◈ Homepage — http://www.oaklandcatholicworker.org/Skip to content About Us What We Do News Contact Us Donate Volunteer Compelled By Our Humanity EVENT AN INSPIRATIONAL AFTERNOON WITH FR. GREGORY BOYLE, S.J. You are invited to a powerful and uplifting event on Saturday, December 6th, hosted by Oakland Catholic Worker (OCW) featuring Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries, recognized for his inspiring work developing the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and reentry programs. Learn more PURCHASE TICKETS GET INVOLVED OUR MISSION The Oakland Catholic Worker creates welcome, hope and opportunity with homeless immigrants and their children, empowering them with transitional housing and life-building resources to become self-sufficient and thrive. “The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us” - Dorothy Day ABOUT US OUR VISION Compelled by our faith, love and conviction that every person is sacred, we envision a new social order, a world transformed with mercy, justice, solidarity, and compassion and rooted in respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We vision a world in which everyone is welcome as one with us in the common humanity we share. Learn More Become A Volunteer Join Us Now Donate Donate Now Reach Out To Us Contact Us Now Donate [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube English ◈ Interior Pages — 13 pages crawledContact Us – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Contact Us Get In Touch Need information about services or to volunteer? Send us a message to inquire. [email protected] (510) 533-7375 PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Name (Required) Email (Required) Phone Subject (Required) Message [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Gallery – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Gallery Welcome. Accompany. Stand With. Advocate. Empower. Celebrate. Transform. Together. [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top About Us – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer About Us “What we would like to do is change the world—make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, shelter themselves as God intended them to do. And by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of workers, the poor, of the destitute-the rights of the “worthy” and of the “unworthy” poor, in other words—we can, to a certain extent, change the world. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that it ever widening circle will reach around the world.” - Dorothy Day More About Us Our History Founded in 1986, OCW was begun by Bay Area community activists in response to the urgent need for short term emergency housing for the hundreds of homeless immigrants who were fleeing the war in El Salvador. A member of the national Catholic Worker Movement co-founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, the Oakland Catholic Worker’s mission of hospitality, charity, and justice is rooted in the Gospel call to do the works of mercy and to walk in solidarity with the most marginalized. Over the years OCW has grown from offering simple shelter to becoming a trusted, multipurpose community center where immigrants and their children, from not only East Oakland, but all over the Bay Area know they are welcome, supported, and advocated for. These immigrants, who arrive at our front door often with only the clothes they are wearing, come to us after making treacherous journeys fleeing the unrelenting poverty, violence and oppression in their home countries of Mexico, Central and South America. With our hospitality, which welcomes everyone, we offer to the immigrant community transitional housing, a large food security program, comprehensive social service/legal/medical/educational and job supportsm and leadership/advocacy opportunities to become self-sufficient and thrive. We do this in partnership with immigrant leadership and many faith-based and community organizations. We also organize community -building events that celebrate the strengths, diversity and cultural heritage of the immigrant community. Our Why OCW’s mission has been deeply shaped by witness of the lives of both our co-founders, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, and the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador, who saw the crucified Christ in the suffering poor. Believing that these people have inherent worth and dignity, these witnesses to God’s mercy and justice gave their lives to taking the crucified persons down from the cross of poverty and oppression to which systemic injustices had consigned them. This rich spiritual legacy compels not only what OCW does, but how we do it. While we offer shelter and comprehensive life-building resources to the immigrant community, OCW is much more than a social service agency. We accompany our immigrant families, walking side by side and living with them in community, sharing our common humanity on their challenging journeys to self-sufficiency in a new country and culture. In the process we become more to each other than service providers and clients. We are companions, the solidarity of our daily life lived together showing us how much we have in common, no matter what our differences may be. We discover that we really do belong to each other in the deeply interdependent, One World Family God has created us all equally to be an integral part of. Our core conviction that we belong to