Building Healthy Communities For All

Energy Efficiency Training

Grassroots Leadership Network — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:20:25 +0000

The Workforce Investment Board of Marin recently received a grant for energy related workforce training. If you know of contractor, construction worker, or building professional that could benefit from retraining, please forward them the attached flyer. There is a mandatory information session required.
Michele Rodriguez

Green New Deal Fall Hearings Begin Oct 30

Grassroots Leadership Network — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:10:40 +0000

“Green New Deal” Civic Initiative Kicking Off Fall Hearings in Marin

A civic initiative in the North Bay – - aiming to “create a sustainable green future that includes economic equality and social justice” – - will hold a series of hearings this fall to lay groundwork for a “Green New Deal” in the region.

The first Green New Deal hearing is scheduled for Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m. in the San Rafael City Council Chambers ( 1400 Fifth Ave , San Rafael CA ). This hearing will focus on waste and pollution – - achieving zero waste, reducing toxic chemicals in our food and environment, and wastewater treatment. Among the witnesses scheduled to testify are David Chatfield of Californians for Pesticide Reform and David Haskell of Sustainable San Rafael.

Formed by a range of grassroots organizations and activists with a variety of environmental and economic concerns, the Commission on a Green New Deal for the North Bay held eight open forums last spring in Marin and Sonoma counties.

Organizers describe the Green New Deal as “a grassroots initiative to help transform Marin and Sonoma counties into a resilient community guided by environmental sustainability and economic equity.” Details about the Green New Deal for the North Bay are posted at: www.GreenNewDeal.info.

During the upcoming hearings, experts will present testimony on such issues as food, housing, water, energy, health care and social equity. Next year, the Commission on a Green New Deal for the North Bay will communicate its findings – - first in draft form and then as a final report. Seeking to bring about change through community participation and public policy, the Green New Deal report will also offer specific recommendations for North Bay residents, businesses, community groups, institutions and government entities.

Co-chairs of the commission for Marin County are Norman Solomon, author and activist for social justice and peace, and Kiki La Porta, sustainability activist. The other Marin commissioners include Olivia Beltran, Steve Burdo, Jonathan Frieman, Peter Richardson, Ginger Souders-Mason and Bernie Stephan.

C0-chairs for Sonoma County are Lisa Maldonado, executive director of the North Bay Labor Council, and Will Pier, specialist in water, fisheries, waste management and ecology. The other Sonoma commissioners include Caroline Banuelos, Julie Combs, Rue Furch, David Keller and Judith Newton.

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FALL/WINTER HEARING SCHEDULE

Friday, October 30 from, 7-10pm – San Rafael City Council Chambers

WASTE AND POLLUTION

Wednesday, November 18 from 7-10pm – Santa Rosa City Council Chambers

AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND WATER

Thursday, November 19 from 7-10pm – San Rafael City Council Chambers

TRANSPORTATION

Wednesday, January 20 from 7-10pm – Santa Rosa City Council Chambers

COMMERCE, GOVERNANCE AND TAXES

Thursday, January 21 from 7-10pm – San Rafael City Council Chambers

LAND USE AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

TBD – Santa Rosa City Council Chambers

HEALTH AND EDUCATION, POVERTY

TBD – San Rafael City Council Chambers

CLIMATE AND ENERGY

San Rafael City Council Chambers (at City Hall), 1400 Fifth Avenue , San Rafael , CA 94901

Santa Rosa City Council Chambers (at City Hall), 100 Santa Rosa Avenue , Santa Rosa CA 95404

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BRU wins 20% Measure R lockbox | Bus Rider Comment Results | Super Pasajera video | Black Mother Takes Action

Grassroots Leadership Network — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:54:28 +0000

LCSC Headlines, October 28, 2009

BRU wins major breakthrough!
Lockbox for 20% of Measure R funds secured

BRU has won a major policy breakthrough to protect bus riders’ Civil Rights at the MTA’s monthly Board meeting! After months of pressure from the BRU, Mayor Villaraigosa requested that MTA staff present a plan for bus system improvements and Supervisor Ridley-Thomas introduced an amendment to the 2009 LRTP that included language to protect the 20% of Measure R funds exclusively for bus expansion. We must now fight to ensure that our victories turn into real improvements in the lives of over 500,000 working class bus riders and bus riders of color. The Next Steps

Tonight! Environmental Toxins Community Forum

Grassroots Leadership Network — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:42:10 +0000

creating a greener, healthier future
www.sustainablenovato.org

TONIGHT!

