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In this Issue
- We did it! Thank You for Your Support
- Last Call: Winter Climate Action Workshop
- Resilient Neighborhoods in the Community
- News from Our Partners
- Community Events Calendar
| | We Did It! Thank You for Your Support | | |
Resilient Neighborhoods' committed community of supporters makes our work possible!
To everyone who gave generously through our Giving Tuesday and Year-End Fundraising Campaigns, thank you. Your donations were matched by a generous donor, providing a total of $31,510 to Resilient Neighborhoods.
To all who volunteered in 2025, thank you. Your contributions of time and expertise made it possible for us to bring our community together through Party for a Cooler Planet, expand our public climate education through community events, and much more.
To all who are interested in getting involved in 2026, whether by donating, volunteering, recruiting new team members, or in another way, thank you! We depend on our community to carry out this work.
Your generous contributions of financial support, time and professional expertise strengthen our ability to empower our Marin neighbors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for emergencies, and create resilient, connected communities. We extend our heartfelt gratitude.
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Contact Erica Heimberg, Community Engagement Director
at erica@resilientneighborhoods.org to get involved in 2026!
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LAST CALL!
Next Climate Action Workshop Kickoff :
Wed, Jan 14 | 4:00 - 5:30 pm
| |  | Free for Marin Renters and Homeowners! | | | |
"Resilient Neighborhoods has been a life changer for me. I have often wondered about what I could do to help change the direction of global warming, and didn’t know where to start. What I learned is that I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE by taking small steps, such as making my home more energy efficient, thus lowering my energy bill, using my bike to make shorter trips, and getting exercise! ...And having a 1-year and 5-year plan. The program ...has given me accountability, purpose, and a new way to connect with friends and neighbors." -Sandy Jacklin, Team Tam
| | Resilient Neighborhoods in the Community | | | | |
Date: Thursday, Jan 15, 2026
Time: 5 pm - 7 pm
Place: San Rafael City Hall,
1400 5th Avenue, downtown,
3rd Floor Conference Room
Register: If you can’t make it in person, please Register on Zoom:
The agenda includes:
- Marin Biomass Project presentation
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Ride and Drive Clean: pivoting from the loss of Federal EV incentives
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Resilient Neighborhoods: new programs
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City of San Rafael Sustainability updates: EV charging, sea level rise, climate justice +
| | The City of San Rafael's first quarterly Climate Action Forum of 2026 will feature a panel including our very own Executive Director, Kathren Murrell Stevenson! The event will be hosted by Councilmember Llorens Gulati and the Sustainability Team. Bill Carney, President of Sustainable San Rafael, will share one of his original poems to kick off the forum. | | |
During the chilly months, many of us are grabbing our warmest clothes or looking for a new winter wardrobe staple. However, fast fashion and ever-changing trend cycles led to vast amounts of clothing waste. Studies have found that 80 billion items of clothing are purchased globally every year, with the average clothing item only being worn 7 times!
Instead of buying new items this winter, you can prevent textile waste and still acquire stylish items by taking these actions instead:
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Mend and Repair: Check out mending classes at a local community college, or take a sewing workshop! YouTube has great instructional videos, too!
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Shop Your Closet: Do a closet assessment and fall in love with items you might have forgotten you had.
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Shop Second-Hand: Visit your local thrift store! There are also online marketplaces dedicated to pre-owned clothing, such as Poshmark, ThredUp, eBay, and local Buy Nothing groups on social media.
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Learn About Take Back & Repair Programs: See if stores or brands offer repair or take-back of items; for example, Patagonia offers repairs on their products, and Madewell has started a secondhand marketplace of pre-owned Madewell items. Or repair your clothing at a Repair Fair!
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Host a Clothing Swap: Looking for an indoor activity to do with your friends? Have everyone bring clothing items they no longer wear and host a clothing swap party!
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Marin Water encourages its customers to assess their indoor water usage during the winter months. During this time, most of the water used reflects daily habits like laundry and dishwashing, as well as costly leaks that may go unnoticed.
According to Marin Water, residential customers who are water-efficient use no more than 40 gallons of water per person per day indoors.
To help you evaluate your household's water usage, Marin Water offers an Online Water Use Efficiency Estimator. This tool allows you to compare your water consumption to that of a typical efficient home and offers tips on areas where you can save water. Try it out below!
| | Transportation Authority of Marin | | | | |
Here’s another idea for your
New Year’s Resolutions!
Consider making your commute to work more environmentally friendly. The 2026 New Year Commute Challenge begins on January 12! Join Marin Commutes in taking the first step towards a healthier, greener commute while earning exciting rewards along the way!
