Projects

From 9pm Wednesday, March 8, to 9pm on Thursday, March 9, UC Berkeley will hold its annual "Big Give"—a 24-hour online giving day that brings together thousands of Cal alumni, students, parents, and friends to support schools, centers and programs.   This year during the Big Give you can donate directly to IGS's Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service.  All funds will be used to support our student-centered public service programs.   The Robert T. Matsui Center engages Cal students in public life through internships, experiential learning, public events, and the presence of distinguished campus visitors. In this way, the Center serves as a fitting legacy to Congressman Matsui and his belief that public service is a noble profession that should be open to all, a commitment that made him one of California’s most distinguished and respected political figures for more than three decades.   Your donations will be used support: Free housing and transportation for Cal-in-Sacramento Fellows: Each year we prepare and place 30 Cal undergrads in eight-week public service internships in the state capital.  In order to make this program accessible to all students, we rely on private donations to provide our students with free housing and transportation while they gain hands-on experience working on a range of policy issues from renewable energy and fire prevention, to health care and education, and much more.  Fellowships for students working in DC:  Each semester we select four Matsui Washington Fellows to receive $1,000 stipends to help defray the costs of participating in the University’s Washington Program (UCDC). While in Washington, students take classes at the UC Washington Center and complete a public service internship in the nation’s capital.  Fellowships for students working in local, state and federal government: Every spring we select ten Schaeffer Fellows who complete summer internships in local governments around the state. We award students with $5,500 stipends to help defray the cost of completing the internship, ensuring the program is available to all students. Democracy Camp in DC: In May, we will take 16 Cal students, many who are first generation and have never been to the nation's capital, to Washington DC for a 10-day immersive experience designed to create pathways and opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing public service careers at the federal level. All expenses are paid, thanks to your gifts!, which makes this opportunity available to all students. Please give generously on March 9 and help us provide students with life-changing public service experiences!

From 9pm on Wednesday, March 9, to 9pm on Thursday, March 10, UC Berkeley will hold its annual "Big Give"—a 24-hour online giving day that brings together thousands of Cal alumni, students, parents, and friends to support schools, centers and programs. This year during the Big Give you can donate directly to IGS's Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service. All funds will be used to support our student-centered public service programs. The Robert T. Matsui Center engages Cal students in public life through internships, public events, and the presence of distinguished campus visitors. In this way, the Center serves as a fitting legacy to Congressman Matsui and his belief that public service is a noble profession that should be open to all, a commitment that made him one of California’s most distinguished and respected political figures for more than three decades. Your donations will be used support: Free housing and transportation for Cal-in-Sacramento Fellows: Each year we prepare and place 30 Cal undergrads in eight-week public service internships in the state capital. In order to make this program accessible to all students, we rely on private donations to provide our students with free housing and transportation while they gain hands-on experience working on a range of policy issues from renewable energy and fire prevention, to health care and education, and much more. Fellowships for students working in DC: Each semester we select four Matsui Washington Fellows to receive $1,000 stipends to help defray the costs of participating in the University’s Washington Program (UCDC). While in Washington, students take classes at the UC Washington Center and complete a public service internship in the nation’s capital. Fellowships for students working in local, state and federal government: Every spring we select ten Schaeffer Fellows who complete summer internships in local governments around the state. We award students with $5,000 stipends to help defray the cost of completing the internship, ensuring the program is available to all students. Please give generously on March 10 and help us provide students with life-changing public service experiences!

On Wednesday, September 28th, longtime friends of the Institute of Governmental Studies and family of the incomparable William A. Brandt, Jr. gathered to honor his 15 years of work supporting the students, mission, and values of IGS.

This year, we celebrate 20 years of AileyCamp! Our free six-week program for selected youth ages 11–14 runs from June 21–July 29, 2022, from 8:30am–3:30pm. AileyCamp’s talented staff and teaching artists are excited to offer campers classes in African dance, Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, Creative Communication, and Personal Development, as well as a variety of field trips, guest workshops, and special events. Camp culminates in a performance that showcases campers’ accomplishments before an audience of hundreds in Zellerbach Hall. During this pandemic time, it’s become more important than ever for young people to engage in the arts. We’re designing a camp that will incorporate effective Covid-19 Health and Safety protocols while providing a space for young people to connect meaningfully with each other and with caring adults, to express themselves, and to experience the transformative power of dance.

The 2023 Oakland Carnival & Wellness Festival is back, and we want our local business, vendors, food vendors, merch sellers, and entrepreneurs to come out, share their brand, and connect with community in a positive environment! Be sure to check out our website oaklandcarnival.net for more information on how to register!

MasFX Dance represents the fusion of two concepts close to my heart: “playin’ mas’”, the Trinidadian expression for participating in the annual Carnival festival, and ‘FX’, industry shorthand for audio and visual, special effects. Through playin’ mas, we transform ourselves to embody a deep, pure, and passionate emotional connection to the African Diasporic experience. We dance to bring the exuberant joy and magic of Carnival everywhere we go, whether it’s a school assembly, a street festival, or a major stage production. However, no performance can truly connect with our audience without a clear, comprehensive understanding of how to craft and design an enriching experience. This requires a diverse team of technicians and craftspeople who help plan, stage, and execute these events. With MasFX, we encourage our artists to think, collaborate, and create art with a healthy body, a technical mind, and a joyful spirit.

Virtual Dance Performance Film edited by MylesBeyond Media. MylesBeyond Entertainment collaborated with Joe Goode Performance Group, its teaching artists, education coordinators, and youth students to create a series of original dance films as a part of JGPG's Inspired Bodies youth education residencies. These residencies took place at Oakland Technical High School, Yerba Buena High School, and Lowell High School during the 2020-2021 school year.