Partners support Novato Unified students with CalKIDS sign-ups to unlock free college savings accounts.

Dear Partners, 

In challenging times, real change begins at home. Together, we are building a stronger tomorrow.

On behalf of Marin Promise Partnership’s Leadership Team, we are proud to stand with you at this pivotal moment in our journey toward educational equity. Over the past decade, we’ve built a partnership rooted in trust, shared values, and a belief in the power of working together.

We know the world feels uncertain right now. In moments like these, our strength comes from uniting around a shared purpose. No single organization can meet this challenge alone, but through collective action, a deep commitment to equity, and systems-level change, we can ensure every child and family in our community has the opportunity to thrive.

This newsletter lifts up the real heart of our work: the partners leading change across our communities. It reflects what’s possible when we convene, connect, and amplify local efforts through our collective strength.

Your dedication to students and families is what makes this partnership real. Together, we are closing equity gaps and building a future where every student can achieve their full potential. We are excited to keep moving forward, stronger together.

In partnership,

Your Leadership Team Co-chairs

Chandra Alexandre

CEO, Community Action Marin

Omar Carrera

CEO, Canal Alliance

Dr. Jonathan Eldridge

Superintendent/President, College of Marin

Educator Diversity Initiative Graduates

After years of collaboration, a cross-sector effort to diversify Marin’s educator workforce is reaching a milestone. While the Educator Diversity Initiative is formally ending, its impact lives on through a sustainable Educator Pathway. From high school exposure to paid residencies and credentialing support, the pathway connects each step to help future teachers of color enter and stay in the profession. Built in partnership with K–12 districts, higher ed institutions, and community organizations, this pathway is a lasting investment in equity and a powerful model for systems change.

Partners Help Families Claim Over $47K in Free College Money

“College was not just a dream anymore, it was something I could actually reach.”

A Terra Linda High School senior reflects on discovering CalKIDS, California’s free college savings program for eligible students and newborns. This year, partners across Marin worked together to help families unlock over $47,000 in new savings, making it easier for students to pursue college with confidence and support. But there’s still more work to do, as many eligible accounts in Marin remain unclaimed.

Archie Williams Success Network Brings Community Together

On March 24, the Archie Williams High School Success Network, led by Ginnie Chu, hosted a community event that brought together over 100 students, families, and 18 resource providers. Partners included 10,000 Degrees, Familia En Acción, Marin County Office of Education, College of Marin, Canal Alliance, CalKids, and Karma Club. The event fostered belonging, strengthened whole child support, and connected families directly to resources. Over 10 students claimed more than $7,000 in scholarships through CalKids. Families and partners expressed strong enthusiasm for continuing events that build deeper connections and support student success.

New Partners Join the Leadership Team

We’re excited to welcome North Marin Community Services and Novato Unified School District to the Partnership’s Leadership Team. Their addition brings valuable insights to deepen place-based work in Novato and beyond. With more voices at the table, we can better align efforts, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and support student success across Marin.

📍Canal (San Rafael)

Marin Groups Join Forces to Boost Canal Area

Marin leaders have launched a six-month planning process to co-create the Canal Promise Neighborhood Plan. This place-based initiative is focused on improving the conditions that shape academic success by strengthening the ecosystem of support around children and families.

This effort brings together schools, government, nonprofits, and resident leaders to align strategies across education, housing, health, and economic opportunity. Guided by a cross-sector Steering Committee and supported by funding from the Marin Community Foundation and the Aspen Institute, the plan aims to reflect the community’s priorities and build lasting, resident-driven change.

Driving Impact through Results-Based Facilitation

Strengthening resident leadership is key to building a shared, community-led vision for the Canal. To support this work, Marin Promise Partnership’s backbone team, in collaboration with Canal Alliance, will launch the first cohort of Spanish-language Results-Based Facilitation (RBF) trainings in May. These sessions will equip Canal leaders—many of whom are part of initiatives like Voces de Canal, Nuestro Canal Nuestro Futuro, and the Leadership Academy— with skills to run inclusive, action-focused meetings that move community goals forward. This work is part of the Canal Promise Neighborhood Plan to create lasting, resident-driven change. Stay tuned for updates!

📍 Marin City

Parents Powered Up

Hosted by The Hannah Project, Parent University: Parents Powered Up brought together families for a full day of learning, connection, and community. As part of the event, Rommel Carrera, Director of the Family Engagement Initiative led Navigating Education as an Immigrant Family: Rights, Resources & Advocacy—a workshop designed to equip parents with the tools to better understand the education system. Parents left the session feeling more confident. One parent shared, “I didn’t know any of this,” after learning how to navigate the school system to better support their child’s education. These workshops are part of our ongoing work to empower families with the knowledge to become confident advocates and to strengthen family-school partnerships. 

📍Novato

ELAC Trainings are Strengthening Family-School Partnerships

Through the Family Engagement Initiative, parent leaders and staff across multiple Novato Unified School District school sites are working together to build more sustainable family-school partnerships.

A recent series of English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) trainings is helping to strengthen meeting agendas, promote more inclusive discussions, and keep meetings focused on outcomes using the Results-Based Facilitation model. The trainings also introduced the Education Navigation System, equipping families with clearer tools to navigate and advocate for their children's academic journeys. Early feedback shows participants already applying these skills and strengthening site meetings. These shifts demonstrate the power of families to lead meaningful change within school systems.

