CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
Congratulations to Our Preschool Graduates!
We are proud to celebrate the 129 children in our preschool graduating class of 2026 who are heading off to kindergarten!
Over the past year, these young learners have explored, asked questions, made friends, built new skills, and discovered more about the world around them at our children’s centers across Marin.
“Being a teacher means having the privilege of pouring into our children during some of the most important years of their lives,” shares Mierra Strickland, Lead Preschool Teacher at our Lynwood Children’s Center. “They are our future, and seeing their growth and celebrating their accomplishments reminds me that the love, support, and encouragement we give them today can help shape a better tomorrow.”
Every child deserves a strong start. We’re grateful to have been part of theirs, and we can’t wait to see where their curiosity takes them next.
Congratulations, graduates and families!
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ADVOCACY
Early Education Will Be on the Ballot This November
Big news! Marin voters will have the opportunity to strengthen early education across the county, giving more children—particularly children from families of low-income—the chance at a strong educational start.
“Every child in our Marin community deserves access to high-quality early education,” shares Chandra Alexandre, CEO at Community Action Marin. “For families, a mixed-delivery system where they can choose their child care provider is key. Whether home-based, center-based, or part of a family child care network, CAM’s teachers are helping children learn and families get to work and school. Through this ballot initiative, we are recognizing what their hard work makes possible for all of us and ensuring a strong future for Marin children for generations to come.”
Vote YES on Measure P.
Learn more at OurKidsMarin.org(opens in new tab).
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AGENCY CONNECTIONS
Learning Together: Reflecting on Our Annual All-Staff Training
At Community Action Marin, we work to create and sustain meaningful change, and that work starts from within. Recently, our entire team of 200 dedicated staff members came together for our annual all-staff program year kickoff and training. It was a day to reconnect, realign, and recharge around the mission we share.
We were also honored to hear from inspiring guest speaker, Dr. Lori Watson, who helped strengthen our shared commitment to inclusion and cultural sensitivity, both within our agency and for the work we do alongside the families and communities we serve.
We’re grateful for every member of the CAM team who shows up each day with compassion, commitment, purpose, and willingness to learn and grow. Thank you for being the heart of Community Action Marin and for making our life-changing work happen!
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EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS
New Study Highlights Community Action Marin’s Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship’s Workforce Impact
A stable job can change a life. And creating more pathways into stable employment can strengthen an entire community.
The Bay Area Council Economic Institute recently published a study highlighting the critical role apprenticeships play in meeting the demands of the Bay Area’s workforce while creating meaningful pathways to economic mobility. We’re proud to see Community Action Marin’s Early Care and Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS) program featured as a case study.
Since launching in 2023, ECEPTS has helped 37 graduates earn their Associate Teacher’s Permit—opening doors to careers in early childhood education while helping address Marin County’s critical shortage of early care and education professionals.
“When community infrastructure and upward economic mobility work together, it’s a powerful win-win” shares Chandra Alexandre, CEO of Community Action Marin. “We aren’t just solving a severe workforce shortage for regional childcare centers, but we are also actively dismantling economic inequities so women of color, immigrants, and English language learners can reach their full potential.”
That’s what anti-poverty work looks like: creating opportunity while strengthening the systems and communities people depend on.
We’re grateful to the Bay Area Council Economic Institute for recognizing and amplifying this work.
Read the Report
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SAVE THE DATE
Step Up Marin! is May 14, 2027
Join Community Action Marin for our 6th annual signature event, Step Up Marin!, on Friday, May 14, 2027. This special evening brings together the donors, partners, advocates, and community leaders who believe that every person in Marin deserves the opportunity to thrive. Step Up Marin! is an opportunity to celebrate the people whose perseverance and achievements inspire us, honor our community’s collective impact, and look ahead to what we can accomplish together.
We hope you’ll be part of this special evening.
Save the date: Friday, May 14, 2027
Learn More
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COMMUNITY SERVICES
Thank You to Our Volunteers
Thank you to our incredible volunteers from Wells Fargo and WaFd for helping us prepare our classrooms for the year ahead! From arranging learning spaces to creating warm, welcoming environments, your time and care made a real difference for our youngest learners.
High-quality early childhood education gives children a strong foundation for success in school and beyond. Thanks to your support, our teachers can start the new school year with classrooms ready for children to learn, explore, and thrive.
We’re grateful to have you in our corner.
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JOB OPPORTUNITY
We’re Hiring a Senior Director of Early Education
Community Action Marin is looking for a Senior Director of Early Education to help lead and strengthen the systems that support our youngest learners and their families.
This role provides operational leadership and compliance oversight across our early childhood education programs, serving children from birth through age 12. The Senior Director will help ensure that our programs meet the highest standards for quality, safety, and regulatory compliance while supporting the teams who make this work possible.
Our Children & Family Services programs include Early Head Start, Head Start, California State Preschool Program (CSPP), General Childcare Development (CCTR), and the Family Childcare Network (FCCHN).
If you’re a strategic, collaborative leader who believes every child deserves access to high-quality early education, we’d love to hear from you.
Learn More and Apply
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Thank You for Standing with Us
Every success you’ve read about this month is made possible through your belief in our mission. Whether you volunteer, partner, donate, or spread the word—you are part of an anti-poverty movement building equity, opportunity, and thriving futures in Marin.