DEDICATION
During this the 60th year anniversary of LBJ’s War on Poverty and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we are honored to continue our work toward equity for all. Community Action Marin is proud to be part of a strong network of over 1,100 Community Action Agencies across the United States of America fighting poverty’s causes and consequences. We dedicate this report to the people who call Marin home. We celebrate continued progress for racial and economic justice and transformational
lasting change in our community that is underscored by dignity and respect.
Michelle Fox, Assistant Vice President of Early Education at Community Action Marin and Lucia Marel-Dow, Board President at San Rafael City Schools, kick off partnership at the ribbon cutting at the San Rafael Early Learning Center where CAM has four preschool classrooms
“Building an anti-poverty movement is essential to creating the kind of transformative realities that we want to see for all of us. Delivering high-quality programs every day is not enough to disrupt the status quo.
WE MUST BE UNRELENTING
IN OUR COMMITMENT TO AN EQUITABLE MARIN."
CHANDRA ALEXANDRE
2023 Heart of Marin Award recipient for Excellence in Leadership, Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL)
MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
Dear Community and Colleagues,
We stand together today, tomorrow, and every day united in our hope. At Community Action Marin, our commitment to racial and economic justice is unwavering. Our work to bring the Community Action promise to life here in Marin County is as critical as ever: Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live.
Shared values of Relationship, Inclusivity, Unity, and Service guide us in this important work. Each of us has a unique role to play in creating and sustaining lasting change. As one of Marin’s largest employers, we know that change begins in our own house. This past year, Community Action Marin deepened its focus on well-being for over 225 staff, increasing the agency’s minimum wage to $23 per hour—44% more than the state’s minimum wage. We strengthened our Staff Council to bring Frontline voices to Executive leadership, and we invested heavily in our Equity and Well-being Roadmap through training, people-centered coaching, and other inclusive, intentional, and practical strategies to center our values and move our mission forward.
Community Action Marin is more than an agency—we are the heartbeat of Marin, with our staff deeply reflective of the individuals and families we serve. With an incredible community of partners, supporters, volunteers, and people working daily to move yearning into action, we are making each and every one of us stronger. The work we did together to alleviate the causes and consequences of poverty in 2024 helped to achieve better outcomes across our county. Take a look at what putting Levers for Change into motion makes happen.
As you read through this report, you will learn more about the realities of poverty in Marin. You will also see what we have accomplished working side by side with people of all backgrounds in the community. I invite you to join us. Come be part of the change we’re seeking to make real for all of us.
WITH GRATITUDE,
Chandra Alexandre
Chief Executive Officer
Activating
Levers for
Change
Gathering to support pay equity and the importance of early childhood education at Head Start California Advocacy Day in Sacramento
Building an anti-poverty movement requires activating four Levers for Change. Each lever is individually impactful, but when all levers are moving through strategic efforts, that is when true transformative change happens.
In our Housing Justice work, we look at the causes and consequences of housing instability, providing resources and support for those who are unhoused or at risk of homelessness, while simultaneously advocating and working with lawmakers on policy changes around tenant protections and rent stabilization. We are seated at the table alongside community members, listening and working on housing initiatives that matter deeply to our community. Anti-poverty movement building is central in our effectiveness at alleviating the causes and consequences of poverty. It is inclusive and creates a space at the table for everyone to take meaningful action for change.
As a leader in Anti-poverty Movement Building, several members of our Leadership Team had the opportunity this year to share our Levers for Change with our Community Action Partners at both the state and national level. The case study they shared demonstrated the power of activating all four Levers for Change as a means to alleviate the causes and consequences of poverty and transform and sustain individual, family, and community well-being.
“Poverty is the result of policy choices. When we meet people and hear stories of those experiencing poverty, we see that it is our policies and systems that are failing, not individuals or families. From that shared understanding, we can craft meaningful solutions and take action together to ensure everyone can live a life of dignity and respect.”
Gina Guillemette, Chief Strategy Officer
“It takes all of us to move our county toward racial and economic justice. At MCF, we have seen what Community Action Marin is leading forward and we’re proud to support their efforts, from programs to advocacy. I know that our Community Power Initiative (CPI) grant will help to make CAM’s Levers for Change powerful tools for building an anti-poverty movement in Marin County.”
Shirin Vakharia, Senior Program Director,
Community Power Initiative, Marin Community Foundation
“Having worked in the social sector for most of my career, I recognize the importance of working across racial and economic differences to address the common good. Community Action Marin is truly a leader in this area. It partners with Marin nonprofits and local officials, shares stories to raise awareness of issues, and lifts up those it works with and gives them the tools to improve their lives and their children’s lives. The organization also works to change the policies and systems that perpetuate the economic divides that exist in Marin. The agency has a real understanding of the needs of Marin’s low-income population and the larger impact poverty has on the community overall.”