each other shapes everything we do and are at OCW. It is why we practice what our co-founders Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin called the “personalism” of the works of mercy, never relying on government solutions to solve the challenges of our unhoused immigrant families. The works of mercy enable us to take personal responsibility, to roll up our sleeves and work face-to-face with our brothers and sisters who have in anyway been pushed to the margins. As we do, we reflect back to them the inherent worth and dignity of their humanity, which is so often denied to them. Our biggest hope here is that they will feel significance and inclusion where before all they had known was great insignificance and exclusion. At OCW, we also advocate for change in response to the Gospel mandate that more than just tending the wound, we must also eradicate its’ cause. We work for the justice, then, that will not only eliminate injustice, but will also create a new social order, a transformational culture of caring, justice and equity among us. Dorothy Day tells us that with each of our acts of mercy and justice, we build the bridge of love and compassion between people on which they can cross to a new, resurrected life. At OCW this bridge supports and empowers our immigrant families’ journeys to the human rights, equity, respect and justice they risked everything for in their challenging journeys to, and within, this country. Get Involved Join us in creating welcome, hope and opportunity with our immigrant families Get Invovled Now [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Community Programs – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Our Programs The Oakland Catholic Worker’s offers programs that support and empower our unhoused families and the immigrant community to develop their strengths, skills and talents to realize their full and unique potential and to thrive. We do this in collaboration with our many interfaith and non-profit organizational partners who share our commitment to co- creating with the immigrant community strong bridges to self-sufficiency, equity, and justice. Our community-based programs are: FUERZA FUERZA was initiated by OCW in 2021 in response to the urgent need for immigrant education and outreach during the COVID pandemic. FUERZA initially began with a small group of immigrants who were deeply concerned by their community’s lack of accurate education about COVID and vaccines, especially within the indigenous community. Since that time FUERZA has grown to be an immigrant-to-immigrant health promoters outreach, community education and leadership development program which empowers immigrants to be agents of positive change ADELANTE! While doing outreach in East Oakland schools, health clinics and neighborhood gathering sites, FUERZA’S health promoters experienced the great need within the immigrant community for basic literacy skills. This need is attributed to a lack of access to schools, “machismo” attitudes towards women, and/or repressive government policies in immigrants’ home countries, especially against the indigenous, which prohibited them from attending schools. In response, the leaders of FUERZA initiated ADELANTE! to provide their community with the basic reading and writing skills they need to succeed in their lives in a new country and culture. ADELANTE!, like FUERZA, is an immigrant-led program in which immigrants, together with community volunteers, serve as tutors, coaches and teachers with the literacy students. To model for students what is possible with an education, ADELANTE’s students also learn from a variety of professionals about what life options can be open to them with an education. During ADELANTE’S twice weekly classes, free childcare is provided by FUERZA’s team, which includes reading, expressive art, learning games, and interactive play time. [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top About Us – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer About Us “What we would like to do is change the world—make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, shelter themselves as God intended them to do. And by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of workers, the poor, of the destitute-the rights of the “worthy” and of the “unworthy” poor, in other words—we can, to a certain extent, change the world. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that it ever widening circle will reach around the world.” - Dorothy Day More About Us Our History Founded in 1986, OCW was begun by Bay Area community activists in response to the urgent need for short term emergency housing for the hundreds of homeless immigrants who were fleeing the war in El Salvador. A member of the national Catholic Worker Movement co-founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, the Oakland Catholic Worker’s mission of hospitality, charity, and justice is rooted in the Gospel call to do the works of mercy and to walk in solidarity with the most marginalized. Over the years OCW has grown from offering simple shelter to becoming a trusted, multipurpose community center where immigrants and their children, from not only East Oakland, but all over the Bay Area know they are welcome, supported, and advocated for. These immigrants, who arrive at our front door often with only the clothes they are wearing, come to us after making treacherous journeys fleeing the unrelenting poverty, violence