📍West Marin

Bridge the Gap Expansion into West Marin is Boosting Student Success

A few months ago, we shared a story about how bringing Bridge the Gap tutoring to Tomales High School emerged as a key strategy from the Tomales Success Network to improve College & Career readiness outcomes. That strategy came to life through the official launch of tutoring services, with funding support from the West Marin Scholarship Program and Marin Community Foundation. The on-campus program is now led by Tomales alum Adriana Quintana, who also leads the Tomales Success Network.

Students are gaining access to tutoring, mentoring, and college readiness resources. The Tomales Success Network is actively studying the program’s impact. Early results show the program has stronger student engagement and fewer DFI rates (the rate at which D, F, I or "No Mark" grades are issued).  As recently highlighted in the Marin Independent Journal, the growing impact of Bridge the Gap’s expansion into Tomales High proves that it truly takes a village to help students thrive.

Lessons from the Road: Insights from visiting place-based partnerships across the StriveTogether network

In March, Michael Looft, the Backbone Team's Director of Technology, set out on a road trip to visit fellow place-based partnerships across the country. Along the way, he explored how communities are tackling similar challenges—like data sharing, equity in education, and systems change. His reflections remind us how staying connected to the national StriveTogether network helps our backbone team bring fresh insight, tested strategies, and renewed purpose back to our work here in Marin.

Connecting Our Local Work to a National Movement

This month, Richard Raya visited Harvard University as a Senior Fellow with The EdRedesign Lab’s Fellowship for Cradle to Career Partnership Leaders. He shared how Marin Promise Partnership is building a place-based, cross-sector approach to improve outcomes for children and families in Marin’s communities facing systemic barriers. This national network of leaders is strengthening the cradle to career movement across the country and bringing fresh tools, connections, and momentum to our collective work here at home.

Welcome Shilpa to the Partnership!

We’re thrilled to announce that Shilpa Bhongir has joined the backbone team as the interim Director of Partner Capacity Building & Training. Shilpa will be supporting the Future Ready Initiative including Success Networks and Community Schools in Marin City and West Marin.

Learn more about Shilpa

In Gratitude for Longtime Service

After nearly a decade with Marin Promise Partnership, Shelley Hamilton is returning to her consulting career at Hamilton Consulting, continuing to apply her expertise in collaborative project facilitation and collective impact. We thank Shelley for her deep commitment to educational equity in Marin. During her time as an action team facilitator, communications lead, and data strategist, she played a key role in MPP’s growth and evolution. We’re grateful for her service to our Partnership's shared mission. To connect with Shelley, reach out by email or call/text.

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The Latest Initiative Newsletters

Cultural Fusion Fair

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Terra Linda High School

1:00pm-4:00pm

Hosted by the Racial Equity Subcommittee of the Marin County Youth Commission, this free, family-friendly event celebrates Marin’s diverse cultures through music, dance, student panels and Know Your Rights sessions. Enjoy community connection, cultural learning, and a free Central American meal from Taqueria El Patron. All are welcome.

Meet Your Mayor - 3rd Annual Youth Town Hall

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Marin County Civic Center

2:00pm-4:00pm

High school and college students across Marin are invited to meet their local mayors, hear presentations, and engage in a live Q&A. Hosted by the Marin County Student Elections Ambassador Program, the Elections Department, the League of Women Voters, and Marin County Office of Education.

3rd Annual Career Fair

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Multicultural Center of Marin

3:00pm-6:00pm

Open to ages 16 and up, this event was created to connect community members with meaningful career pathways. The fair focuses on helping youth, especially those from underrepresented communities, access entry-level jobs, paid internships, and local support services. Hosted by TayRadio of the Multicultural Center of Marin.

Undergraduate Educator Pathway Launch 

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

10:00am-11:30am

Hosted by the Marin County Office of Education, this training is designed for student support staff (such as college guidance, admissions, registration, etc) to learn how to connect aspiring educators to the new Educator Pathway.

Maternal Mental Health Forum 

Friday, May 2, 2025

Dominican University

1:00pm-4:45pm

A free community forum on perinatal mental health, suicide prevention, and local support services. Includes presentations, a panel discussion, and interactive breakouts. Co-hosted by Marin County Health and Human Services, Dominican University, Postpartum Support Center, and First 5 Marin.

Community Fair

Saturday, May 3, 2025

Canal Alliance

12:00pm-4:00pm

Community members from the Canal are invited to explore what’s next for the Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro initiative. Enjoy music, raffles, tacos, and family-friendly activities while learning about community-driven solutions around housing, education, safety, and sea level rise.

Mill Valley Music Festival May 10-11, 2025

Friends Field, Mill Valley

The Mill Valley Music Festival returns for a weekend celebration with live music, student art from Tam High’s Visual Arts program, a live mural by Canal Arts, and lawn games for kids hosted by Play Marin. It’s a joyful space for all ages, rooted in the partnerships and people that make Marin unique.

Mission

We are working together to close educational equity gaps at every stage along a student’s journey from cradle to career.

Vision

Every child in Marin can reach their full educational potential regardless of their race, ethnicity, income, background, or zip code.

Connect with us!

101 Lucas Valley Road #360

San Rafael, CA 94903