Adam Hirschfelder,
Board Member
Integrating
Well-Being
As an agency, we are committed to healing-centered approaches. We know that to do our work in community, we need to start in our own house. This includes deepening our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging (DEIJB) through training. It also involves empowering staff to develop inclusive, intentional, and practical strategies to move our values and mission forward.
Person-Centered Coaching sessions held online with frontline staff and their managers have centered wellness with the individual as the focus, helping staff to work more effectively together and with community. The coaching will extend the impact of what has been learned already and continue the trajectory of self-determination and respect that it has fostered within teams.
“Our well-being space at Old Gallinas provides a quiet sanctuary and is something our teachers deserve. It includes couches where someone can lounge and just relax. They can also read or sit at the table to work with one another. It’s a really nice space where people can enjoy peace and quiet and a little separation from their day.”
Delia Lucio,
Family Advocate
“Our well-being programs help staff to be connected, regulated, and communicative. When we operate from that space, we can provide better care in community, share these techniques with the individuals and families we work with, and help others to take care of themselves.”
Michelle Fountain, VP, Behavioral Health & Training
Pay equity is a key driver in our equity and well-being roadmap
Inviting our CARE Team and other frontline staff to participate in CalMHSA-approved, Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (PSS) Training, teaching them how they can use their own histories with mental health or substance abuse to help others
Gathering annually for Pause Day to help staff learn how to work across differences, build strong teams, and strengthen communication strategies to support a thriving workplace
Supporting well-being for staff, like with the Step Challenge—92 participants took 13,045,000 physical steps to increase a healthy lifestyle
Staff take a “Pause Day” to make their workplace more inclusive and equitable, so everyone feels valued
Staff Council join with our wellness team to embed well-being into all we do
Staff member Debbie Brown takes a step outside to pause on the agency’s Pause Day
IMPLEMENTING
STRATEGIES FOR
GREATER IMPACT
Fostering connections between people, nature, and food as part of our Appetite for Change initiative
One of the agency’s many strengths is our strong network of community partners. With more than 53 non-profit collaborators and 24 for-profit, institutional or consortium-based partnerships, we work strategically to coordinate resources and implement innovative and highly responsive programs and generate policy changes that help Marin residents reach and sustain well-being.
Our Whole Family Approach is critical to achieving our mission. We put people first. Listen deeply to individual, family, and community needs. Build trusted relationships. And provide opportunities for everyone across generations to have their needs met on a path to improved outcomes.
“This year, Community Action Agencies across the country are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act and the creation of the Community Action movement. As we commemorate the many ways local community agencies have embodied hope, improved opportunities, and changed lives, we are also focused on moving the anti-poverty movement forward. Community Action Marin is a leader in this regard, sharing concrete anti-poverty movement building strategies for our network of Community Action Agencies in California and throughout our national network. Their Levers for Change provide a replicable example of how to approach the collective war on poverty to achieve racial and economic justice.”
David Knight, Executive Director,
California Community Action Partnership Association
“I’m honored to be part of CAM’s commitment to creating pathways that support our families, students, and communities holistically. Through our collaboration with local schools, we’re building a strategic innovation—a model of partnership that not only meets immediate educational needs but also connects families to the resources essential for long-term success.
By investing in the Whole Family Approach, we’re breaking down barriers and helping to uplift families at every level, fostering resilience and empowering communities to thrive. This work is about more than education; it’s about creating lasting change together.”
Maureen “Mo” de Nieva-Marsh,
Director of Community Partnerships
Children
& Family
Services
Contributing to a love of learning and better outcomes
"Early childhood education is a foundation for a lifetime of learning and growth, making it imperative that we have affordable programs and the teaching staff to maintain required ratios and high quality, and to accommodate all of the families in need. When it comes to childcare and early education teaching staff, the business model has been broken. Whether it’s poor pay or a lack of affordable housing or both, Community Action Marin is taking steps to help shape local systems and change strategies.”
Shana Hewitt, Vice President Early Education
Investing in Early Childcare Education & Staff
With support from Early Care & Educaton Pathways to Success (ECEPTS), our agency helps those interested in beginning a career in early childhood education. The 18-month working and learning experience allows participants to earn Early Childhood Education units through College of Marin and complete 2,000 hours of paid work experience, making them eligible to earn an Associate Teacher permit. In today’s teacher shortage with the inability to serve all families in need of early childhood education, this program continues to be critical to filling the teacher pipeline at early learning centers in Marin.
Attracting and Retaining Teachers
Participation in Head Start Advocacy Day, talks with the office of State Senator Mike McGuire, and strategy sessions with the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at UC Berkeley have all led to increased pay and benefits for our teaching staff. The agency has also provided additional staff professional development and a signing bonus for new hires, both resulting in an increased number of early childhood education job applicants.
