Berkeley Parents Network
Encyclopedia
Berkeley Parents Network is an online forum for parents in the San Francisco Bay Area
of the United States
. Despite the name, the discussion board addresses issues in and around Berkeley
, relevant to a far greater number of people than solely Berkeley parents. Sending out 10 to 12 email newsletters each week, the network has a readership of over 19,000 people.
Although members do not need to live in Berkeley, they do have to live "within commuting distance," which includes San Francisco, about as far north as Richmond
and Pinole
, as far south as Hayward
, and as far east as Lamorinda
. About 90 percent of BPN members live in the East Bay communities of Berkeley
, Oakland
, Albany
, El Cerrito
, and Richmond
.
BPN was begun in 1993 by Ginger Ogle, as an organization for parents working at University of California, Berkeley.
Members post and respond to questions posted and previously asked questions serve as reference material. Subjects may range, sometimes beyond parenting
, from birthday parties to which school to choose to how to find a church. The site includes a "Reviews" section, which covers critiques of local schools and school districts, dentists, doctors
, insurance
options, and entertainment
opportunities.
The site has three mailing lists: Berkeley Parent Network, Parents of Teens, and UC Families.
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Despite the name, the discussion board addresses issues in and around Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, relevant to a far greater number of people than solely Berkeley parents. Sending out 10 to 12 email newsletters each week, the network has a readership of over 19,000 people.
Although members do not need to live in Berkeley, they do have to live "within commuting distance," which includes San Francisco, about as far north as Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
and Pinole
Pinole, California
Pinole is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 18,390 at the 2010 census. It is one of many small “bedroom communities” along the I-80 corridor in Western Contra Costa County. It is located about northeast of San Francisco, and approximately a half-hour...
, as far south as Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, and as far east as Lamorinda
Lamorinda
Lamorinda refers an area within Contra Costa County, California in the United States. The name is a portmanteau from the names of the three cities that make up the region: Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda....
. About 90 percent of BPN members live in the East Bay communities of Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, Albany
Albany, California
Albany is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 18,539 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1908, a group of local women protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community...
, El Cerrito
El Cerrito, Contra Costa County, California
-Transportation:The city's primary transportation infrastructure consists of the El Cerrito Plaza and El Cerrito del Norte BART stations along with several local bus lines, operated by AC Transit, providing access to the surrounding area and the nearby cities of Albany, Berkeley and Richmond...
, and Richmond
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
.
BPN was begun in 1993 by Ginger Ogle, as an organization for parents working at University of California, Berkeley.
Members post and respond to questions posted and previously asked questions serve as reference material. Subjects may range, sometimes beyond parenting
Parenting
Parenting is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood...
, from birthday parties to which school to choose to how to find a church. The site includes a "Reviews" section, which covers critiques of local schools and school districts, dentists, doctors
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
options, and entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
opportunities.
The site has three mailing lists: Berkeley Parent Network, Parents of Teens, and UC Families.