APRIL AT INSIGHT HOUSING

We’ve had an awesome and busy April at Insight Housing! From our annual Community Champions Dinner to announcing the start of renovation on our MLK House, it’s been a month full of progress. As always, if there’s anything you liked or want to see more of, please reach out to us at philanthropy@insighthousing.org. 

Community Champions Dinner

We were thrilled to celebrate housing justice with so many of you at the fourth annual Community Champions Dinner on April 30. Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii, Insight CEO Calleene Egan, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Director Nick Madsen, and Insight Housing participant and Veteran Marcus Williams all shared powerful reflections of hope and home. We also announced the groundbreaking for the full renovation of MLK House, beginning in June 2026, which will become the first Veteran-specific Board and Care facility in the nation.   

Everyone in attendance enjoyed a beautiful night of live music, delicious food, and community connection. Together we raised $500,000, thanks to a generous dollar-for-dollar match. We so appreciate all of you that joined us last week in support of Insight Housing and our work to make sure everyone in our community has a place to call home. If you weren’t able to attend and would like to make a donation to help more people access safe, stable housing, click here.  

Marcus Williams, Veteran and Insight participant, center, with Angela Upshaw, Chief Program Officer, left, and Calleene Egan, Chief Executive Officer, right, speaking at the Community Champions Dinner

Cooking Up Breakfast at the Hope Center

Insight Housing started as a community food project in 1970 serving meals out of a church basement, and we haven’t lost our commitment to ending food security since. Josh Key, Meal Supervisor at the Hope Center, comes to work every day ready to make delicious food for residents and the broader Berkeley community. “I like giving back, and especially giving back at the Hope Center with a talent that I have.”

The Hope Center serves three meals a day, seven days a week to all residents, and serves a free, hot Community Meal every weekday to the general public from 3-4PM.  

Josh Key, Meal Supervisor, cooking breakfast at the Hope Center

Insight at the Roots 

This month, staff from the Hope Center enjoyed a fun evening at the Oakland Coliseum for Tipping Point’s annual Grantee Appreciation Night, cheering on the Oakland Roots in an exciting 4–2 victory. As a proud Tipping Point grantee partner, Insight Housing is grateful for the partnership, support, and opportunities to connect with fellow community organizations, including special nights like this at the Roots game. Thank you, Tipping Point Community, for all you do to support organizations working to strengthen the Bay Area community.

Staff from the Hope Center at the Oakland Coliseum for a Roots game 

New Mural at Dwight Way

Local Berkeley artist Nigel Sussman has generously donated yet another mural to our Dwight Way building, this time honoring former Insight Housing Board Member and Veteran Ted Wilson, whose commitment to service and community continues to inspire us. Pictured here is Francis Linson, a current resident of our Veteran’s Transitional Housing program who served in the Navy from 1970-1983.

Thank you to Nigel for honoring each Veteran who walks through our doors with this mural, and thank you to the Veterans in our programs for your service.  

Francis Linson, Veteran and Insight Housing participant, with Nigel Sussman's most recent mural at Dwight Way Center