Our advocacy efforts have helped to remove the time limit on maintaining associate teaching credentials. A bill now allows holders of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Teacher Permit to renew it indefinitely, provided they complete professional growth, activities as determined by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This ensures that teachers can remain in their chosen profession and we can keep staff with longer tenure and experience.
Supporting Individual Student Needs
We are continuing to dedicate classrooms at several Childcare Centers as a comprehensive Sensory Space. Sensory environments provide optimal conditions for children who crave certain stimulation to jump, crawl or swing, practice social skills, or relax. This input can be regulating, calming, soothing, organizing, and energizing depending on the state of a child’s nervous system.
Almost 1/3 of our Children and Family programs’ children are being monitored for the needs these spaces support. There are currently spaces at our Hamilton and Old Gallinas Childcare Centers, with a third space at the San Rafael Early Learning Center added for the 2024–2025 school year.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SENSORY ROOM, one PARENT SAID:
“Every day, they are so happy to go. It helps them feel calm and happy. Thank you for this special place that helps my child so much.”
Impact At A Glance
100%
of parents surveyed in February 2024 were either SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED with early education services
3,759
health services provided including development delay screenings, mental health assessments, dental exams, and well visits with 100% OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN receiving hearing and vision screenings
88%
of preschoolers improved in language and literacy and 85% IMPROVED in social and emotional development
Teachers Spotlight
Mildred
Mildred’s journey to becoming an early childhood educator is truly inspiring and a testament to her resilience, faith, and the transformative impact of pursuing one’s passion. It also highlights the importance of accessible opportunities in Spanish that uplift individuals and strengthen the fabric of our community.
Born and raised in Guatemala, Mildred earned a degree in graphic design and worked in the field before moving to the U.S. in 2018. Adjusting to her new life proved challenging, as she juggled the demands of a retail job while raising her young daughter. The long hours left her feeling unfulfilled and distanced from her child.
Her prayers were answered when, while picking up her daughter from a Community Action Marin Early Child Education Center, a teacher handed her a flyer about the ECEPTS program. Mildred was happy to find an opportunity that aligned with her interests.
“I was happy to find a job that allowed me to spend more time with my daughter and feel fulfilled. I was really drawn to the program’s comprehensive support, including educational and job training resources.”
Safety Net
Connecting People to Needed Services
“The PARC program was created to expand Marin’s Get Ready and Neighborhood Response Programs, which had not been reaching under-resourced communities in our county. By recognizing that people of color, non-English-speaking individuals and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by disasters, the PARC program seeks to correct this disparity and improve the resiliency of these groups.”
Rachel Kertz, PARC Program Founder
When EV, a single, disabled individual over 60, faced a power disconnection and couldn’t wait the usual 8–10 weeks for processing, she reached out. Recognizing the urgency, our Benefits Enrollment Coordinator quickly expedited her application. EV was impressed by our team’s fast and efficient support, which led to her power being restored promptly. Her gratitude highlights the impact of our dedicated and compassionate service. Stories like EV’s drive our commitment to making a difference and providing hope and stability to those in need.
Meeting People Where They Are
We partner with local non-profits across Marin to provide information, services, and resources at events throughout the county. This past year, events took place from Marin City out to West Marin. These included career resources for youth job seekers from the Latine community, resources for seniors and their caretakers at Vivalon’s Senior Fair, information for getting a fresh start for those who have been incarcerated, tips on avoiding scams when purchasing a vehicle, Financial Education Workshops through a partnership with Citibank, and a table at the Marin County Fair.
Preparing People for Emergencies
The Prepared and Resilient Communities (PARC) program, funded by the County of Marin, takes place in low-income communities, providing a neighbor-helping-neighbor emergency preparedness framework. PARC was first established by Rachel Kertz, coordinator of Central Marin’s Neighborhood Response Group, with our first collaborative class on disaster awareness and preparedness in September 2023.
At these classes, agency staff provide onsite childcare, Spanish-speaking trainers to help with recruitment and registration, and manage the administration of stipends, given as gift cards, to class participants at completion of the program. To date there have been 196 participants.
