishin at 310.315.3506 or daishin@zcla.org.
