I called on a Friday and was told by Jose that he would connect me with a worker so I could interview them over the weekend. (I wanted to employ someone on-going for Mondays and Tuesdays, and wanted to meet them in person before taking them to my client's space.) Never got a call. Finally midday Monday he texted me the name and phone number of Derick and his phone number. But no background info (did he have experience, did he have a car?) as I had asked for. I called Derick; he was working and had no time for a phone call. I explained about having two days a week work for him and he said that sounded great and he would call me back when he got home. He never called. I think this organization needs to "vet" people more thoroughly before making promises to people looking for a worker. I will not recommend them anymore, and I know lots of gardeners and home owners looking for workers. read more

José was my primary contact. He is very on top of the needs of homeowners who need help getting things done at their property. Within hours, I had the help I needed! I rehired one of the two initial helpers for MANY other days of work. Jose checked in periodically on how things were going. It's great to have a resource like this were folks are vetted and there is someone to call if need be. Plus, you can establish a relationship with the same worker, if you want. read more

I reached out the MI Berkeley when I was looking for a house cleaner. They set up the first visit and kept contact info privelages until you give them permission to share it with the other person. I loved who they connected us with and continue to have her come clean our house every two weeks. She is responsive, punctual, and detail orientated. I recently needed an extra set of hands in Redwood City with moving heavy items. I used MI in Redwood City and had a similar positive experience. Highly recommend this service, esp when looking for help with short notice. read more

I used the Multicultural Institute for several projects but this is the first time I have written a review. Most jobs I have been able to get help the same day, although it does help to call the day before if you want help first thing in the morning. We have used them for general yard work, including creating a landing off our porch that was done with precision and skill by Willy. Most recently we worked with Javier to help us move 150 boxes of merchandise off three pallets. He was able to do the work efficiently and was very careful to organize the boxes in our storage room by type. He took the job seriously, was on time, courteous and hard working. I would not hesitate recommending the Multicultural Institute! They provide a great service to our community! read more

I hired two workers to dig out my backyard for a patio. The Multicultural Institute (MI) was great to work with. I filled out the online request form on a Saturday, and they called me Monday morning to schedule two workers to come out to my house the following Saturday at 8am (my preference). I was happy that they would come directly to my house--I wasn't crazy about the idea of driving down 4th street and picking up some people in my car. They talked through how the process works, and gave me a rate ($15/hour, min 3 hrs). They answered all of my questions, and said they would call back and confirm on Friday who exactly would be coming to my house. On Friday, they called to give me the name and number of one of the workers who would be coming to my house. Saturday morning at 8am sharp, the workers arrived. They were polite, and worked hard for 8 hours. I bought them lunch, and paid them $15/hr plus tip. Unfortunately they weren't able to finish the whole project in one day, but they agreed to come back Monday at 8am to finish it up, which they did. MI even called me the following day to ask how it all went--when was the last time a company did that for you? All in all a great experience--great customer service and value. I will definitely use Multicultural Institute again. read more

Words cannot fully capture my appreciation for the team at MI. As a property manager for two properties, I have a near constant stream of minor, and sometimes significant issues. Time and again, the team of MI, have worked-hand-in-glove to find a fit for what I need. In the rare instance in which I had an significant issue with a laborer, the MI team stepped-in and went-to-bat for me. Folks, let's get real, MI is NOT an employment agency. The service is provided as a courtesy to folks like me in the community and the community they serve. If you are looking for laborer's who will always show on time, have the exact skills you are looking for, there are a number of employment companies, such as Labor Ready., who may be a better fit for your exacting standards, but be prepared fill out a bunch of papers...and pay! If you are willing to have some patience and understanding, you will be rewarded. Aside from being satisfied with the support MI gives me, I have the satisfaction in knowing I am supporting an agency, who's mission I am passionate about. read more

These folks do a wonderful job with day laborers and others, particularly with recent immigrants. They provide assistance relating to jobs, health and education and do more with less than any organization I have yet encountered. They are responsible and acceptant of constructive feedback. Try them out- you won't be disappointed! read more

For what it's worth - I am writing my first Yelp review. I have never bothered to get an account, but the Multicultural Institute really deserves to get an amazing review - so here I am. I called them to hire a1 guy to help me with yard work, and he showed up right on time and was ready to work. He did more in 3 hours than I could have done in a whole day, and had a really awesome attitude. He brought all of his own stuff and was really professional throughout. MI arranged the whole thing, called to make sure that the payment went smoothly, and then called me the next day to follow up with me. I was really impressed with the level of follow up and it was really nice to see an organization that is helping talented, hard-working people find people that need their help (like me). I would absolutely recommend MI to anyone thinking about hiring someone to do work! read more