Providing information about public benefits at a Senior Fair
Impact At A Glance
$44.4k
in cash assistance PROVIDED TO 69 HOUSEHOLDS for emergency assistance including motel stays, medical equipment, and more
$573.2k
provided in LIHEAP Energy Assistance to 877 HOUSEHOLDS
451
age 50+ or disabled individuals who RECEIVED HELP APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS through our new Benefits Enrollment Center
$767.6k
IN RENTAL OR MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE provided using Season of Sharing grants
180
EMERGENCY FOOD BOXES provided
Marin Health and Human Services Employment & Training Branch staff learn about agency services
Prepared and Resilient Communities (PARC) Class
“We teamed up with community action marin to deliver a series of Virtual Financial Education workshops. The workshops were designed to enhance the agency’s financial well-being programs and support participants in building a secure financial future. We hosted five workshops in total, concluding with a Homebuying Process session that attracted 25 participants across English and Spanish sessions and empowered attendees with the knowledge and confidence to see homeownership as a realistic and achievable long-term goal. We value our collaboration and are glad to contribute to building a more equitable Marin and helping the local community thrive.”
Patricia Vazquez Topete, Vice President and Community Relations Market Manager,
Citi Community Investing and Development
Housing Justice
Helping People to Become and Stay Housed
“I began my arduous search for subsidized housing eight years ago. Thankfully, I found Community Action Marin and have, at last, been approved for affordable housing in Marin.
Leslie Klor and Debbie Brown have consistently offered tremendous support and guidance. They have been incredibly generous, extending essential information to me during these years of perplexing, winding, and excruciating exploration. I am thrilled beyond belief to finally be domiciled again in Marin. My sincere thanks to Community Action Marin for the varied, indispensable cost-free services provided by you to the Marin Community.”
Elizabeth G., Housing Information Program Participant
Partnering to Make a Difference
Community Action Marin is a founding member of Housing for All Marin, a coalition of local organizations advocating for more affordable housing in our county. The agency’s advocacy work has provided a bridge connecting elected officials to the important need. Local efforts in cooperation with county partners also prevented housing displacement in four of our nine cities in the county. In addition, informational classes conducted in partnership with the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) educated community members regarding housing measures that appeared on the last ballot.
There are not enough funding sources to build the affordable housing planned and local affordable housing bonds are needed to help fill the gap. We will continue to move forward and build relationships and create continued awareness about this very important work.
Gaining Support for Change
Most low-income families spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Community Action Marin’s “Housing for All Marin” video campaign includes interviews with a doctor, business owner, college student, school superintendent, teacher, and others who work in Marin and feel the impact of the high cost of housing in our county. The campaign effectively conveys that affordable housing is more than just a roof over someone’s head and is a social concern that is essential for our local economy with an impact on equity, education, business, and more.
advancing Housing Stability
A second video campaign on rent control was aimed at ensuring fair housing policies, protecting tenants, and creating more equitable housing opportunities in Marin. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) which ended in March 2024 also provided relief to thousands of renters and landlords facing
economic hardship and possible displacement. A new plan, called California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) will also now fund more proactive interventions for Medi-Cal recipients including non-clinical services that have an impact on health, such as access to housing.
Assembly member Damon Connolly with CAM staff celebrating 60 years of Community Action in California
Impact At A Glance
400
individuals assisted in a HOUSING-FIRST APPROACH to eradicating homelessness
94
precariously housed or unhoused transitional age youth ASSISTED WITH SUPPORT SERVICES
$3.1M
of the total funding dispersed over the 17-month ERAP program, was distributed this past year, HELPING 469 HOUSEHOLDS
50
individuals REFERRED TO SHARED HOUSING OPTIONS
“I’ve lived in Marin County for over 30 years, and I was a teacher myself and what I find is that it’s very difficult for staff to figure out how to live and where to live based on how much they earn. So, we train people, we get them all settled in our schools, and then after a few years or even after one year they need to leave. Allowing people to live and work in their community helps all students feel supported. There’s an interconnectedness between staff and kids that is paramount and fixing affordable housing or making housing more affordable will help tremendously in that direction.”
Dr. Tracy Smith, Superintendent, Novato Unified School District
Employee Spotlight
Ronaldo Herrera Campos
Ronaldo started as a Community Alternative Response & Engagement (CARE) team member three years ago and transitioned to being one of the five Housing Based Case Managers on staff in July 2023. His goal is to help those experiencing homelessness achieve positive change. He helps them access any resources they might need and to find, secure, and maintain safe and affordable permanent housing.
“To be a Housing Based Case Manager you need to be passionate and understanding. Meeting new people, building a clientele base, following up on changes, positive and negative; every day we make it work. Every person is different, their temperament or their energy. In this role, you need to be able to read people and what they are going through. You need to build good connections. Sometimes you’re just waiting for someone to open up. They need to see that they can trust me. Some people have issues with mental health, a criminal record, or substance abuse issues. Other than support, after we secure a place, the work is really on them.”
Economic Justice
BUILDING STRONGER FUTURES & FINANCIAL WELL-BEING
“The Peer Support Specialist training program at Community Action Marin provides entry into the Behavioral Health field and qualifies students to take the State of California certification exam. This helps address a shortage of healthcare providers, particularly in vulnerable communities. As a volunteer and retired physician, I provide administrative and academic support for the program. I am so impressed with our students, many of whom are in recovery themselves, yet eager to learn and help others.”
