Santa Monica. Our Playground.
Bahala’s mission is to strengthen our collective feeling of connection by fostering community-based initiatives in Santa Monica.
Bahala’s programs and services connect people of all ages through projects, pursuits and play.
Although we aim to serve all Santa Monica and Westside community members, we primarily serve Santa Monica families.
EARLY YEARS
PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Playdates supports families of young children through tools and hyper-local, family-focused event information. Find your next playdate through our Event Crawler, an activity listing for parents to connect and kids to play with each other. Bahala also provides toolkits and grants to elementary school PTAs for them to offer Playground Playdates for preschool families to connect with elementary families.
MIDDLE SCHOOL to EARLY CAREER
Pathways to Purpose matches middle & high school students, and early career professionals to volunteering, mentorship, and internship “gigs” to gain real-world experience. The gig board is designed to provide students with opportunities to gain real world experience and explore careers while still in school. Excursions and guest speakers for students to hear firsthand from experts in various fields of interest will be coordinated, as well.
parents & PROFESSIONALS
Coffee & Connections is a weekly neighborhood gathering held every Friday morning at the Colorado Center in Santa Monica. This open meeting provides Santa Monica residents, parents and professionals a space for genuine connections and community building. Bahala’s Incubator program occurs during Coffee & Connections. Community organizations and business start-ups pitch their ideas to the group for feedback, guidance and IT support for their new efforts.
INTER-GENERATIONAL
Bridge & Bloom provides opportunities for inter-generational activities in the community through community events, service opportunities, family gatherings. learning and mentorship through the Event Calendar. Santa Monica residents of all ages and stage of life will have access to intergenerational opportunities, events and programs in the community.
Meet the Team
Bahala staff are your friendly local experts ready to help you discover and enjoy the best of Santa Monica as your ultimate playground!
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Volunteer with US
Want to make a difference? Volunteering at Bahala is a great way to contribute your skills, meet new people, and help build a stronger community. Whether you want to help on a project remotely, need community service hours for school, let’s start by having a conversation.
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Support Our Mission
Your support helps us keep our programs running and our community thriving. Whether it’s a one-time donation, a recurring gift, or an in-kind contribution, every bit makes a difference. Let’s build something great together.