Community Services/Non-Profits in Santa Monica, CA

“We spent five days on retreat at Sivananda Yoga Center, and it was a meaningful experience for both my husband and me. The days were well balanced with yoga and meditation. Very
welcoming community. New Year’s Eve was especially memorable—quiet, intentional, and a wonderful way to begin the year.

One highlight was my husband’s meditation session using an EEG device. He had never seen that level of progress before, which made the experience particularly impactful.

We left refreshed, having learned a great deal, and we hope to carry daily meditation and yoga into our routine. We recommend this Sivananda to others seeking focused practice and community.”

“We have been to the Santa Monica Playhouse now at least 20 times. We take our special needs grandson and he loves it. He is 19 now and loves the kid's play as much as he did when he was 3.

The Playhouse is located in a great area in Santa Monica and there are a lot of eateries and places to walk. The 3rfd St. Promenade is just a block away. Parking is easy in the public parking lot right across the street, it is for a small fee.

All of the kid's plays are great and our grandson has not missed one yet. They also do holiday themed plays.

The prices are great, this is one of the last places you can take a kid and not spend more than 18$ a ticket and often less. The staff is the nicest. It is not for profit and the entire staff and actors work for free.

They also have Birthday parties.

The place is small and adorable you will love it.”

“I attended my first Wednesday night class 6 months ago. It quickly became part of my weekly routine. Dechen LA is a warm and welcoming place to study and practice with others.

Being around folks who want to live kinder, wiser, more peaceful lives has totally reinvigorated my meditation practice. The Buddhist texts we study each week have inspired me to do a lot of reading and studying each night at home.

Roz, the instructor on Wednesday nights, is great at being inclusive and welcoming to newbies like me while also providing great insight for the more advanced practitioners.

I look forward to it every week!”

“I suppose this is more of a tip than a review. YOU CAN VALIDATE PARKING FOR EVENTS First time I came to the building I paid $28 for a 1 hour of parking LOL. Later on found out that they validate and will also reimburse you if you forgot to do so. People who work at this building are really helpful and nice. Other than that, it's a cool visit to make if you ever need to come here.”

“Phenomenal community resource! Exceptional team, Daryn went above and beyond to ensure a top tier experience. We look forward to continuing building with his team and movement.”

“We feel so grateful to be part of the Palisades Preschool community. Our daughter started in the toddler program at 18 months and is now in the youngest preschool classroom. The experience has been exceptional every step of the way.

The toddler program alone is worth mentioning—many parents call it “magical,” and that’s exactly how it feels. Each week, the teachers and atelieristas create a warm, beautiful environment with soft lighting and thoughtfully designed exploration areas. The children attend with their parents or caregivers, play together, and share a snack where they sit at tables and serve themselves. It’s a gentle, joyful introduction to school. We loved that the teacher from the youngest preschool classroom leads the program, which makes the transition to drop-off the next year feel more familiar.

As our daughter moved into the preschool this year, we were struck by the level of intention and care. The teachers are dedicated and knowledgeable. They meet every afternoon to reflect on the day and thoughtfully plan for what the children need next. They collaborate with atelieristas each week to bring in creative, meaningful materials—clay, natural elements, artist-grade paints, wire, light and shadow, and storytelling—so the children can learn to explore and express themselves through different media.

The campus itself is also special—lush outdoor spaces with gardens, trees, and imaginative elements created by the children, making it feel like a little world of its own. It's fun to see the children watering the plants, playing in the river rock bed with the water pump, and watching the butterfly cocoons that form.

We’ve also seen a meaningful transformation in our daughter. She used to be cautious and slow to warm in new situations, but during her time here, she has blossomed. Her confidence in exploring materials and engaging with her peers has grown significantly. She now dives into art (happily getting messy!) and interacts with her friends with ease, joy, and connection.

One of the most striking moments for us was hosting our daughter’s class for her birthday. Watching the children interact outside of school, we were amazed by how calm, kind, and collaborative they were. They invited each other to play, took turns easily, shared materials, and navigated social situations with awareness and respect. The parents were able to step back and hang out, which felt so different from other gatherings outside of the preschool that we’ve attended. It was clear that the children’s social-emotional skills are being thoughtfully cultivated at school every day.

And, while we are still far from the kindergarten process, we’ve connected with families of Palisades alumni whose children have gone on to some of the most well-regarded schools in Los Angeles, including Brentwood School, The Village School, and Crossroads, along with many other fantastic private and public schools. It’s reassuring to see how strong the foundation is for the years to come.

