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Last month my team and I launched a fun campaign called Spring Into Community where I highlight some of the great work and initiatives our county departments are working on and how we (me and you!) can participate.
We have had two great events so far: a congregate meal with seniors 60+ years young and a litter pick-up effort at the Rush Creek Preserve in Novato. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
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There are two Spring Into Community events lined up this month with the Marin County Free Library Team (see below for the details). It would be great to see you at one of them!
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Primaveras
Saturday, April 20, 2024
11:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Novato Library: 1720 Novato Blvd, Novato
The Marin County Free Library is hosting its 2nd Annual Primaveras celebration, a bilingual initiative that celebrates and honors the diverse Latinx diasporas and Spanish speaking communities.
This family-friendly, bilingual event will include storytime, music, the Learning Bus, and other fun activities!
From 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, my team and I will be partnering with First 5 Marin and Help Me Grow Marin to host a table with giveaways and educational materials in Spanish.
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Novato Stories and Rhyme Wiggle Time
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Novato Library: 1720 Novato Blvd, Novato
With a name like Novato Stories and Rhyme Wiggle Time, how could you not want to join! This event is targeted for young children (ages 0-5) and their families. Kids will enjoy an interactive experience with singing, dancing, and reading some wonderful stories while building pre-reading skills.
I am really looking forward to this event, as I will be joining the Storytime Team and reading a book or two!
Novato Stories and Rhyme Wiggle Time is offered every Tuesday at 10:00 AM at the Novato Library. Pre-registration is not required.
The Marin County Free Library offers a wide variety of events for people of all ages ranging from storytime for young children, adult book clubs, art exhibits, and one-on-one tech support sessions. Check out the full calendar of opportunities on the Marin County Free Library website.
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Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is now offering free fares for youth and seniors! This new fare structure is a pilot program effective through June 30, 2025, which aims to increase use of public transit for these age groups, fostering environmental sustainability and enhancing mobility in the region.
Youth and seniors collectively represent 42% of the population of Sonoma and Marin counties, yet currently account for 25% of SMART’s ridership. This free fare initiative aims to provide economic and recreational opportunities to this underserved demographic while cultivating habits of utilizing sustainable transportation options.
By removing financial barriers for youth and seniors, we're not only facilitating easier mobility but also contributing to a cleaner, greener future for the communities we serve.
As more individuals choose to use rail transit over personal vehicles, we will make gains in reducing our region's carbon footprint.
How it works: Youth (ages 0-18) and seniors (ages 65+) may board any SMART train, any day of the week, and ride for free. Youth and seniors are not required to have a Clipper card or to use the SMART eTickets app. Train conductors will check fares as usual; seniors and youth may be asked for proof of age (State ID, license, or Student ID). If a Clipper Card is used the fare charged will be $0 (zero).
For more information, contact the SMART Customer Service team at (707) 794-3330 or CustomerService@sonomamarintrain.org.
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At our April 2 Board of Supervisors meeting, we received a presentation from the Marin County Free Library (MCFL) team on their five-year Anti-Racism & Equity Strategic Plan. This plan truly embraces our Board’s commitment to prioritize equity at the County, and I am excited to see the positive impacts unfold as we begin to implement the plan.
Over the past year, MCFL held many listening sessions with the community, and a common theme expressed was the need for MCFL to be a convener, racial equity advocate, information champion, and a resource for every individual living in Marin. With this community input, MCFL adopted an updated mission statement, a new vision statement, created organizational values, and outlined a strategic framework that focuses on three priorities:
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Community Power - Prioritize the voices of Marin’s diverse communities to guide civic engagement.
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Joyful Learning - Provide joyful and inclusive learning experiences for everyone.
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Collective Impact - Cultivate trust and center relationship building with partners to create positive changes in our communities.
Libraries are an essential component of communities, and the Marin County Free Library is committed to meeting communities where they are. The County and the MCFL team are ready to embrace this plan. Creating welcoming libraries is something we can all be proud to support!
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This month I want to highlight a truly spectacular organization we have headquartered right here in Marin County: Guide Dogs for the Blind.
I had the pleasure of touring their San Rafael campus a few weeks ago, and appreciated getting to know Christine Benninger, CEO and President, and Karen Woon, Vice President of Marketing and Communications. Christine and Karen truly exemplify a passion for helping others. It was impressive to see volunteers in action and the wide variety of services and ways that clients are supported – and I would be remiss if I did not mention the undeniable joy of seeing the puppies!
Guide Dogs for the Blind is the largest guide dog school in North America. It is a passionate community that prepares highly qualified guide dogs to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired to move through the world more safely and confidently. More than 16,000 guide teams have graduated from Guide Dogs since it was founded in 1942. All of their services are provided free of charge and serve people throughout the United States and Canada.
Over the course of more than 80 years, their mission has expanded to three kinds of programs: Guide Dog Mobility Program, matching people with highly trained dogs; Orientation and Mobility Program, teaching orientation and mobility tactics for safe and independent travel; and K9 Buddy Program, matching both children and adults with specially selected dogs to be their pets and companions.
Guide Dogs for the Blind not only improves mobility for their clients, but they also further inclusion and advocate for policy reforms that change how the world views blindness.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to help others, Guide Dogs for the Blind is in need of volunteers, and there is no shortage of ways to help! There are many different types of volunteer opportunities, including: welcoming dogs into your home, acting as a program ambassador, and volunteering on-site at their campus (including hands-on opportunities with their amazing dogs and puppies!).
For more information or to register for tours, visit the Guide Dogs website, or call 800-295-4050.
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As your Supervisor, I welcome and encourage you to connect, share your concerns, and your ideas. We want to hear from you! Please use the contact information below to reach out to the District 5 Team. A reply to this email doesn’t come directly to my office, and I’d like to respond to you in a timely manner.
**Please note, our email addresses have changed**
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