and oppression in their home countries of Mexico, Central and South America. With our hospitality, which welcomes everyone, we offer to the immigrant community transitional housing, a large food security program, comprehensive social service/legal/medical/educational and job supportsm and leadership/advocacy opportunities to become self-sufficient and thrive. We do this in partnership with immigrant leadership and many faith-based and community organizations. We also organize community -building events that celebrate the strengths, diversity and cultural heritage of the immigrant community. Our Why OCW’s mission has been deeply shaped by witness of the lives of both our co-founders, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, and the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador, who saw the crucified Christ in the suffering poor. Believing that these people have inherent worth and dignity, these witnesses to God’s mercy and justice gave their lives to taking the crucified persons down from the cross of poverty and oppression to which systemic injustices had consigned them. This rich spiritual legacy compels not only what OCW does, but how we do it. While we offer shelter and comprehensive life-building resources to the immigrant community, OCW is much more than a social service agency. We accompany our immigrant families, walking side by side and living with them in community, sharing our common humanity on their challenging journeys to self-sufficiency in a new country and culture. In the process we become more to each other than service providers and clients. We are companions, the solidarity of our daily life lived together showing us how much we have in common, no matter what our differences may be. We discover that we really do belong to each other in the deeply interdependent, One World Family God has created us all equally to be an integral part of. Our core conviction that we belong to each other shapes everything we do and are at OCW. It is why we practice what our co-founders Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin called the “personalism” of the works of mercy, never relying on government solutions to solve the challenges of our unhoused immigrant families. The works of mercy enable us to take personal responsibility, to roll up our sleeves and work face-to-face with our brothers and sisters who have in anyway been pushed to the margins. As we do, we reflect back to them the inherent worth and dignity of their humanity, which is so often denied to them. Our biggest hope here is that they will feel significance and inclusion where before all they had known was great insignificance and exclusion. At OCW, we also advocate for change in response to the Gospel mandate that more than just tending the wound, we must also eradicate its’ cause. We work for the justice, then, that will not only eliminate injustice, but will also create a new social order, a transformational culture of caring, justice and equity among us. Dorothy Day tells us that with each of our acts of mercy and justice, we build the bridge of love and compassion between people on which they can cross to a new, resurrected life. At OCW this bridge supports and empowers our immigrant families’ journeys to the human rights, equity, respect and justice they risked everything for in their challenging journeys to, and within, this country. Get Involved Join us in creating welcome, hope and opportunity with our immigrant families Get Invovled Now [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Compelled By Our Faith Compelled By Our Humanity And our conviction that every person is sacred Event An Inspirational Afternoon with Fr. Gregory Boyle, S.J. You are invited to a powerful and uplifting event on Saturday, December 6th, hosted by Oakland Catholic Worker (OCW) featuring Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries, recognized for his inspiring work developing the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and reentry programs. Learn more Purchase tickets Get Involved Our Mission The Oakland Catholic Worker creates welcome, hope and opportunity with homeless immigrants and their children, empowering them with transitional housing and life-building resources to become self-sufficient and thrive. “The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us” - Dorothy Day Volunteers 0 + Families Impacted 0 + About Us Our Vision Compelled by our faith, love and conviction that every person is sacred, we envision a new social order, a world transformed with mercy, justice, solidarity, and compassion and rooted in respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We vision a world in which everyone is welcome as one with us in the common humanity we share. Learn More Volunteers 0 + Families Impacted 0 + About Us Our Vision Compelled by our faith, love and conviction that every person is sacred, we envision a new social order, a world transformed with mercy, justice, solidarity, and compassion and rooted in respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We vision a world in which everyone is welcome as one with us in the common humanity we share.. Learn More Become a Volunteer Join the wonderful people making a change Join Us Now Donate Donate to help families become self-sufficient Donate Now Reach out to Us We are open for you to reach out, anytime. Contact Us Now Donate [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top About Us – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer About Us “What we would like to do is change the world—make it a little simpler for people to feed, clothe, shelter themselves as God intended them to do. And by fighting for better conditions, by crying out unceasingly for the rights of workers, the poor, of the destitute-the rights of the “worthy” and of the “unworthy” poor, in other words—we can, to a certain extent, change the world. We can throw our pebble in the pond and be confident that it ever widening circle will reach around the world.” - Dorothy Day More About Us Our History Founded in 1986, OCW was begun by Bay Area community activists in response to the urgent need for short term emergency housing for the hundreds of homeless immigrants who were fleeing the war in El Salvador. A member of the national Catholic Worker Movement co-founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, the Oakland Catholic Worker’s mission of hospitality, charity, and justice is rooted in the Gospel call to do the works of mercy and to walk in solidarity with the most marginalized. Over the years OCW has grown from offering simple shelter to becoming a trusted, multipurpose community center where immigrants and their children, from not only East Oakland, but all over the Bay Area know they are welcome, supported, and advocated for. These immigrants, who arrive at our front door often with only the clothes they are wearing, come to us after making treacherous journeys fleeing the unrelenting poverty, violence and oppression in their home countries of Mexico, Central and South America. With our hospitality, which welcomes everyone, we offer to the immigrant community transitional housing, a large food security program, comprehensive social service/legal/medical/educational and job supportsm and leadership/advocacy opportunities to become self-sufficient and thrive. We do this in partnership with immigrant leadership and many faith-based and community organizations. We also organize community -building events that celebrate the strengths, diversity and cultural heritage of the immigrant community. Our Why OCW’s mission has been deeply shaped by witness of the lives of both our co-founders, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, and the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador, who saw the crucified Christ in the suffering poor. Believing that these people have inherent worth and dignity, these witnesses to God’s mercy and justice gave their lives to taking the crucified persons down from the cross of poverty and oppression to which systemic injustices had consigned them. This rich spiritual legacy compels not only what OCW does, but how we do it. While we offer shelter and comprehensive life-building resources to the immigrant community, OCW is much more than a social service agency. We accompany our immigrant families, walking side by side and living with them in community, sharing our common humanity on their challenging journeys to self-sufficiency in a new country and culture. In the process we become more to each other than service providers and clients. We are companions, the solidarity of our daily life lived together showing us how much we have in common, no matter what our differences may be. We discover that we really do belong to each other in the deeply interdependent, One World Family God has created us all equally to be an integral part of. Our core conviction that we belong to each other shapes everything we do and are at OCW. It is why we practice what our co-founders Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin called the “personalism” of the works of mercy, never relying on government solutions to solve the challenges of our unhoused immigrant families. The works of mercy enable us to take personal responsibility, to roll up our sleeves and work face-to-face with our brothers and sisters who have in anyway been pushed to the margins. As we do, we reflect back to them the inherent worth and dignity of their humanity, which is so often denied to them. Our biggest hope here is that they will feel significance and inclusion where before all they had known was great insignificance and exclusion. At OCW, we also advocate for change in response to the Gospel mandate that more than just tending the wound, we must also eradicate its’ cause. We work for the justice, then, that will not only eliminate injustice, but will also create a new social order, a transformational culture of caring, justice and equity among us. Dorothy Day tells us that with each of our acts of mercy and justice, we build the bridge of love and compassion between people on which they can cross to a new, resurrected life. At OCW this bridge supports and empowers our immigrant families’ journeys to the human rights, equity, respect and justice they risked everything for in their challenging journeys to, and within, this country. Get Involved Join us in creating welcome, hope and opportunity with our immigrant families Get Invovled Now [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top An Inspirational Afternoon with Fr. Gregory Boyle, S.J. – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer You are invited to a powerful and uplifting event on Saturday, December 6th, hosted by Oakland Catholic Worker (OCW) , a community-based nonprofit supporting immigrant families in the East Bay with the critical services they desperately need. Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries and best-selling author is internationally recognized for his inspiring work to develop the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and reentry program based in LA. With warmth, humor, and honesty, he shares powerful stories of transformation and reminds us that there is no “us and them”—just us. Get your tickets today! Event Details Date : Saturday December 6, 2025 Time : 1 pm to 3pm Location : Bishop O’Dowd Oakland Attending this event is more than a chance to hear an extraordinary speaker— it’s a chance to stand with immigrant families in Oakland. PURCHASE TICKETS Can’t attend? Please consider making a donation . Thank you to Our Event Sponsors Lead Sponsors Bishop O’Dowd High School Jim and Deborah Beck Steve and Alison Burke Dominican Sisters of San Rafael Florence and Richard Koplow Family Foundation Supporting Sponsors ANIMA (Sisters of Social Service) Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose Missionaries of the Precious Blood USA Province Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Fred and Kay Tierney Garcia Gonzalez Fund In-Kind Donations Angel Cakes Baker & Commons Floribunda Flowers Lisa Gros Mariposa Baking Co. Market Hall Bakery Dennis Mockel Photography For information about becoming a sponsor, please contact [email protected] About Oakland Catholic Worker Established in 1986, Oakland Catholic Worker (OCW) is a faith-based, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in East Oakland that supports immigrant families of all faiths. We provide transitional housing, comprehensive social services, advocacy and a weekly large food security program. Rooted in the belief that every person has inherent worth, OCW fosters welcome, hope and opportunity to empower immigrants on their path to self-sufficiency. [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Our Team – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Our Team Though our OCW staff come from many different countries, we share in common a deep passion for supporting and empowering our immigrant families to realize their dream of self-sufficiency and thriving in a new country. When our staff was asked what was their favorite part of working at OCW, they united around the great joy and meaning they feel in accompanying our unhoused immigrant families as they grow and achieve their goals and dreams for a new life. SR, ANNE CARRABINO, SSS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Read Profile Sr. Anne Carrabino, SSS brings to the Oakland Catholic Worker 40 years experience working with youth and families as a social worker, community developer and organizer, legislative advocate, administrator and urban youth development agency founder both in US urban communities and internationally in El Salvador (during the war), Mexico, Guatemala and the Philippines. Sr. Anne, who is a Sister of Social Service, received her BA in Social Work/Psychology from UC Berkeley and a Master in Urban Community and International Development from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. LEDI MERIDA COORD. OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Read Profile Leidi was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala where she served as a Community Health Educator. Leidi brings her deep personal experience and her special passion for empowering the immigrant community to her work as OCW’s Coordinator of Community Programs, which include our weekly Food Bank, hot lunch programs, and Job Training and Placement Program. Additionally, Leidi also coordinates the Leaders Team for OCW’s FUERZA, our immigrant-to-immigrant health promoters program and ADELANTE, our basic literacy/women’s empowerment program. Leidi is mother to Jian, her 10 year old son, who is her heart and the light of her life. LILIAN PABLO NAJERA CASEWORK MANAGER Read Profile Lilian immigrated at the age of 15 to Oakland from Guatemala City, Guatemala. At 22, she graduated from Holy Names College in Oakland with Degrees in Sociology and Psychology. Lilian began at OCW as our first Dorothy Day Fellow. Today she coordinates our casework management services with our families, where her personal experience and insights as an immigrant is invaluable to our newly arrived immigrants and their children. Lilian is married to Yosue and together they are parents to 2 years old, Jemina. GENRI VELASQUEZ HOUSE MANGER Read Profile Genri immigrated to Oakland from Guatemala City, Guatemala, where he was a college engineering student before he was forced to immigrate due to life-threatening political conditions. Genri brings to OCW his considerable experience in working in construction, his great generosity and deep passion to serve the immigrant community. Genri is father to 10 year old Jian, whom he shares with Leidi Merida. Genri’s favorite thing to do is anything with Jian, especially if it includes soccer. TERESA SILVEIRA CASEWORK MANAGER Read Profile Teresa, our casework manager, is a graduate of St. Mary’s College, Moraga. Prior to coming to OCW, Teresa was an intern with the Diocese of Oakland’s Office of Life and Social Justice where she also coordinated communication for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. A child of Portugese immigrants from the Azores, Teresa brings a special sensitivity and understanding to her work with our newly arrived immigrant families. A musician, Teresa sings and plays numerous instruments, and coordinates the choir and