About Humboldt Friends
Our Mission
Humboldt Friends is a community inclusion project devoted to helping people form real friendships and meaningful local connections in Humboldt County, California.
We believe friendship is not only a social bond but also a foundation for inclusion, creativity, and shared opportunity. Our mission is to connect people—neighbors, students, families, small-business owners, and advocates—through kindness, cooperation, and the belief that everyone has something valuable to contribute.
Who We Are
Founded and operated by a participant of California's Self-Determination Program (SDP) under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act, Humboldt Friends began as an inclusion initiative for people with disabilities and has grown into a broader network where everyone belongs.
We combine friendship, community participation, and personal growth to reduce isolation and help people find purpose through connection.
What We Do
Humboldt Friends builds relationships that lead to real-world experiences and shared opportunities.
We help people connect through:
- One-on-one friendships and walking buddies
- Small group adventures and volunteering
- Creative and advocacy collaborations
- Community outreach projects
- Local business meetups and friendship-based employment ideas
Our gatherings are open, low-pressure, and designed for authenticity. The focus is always human connection first—friendship before function.
Friendship, Local Life, and Opportunity
We believe strong communities grow from friendship and trust, not competition.
Humboldt Friends naturally supports local small businesses and individual creativity as part of that trust. We encourage members to support and get to know local shop owners, artists, and workers as friends and partners in inclusion.
Over time, these relationships can open doors for volunteerism, apprenticeships, or even employment opportunities—especially for those who have been left out of traditional workplaces due to disability, anxiety, or social barriers.
Friendship can lead to more than belonging—it can lead to purpose, collaboration, and economic inclusion that grows from kindness rather than competition.
Resource Networking
Humboldt Friends helps people connect to essential resources and community supports:
- Local food and resource centers
- Peer and self-advocacy groups
- Volunteer and mutual-aid opportunities
- Neighbor-to-neighbor meal sharing and emergency referrals
We believe inclusion is strongest when people help one another not only socially, but practically—through friendship that meets real needs.
Community Trust and Safety
To maintain a welcoming and trustworthy environment:
- Phone verification is required for all members
- Optional in-person "friend interviews" build deeper confidence
- Verified-member badges promote authenticity and safety
- Community standards uphold respect and dignity for all participants
These safeguards keep Humboldt Friends open and safe without sacrificing its welcoming spirit.
Our Values
- Genuine friendship and belonging
- Inclusion and accessibility for all
- Respect for neurodiversity and difference
- Safety and dignity
- Empowerment through purpose and creativity
- Support for local life and small business
- Kindness, empathy, and authenticity
Our Approach
Humboldt Friends is not a typical social network—it's a friendship-first community built on shared humanity and practical inclusion.
We believe in:
- Real friendships that lead to mutual support
- Verified participation for community trust
- No ads, no data sales, and no manipulation
- Equal inclusion under the Lanterman Act, ADA, and HCBS standards
- Supporting local life through friendship-based cooperation and opportunity
- A Humboldt where the weird and wonderful stand side by side
Humboldt Friends exists to remind people that inclusion doesn't just mean being invited—it means being valued, connected, and able to contribute. Together, we create a Humboldt County where friendship, creativity, and opportunity grow from the same roots.