This spring, partners launched the Educator Pathway, helped families unlock $47K in college savings, and saw place-based efforts take root across Marin. Read about the collaborative action and momentum taking place across Marin in the April 2025 Partnership Newsletter.
“College was not just a dream anymore.”
A Terra Linda High School senior reflects on discovering CalKIDS, California’s free college savings program for eligible students and newborns. This year, partners across Marin worked together to help families unlock over $47,000 in new savings, making it easier for students to pursue college with confidence and support.
Michael Looft, the Backbone Team’s Director of Technology, set out on a road trip to visit fellow place-based partnerships across the country. Along the way, he explored how communities are tackling similar challenges, reminding us how staying connected to the national StriveTogether network helps our backbone team bring fresh insight, tested strategies, and renewed purpose back to Marin.
In Marin, many students of color go through school without ever having a teacher who looks like them. That is starting to change. This story follows a cross-sector partnership that listened to educators of color, removed systemic barriers, and built a lasting Educator Pathway.
Local leaders, community organizations, and schools have come together to launch a new planning process aimed at creating better opportunities for children and families in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael.
The Canal Promise Neighborhood Plan is a community-driven effort to build a shared vision for improving education, health, and economic well-being in the Canal, now and for generations to come.
The Car Seats for West Marin Kids program provides free car seats and bilingual support, tackling barriers like cost, accessibility, and trust in this rural community. By empowering local families and creating long-term solutions, this community-led initiative transforms transportation safety into a foundation for equity, giving children the opportunity to thrive.