That's not surprising given that it feels like everything the school does is grounded in what’s best for the child. Even the decision to offer only morning programs reflects a deep respect for young children’s need for rest and the teachers’ need for thoughtful preparation.

Palisades Preschool is a special place, and we feel incredibly lucky that our daughter and our family are part of this community.”

“As an assistant 15 years ago I'm so grateful to bring my children to the place that made me love to learn about all things in the ocean! Santa Monica is beautiful I was grateful to learn and be able to bring my children there again!”

“Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers. This place has a lot of history. He got the papers out of his safe there and made photocopies to be published before Nixon could lie more to the public. It stopped the war eventually. Ellsberg was a national hero ( not for the people caught lying)”

“I absolutely adore this program. It has been around for years. I started studying massage therapy since 2006 and I remember a volunteer coming to present during one of my classes. During the start of the pandemic, I decided to finally complete my massage therapy license. Thankfully, this program was able to survive the pandemic! It is a great training. Please consider enrolling!”

“This location has the nicest staff! There’s always candy in the office and a smile on Angel’s face always brightens my day whenever I’m there! Such a pillar of the community ? thank you for all your hard work and helping our seniors!”

“Favorite thrift shop on the west side. Upscale clothing and household items. Found the designer dresses on the back rack….Cool purses and nice staff. All proceeds go to cancer research.”

“This place is nothing short of a revelation. My mother went for years and in 2019, I dropped in. Only open four hours three times a week so you have to plan ahead. I bought a beautiful Italian blazer and slacks I got too big to wear in menopause but now rocking! 50 bucks. Pair of jeans for 10. But you also have really high-end stuff that even used I can't afford. Those who can will save huge. I haven't been since before the pandemic but hope to go soon. My mom used to go regularly after her ballet class at Westside, not far away. My go to designer resale was The Cottage in Pacific Palisades. That closed some years ago (replaced by yet another ridiculously overpriced home goods store). My other go to was Jessica Consign in SB but I've bought next to nothing since COVID hit. And having lost a lot of weight/size, I'm wearing older things I couldn't get into.”

“Chrysalis changed my life. I was able to work various jobs, through Chrysalis works, and thru Chrysalis Enterprises. I was able to get my Commercial Licenses, and find employment. I was able to be a part of their various programs, i was able to be in their photoshoots, and video shoots. Chrysalis is everything that makes me profitable. From the orientation, and on. Chrysalis is amazing. Ask me more.”

“I was there donating blood. There is an incredible need for blood products right now, so if you can, please stop by this office or a drive somewhere else and donate. In honor of my grandson Nathan who was diagnosed at 4 with a 3% chance of survival and is now a happy healthy 13 yo.”

“Hi!!! My name is Maria Guevara and Tracy And Tracy we Wants to say thank you so much to everyone who helped to me and my daughters I don’t have words to expresión but u guys Mede me cry cuz now my queens have to many present to open”

“This place is heaven sent!!. A good place for your loved ones with memory loss. Their day program is awesome for respite. I wish they offered every other Saturday for families that work on the weekends The staff is awesome and pleasant”

“Visited today and very friendly staff..Tyler was very kind.
Pool was clean and well maintained.
Super friendly welcome by Lorena.
Geordy was helpful...today Jalynne too answered few queries.
The calm reception..attractive entrance...and the tour by Lorena made us feel at home.
Pool is nice...you can do laps without booking.
The jacuzzi is simply amazing.
Sauna steam are separate for men women and place is clean.
There is snacks vending machine.
Books are stacked near entrance for sale too.
Clean play area..camp area and restrooms too.
Mesmerizing property”

“I want to thank every single person in this organization for helping me reduce my felony down to a misdemeanor and expunging my record as a whole without any financial dues because I qualified. I want to thank the intake person who took my information in the beginning to the person who did a follow up. The paralegal person who contacted me therefor after and finally the lawyer who represented me in the lax court. If someone doesn’t get back to you right away please given them a week or two then you yourself give them a call. Please do not doubt them, this is a serious organization, I am a real person giving a real review. I have not been paid, asked, told to leave this review, it genuinely honest. I never leave reviews but this is a must for me, I am forever grateful. So if you are hesitant please don’t be they will take care of you the way they did with me. Thank you so much! I am forever grateful.Thank you,Mr. Rene PeñaMr. GiovannyMs. Sarai Perez”

“Community corp has been awesome and helped me out so much I couldn’t thank them enough because they helped me get off the streets and into my own place !!! Thank you community corp of Santa Monica!!!!!”