Marin Organizing Committee

Parent Services Project is a member of the Marin Organizing Committee (MOC), a broad-based organization of religious and nonprofit institutions working to create relational power that can build and strengthen member institutions as well as shape Marin County's public policy for the common good. Many PSP families have been involved in MOC's efforts to change the San Rafael Police Department's policy around towing/impoundment that impacts unlicensed drivers. For years, immigrant families have had their cars impounded for a mandatory 30 days at a minor traffic stop and have paid as much as $3,000 to get their cars back. In September, after much MOC advocacy on the issue, the San Rafael Police Department agreed to a change in policy. This policy follows a majority of surrounding cities in Marin County and the Bay Area that have adopted similar policies. Subsequently, in October, Governor Jerry Brown signed new legislation AB 353 (Cedillo)- Uniformity in Vehicle Impound Processes that allows sober motorists, or their agent, to retrieve their cars the following day, upon the presentation of a driver's license and registration. For more information on the change in San Rafael's policy, visit the links below:

http://www.srpd.org/pr_full/index.php?article-id=151

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_18880167

http://www.kolshofar.org/docs/MOCActionAlertAugust2011.pdf

In related news, PSP and MOC held a neighborhood walk in Canal Neighborhood in August 2011, with 90 people going to door-to-door to learn about the experiences of residents in the neighborhood. We heard stories from families who have been affected by poor living conditions in area apartments and who expressed concerns about children's safety and infrastructure gaps in the Canal neighborhood. We have now formed a resident-driven research action team to identify solutions to the challenges faced in the community.

MOC and PSP are creating opportunities for youth and families to talk about their struggles, to develop a sense of community and build power together. We are seeing parents, grandparents and youth getting involved – across Marin's diverse communities. Selvin, a 19-year old Eagle Scout living in Canal noted at a recent MOC action in front of 400 people, "It is frustrating for me, not being able to walk down the street without someone thinking that I am a gang member. I would like for the stereotype that every young person in the Canal is a gang member to stop. I don't want to be seen as a threat but as someone who is making a positive contribution to the well-being of the community." Like Selvin there are so many people in our community who are ready to take action on issues that are impacting their lives .

 

Canal Community Council / Concilio Comunitario del Canal

The Canal Community Council is a group of Canal and greater San Rafael neighborhood residents whose principal objective is to have a voice that represents the concerns and needs of the Canal community, in order to promote beneficial changes for the entire Canal neighborhood.

The Council works on various projects that seek to accomplish three main goals:

1. Education:  Promote accessible, quality education for all students – early childhood through college – as well as adult education.
2. Economic Development:  Promote economic development within the Canal.
3. Social Services:  Promote improvements in social services offered in to the community.

Three agencies support the Council, by working directly with the above subcommittees:  Canal Alliance, Canal Welcome Center and Parent Services Project.

Parent Services Project/Mentores Project works directly with the Education Subcommittee.  Currently, the Council’s education subcommittee is implementing an outdoor activities project for families with children ages five and under.  This project is free to the community and includes tree-planting, outdoor art activities, and a summer soccer league for tots.  For more information, please contact us

 

Canal School Readiness Initiative

We partner with First 5 Marin Children and Families Commission as a member of their Canal School Readiness Initiative in San Rafael.  This initiative brings together various stakeholders to address the health and well-being of children ages 0-5.  The initiative’s work has four focal points: 1) health (physical, oral, social/emotional), 2) access to quality early care and education, 3) family support, and 4) increased school capacity.

 

Marin Child Care Council / Parent Voices

We partner with the Marin Parent Voices Chapter / Marin Child Care Council (MC3) to advocate for accessible, quality childcare in Marin County.  Because so many of the families we serve are in need of child care, we work very closely to refer these families to MC3 to get on the Centralized Eligibility List, as well as to become active in advocacy efforts.  For the last several years, the Mentores Project has assisted with statewide Stand for Children Day in Sacramento, bringing our families to the capitol to tell their story.

 

Marin Opportunity Centers

The Marin Opportunity Centers project primarily serves Marin's immigrant and non-immigrant temporary work force.  It is comprised of two inter-related components designed to help individuals and families integrate into the community and increase self-sufficiency: 1) two service referral sites called Opportunity Centers and 2) a Virtual Hiring Hall called MarinHelpers.com.

The project is a collaboration of Canal Alliance, Legal Aid of Marin and Ritter Center.  Opportunity Center services include Workplace English Language classes, computer access and tutoring, resource referrals, and enrollment in the MarinHelpers.com database.

The Mentores Project refers families to the Opportunity Centers and has closely collaborated on the Center’s services/trainings for Marin promotoras (health-promotion workers who are natural leaders in the community).