Step Up Marin! is May 29!
Community Action Marin is honored to welcome acclaimed author and beloved Marin advocate Anne Lamott as the keynote speaker for Step Up Marin! 2026.
A Guggenheim Fellowship honoree and inductee into the California Hall of Fame, Lamott is the author of seven novels and numerous bestselling works of nonfiction. Her 2024 book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, debuted as a #1 New York Times bestseller and her newest release, Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences, is out now.
With her signature humor and honesty, Anne invites us to reflect on what it means to show up for one another—even in difficult times—and why community matters more than ever.
Join us May 29th for an unforgettable evening in support of Community Action Marin’s anti-poverty movement building at our 5th annual signature event, Step Up Marin!
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ADVOCACY
Community Voices Driving Change in Sacramento
Last month, staff and parents represented Marin at the Immigrant Day of Action at the Capitol in Sacramento. Alongside more than 60 community members and partner organizations, they advocated for the rights of our immigrant neighbors.
During a meeting with Assemblymember Damon Connolly, they shared their lived experience, providing insights that can help shape policies that expand opportunity and strengthen pathways to thrive.
We thank our partners at Marin Community Foundation and Canal Alliance for helping make moments like these possible.
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FOOD & CLIMATE JUSTICE
Spring Has Arrived at Our Production Farm in San Rafael!
Warmer weather is bringing new life to our garden. Sugar snap peas are ready for harvest, seedlings are thriving, and our hydroponic lettuce continues to grow strong. Children are actively caring for the plants—learning, exploring, and growing alongside the garden as we prepare for the summer season.
Across Marin, access to healthy food remains out of reach for too many of our neighbors. By growing fresh, nourishing food and partnering across the county, we’re working to expand food access and advance food justice.
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HOUSING JUSTICE
Compassion in Action Through Housing Support
After experiencing homelessness near the San Rafael harbor, a Community Action Marin client recently received the keys to an apartment he can now call home. With the compassionate support of our Housing Justice team, he progressed step by step, overcoming each barrier until achieving stability.
“What stood out most wasn’t just his milestone—it was his reaction: gratitude, relief, and a sense of dignity being restored,” shared Ronaldo Campos, Housing Based Case Manager. “After everything he’d been through, he didn’t express anger or frustration, just appreciation for finally being given a chance.”
The journey from crisis to self-sufficiency is often long and challenging. Thank you to our dedicated Housing Justice team for providing support to our neighbors with dignity and respect.
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ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Celebrating a Historic Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Season!
Community Action Marin just concluded a record-breaking Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) season! Thanks to our incredible volunteers and staff, our Marin neighbors secured over $567,000 in refunds and saved an estimated $103,800 in filing fees!
2026 VITA Impact:
- 346 returns filed (13% increase)
- 627 community members supported
- 90 older adults served
- $214,734 in Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) returned to local workers
Thank you to our Economic Justice team—including our incredible volunteers—for dedicating their time to ensure our neighbors of low-income received the refunds they deserved.
We’re proud to help our community thrive, one return at a time.
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ECONOMIC JUSTICE
ECEPTS retreat
Community Action Marin team members recently joined partners from North Bay Children’s Center, San Geronimo Childcare Center, and College of Marin at the ECEPTS (Early Care and Education Pathways to Success) network retreat. The gathering brought together apprenticeship programs from across the region to share ideas, strengthen partnerships, and align efforts.
During the retreat, our team led a panel on effective strategies for onboarding employer partners, sparking a collaborative discussion on how to expand youth apprenticeship opportunities. Together, participants explored what it takes to build accessible, sustainable pathways into early care and education.
These connections move the work forward, helping create stronger systems and clearer pathways for the next generation of early educators.
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CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
Building Confidence and Curiosity Through Collaboration
Curious minds are at work over at our Old Gallinas Children’s Center in San Rafael. The children in our school-aged after school program, ExploraKids, are bringing hands-on learning to life.
Pictured is a group of students showcasing their activity to their peers, setting an inspiring example for all.
Thanks to the motivation, dedication, and creativity of our teachers, the children explore, learn, and express themselves in their own unique ways!
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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.