Jeff Amen, Donor and Volunteer
PROVIDING Career Pathways
Community Action Marin provides a number of training programs to help people build skills and find employment in high demand fields. Participants in these programs also receive financial coaching or other support services they might need.
Among the programs planned for the coming year are:
Peer Support Specialist Training. A CalMHSA-approved, Medi-Cal program which provides a pathway for people with lived experience to obtain certification and find employment within the mental health system.
Associate Teacher Apprenticeship. Our hybrid classroom and work experience “The Pathways to Success” program helps participants jump-start their career in early childhood education, making them eligible for an Associate Teacher permit and employment at local childcare centers.
As a result of the inaugural Early Care & Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS) apprentice program, of the students who completed our survey:
86% are currently taking additional Early Childhood Education courses like Spanish, Safety, Nutrition, and Health to complete their requirements
100% strongly agreed or agreed that they received the appropriate training to help them complete their on-the-job training, that the instructors were available and helpful in the classroom and outside of class, and would recommend the program to other community members and colleagues
Supporting Family Childcare Network Providers
As part of our Workforce Development program, licensed childcare providers offer high-quality childcare for children 0–3 years of age and combine the standards of a childcare center with the personal touch and familiarity of a home environment. These providers may also receive agency services, such as free Income Tax Assistance or Utility Assistance, that can support them in their personal and professional development. They are also offered an in-house coach for technical assistance and are invited to all pre-service and in-service teaching staff training and monthly group meetings, led by our Family Childcare Network Manager.
Teaching Youth About Credit and Hard Work
Members of our Economic Justice team presented our new “Understanding Credit” workshop to nearly 75 participants aged 16–22, in the Career Explorers program. Funded by the Marin County Probation Department, the program is an eight-week summer internship aimed at local youth facing employment or career development barriers. These barriers included system involvement, having a justice-involved family member, or living in a high-risk environment. The program connected these youth with work opportunities in local government, public service, and at our community partners.
Allison Brooks, Jeff Amen, and Debbie Rogers at first Peer Support Specialist graduation
Stimulating Additional Economic Opportunities
One of the initiatives that is part of the County of Marin Race Equity Action Plan is to install a community marketplace at the Marin Civic Center. The marketplace, which will be farmer’s market style, will allow for local artists or businesses to sell their crafts and food products. There will also be a commissary kitchen, which will allow microbusinesses to cook food on the premises. A Microenterprise Support Coordinator is being assigned to spearhead this work in collaboration with the Marin County Economic Vitality Coordinator.
“There are so many people in our Marin community who have amazing talent and skills, and they are not seeing themselves as welcome in many community spaces. The marketplace will help break down barriers and facilitate an environment in which to celebrate the diversity of Marin.”
Heather Bettini, Assistant Vice President of Programs
Impact At
A Glance
543
SPARKPOINT PARTICIPANTS, 281 of which received
low-touch services and 263 were long-term clients
70%
OF FINANCIAL COACHING PARTICIPANTS improved their savings, credit, or debt by 30% or more, with 72% feeling more confident in themselves after participating in the program
$383.6k
refunded for the 261 FEDERAL TAX RETURNS processed in our VITA program during the 2024 tax season, with an average refund of $1,479 each
“Community Action Marin began working with Early Care & Education Pathways to Success (ECEPTS) in 2022 as a part of our first Community of Practice. As the lead community partner, they worked with North Bay Children’s Center, and the College of Marin to support 20 mostly monolingual apprentices in completing 12 units in Early Childhood Education and earning their Associate Teacher Certificate. Based on their exemplary work with their Spanish cohort and the use of the English Language Learner (ELL) funds they were awarded, they also ‘wowed’ the ELL grant team during a site visit. ECEPTS is quite proud of our partnership with CAM!”
Sandra D. Moore, Chief Program Officer,
Early Care & Education Pathways to Success
Food Justice
STRENGTHENING HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS
“We all have the right to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. Growing, cooking, and eating meals together is part of what unites us as people across generations and community. Food is a symbol for home, it represents who we are culturally, and it is essential to life.”
Erin Hawkins, Vice President,
Whole Family & Community Services
Generating Awareness of Climate Justice
Community Action Marin is focused on expanding and strengthening our programming to tackle the intersection of food security, racial equity, and climate justice. Our Appetite for Change initiative addresses this by connecting people back to the land, providing a space to engage with the environment and food. This helps promote healthy eating and facilitates an end to the structural inequities that lead to unequal health outcomes. The urban green spaces and gardens also serve as a place for social connection, education, and leadership opportunities for community members.
