Waterside Staff
The creation of Waterside Workshops served a two-fold purpose, addressing the need for alternative approaches to education as a part of a healthy community and revitalizing highly under-used buildings in an urban park. Our staff and board members are artisans, tradesmen, mechanics, and teachers from a variety of backgrounds whose lives have all been greatly influenced by their exposure to handcrafts and skills.
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Born and raised in the Azores Islands, Helder developed a love of traditional boats as a very young child. Helder is a UC Berkeley alumni holding a degree in Archeology. His academic studies took him around the world studying ancient cultures and often studying their watercraft. Tiring of academic pursuits, and craving working with his hands, Helder moved back to California to study traditional wooden boat building, but continued his connection with is homeland. Helder has worked in the Azores not only as an underwater archaeologist, but has also apprenticed with one of the last master Azorean whaleboat builders. His passion “for all things maritime Portuguese” has also taken him to mainland Portugal where he has worked with traditional bateira builders of the Aveiro region of northern Portugal. He hopes to educate people young and old, as well as further his own knowledge of the time-honored craft, and to establish a community of people who are passionate about wooden boats.
Danny has worked in the bicycle industry for 12 years. He enjoys bicycling of all kinds from commuting to cruising, but his passion is racing. Most Saturday’s he can be found in the far-reaches of California competing in mountain bike races. He is excited to be working in a shop that is built around reuse, education, and community.
Before moving to California, Nick worked at the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Center where he assisted inner city high school students in developing resiliency and social and emotional learning skills through the process of wooden boat building. In a previous life, he was an environmental attorney who represented public interest environmental organizations and their allies in administrative, state, and federal courts. Nick’s passion for youth development and environmental stewardship, pared with his in-depth knowledge of the legal system make him a perfect fit for Waterside. He holds a B.A. from UCLA and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.
Cat designs curriculum and manages our youth internship training program. She also provides one-on-one tutoring for Waterside youth in math, chemistry, biology, and Spanish.
Former Intern
Gio is a former youth interns who is now a full time staff member. An Oakland native, he serves as a mentor to our younger staff and interns, and brings a passion for local bicycle culture to Waterside.
Former intern
Former Intern
Justin started as a boat shop intern when he was just a youngin’, shortly before his 13th birthday. Over the years, he has worked in our cafe, and has become a very skilled third-wave barista. He is now one of our bicycle mechanics at Street Level Cycles. In 2018 he completed a Professional Repair and Shop Operation course at United Bicycle Institute in Portland, OR.
Former intern
Former intern
Former intern
Chaco is head of security at Waterside. He tirelessly patrols the perimeter and protects the ducks from passing dogs. He also assists with boat rentals, and is a good listener when someone is having a bad day. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with Cricket, going to the beach, and taking long walks.
Cricket is vice president of security at Waterside. She also helps keep all of the basketballs put away in the courtyard, and is happy to help if someone can’t quite finish what they brought for lunch. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with Chaco and her friend Hank. She doesn’t want money for her work at waterside, but instead prefers to be paid in “schnackey”.