I cannot say enough great things about Paula Worby, the Associate Director of Multicultural Institute. She has been a huge help to SJC in assisting clients to gain legal status in the U.S. She has great connections with folks in other countries and is more than happy to help in anyway she can. Because of her help in our recent deportation defense case, our client won asylum from Guatemala. Thank you Paula! read more

The Multicultural Institute and Josue have been an incredible resource in getting jobs done around the house! I've had 6 different guys with different skill sets work on everything from yard work to tiling and painting and they have all been excellent! On time, reliable, hard working and competent which is exactly what you hope for. As with any worker make sure you have jobs well scoped out/defined and the necessary tools and materials although some of the guys can definitely help with that too. Highly recommend and I'll be continuing to work with them! read more

I called this place when I needed some help with a move. Josue was great in coordinating with me and setting me up with two gentlemen from their Day Laborer program. The guys showed up early, were respectful and friendly, and Incredibly hard-working. I even offered to buy them lunch and give them a break while on the clock, but they refused and wanted to just continue working. I would highly recommend coming here again to anyone who needs some work done. read more

I spoke with Josué because I needed to have my house gutters cleaned and adjusted. He sent me someone who arrived early, was very professional and extremely hardworking. Vinizio did an excellent job on the gutters, in addition to several other small jobs. He also pruned two vines that run along my back fence in a way where it solved a problem with my neighbor....no more problem! As an older female homeowner, I am grateful to have this invaluable resource that I feel I can trust. From now on, I will turn to them when I need work done around my house and yard. I cannot recommend M.I. enough. read more

I needed yard work done quickly while i was out of town and worried that i would not be able to figure out how to do that from a distance. Josué helped me figure out the long distance issues and Nolberto did an awesome lawn job of my lawn! He texted me clear pictures of every aspect of the job so I felt confident it got done right even though I couldn't be there myself. read more

Talked to Miguel again and he arranged to have Fred and Jesus to come work for 3 hours helping with landscaping/ yard clean up (they have a 3 hr min). I went to the church on 9th and Hearst, they followed me to our biz and did a great job above and beyond what I asked for in some situations, made everything extra tidy and worked fast. Took off when done. They were perfectly respectful gentlemen. Paid $15 per hr each plus a tip, plus gave them some fruit and water during a break. read more

I bought a 95 year old house in Berkeley that needs a lot of work. I've hired some truly talented and highly skilled people for $25/hour. I've also hired some cleaning or really simple help for $15 per hour. The skilled guys are awesome, the $15/hour guys can not do the skilled work, just FYI. I am a huge fan and will continue to use them. Here's what we've done so far: Re-glazing old wood windows, painting, refinishing redwood window sills, drywall, leveling a brick patio, concrete work on my driveway, stucco repairs, landscape cleanup, installing cedar shingles, installing finish carpentry and wood trim, building a fence, and installing an Ipe deck. The process for hiring with this organization is you call, text or email them. They are super responsive Monday through Friday. You just tell them what you want to do and they know who to refer and will tell suggest a good rate. You can negotiate a bit. Frankly I pay a little more because I think they are still 1/3 the price of what a contractor would bill. I just pay cash or check. Whichever the guys ask for. read more

I hired a laborer to help me move through the MI. Josue was extremely helpful in coordinating the effort and our laborer was hard working, respectful and MUCH cheaper than a moving company. The day labor program is extremely affordable for people working on their homes, moving, or just need extra help around the yard, and it finds jobs for people who need work. It's a brilliant concept and a very noble cause. read more

Unfortunately, it is mismanaged and the workers are inconsistent in their abilities and willingness to work.

The job to place a bathtub was left Incomplete. When I questioned the worker's work he said the missing piece was not necessary. The next person to see it, an inspector, said there would eventually be a serious leak. Office dispatcher told me to call worker. Worker did not return my calls. Had to redo quite a bit of work. My advice to anyone using Multicultural Institute in Berkeley, don't but if yiu do , don't question the work since the workers are obviously not properly trained. read more

Josué and the MCI are great. Josué found me a couple of people to help me move on a Sunday; one had a truck, and both spoke English. Ramón and Roberto were on time and hard workers. I will use the MCI again, and highly recommend them to others. read more