music program on weekends at her home parish, Our Lady of the Assumption in Turlock, CA. [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Our Work – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Our Values Our Work Resources for Self-Sufficiency OCW uses a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to co-create with our unhoused immigrant families a bridge to self-sufficiency. As we do, we recognize and empower the strengths of their gifts and culture, while working with them to develop the skills, attitudes and opportunities they need to be independent and thrive in a new country and culture Transitional Housing Unhoused immigrant families live as our guests in one of our two transitional housing shelters for six months to a year. Our guests live in community with OCW’s staff, sharing their everyday life and household tasks. Food Security Program OCW offers a weekly Thursday Food Bank that serves over 400 people a week. We also provide Hot Lunch meals twice a week to over 200 people who often have no other place to go for their meals Job Training and Placement Immigrants receive job training and orientation to the world of work and are supported to find justly paid employment Case Management OCW staff do an individual, holistic assessment of every immigrant and their children before meeting as a team to draw up a plan for both each person and the family as a whole OCW Provides in collaboration with community partners. MEDICAL/DENTAL CARE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES LEGAL ASSISTANCE BASIC LITERACY PROGRAM LEADERSHIP TRAINING ADVOCACY/COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Our Work – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Our Values Our Work Resources for Self-Sufficiency OCW uses a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to co-create with our unhoused immigrant families a bridge to self-sufficiency. As we do, we recognize and empower the strengths of their gifts and culture, while working with them to develop the skills, attitudes and opportunities they need to be independent and thrive in a new country and culture Transitional Housing Unhoused immigrant families live as our guests in one of our two transitional housing shelters for six months to a year. Our guests live in community with OCW’s staff, sharing their everyday life and household tasks. Food Security Program OCW offers a weekly Thursday Food Bank that serves over 400 people a week. We also provide Hot Lunch meals twice a week to over 200 people who often have no other place to go for their meals Job Training and Placement Immigrants receive job training and orientation to the world of work and are supported to find justly paid employment Case Management OCW staff do an individual, holistic assessment of every immigrant and their children before meeting as a team to draw up a plan for both each person and the family as a whole OCW Provides in collaboration with community partners. MEDICAL/DENTAL CARE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES LEGAL ASSISTANCE BASIC LITERACY PROGRAM LEADERSHIP TRAINING ADVOCACY/COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Our Work – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Our Values Our Work Resources for Self-Sufficiency OCW uses a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to co-create with our unhoused immigrant families a bridge to self-sufficiency. As we do, we recognize and empower the strengths of their gifts and culture, while working with them to develop the skills, attitudes and opportunities they need to be independent and thrive in a new country and culture Transitional Housing Unhoused immigrant families live as our guests in one of our two transitional housing shelters for six months to a year. Our guests live in community with OCW’s staff, sharing their everyday life and household tasks. Food Security Program OCW offers a weekly Thursday Food Bank that serves over 400 people a week. We also provide Hot Lunch meals twice a week to over 200 people who often have no other place to go for their meals Job Training and Placement Immigrants receive job training and orientation to the world of work and are supported to find justly paid employment Case Management OCW staff do an individual, holistic assessment of every immigrant and their children before meeting as a team to draw up a plan for both each person and the family as a whole OCW Provides in collaboration with community partners. MEDICAL/DENTAL CARE PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES LEGAL ASSISTANCE BASIC LITERACY PROGRAM LEADERSHIP TRAINING ADVOCACY/COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top Careers – Oakland Catholic Worker Skip to content About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us About Us Our History Our Why Our Team What We Do Our Values Resources for Self-Sufficiency Community Programs Gallery Careers News Appeal Letter Contact Us Donate Volunteer Careers Search Filter by All Job Category All Job Category Social Service All Job Type All Job Type Full Time All Job Location All Job Location California Social Services Coordinator Social Service California More Details [email protected] PO Box 19277 Oakland, CA 94619 Federal Tax ID: 94-3088087 Quick Links About Us Get Invloved Careers Contact Address [email protected] PO Box, 19277 Oakland CA 94619 Copyright ©2025 All rights reserved | Oakland Catholic Worker Linkedin Youtube Scroll to Top