This initiative takes place over the course of six weeks and was piloted in April and May 2024. In the program, families share their cultural food practices and together learn how to grow fruits and vegetables, how to preserve them, and cook and use them in the meals they prepare.
Feeding Children and Seniors
Every day, our team prepares delicious and nutritious meals for more than 500 children in our childcare and education programs across the county. Operating out of our 2,000 square foot Central Kitchen, we ensure that every breakfast, lunch, and snack is prepared with love and care. We also use the facility to provide meals to seniors through congregate meals at local community centers and at our partner Vivalon Cafe in San Rafael.
Supporting Food Entrepreneurs & Local Businesses
When not in use for agency programs and there is capacity, we help to support local food entrepreneurs and non-profits that need a commercial kitchen by renting space.
“I really enjoyed facilitating the planning for Appetite for Change; participating in every class, maintaining the garden, and teaching the group. By the end of the six weeks parents and children were engaged, fully participating, and asking questions. It was awesome to witness. At the end, everyone wanted to know when they can come back and volunteer.”
Gabriel Yetnikoff, Permaculture Program Coordinator, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Roxanna E. teaches her children about growing and preparing healthy food in CAM’s community garden
Impact At A Glance
29.2k
MEALS PROVIDED to older adults
162.4k
meals and snacks provided to children, an 8% INCREASE over the prior year
61%
of families said that having their child enrolled in our early education program made it EASIER FOR THEM TO MEET BASIC NEEDS, including food
1,065 lbs
of fruit and vegetables GROWN AND HARVESTED
Entrepreneur Spotlight
Sally Li
Sally works in our Central Kitchen two days a week, building her granola business, Chantelle’s Granola. She has been a tenant in the kitchen since 2021. She started exploring commercial kitchens when she was working at home and recognized she needed more space and help to grow the business.
In taking the leap to a commercial kitchen, Sally looked at five different ones in the area before deciding on Community Action Marin’s Central Kitchen. Not only did the kitchen meet all her equipment needs, including a rolling garage door so she could easily load palettes of granola, but she liked that the agency was a non-profit and that she would be supporting a good cause and working in a space that prepares food for children and older adults.
“I am so appreciative of Community Action Marin and Jose and his team for supporting Chantelle’s Granola’s growth and contributing to our success. Community Action Marin’s friendly kitchen atmosphere provides us with connections with other tenants for experience sharing. I also appreciate the regular maintenance and licensing support I received from the kitchen to make our FDA (Food and Drug Administration)/PFR (Processed Food Registration) renewal, inspections. and certification a breeze. I look forward to a long-term relationship with the agency.”
Our Mission
We make it possible for people in Marin To achieve well-being by providing the vital services they need. Together, we break down the barriers that get in the way of
fair and lasting change in service to better outcomes for all.
Supporting food and climate justice at our Old Gallinas Production Farm
Our staff use play and activity-based interventions to support children with exceptional needs
Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters joins staff in support of early education programs at our Manzanita Childcare Center
Individuals & families get assistance with their taxes through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program
Stepping Up For Marin
Step Up Marin is an evening of connection and impact when local Marin residents, advocates, elected officials, staff, and volunteers gather to help advance our mission of well-being for all who call Marin home. This past spring our event raised approximately $28,000 in funds for our anti-poverty movement building efforts. Thank you to keynote speaker Johnathan Logan, who spoke of courage and hope for all in our county.
As we do every year, an individual who has led the way in partnership with our staff to earn their own way forward was selected from among nominations provided by our staff as our Community Courage award winner. Our courage award is given to the individual who best exemplifies the agency’s values of relationship, unity, service, and inclusivity and who puts these values into action for greater life success. This award brings recognition to their tremendous effort and belief in what’s possible.
Chandra and board members at Step up Marin—raising support to help advance our mission
2024 community courage recipient: bless krieger
”Bless is very regimented and will often go without something so he can stay on track. He’ll then wait until his next payday and budget out what he wants to get. Bless now sees a bright future for himself and a second chance at life.”
Debbie Brown, Success Coach, Community Action Marin
“We are seeing, feeling, and experiencing injustice and oppression, and it hurts.
It does something to the soul that is really debilitating. People who have come before us have figured out how to come together and actually make a change and build the world that they wanted to see for themselves and for future generations. I believe that we as a community can meet the moment that we’re in and really build for the future. It’s the notion of courage to hope. Everyone deserves to live in a world where they can thrive and it’s courage that can help us move closer to this reality. Through Community Action Marin, Chandra, the team, and board, we are inspired to continue to hope.”
