Fruitvale is a neighborhood in east Oakland, California. Located about two miles southeast of Lake Merritt, this area became a center for the Chicano Movement in the late 1960s and 70s. The community has a solidly preserved and vibrant Hispanic culture. Fun fact: The name (originally Fruit Vale) comes from the many fruit orchards which dominated the area in the late 19th century.

The Lake Merritt neighborhood sits at the center of the city, offering both a bustling commercial center and the eponymous sparkling lake. Residents of this neighborhood can be found running around the stunning waters, perusing Oakland’s largest indie bookstore, or movie-watching at the Grand Lake Theater. Fun fact: In 1870, Lake Merritt was the United States’ first official wildlife refuge!

The Iron Triangle is a densely urban neighborhood located in Richmond, California, where three major railroad tracks define its triangle-shaped boundaries – hence the name! Although the centrally located area is largely residential, it includes the downtown Richmond business district along Macdonald Avenue, where the Teach For America­ Richmond office is located. Fun fact: The Iron Triangle, often times called the heart of Richmond, is celebrated in the novel Richmond Tales by Summer Brenner.

North & East, also known as Central Richmond, is a pleasant Richmond, California, neighborhood filled with charming bungalow homes and shady trees. An affordable alternative to similar neighborhoods in other East Bay communities, N&E offers residents proximity to all the parks, beaches and waterfront activities, as well as a wide choice of nearby retail centers. The Catahoula Café and Coffee Roasting Company is a treasured cafe in the area, and the local library's monthly book sale, the Natural Food Store, a skate park, Angelo’s Gourmet Deli, and the abundant choices between authentic Mexican restaurants are all just some of the beloved community hotspots. North & East has a lively neighborhood council that distributes newsletters and hosts social events.

The Portola and the Excelsior are two adjacent neighborhoods in the Southeastern part of the city. As they are close to many of our schools, they are popular neighborhoods for corps members to live in. Portola/Excelsior are very family-oriented communities with decade-long immigrant culture roots.

“It's such a treat to live here because there are so many delicious Chinese bakeries and street food restaurants.”

- Austen Coles (Bay Area 2016)

Many corps members teach and live in The Mission, the oldest neighborhood in the city. With easy access to public transportation (MUNI and BART) you can easily connect to many other neighborhoods in the San Francisco from The Mission.

I love the Mission because there is so much art, delicious Mexican food, and several parks that people bring their dogs to. 

- Elena Sullivan (Bay Area 2017).

In the past, East Side San José was known for its high concentration of orchard fruit—and therefore received the name the Valley of the Heart's Delight. It is remains very unique area with a large Latinx population. Many corps members choose to live in this area as it is home to many of the schools we lead. Home to the Mexican Heritage Plaza and Cesar Chavez’s house, East Side is where you can truly ground yourself in the rich history and fight for justice in San José. Another perk: pan dulce.

Located between Story and Tully roads, Little Saigon is the epicenter of Vietnamese culture in San José (with incredible pho). This area of San José is home to many Asian American immigrant families. These individuals successfully fought to keep their community name during a time when city proposed the name “Vietnam-town.” Similar to the fight to conserve their culture, Little Saigon community members’ resilience and perseverance is present their fight to ensure its students get the opportunity they deserve.

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