STRONG COMMUNITIES BEGIN WITH SHARED POWER
Canal Alliance advances transformative change by identifying and eliminating barriers to an inclusive, just, and sustainable community.
Our work develops immediate solutions and creates long-term, systemic change. Through resident capacity-building, place-based neighborhood planning, voter registration, and community-led advocacy, we are positioning our community to actively shape its own future.
By strengthening the voices and leadership of local residents, we are fostering a movement that addresses both immediate needs and the broader issues of equity and justice. Our work ensures that the Latino community in Marin has the tools, knowledge, and support necessary to advocate for meaningful change, ensuring that their voices are heard at every level of decision-making.
Community Capacity Building
We know that in order to create lasting, permanent change for the Latino community in Marin, it’s essential for our community to have a seat at the table where decisions about our lives and livelihoods are being made. Canal Alliance is committed to making this a reality through our capacity-building programs, which empower community members to become leaders and advocates for their neighborhoods. One key initiative is our Leadership Academy, where we equip resident-experts with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to speak up and advocate for the needs and dreams of their communities and engage in meaningful civic action. This program is not just about leadership development — it’s about ensuring that the voices of our community members are heard, respected, and incorporated into the decisions that impact their futures.
We believe that when the community leads, change is not only possible, but inevitable.
Place-Based Neighborhood Planning
San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood faces some of the greatest challenges of any community in the Bay Area: inadequate and overcrowded housing, limited green space, transportation barriers, and the highest risk of climate change and sea-level rise in the region. Through our Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro initiative, we are driving cross-sector collaboration that centers the voices of Canal residents in the decisions that directly impact their lives. By ensuring that residents have a leadership role in shaping investments and improvements in the neighborhood, we are fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for the Canal.
This initiative is about more than identifying immediate solutions; it’s about building long-term, community-driven vision for the future of the Canal, ensuring that its residents can thrive for generations to come.
Growing Latino Votership
We are committed to growing Latino voter participation in Marin to ensure that Latino voices are heard and represented in every election. By educating and registering new voters, sponsoring candidate forums, improving accessibility to ballot drop boxes, and sharing voter information in both Spanish and English, we are breaking down barriers and ensuring our community can engage in the democratic process. Through these efforts, we are not only increasing voter turnout but also making sure that the needs, dreams, and concerns of the Latino community are prioritized in local decision-making.
This work is about creating a more inclusive, equitable future where everyone has a voice and a stake in shaping the policies that affect their lives.
Community Resiliency Team
Marin County’s Community Resiliency Teams (CRTs) were created to keep residents safe, healthy, and informed — especially during times of crisis. Launched in 2020 by Marin County Public Health, CRTs connect public agencies, community organizations, and trusted local leaders to make sure that lifesaving information and resources reach those who need it most. Each CRT focuses on three critical areas: emergency preparedness, public health outreach, and access to essential services. By dividing Marin into five geographic zones, the CRTs ensure that every community receives information and support tailored to its unique needs.
Canal Alliance leads the CRT for our subregion of Marin; we recognize the compounding effects that poverty, language barriers, and immigration status can have on any emergency, whether in the community or within one’s own family.
