Partnership Newsletter

January 2025

Partners from the Car Seats for West Marin Kids program at the Car Seat Check & Giveaway Event (Nov 2024)

This year, Marin Promise Partnership is embarking on a bold place-based approach to advance our shared vision of educational equity—ensuring every student in Marin has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

By focusing the strength of our partnerships in places like the Canal, Marin City, Novato, and West Marin, we are working collectively to break down barriers, protect vulnerable neighbors, and build a shared vision for a stronger, more equitable future. When communities thrive, so do the students and families who call them home.

In this newsletter, you’ll find updates that bring this vision to life—efforts that center communities, align resources, and meet the unique needs of families where they live. Together, partners are working to transform systems to ensure every student can succeed, no matter their race, ethnicity, zip code, or circumstance.

-Richard Raya, CEO

Family Engagement

Targeted trainings are empowering parents with the knowledge and tools to advocate for equity and lead change in schools. Parents are reporting increased confidence in their leadership roles, with one training boosting confidence from 57% to 93%.

One parent shared: "Es importante que se den estos entrenamientos a más familias y en las escuelas." ("It's important that these trainings are given to more families and in schools.") Read more about these trainings and their impact in the latest Family Engagement newsletter.

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Early Learning & Literacy

The new Canal Early Learning Collaborative Action Network (ELCAN) is strengthening local early learning systems by addressing barriers unique to the Canal neighborhood.

We are also excited to share news about a district-preschool partnership between Lagunitas School District and the San Geronimo Child Care Center to expand affordable preschool access. Recognized as a promising practice, these partnerships have demonstrated success in creating more slots, improving teacher retention, and enhancing program quality, ultimately preparing more children for future success.

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Future Ready

Success Networks are scaling, with Novato High planning to launch in Spring 2025.

The A-G as Default Team is meeting regularly to institutionalize A-G courses as the standard curriculum. This work would ensure all students are enrolled in courses required for California college admissions.

Read the latest news about Future Ready partners here.

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Educator Diversity

Have you heard about the Educator Pathway?

Partners are close to finalizing this preparation and apprenticeship model, which would help community members become educators. From earning a teaching credential to becoming a classroom assistant, there are entry points for everybody. By partnering with schools, colleges, and community organizations, the pathway removes barriers in an effort to diversify the educator workforce in Marin.

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Why This Rural Community's Car Seat Project Goes Beyond Safety

Car Seats for West Marin Kids is providing free car seats and bilingual installation support to families in need. The program has shifted how safety checks are delivered, created local expertise through bilingual training, and established a collaborative model for addressing rural transportation challenges.

Read about how this community-driven effort is doing more than solving individual problems—it's transforming systems.

Learn about the impact

Community Visits with Partners

In his first few months as CEO, Richard Raya has visited partners across the Canal, Marin City, Novato, and West Marin. These visits have been invaluable for understanding the unique strengths and needs of each community and for fostering the place-based collaboration needed to drive systemic change.

Click on the images to read Richard's insights on his visits.

How Dashboards Are Helping This School District Address Inequities

Sausalito-Marin City School District (SMCSD) worked alongside our backbone team to develop public dashboards that are now empowering the district to spotlight disparities, measure progress, and share critical insights with the community. By focusing on key indicators like enrollment, attendance, academic achievement, and equity gaps, these dashboards provide the foundation for systemic improvements that align resources with student needs.

Explore SMCSD’s data dashboards

Explore our Data Dashboards

Milestones Overtime

Public School Enrollment

Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ)

Contributing Indicators

Educator Diversity

National Recognition for Our Community Dashboard

Marin Promise Partnership has been nationally recognized as one of only two place-based initiatives in the U.S publicly setting measurable targets to reduce disparities and achieve more equitable outcomes. This recognition is featured in Finding Common Purpose’s research brief, Place-Based Initiatives’ Growing Use of Community Dashboards (pages 3, 8, 11, 12, and 15), which highlights best practices for using data to drive meaningful and sustainable impact within local communities.

Check out our Community Dashboard (Progress Report) to see how we’re making a difference in Marin—and access the full research brief below to learn how communities from Maine to California are leveraging data and dashboards to improve lives and reduce disparities

Read the report

Sausalito Marin City School District

Sausalito-Marin City School District hosted the first event in its Desegregation and Equity Series, exploring the district’s desegregation history and its ongoing commitment to equity. The event featured personal reflections, insights from historian David Duncan, a screening of the BBC’s Man Alive: The Mood of America, and a powerful panel discussion with local leaders. Together, these stories challenge us to honor the past by shaping a more just future.

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Marin Immigrant Rights & Justice

Over 100 leaders from 48 organizations gathered at the Newcomer Action Planning Convening hosted by Marin Immigrant Rights & Justice to address barriers faced by Marin’s immigrant communities. With data showing Marin County has one of the highest percentages of English learners and immigrant students in California, workgroups focused on tackling challenges such as fear of accessing services and strengthening coordination among agencies. As we prepare for the uncertainty of the next presidential administration, this convening highlighted the unwavering commitment of partners working to protect and uplift our most vulnerable communities.

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New Leadership to our Board

We’re thrilled to announce the addition of three new members to Marin Promise Partnership’s Board of Directors. These dynamic leaders bring a wealth of experience and dedication to education, equity, philanthropy, and innovation.

Ebony Marshall

Senior Philanthropic Advisor,

Marin Community Foundation

Shad Ahmed

Senior Advisor, Opportunity@Work

Omar Carerra

CEO,

Canal Alliance

Learn more about our new board members

Welcome our new Director of Development!

We’re thrilled to announce that Sarah Meding has joined the backbone team as the new Director of Development. Join us in welcoming Sarah to the Partnership!

→ Read Sarah's Bio

A Bittersweet Farewell

After more than five impactful years with Marin Promise Partnership, Ana Bell (Director of Future Ready Initiative) has moved on to a new role with the County of Marin. Ana’s expertise in facilitation, coaching, and Results-Based Accountability advanced equity efforts across networks like the Tomales Success Network and Tam Unified High School District. We’re excited she’ll continue collaborating with us as a partner, supporting the county’s DEIB goals. Thank you, Ana!

Community Resources

Explore the Marin County Newcomer Asset Map

The Marin County Newcomer Asset Map, developed in collaboration with Marin Immigrants Rights and Justice, is a valuable tool that maps out programs and services supporting immigrants. Explore the map to find resources, uncover system gaps, and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Access the Map

Community Advocate: West Marin & The Canal

Marin Community Foundation is hiring!

"The position is instrumental in fostering collaborative efforts to tackle urgent social challenges and propel MCF’s mission forward."

View Job Description

Marin Immigrants Rights & Justice Resources

Use this spreadsheet to view upcoming events and resource guides related to immigration to support providers and community members in understanding legal rights and how to access services.

Visit the Resource

Youth Grant Proposal Application

Youth can receive up to $1000 for service and social justice projects

in their school or community. Please share this opportunity. Applications close February 1, 2025.

View Application

Learning Resources

Place-Based Insights from Maryland’s Enough Act

Watch this video to explore how this place-based initiative is addressing systemic inequities in Maryland by empowering communities to define their own needs and aligning resources to meet them.