CJCJ Cameo House team member Silvanus “Van” Warren serves food with The Council 1.
Cameo House supports homeless, formerly incarcerated women and their children in San Francisco as a long-term transitional and alternative sentencing program.
Silvanus “Van” Warren is a dedicated member of the Cameo House team. He is widely known and loved at CJCJ for his warmth, humor, and positivity. Just as Van uplifts CJCJ staff and program participants, he does the same for our broader Bay Area community.
Four years ago, Van started his own community-based organization called “The Council 1” to give back to the community. He is deeply rooted in the Bay Area and harnesses his own experiences to support community development. Together, members mentor youth, support homeless neighbors, and respond to evolving community needs.
The Council 1 members serve hot lunches at a community event.
Amid recent fires, The Council 1 members provided disaster relief by donating cases of water, clothing, and necessities to local homeless shelters. In a single weekend, Van and two groups of volunteers distributed care packages filled with resources, including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to two homeless encampments in Oakland and Stockton.
“We are so proud to have team members doing this kind of human-centered work. Van’s work makes a positive impact on people’s lives here at Cameo House and out in the community,” says CJCJ Cameo House Program Director Rebecca Jackson. Several Cameo House staff purchased shirts from The Council 1 to support the organization’s important work!