Johnathan Logan,
Step Up Marin 2024 Keynote Speaker and
Founder & Managing Principal, JDL Strategies
Volunteer Spotlight
Mike Smylie
Mike Smylie joined the Board in 2023, where he also serves as Board Treasurer. Mike had been an environmental consultant for over 40 years, working in over 45 countries with many of the world’s largest companies in the refining, chemical, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor/high technology industries. After retiring, Mike committed himself to community service and volunteer activities.
“From my time with Community Action Marin, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the challenges surrounding homelessness and poverty. I’ve seen firsthand the causes and consequences, both personally and for society. These issues don’t just affect individuals—they impact entire communities, leading to social divisions, prejudice, and fear towards those seen as different or outsiders. In today’s world, it seems like these challenges are everywhere. When a community shares wealth and opportunity more equally, it’s healthier socially and psychologically. It’s important to recognize that people experiencing homelessness or poverty are as diverse as anyone else; their commonality is often a lack of support.”
2024
Financials
Community Action Marin continues to have a strong balance sheet with $8.05 million in net assets of which $6.1m are unrestricted. Liquidity is also very strong with 77% of assets in cash, investments, and receivables, $5.8m cash and equivalents plus an investment pool of $2.8m. Liabilities are primarily from contract advances, payroll, and accrued liabilities with virtually no debt.
Revenues reported in FY24 continued to perform strongly for the sixth year in a row at $32.25 million, increasing by 17% compared to FY23.
Notably, the agency took on administration of County of Marin rental assistance efforts, distributing funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Most of the increase in funds were a direct pass through that benefited Marin County families.
For every $1 of federal Community Services Block Grant funds, the agency leveraged $95.05 from other federal, state, and local government sources. Additionally, our fundraising efforts yielded 8.07 times in private contributions for every $1 dollar invested.
Our Team
Board of Directors
Jeff Babcock
Jennifer McInnis
Mike Smylie
Sean Casey
Cristina McKenzie
Adam Hirschfelder
Alexandra Morehouse
Drew Ellsworth
Pamela Tom
Robert Sindelar
Violeta Krasnić
Mary Donovan
Leadership
Chandra Alexandre
Chief Executive Officer
Elizabeth Valone
Chief Operating Officer
Gina Guillemette
Chief Strategy Officer
Erin Hawkins
Vice President,
Whole Family &
Community Services
Korinna Pedrosa
Vice President,
Human Resources
Michelle Fountain
Vice President,
Behavioral Health & Training
Shana Hewitt
Vice President,
Early Education
Heather Bettini
Assistance Vice President, Programs
Michelle Fox
Assistant Vice President, Early Education
Paula Kuhn
HR Director
Christina Boothman
Senior Director,
Site Support
Alex Tolkach
Director, Operations
Jennifer Bell
Director,
Inclusion & Disabilities
Kristopher Budi
Director,
Economic Justice
Laurel Hill-Lubiszewski
Director,
Safety Net Services
Melissa Cunningham
Director, Family Well-being
Mo De Nieva-Marsh
Director,
Community Partnerships
Rob Palmer
Learning and
Evaluation Advisor
Shuddha Butler
Director, Executive Office and Administration
Patrick James
Wales-Dinan
Senior Manager,
Data Analytics
Our VIsion
All of us in Marin have an equal opportunity to live our lives with dignity and respect.
Thank You
To Our Donors & Sponsors
Over $1 Million
California Department of Education
California Department of Social Services
County of Marin
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start
State of California Department of Community Services and Development
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
$100,000 To $999,999
Marin County Community Development Agency
Marin County Health and Human Services
State of California Workforce Development Board
Tipping Point Community
United Way Bay Area
$25,000 To $99,999
Bank of America
Center for Domestic Peace
Front Porch— Home Match Marin
Kaiser Permanente
Johanna Leestma
Legal Aid of Marin
Marin Community Foundation
Partnership HealthPlan of California
Wells Fargo Foundation
$5,000 To $24,999
Center For Volunteer And Non-Profit Leadership
CitiGroup
Fetzer Rock Fund —John & Patricia
Hilltop Foundation
Mark Menning
OMW Corp
Roger Peters
Rossi Family Foundation
Rotary Club of Marin Sunrise Foundation
Beth Roy Jenkyn
Dennis Ryan
Slevin Family Giving Fund
Mike Smylie
Sundial Fund of the Marin Community Foundation
Walter Family
$1,000 To $4,999
Chandra Alexandre
Jeffrey M. Babcock
Rebecca Baldwin
Blackbaud Giving Fund
Stuart Brown
Sean Casey
Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund
Judith Coy
Hali Croner
Mel Croner
Andrew Ellsworth
Paul Finkle & Susan DeVinny
Christine Godfrey
Darlene Goins
Stan & Joan Green
David Grubb
John & Mary Kaufmann
Kirkpatrick Family Charitable Fund
Johnathan and Amber Logan
Cristina MacKenzie
Andrew F. and Ann B. Mathieson Fund
Patti McGovern
McNabb Foundation
Jeffrey Mogalian
Monarch Dana Fund
Alexandra Morehouse
Tonya Newstetter
Sausalito Jewelers
Redwood Credit Union Community Fund, Inc.
