Community events: Find out why conspiracy theories are so popular at the Commonwealth Club

A.C.T.'s Strand Theater, 1127 Market St.
Wednesday, Aug. 31 & Thursday, Sept. 1, 6 - 8:30 p.m. | Free - $100

Over 1,100 young adults experience homelessness per day in San Francisco, according to Larkin Street Youth Services, one of the city’s largest nonprofits supporting homeless youth. 

The organization, which has been in operation for nearly 40 years, not only provides tools to help youth under the age of 25 overcome homelessness but also nurtures their confidence and creativity. 

One way Larkin Street uplifts the voices of local youth utilizing their services is by holding a Performing Arts Night, which returns for the first time in-person since 2019, this week. On Wednesday and Thursday, 17 young artists will showcase their journeys to overcome adversity through dance, music, improv and more.  The event is free to the public, but there is an option for attendees to donate directly to Larkin Street and its artist training workshops and internships.

Proceeds will go directly to supporting young people experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, said Marketing Communications Manager Lea Fabro. 

Since its founding, Larkin Street has successfully assisted over 75,000 young adults with healthcare, housing, employment and education.  

—Rosalie Tapavalu

Manny’s, 3092 16th St.
6 - 7 p.m. | $5 - $10

With the advent of the pandemic, work culture as we knew it changed forever. Almost all daily activities had to go remote because of Covid, allowing people the opportunity to step back and re-evaluate their work-life balance. Some people decided to leave their careers, while others did not have a choice. Join U.C. Berkeley Assistant Professor in East Asian Languages & Culture, Kevin Michael Smith, as he helps unpack the nuances of labor and uncover what a world could look like if people didn’t have to choose between work and leisure.  (RT)

Virtual
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Free

If conceptual theories of work aren't your thing, watch and engage in this presentation given by Legal Aid at Work on actual rights for people with disabilities in the workplace and understand how you can better advocate for yourself and others in your professional network. (RT)

Yerba Buena Gardens, Martin Luther King Waterfall (between Mission and Howard, 3rd and 4th Streets)
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. | Free

A walk in the park and beautiful art—what more could you ask for? Twenty-nine years ago, Yerba Buena Gardens made the switch from a jam-packed urban setting of over-populated residences and businesses to a park filled with art for the public to walk through and admire. This year is the first year of official guided walking tours. The tour will discuss the history of Yerba Buena Gardens and confront its redevelopment history while also exploring the artworks inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., San Francisco’s aquatic history and more. The tour does not include stairs and aims to be accessible for attendees who need any walking assistance. (RT)

Bayview Opera House, 4705 3rd St. 
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Free

Darian Rodriguez Heyman, author of the best-selling book Nonprofit Management 101 (2nd edition), will collaborate with the SF Bayview Foundation to deliver a session for nonprofit executives aimed at boosting their capacity for social impact. The boot camp, which will also feature speakers such as Kimberly Bryant of Black Girls Code and BART Board Member Lateefah Simon, will include tactical and practical seminars, training tools, and offer networking as well as lunch and a free copy of the book to all attendees. (MM)

Museum of Craft and Design, 2569 3rd St.
Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Pay What You Can

Access to the arts and culture should not be for the moneyed few. The Museum of Craft and Design opens its doors every Wednesday for folks to pay what they can afford for admission. The museum’s current exhibition is Iris Eichenberg: Where Words Fail—approximately forty works reflecting on themes of gender and identity, safe spaces, sanctuary and the accuracy of reality. Come enjoy the only museum in San Francisco dedicated to craft and design-focused exhibits. (RT)

The Commonwealth Club of California, Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium, 110 The Embarcadero
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Free - $20

While you might laugh at people from your high school filling your Facebook newsfeed with blatantly false articles—conspiracy theories can be dangerous once they go mainstream.  QAnon, for example, played a huge role in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. More recently, in June, a man stabbed three people with a machete at SFO over false narratives leading him to believe that Greeks and Indians were responsible for 9/11. The spread of misinformation is a threat to our community’s politics, health and safety, and they now can spread faster and wider with factors like the internet, technology and Covid isolation. Dive into the psychological reasons that push false narratives to thrive with Dr. Joe Pierre, a health sciences clinical professor at UCLA and specialist in delusional thinking and conspiracy theories. (RT)

Clement Street, between Arguello and 3rd Ave.
12 - 5 p.m. | Free

This weekend’s Art Walk SF is stopping by Clement Street. The event is a great chance to enjoy the beautiful Bay Area weather and indulge in delicious food, locally made art and sidewalk sales from small businesses in the neighborhood. There are also activities like mural-making, live entertainment and making art for a good cause. Since it can take up to a decade for a cigarette butt to decompose, join Refuse Refuse in painting and decorating Butt Cans  (aka cigarette butt disposal receptacles) to combat this issue. (Email info@refuserefusesf.org to learn more.) So stop by the art walk and learn more about the artists in your neighborhood while becoming one yourself and helping out the environment! (RT)