Aw shucks, I had a decent first run hiring day labor thru this center, but alas, the 2nd & 3rd tries fell through completely. My first success was perhaps the exception. The slow follow up and no shows left me without help & 3.5 yards of soil outside my home. Fortunately, I found the most ethical and experienced worker yet @4th & Hearst. Alas & in sum, the center does not make the work more reliable or successful. Instead , it's just more expensive: ( read more

The Multicultural Institute has absolutely no respect for the neighborhood in which they reside. I have complained for months over the day labors loitering outside the day labor pickup zones designated by the City of Berkeley. The day labors stand on my property (they have soiled my fence), leave trash and can be extremely loud (they have waken me). I am not able to open my curtains unless I want the day labors to look directly into my apartment (and they do, like my life is a movie). When I first moved in, it was a little annoying, but it has become an invasion of my privacy. Since I am disabled and spend much time at home; the fact that they are right outside my home eight hours a day seven days week, they track my every move. I had a woman come to help me run errands. She would also take me on outings, but the day worker's sheer numbers and proximity to my front door made her so uncomfortable that she would prefer not to visit. This was the response I received from their Associate Director, Paula Worby: "In any case, the city has been clear (based on hearing from some neighbors) about being displeased with day laborers standing east of 6thbut as long as people are on the sidewalks and not creating noteworthy problems, there is nothing illegal about their presence there. Also, you should know that your neighbor, the Good Shepherd Church that owns three adjoining properties on that Hearst/9th street corner, have been very explicit about their steps and property being open to day laborers--in their terms, they see it as a sanctuary space. We use their parish hall for regular programs on Fridays which is why you'd see more activity there that day. Their pastor, Este Cantor, is very open to getting to know neighbors--they open their doors every Wednesday morning for coffee and conversation (in part to connect neighbors with day laborers in a friendly way) so you should feel welcome in joining them some day. We do our best to mitigate direct inconveniences experienced by neighbors such as yourself by respectfully asking the guys to think about your point of view; in your case that you are home all day and hoping to retain the peace and privacy that being in your own home should entail." On their website, they state that part of what they do is to "... stimulate positive transformation of individuals, families and communities." I do not know how this possibly can be done, by encouraging actions that have a clear history with displeasing neighbors in the community in which I reside. Really, what kind of positive example is the Multicultural Institute sending to the day workers by encouraging them to disobey requests by the city in which they want to become a positive resident? Don't get me wrong, I applaud programs that have programs such as the Multicultural Institute, but not at the detriment of current residents. So please pick up day workers only on Hearst Avenue, west of 6th St. read more

So my husband took the GED preparation there, it is just math, by the way, anyway, he enjoyed the class and the teacher. He took the class 2 times before taking the exam. If you have your exam, there is a little graduation ceremony, it is cute. But the thing is that they told my husband that he did passed the test, but he never received the diploma, so told him they gonna check on that and call him back... during 3 weeks nobody never called him back, answered his phone calls ect... so he decided to go to exam center, where they told him that he missed one subject (he got a good score in math by the way) but seriously, you should respect your student a little more, you can make mistake but you own your student the truth ! I mean when an adult take his GED, it's because he plans on doing something with his life, maybe going to college, and need a clear answer....... I don't recommend this place at all... read more

The two laborers that have worked in my garden have been superb. They are hard working, responsible, arrive on time, stay for as long as needed, listen carefully to what I wanted done and when there is a questionable trim they double check just in case. They care about their job and and want to do a good job. At the end of the day one of them said: "Espero le haya gustado mi trabajo." (I hope you liked my work). That is heartfelt!!! They appreciate being able to work and are grateful. I recommend the program enthusiastically. Besides gardening I think they would work on others tasks as well. They read more

This organization can be hit or miss, I've had great experiences and scheduling problems with them. However, I keep coming back because when they get the right people right to help with cleaning, moving or gardening, it really works. Much better than picking up a day laborer on the corner and hoping for the best. The other thing that I really respect is that they have really tried to make the experience right after it hasn't gone smoothly. So it does take some patience but a good way to support the community. read more

After 32 years in Berkeley, my landlord has asked me to move so she can return to the family home. I had no idea where to look for helping hands with my pending move until my neighbor gave me the Center's phone number. Friday evening I left a message and on Monday I got a call back and arranged for Jesus Escobar to be at my home thursday afternoon for a 3hour shift. He arrived early, was extremely quick and thoughtful about what he was doing, trying to understand what I needed done not just blindly following instructions and I appreciated all of his help. Much more help will be needed over the next couple of months and I will be contacting the Center and anticpate using them over the next couple of months as I pack up to leave the area. I will miss Berkeley but the whole Bay area is becoming too expensive for me to continue to live here so I have to leave. Too bad I just learned about the Center after all these years...willing hands and hearts like Jesus's would have been so helpful to me over the years - and I'm so glad they are there for me to call on NOW! read more

