Serenity House Oakland plans June fundraiser in Santa Cruz

By AI, Created 6:51 PM UTC, June 01, 2026, /AGP/ – Serenity House Oakland will host its annual fundraiser on June 20 at Chaminade Resort & Spa to support programs for women facing domestic violence, poverty, trauma and other barriers. The event will feature recovery advocate Nicole G. and treatment leader Dr. Sushma D. Taylor as the organization highlights recovery, workforce training and community services.

Why it matters: - Serenity House Oakland is using the fundraiser to support services that help women build economic stability, recovery and long-term self-sufficiency. - The event also spotlights how recovery programs can extend beyond treatment and into housing, work readiness and community health support.

What happened: - Serenity House Oakland will host An Afternoon of Strength & Serenity on Friday, June 20, 2026, at Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz, California. - The annual fundraiser will raise support for Serenity House programs, including the Serenity Wellness & Business initiative. - The event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Sushma D. Taylor, CEO of Center Point. - The event will also feature Nicole G., Senior Community Outreach & Relations Coordinator at Serenity House Oakland.

The details: - Serenity Wellness & Business is a free 16-week program for women impacted by domestic violence, poverty, trauma and other life challenges. - The program uses workshops, peer support, financial literacy education and entrepreneurship training. - Serenity House says the goal is to help participants pursue personal and economic goals while strengthening overall well-being. - Dr. Taylor is a nationally recognized authority on treatment services for women, health and social rehabilitation. - Dr. Taylor serves as a consultant to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. - Dr. Taylor was the first woman elected president of the Treatment Communities of America. - Dr. Taylor has spent more than 35 years developing programs that help people overcome barriers and achieve lasting change. - Nicole G. came to Serenity House as a client after years of alcohol dependency rooted in unresolved trauma. - Nicole moved from Chicago to Oakland hoping for a fresh start, but addiction continued to affect her health, family and daily life. - Nicole entered detox after a family member confronted her about the consequences of her drinking. - Nicole nearly left when she arrived because the recovery center was next door to a liquor store. - Nicole stayed and found support from women who shared their experiences and showed that recovery was possible. - Through counseling, treatment services and peer support, Nicole rebuilt her life and found a new sense of purpose. - Nicole is now eight years clean and sober and works in the same center where she began her recovery. - Nicole has appeared on a panel with Congresswoman Barbara Lee on the needs of the unhoused community. - Nicole received a Community Hero Award from Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless. - In her current role, Nicole supports survivors of domestic violence, unhoused families and people facing mental health and substance use challenges. - Nicole coordinates weekly lunch distributions that serve more than 150 food-insecure and unhoused community members. - Nicole helps lead monthly Community Health & Wellness events that provide health screenings, meals, clothing, haircuts, community resources and supportive services. - Serenity House says those events connect nearly 200 community members with resources that improve health, stability and quality of life. - Serenity House Oakland has provided trauma-informed services for more than a decade. - The organization serves women impacted by domestic violence, substance use, homelessness, incarceration and other barriers to stability. - Serenity House programs include transitional housing, substance use treatment, workforce development, wellness services and community outreach initiatives.

Between the lines: - The event centers a personal recovery story to show how Serenity House’s services can create long-term community leadership, not just short-term support. - Nicole’s progression from client to staff member underscores the organization’s emphasis on peer support and lived experience. - The fundraiser also signals a broader strategy: pairing direct services with economic mobility tools so participants can stabilize faster and stay housed, employed and connected.

What’s next: - Serenity House Oakland is accepting RSVPs and more information requests through supportserenity.org. - The June 20 fundraiser will bring together supporters, speakers and community members around the organization’s recovery and outreach work. - The event is expected to help sustain Serenity House programming that serves women and vulnerable community members throughout the year.

The bottom line: - Serenity House Oakland is turning its annual fundraiser into a showcase for recovery, leadership and practical support for women and families facing some of the region’s hardest challenges.