Updates from the Partnership
The Partnership’s powerful relationship network has allowed partners to quickly form new collaborative responses to this unfolding crisis.
New cooperative funding is closing the digital divide, providing access to distance learning for hundreds of students.
Schools, in partnership with community organizations, are becoming hubs for food distribution – from school meals to foodbank pop-ups and from local grocery gift card donations to school bus distribution routs in rural West Marin.
Student and family emotional and mental health needs are being addressed by cross-sector wrap-around support teams.
Learning Hubs have emerged as a collaborative response to support distance learning and school are starting to move into new hybrid models for in-person instruction.
And everyone is working together to keep equity at the center of response decisions from new grading policies to ensuring teachers connect with their most vulnerable students.
We know that moments like these disproportionately impact those who are already affected by inequity. The proven ability of Partners to work together – across sectors, roles and geographic boundaries – is exactly what’s needed, now more than ever, to support all student – Cradle to Career
April 22, 2020
Backbone Staff have been collecting hundreds of stories of both challenges and bright-spots from the Partners. The information was summarized and presented to the Partnership Council in April. Click on the items below to read more about what we’re hearing from the partners.
Click HERE to read more about Student Challenges and Partner Responses to COVID-19
Click HERE to read about Partner reflections on Distance Learning
March 13, 2020
Dear Friends and Partners,
Standing in our values of compassion, humility, courage, equity, dignity and joy, we wanted to reach out to let you know that we are here to partner with you in prioritizing the health and wellbeing of your students, parents, and staff during this challenging moment in time.
Over the past couple of weeks and months, we have all grown increasingly aware of the significant impact COVID-19/coronavirus is having on people and organizations across our community and around the world. While this Partnership highly values the co-creative and relationship-building nature of working together in-person, the health and well-being of all is our main priority.
With this in mind, the Backbone Team is currently revising and re-assessing how we can collectively embrace our ability to be flexible and creative in moving into remote collaboration through on-line meetings and other forms of virtual teamwork. In the coming days and weeks we will be ramping up to leverage various technology tools to help you maintain your momentum toward results, and even to deepen your connections despite the distance
Here are a few specifics:
- Other than a few canceled meetings, all meetings, now through April 13, will happen virtually via Zoom. Meeting participants will be sent specific Zoom instructions as well as “How To” hints and tips. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or specific technology issues as we want to make sure everyone has equitable access to these forums [info@marinpromisepartnership.org]
- Our Team Facilitators are working hard to ensure that virtual meetings will continue to be interactive and engaging through the use of advanced meeting features such as chats, breakout “rooms,” whiteboards and screen sharing. This will be a true “learning in action” experience for us all and we look forward to muddling through some messiness with you at our side. We hope that you will continue to prioritize these meetings and be “present” for each other as you would for your in-person meetings.
- Refer to the Meeting Calendar on the website for a complete and accurate schedule. Please keep all meetings on your calendar unless otherwise notified.
In wellness and community,
The Backbone Team
PS – Many Partner organizations have excellent up-to-date COVID-19/coronavirus information. Here are just a few:
