This plan is not a starting point. It builds on what we have learned through community-engaged work rooted in relationships with historically excluded communities and nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies. Developed through a collective process involving community partners, faculty, and staff, it reflects our shared commitment to equity, place-based engagement, and the belief that meaningful change happens through sustained, trust-based collaboration. It charts a path for scaling and deepening that collective action across Marin County.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION:

Deepen cross-sector partnership and collective action across Marin County to advance equitable, place-based community engagement.

Goal 1: Strengthen and sustain equity-centered partnerships

Outcome: Alignment & Coordination 

Actions:

• Map existing opportunities, partnerships, and career pathways across sectors to establish baselines and identify gaps.

• Articulate shared vision and mission focused on design and implementation of place-based, community-engaged practices

• Align resources, communication, and marketing to support shared capacity.

• Establish shared tools and planning processes to ensure results-based accountability.   Build into program design, outreach strategies, and initiatives. 

• Hold annual summit to discuss impact and progress of shared work.

Goal 2:  Expand shared infrastructure and resources

Outcome: Formalize funded partnerships with shared staffing and resources that sustain coordinated cross-sector work 

Actions:

• Identify opportunities and models for shared infrastructures. 

• Formalize MOUs and partnership agreements to clairify roles, funding commitments, timelines, and shared infrastructure. (See MOU with Canal Alliance)

• Secure joint funding to sustain collective capacity over time.

• Establish shared staff position(s) for coordination, communication, scheduling, and multi-stakeholder alignment.

Goal 3: Deepen equitable career pathways and community engagement capacity

Outcome: Career Pathways, Practitioner Development, Skills Recognition

Actions:

• Formalize high-school/college to career network to support students in career exploration, especially in non-profit and public service sectors.

• Secure funding for paid internships in community-engaged roles for high school and college students. 

• Professional skill development to support community-centered initiatives:  Design multi-sector training programs that taps the expertise of university and community practitioners (Summer Institute).

• Create certificate/micro-credentials: Formally recognize community-engagement skills (e.g. co-creation or collaborative design, resident-led initiatives outreach and engagement, multilingual support, restorative practices).

• Establish peer learning and mentorship/apprenticeship opportunities 

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COMING: Link to work-in-progress logic model document

External Members

Aaron Burdett, Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement, Canal Alliance

Cameron Hunter, Chief Operating Officer, Marin Promise Partnership 

D'Angelo Paillet, Director, Southern Marin Hub, County of Marin​​

Esmeralda Garcia, Director of Programs, Multicultural Center of Marin

Fel Agrelius, Civic Engagement Manager, City of San Rafael

Fernando Barreto, Aide to Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, County of Marin District 4

Hector Garcia, Community Library Specialist at the Marin County Free Library, South Novato branch

Jamillah Jordan, Director, Marin County Office of Equity

Jeremy Portje, Peer Support Specialist - Justice Involved Homeless Outreach Coordinator, Mental Health Advocates of Marin; Dominican ADC student (Psychology major and Community Action & Social Change minor)

Matt Kizer, Pantry and Facilities Manager, Ritter Center

Melissa Guerrero, Project Coordinator, College and Career Readiness Department, Marin County Office of Education

Sara Matson, Chief Development Officer, Canal Alliance

Dominican Members

Alison Howard, Associate Professor of Political Science & Director of the Core Curriculum, School of Liberal Arts and Education

Denise Lucy, Professor & Executive Director, Institute for Leadership Studies, Barowsky School of Business

Emily Wu, Assistant Director of Service-Learning Program

Gina Tucker-Roghi, Associate Professor, Chair & OTD Program Director, Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Natural Sciences

Giulia Welch, Director of Internship and Professional Development, Barowsky School of Business

Jennifer Lucko, Professor and Co-Chair of Education Department, School of Liberal Arts and Education

Julia van der Ryn, Executive Director of Center for Community Engagement & Partnerships

Julie Grellas, Director of School and Community Partnerships, Student Teaching & Placement, Education, School of Liberal Arts and Education

Laura Stivers, Professor of Ethics & Co-chair Division of Public Affair, School of Liberal Arts and Education

Lindsey Dean, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Liberal Arts and Education

Louis Knecht, University Archivist and Librarian

Lynn Sondag, Director Honors Program/Professor, Department of Art & Design

Naomi Elvove, Assistant Dean for the Dominican Experience , Executive Director of Student Success Center

Patti Culross, Associate Professor & Director of Global Public Health Program, School of Health and Natural Sciences