I was new to the Berkeley area and was in desperate need of reliable and kind child care. I coincidently saw an article that ran in the East Bay Express about six months after moving here and after having gone through a few different child care providers I decided to send in a request. I was called back the same day I submitted the request and the man I spoke to was very helpful. I was able to interview a few different people for the job and was able to hire someone who helped take care of my son for 2 years. Also when I needed to move I sent in a request and was able to hire two day workers who were very professional and helpful. I would (and have) recommended the Multicultural Institute to anyone who is looking for child care providers or is moving. read more

I have had excellent results in the day laborers I have gotten from this organization. Highly recommended.

What could be more natural ..... someone needs work done and another needs work to do ....... enter the Multicultural Institute ! ! ! Through the thoughtful and knowledgeable orientation of Josue at the Institute, Carlos (ready to work) and myself (ready to pay) arranged to meet at the job site. After six hours the large pile of gravel which for so long had resisted my singlehanded efforts was neatly stacked off site in sand bags awaiting some future deployment. Carlos and I exchanged our contact information, Josue followed up on the day's outcome (as he does for each of the Institute's day labor placements) and now, in keeping with this most natural of working environments, I write this favorable review to say that I will gladly use the Multicultural Institute's day labor program services in the future. Thank you Carlos and Josue. read more

Josue and the Multicultural institute are an awesome resource to find helpful workers and it is great because you participate in the integration of recent immigrants as well as getting your work done! I bought an old house in Berkeley and have relied on their help several times in the past couple of years. read more

I really appreciated the Multicultural Institute's help matching me up with a couple of awesome guys to help me with my house move. I emailed them via their website after hours, later in the evening on the last day of the month hoping that they could find a couple of trustworthy guys to help me the following day. By the next morning Jose got in touch with me with contacts for a couple of great guys who were very friendly, clean, hardworking and trustworthy. These guys were able to meet me at my apartment, arrived early and were willing to work in the afternoon and evening, which would not be their normal work hours. I felt much more comfortable having an organization put me in contact with a couple of known men than to find some laborers on the street who I had no knowledge of, and I really appreciated that they were able to help me with this at the last minute. I would definitely recommend that you get in touch with Jose at the Multicultural Institute if you need day laborer help in the Berkeley area! read more

I needed help doing lifting, carrying, and digging to start a garden in the back yard of my house, and was hesitant to approach the lineup of day laborers on 4th Street in Berkeley. How could I somehow choose and trust someone on the spot? When I came across the online listing for the Multicultural Institute, I was truly amazed and relieved that there is such an organization. They connect skilled day laborers seeking employment with those who need specific paid work done. And the Multicultural Institute provides this service of connecting workers and employers without charge. I was connected with a wonderful person who came to my house and worked with me for 4 hours until we got the whole garden done. He was conscientious, hard working, considerate, and a pleasure to get to know. I would highly recommend the Multicultural Institute to anyone seeking to hire someone to do short-term paid work - they do the background checks, match people and skills needed, and coordinate the hiring process. And you know you have someone you can trust to do the work you need done. read more

I was excited to find a service that I can call ahead to reserve day laborers to help me with various tasks around the house and yard. My first experience doing this was positive, and I hired the same worker again for the next 2 days. A few weeks later, I had some chores and cleaning that I needed assistance with for just a couple of hours (easy stuff, nothing too labor intensive), and called to see if they assign tasks for less than a full day. They said they did, and would send me 3 workers for 2 hours, and we agreed upon an hourly rate. The workers showed up an hour late, and there were only 2 of them. I only had a limited amount of time available and was disappointed that we would not finish the task, but I had them stay for 1.5 hours and paid them _more_ than the agreed upon hourly rate. I then received a barrage of phone calls from the Multicultural Institute office accusing me of taking advantage of their workers and their program. They had no interest in hearing my side of the story, and when I asked (sincerely, not sarcastically) "what should I have done under the circumstance" they didn't even acknowledge the question, only went on to tell me that I was wasting their time by talking to them about this issue (as a recap, they called me). I guess they didn't call to "talk", just chastise me for not paying the workers for the time that they did not work (because they were an hour late). I will surely not be "taking advantage of" the Multicultural Institute's program in the future. read more