Bay Area Girls Circle Facilitator Training

Register now to experience the Girls Circle Facilitator Training in person!

One Circle Foundation is bringing the Girls Circle Facilitator Training back to the SF Bay Area on September 11-12, 2025, at Uptown Station Oakland. Join us for a training in California to elevate your Circle facilitation skills and connect with others who strive to make a positive impact in the lives of youth and teens. 
 
As the birthplace of One Circle Foundation and the heartbeat of innovation and creativity, it's only fitting that this vibrant region is our upcoming training location. We look forward to having a large contingent of Bay Area organizations represented at this training event, and we encourage facilitators to fly in from around the country to enjoy the historic and beautiful SF Bay Area location. Read below for recommendations on where to eat, drink, stay, play, and how to get around when you join us this September in beautiful Oakland, CA.    

Location  
The Girls Circle Facilitator training will be held at Uptown Station Oakland. The neighborhood is surrounded by outstanding restaurants and cultural attractions. 

Most of the recommendations below are in the training neighborhood or the adjacent areas: Jack London Square, Temescal, and Grand Lake.  

There are so many other vibrant neighborhoods nearby for those who want to venture further: Rockridge, College Ave, Montclair, Berkeley, and more. San Francisco and Marin County are right across the Bay! 

Airports  

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 23 miles to Uptown Station Oakland  
• Oakland International Airport (OAK): 18 miles to Uptown Station Oakland 

Ground Transportation 

• BART, Uber and Lyft. 
• Uptown Station Oakland (training location) sits directly atop the 19th Street BART station. BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is easy to navigate and affordable. There are BART stations at both Oakland and San Francisco International Airports. BART connects the San Francisco Peninsula with East Bay and South Bay communities. 
• Paid Public Parking available at nearby lots and garages. 

Hotels 

• Kissel Uptown – New location, very close to venue.  
• Waterfront Hotel is on the waterfront in Jack London Square. 
• Courtyard Oakland Downtown 

Restaurants 

• Nido’s Backyard - modern Mexican, Great Margaritas 
• Farmhouse Kitchen Thai is delicious and the sister restaurant to Daughter Thai in Montclair.  
• Itani Ramen (+ partner restaurants Yonsei Handrolls, Good Luck Gato, and Ninth Life). 
• Plank has a lot of fun games (great for groups) on the waterfront.  
• Drakes Bodyshop for great outdoor vibes with pizza, salads, and drinks.  
• Swans Market offers many great options in one place.  
• Daytrip is a really unique culinary experience of fermented foods.  
• Bakesale Betty’s is an Oakland must for those who arrive early (or stay late) for the best chicken sandwiches ever.  
• Temescal Alley - Shopping, Restaurants, Ice Cream, Barbershop

Nido's Back Yard, The Tribune Tower and Temescal Alley 

Libations 

• Friends and Family Bar is a *proudly a woman & queer-owned business. *   
• Beeryland is a close beer garden with a fun, relaxed vibe.  
• First and Last Chance Saloon is a historic spot in Jack London Square with a steep drop from the earthquake.  
• Rosenblum Cellars has lovely waterfront views and often live music. 
• Rose’s Taproom is a cute, quirky spot with amazing cheese too.  
• Temescal Brewing is a fun spot, often with a great food truck.  
• Café Van Kleef is an old Oakland staple near the conference.  

Roberts Regional Recreation Area, Paramount Theater, Merritt Lake   

Activities 

• Paramount Theater try to catch a show at this historic venue!  
• Fox Theater is another amazing and historic venue with great shows!  
• Lake Merritt is a short walk away and very beautiful. 
• For a longer walk, the Oakland Hills has many amazing hikes: Huckleberry, Roberts Recreational, Serpentine Prairie, and Redwood Regional Park.
• Take the ferry from Jack London Square to the San Francisco Ferry Building – it is gorgeous! 
• Hipline is where you can take an amazing, uplifting dance class (and the first one is free). 

Photos provided by local photographer Matthew Szymankowski  (szyfoto.com)