Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – There’s a new effort to bring essential information and resources on employment, housing, and social services directly to the West Marin community. It’s called the West Marin Connect Partnership, and the debut event is Sunday, September 21, at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station.
The program is a collaboration between the County of Marin, the office of District 4 Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, the West Marin Fund, and the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay.
"We are listening to the voices of our West Marin community, and West Marin Connect is one way we are responding,” said Rodoni, who represents the coastal region on the Board of Supervisors. “This is not a one-time effort. We will continue to bring more services, more resources, and more opportunities to West Marin so that every resident can access the support they need."
From 1-4 PM that Sunday, participating agencies will host 45-minute presentations covering an array of services and resources. The workshops are scheduled:
- 1 PM: Job Search Readiness, provided by the staff of CareerPoint Marin
- 1:45 PM: Microenterprise Support Program “Emprende West Marin,” provided by staff from the Marin Small Business Development Center and the West Marin Fund
- 2:30 PM: Be Part of the Solution: Learn How You Can Create New Housing and Shelter, provided by staff from the Marin County Community Development Agency and the West Marin Fund
In addition, there will be time for a question-and-answer session and mingling at information booths.
Summer Cassel, the County’s West Marin Municipal Services Manager, said the partnership’s goal is to connect residents with the resources and opportunities they need most, with an emphasis on assisting those navigating major life changes such as displacement or job loss.
In March, the Supervisors adopted a resolution declaring an emergency shelter crisis in unincorporated Marin. More than 150 residents who qualify as extremely low-income are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their homes. Fourteen ranches within the federally owned Point Reyes National Seashore area are shutting down because of a settlement between ranchers and environmentalists. Many private historic ranches supply housing to local families, some of which is substandard and in structures considered threats to health and safety. Households will need to vacate by early 2026.
“We recognize that there is an urgent need for additional services in the coastal communities that encompass West Marin, and these partners are ready to help,” Cassel said. “We hope that anyone living or working in these communities will come and explore the opportunities available to them.”
There is no registration or fee to stop by the West Marin Connect event. The Dance Palace is at 503 B Street in downtown Point Reyes Station. Information booths will be located in the main space, and the workshops will take place in the “church space.”
###
For disability accommodations, please phone (415) 473-6385 (voice), CA Relay 711, or e-mail County staff at least five business days in advance of the event. The County will do its best to fulfill requests received with less than five business days’ notice. Copies of documents are available in alternative formats, upon request.