Partnerships are critical to Community Action Marin’s ability to achieve its mission of reducing poverty and improving the lives of individuals and families of low-income in Marin County. Breaking down the barriers that get in the way of fair and lasting change in service to better outcomes for all, requires a collective and collaborative effort by many stakeholders in our community. Our goal is to help Marin residents thrive and build a stronger safety net of support among the various organizations and agencies serving Marin County.
Across our agency, we work with our Marin partners in a variety of ways including:
Referral & Resource Networks: We maintain referral networks across the county to ensure that Marin residents receive the services they need. We publish the Marin Resource Guide which is an annually curated guide to local resources. Compiled with a special focus on families and individuals with low incomes, the guide plays a vital role in connecting people with services, and being a part of the support we create together in Marin. It is utilized by people seeking services, as well as our fellow service providers looking to connect clients with resources and is available in English and Spanish.
Community Advocacy: We partner with other organizations to advocate for policy changes that benefit the community. For example, we’ve teamed up with Canal Alliance, Legal Aid of Marin, and North Marin Community Services to advance housing policy solutions to increase affordable housing, protect tenants, and prevent homelessness.
Shared Resources: Sharing things with partners, such as office space, equipment, or staff, can help reduce overhead costs and maximize resources. Our Central Kitchen in San Rafael is a 2,000 square foot facility, one of only a few commercial kitchens in the county, which provides a base of operations for local food-focused small businesses. The kitchen is appropriate for food trucks, caterers, bakers, and entrepreneurs, and is also available for one-time and long-term tenancy and is the perfect space for someone just starting a business or who might need a little extra space for storage. Chantelle’s Granola moved their artisan, 100% organic granola business from their home kitchen to the Community Action Marin Central Kitchen in October 2021. Owner Sally Li said that the expanded workspace and multiple professional convection ovens helped improve their productivity.
Impactful Programming: Some of our services require collaboration with other organizations to leverage strengths and deliver maximum impact. Our partnership with ExtraFood and San Anselmo-based Insalatas Restaurant allows us to deliver soup twice a week to about 200 welcome recipients at our ten Children and Family Services childcare centers, as well as to two of our Senior Congregant Meal locations in the county. Hunger and limited access to healthy food are realities for people of low income in Marin, despite the county’s general affluence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity intensified among families of low-income and communities of color we serve within the county. Our new partnership with ExtraFood and Insalatas Restaurant is an example of what we can do together to make healthy, good food accessible.
Timely Response: We partner with volunteers and staff from other organizations to support vital community programs and services that arise in response to community need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we partnered with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to operate weekly food banks for residents in Marin.
Overall, Community Action Marin’s partnerships with other organizations are essential to its ability to effectively serve the community. By working together, each organization can maximize their resources and impact, and ensure that the needs of the community are met.
There are many ways we can partner together to get people on a path to self-sufficiency and thriving and make our community stronger.
- Be a part of our ecosystem of support
- Explore how you can partner with our services
- Become an event partner
- Refer those in need to our services
- Ask to be included in our annual Resource Guide
- Feature each other in e-news, and
- Provide links to each other’s services
Please reach out to us at development@camarin.org with questions and to learn more.