Christopher Senn
Robert Sindelar
Templeton Family Fund
Albert Varner
Jason Watkins
Wipfli Foundation
Sandra Yoffie
$1 To $999
Lana Adlawan
Yoshiko Adler
Tim Arnett
Gabriel Barkin
Alice Bartholomew
Kevin Bartram
Pat Becker
Caity Beita
Lisa Bennett
Lisa Beritzhoff
Robyn Berry
Andrew Bettini
Brian Bettini
Heather Bettini
Scott Binnings
Bobbarjung and Rao Charitable Fund
Harold Brevig
Jeff Broussard
Susan Brown
Andrew Burke
Ronald J. Burlick
John Burnham
Edward Carr
Rebecca Cate
Tammy Chandler
Charities Aid Foundation America
Barbara Coler
Thomas Conneely
Lisa Cook
Donald Cowan
Roger Crawford
Susan Cronk
Nicholas & Natalie Daher
Brian Delahunt
Della Valle Family Fund
Marguerite Digiorgio
Ylva Dominy
Mary Donovan
Judith Dowling
Robert Dubow
Crystal Duran
Lisa Dyakovski
Tammy Edmonson
Francine Falk-Allen
$1 To $999
Matt Farrell
Stacey Farrell
Gregory Fearon
Feat2Eat
Jeanne Felton
Shelley Finci
David Firshein
Michelle Fountain
Julia S. Frank
Vinton Freedley
Ana L. Frias-Bravo
Joanne Fyfe
Barbara Galyen
Janice C. Gannon
Charles Gardiner
Paul Girard
Give Lively Foundation
Robert Glass
Denis G. Gleason
Robert Gloistein
Jeffrey Greendorfer
Gregorian Charitable Giving Fund
David J. Guggenhime
Gina Guillemette
Joel Gumbiner
Erin Hawkins
Shana Hewitt
Adam Hirschfelder
Tracy Hoffman
Rosalinda Holing
Laresha Huffman
Gregory Hughes
Bill Jones
Kristina Kaiser
Rachel Kertz
Alison Kihara
Cynthia King
Catherine King
Sharon Kovalsky
Laurie Krashanoff
Violeta Krasnić
Murray Kucherawy
Mary and Christina Landles-Cobb
Patricia Lee
Nancy Lee
Mimi Lee
Bobbie Lemontt
Jonathan Leone
Blake Levijoki
Bei Li
Fillippo Lo Coco
Richard Lundberg
Michael Macdonald
Carl Macki
Elizabeth Maggio
M. Maniates
Rosalie Marcovecchio
Marin County Cooperation Team
Marin County Senior Information
Chloe & Christopher Martin
Jack Maslow
Tim McCarthy
Casey McGovern
$1 To $999
Brett Mcgovern
Jennifer McInnis
Laura Mcmahon
Mary Griffith Menninger
Macdonald Michael
Mark Milberg
Sally Minchin
Nick Morris
Ayumi Nagase
Laurean Nardone
Kieran Norton
Molly B. O’Donoghue
Ron Olson
Abby Ottenhoff
Rob Palmer
Caryn Papiro
Meredith Parnell
Michael Parrett
Calvin Patton
Rosemary Pedrosa
Linda Penney
Francisco Perez
Kenneth Perlmutter
Susan and Rich Perlstein
Peter Pratt
Matthew Purdon
Anthony Ragona
Raymond James
Kappy Reed
Margaret Rindler
Sarah Rowell
Jeffrey Schneider
Lynn Scuri
Margot Segal
Justin Semion
Ed Sileo
Victoria Silverman
Lori Smith
Leslie A. Smith
Cheryl Sorokin
Daniel St. John
Caitlin Stanton
Michael Stein
Toni Sterling
Ronald L. Stolowitz
Daniel Stuempfig
Pamela Swarts
Samuel Syde
Richard Tarrant
Geeta Tate
Thomas Family Trust
James Tighe
Pamela Tom
United Markets, Inc.
United Way Worldwide
Lauren Vreeland-Long
Desire Wall
David Waluk
Steve West
Jolie Wineroth
Heidi Woods
Jennifer Xiao
Mark Zhang
Carolyn Zwicker
We are Grateful for our many supporters and occasionally are not able to list a generous donor. If you would like to be acknowledged for your gift, please contact our team at development@camarin.org.
Community Action Promise
Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are
dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
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