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New Carpool Rules for the
RICHMOND-SAN RAFAEL BRIDGE
Carpools with three or more people, two passengers in a two-seater, and motorcycles must use a FasTrak Flex Toll tag set to "3+” and drive in the designated carpool lanes to receive a 50% toll discount during posted carpool hours. Vehicles with two people and a FasTrak Flex tag set to "2" can use the marked carpool lanes during these hours, but do not qualify for a toll discount. Please note that two-person carpools are not allowed in the carpool lane on the Bay Bridge or the Golden Gate Bridge.
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Date: Friday, Jan 16, 2026
Time: 10 am - Noon
Register: Email Pat Carlone at pcarlone@hotmail.com
Place:
Roy's Redwoods, Nicasio Valley Road
San Geonimo, CA 94963
--0.5 mi up from the intersection with Sir Francis Drake Blvd
--Parking is available along Nicasio Valley Road
Walk with Reverence is for people of all ages and abilities. Whether moving at a moderate pace, a mindful stroll, or a reflective sit, this monthly gathering takes place at different locations that celebrate the land and waterscapes of Marin. The 2-hour format includes solo time and gentle group facilitation to support us in listening to and with the natural world. Each walk is hosted by members of the Marin Interfaith Council or the Marin Project Adapt Circle. For this Walk, please gather at the entrance to the Preserve.
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Monday, January 12 | 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm PST. A Practical Guide to Help Monarch Butterflies Survive. Marin Master Gardeners. Venue: San Anselmo Public Library. Monarch butterflies are in danger of extinction here in California. Learn about their life cycle/needs and practical steps that we can take in Marin County to help with their survival.
Thursday, January 15 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm PST. Panel: Organizing Older Climate Voters. Environmental Voter Project. Cohosts:Third Act, We the Seniors, and Elders Climate Action. According to EVP's recent report, Gray is the New Green: The Growing Strength of Older Climate Voters, Americans aged 65+ now make up the largest percentage of climate-first voters. Join EVP's Executive Director and a panel of experts for a discussion on organizing these older climate voters.
Saturday, January 17 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm PST. MLK Celebration: Mt. Tamalpais Habitat Restoration Day. Marin Water. Help protect the health of our oak woodland and grassland habitats by joining in Marin Water's ongoing effort to remove the invasive French broom, thus increasing the diversity of valuable plants and animals of the watershed. This is a hands-on opportunity to improve local ecosystems and connect with fellow nature lovers! Register Here
Saturday, January 17 | 9:00 am - 2:00 pm PST. Free Electronic and Tire Waste Collection Event. Marin County & Conservation Corps North Bay. Location: 5600 Nicasio Valley Road, Nicasio. This is the second of three free collection events for electronic waste and tires to help keep our community clean and sustainable. Full List of Accepted Items.
Wednesday, January 21 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST. MCL Climate Action Working Group. Marin Conservation League. Hear from the Bay Area Air District on developments with their heat pump water heater rule, which takes effect January 1, 2027, and also statewide action being considered from the State Air Resources Board. Also updates re: building electrification and Green Building Reach Codes.
Tuesday, January 27 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PST. Keeping Varmints at Bay. Marin Master Gardeners. Location: Belvedere-Tiburon Library. Come and get information and techniques to help home gardeners cope with these pests, such as deer, raccoons, gophers, and rats.
Saturday, January 31 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PST. Celebration of National Seed Swap Day and Opening of San Rafael Library's Seed Library. Marin Master Gardeners. Location: San Rafael Public Library. There will be a seed swap and plant exchange, along with planting tips and planting activities organized by the Marin Master Gardeners. Learn about pollinator plants and vegetables for your spring and summer gardens.
Saturday, January 31 | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm PST. Sausalito Repair Fair + Book & Clothing Swap. Do you have a lamp, small appliance, textile, or bike in need of repair? Bring it to the Repair Fair! Volunteers and specialized repair professionals will be on hand to repair your items. Stay with your item while it's being fixed, so you can learn tips for future maintenance, how to shop for repairable goods, and even how to repair things yourself! Pre-register your item(s).
| | Please Support Resilient Neighborhoods | | Your donation to Resilient Neighborhoods helps keep our program free and accessible to all Marin residents, and is fully tax-deductible. | | | |
Thank you!
Resilient Neighborhoods is a fiscally sponsored project of Sustainable Marin,
a 501c3 nonprofit, EIN 94-3308034.
| | | Thank you to our Partners | | | | |