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS & HUMAN HEALTH
October 28th; 6pm-9 pm.
Fireman’s Fund, 777 San Marin Dr.

A reminder to join us this evening, October 28th, to learn about the urgent issue of health effects of environmental toxins and the steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

6pm – 7pm: Meet community organizations and learn more about this urgent issue and what you can do.

7pm – 9pm: Panel discussion followed by audience Q&A. Our expert panelists include:

Tracey Woodruff, PhD – Reproductive Health and the Environment

Michelle Perro, MD – Pediatrics

Bruce Blumberg, PhD – Developmental & Cell Biology

Sharyle Patton – CHE Biomonitoring Project

Hon. Jared Huffman – Environmental Legislation

$5 donation requested at the door.
click here for details

SUSTAINABLE NOVATO:
Our mission is to bring about a healthy and vital environment, self-reliant economy, and inclusive community for the long term.

Forward email

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Please Join Marin Women’s Commission for its 35th Anniversary Event

Grassroots Leadership Network — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:07:55 +0000

Dear friends & colleagues,

I hope you will consider joining the Marin County Women’s Commission in celebrating its 35th anniversary, during which the Commission will present Senator Barbara Boxer with the inaugural Vera Schultz Visionary Leadership Award.

I am attaching an invitation for additional information. Hope you can make it!

Kris Cirby

MWCinviteinside-p_copy.pdf

MWCreply-p.pdf

URGENT – Potential Amendment to the Living Wage Ordinance

Grassroots Leadership Network — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:59:55 +0000

Marin Interfaith Worker Justice
Raising Prophetic Voices for Economic Justice

Dear friends of justice,

Saturday I learned that tomorrow (Tuesday), the Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider an amendment to the Living Wage Ordinance that would undo all the gains secured for homecare workers over the past three years. The supervisors need to hear from all of us right away.

Last year, after a two-year campaign, Marin’s In Home Supportive Services (homecare) workers were given compensation parity with other workers covered by the Living Wage Ordinance. Under the proposed amendment:

· There would, once again, be a lower “living wage” for homecare workers.

· Those without health insurance would become ineligible for the “health benefit.” (The health benefit is an additional $1.50/hour to which workers are entitled under the Living Wage Ordinance if their employers do not provide health insurance. Only about 500 of 1,400 homecare workers have employer-provided health insurance.)

There are three things you can do to help: Email the supervisors today, come to the supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday,
and pass this email on!

1. Email the supervisors today.

In your email message, please tell the supervisors:

· They did the right thing last year in giving homecare workers parity with other workers covered by the Living Wage Ordinance, and that should not be changed. The purpose of a Living Wage Ordinance is to protect vulnerable workers during times when cuts must be made.

· They are to be commended for their commitment to pay current wages through the end of the year. They should extend that commitment. The wages of people who already are not making enough to get by should be protected, even during times of budget shortfall.

The supervisors’ email addresses are:

District 1 – Susan Adams: sadams@co.marin.ca.us

District 2 – Hal Brown: hbrown@co.marin.ca.us

District 3 – Charles McGlashan: CMcGlashan@co.marin.ca.us

District 4 – Steve Kinsey: skinsey@co.marin.ca.us

District 5 – Judy Arnold: jarnold@co.marin.ca.us

2. Come to the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, October 27th.

The time commitment is about one hour.

When: Tuesday, October 27th, 9:10 a.m.

Where: Marin Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael
Meet at the base of the escalator inside the south-most entrance.

Directions: I-101 to North San Pedro – East

Left onto Civic Center

Immediately Left onto Peter Behr Drive.

The entrance is inside the arch.

3. Please pass this email on. Time is short.

Thank you for your commitment to justice for those who are marginalized.

In hope,

Pamela

The Reverend Pamela Griffith Pond

Executive Director

Marin Interfaith Worker Justice

Raising Prophetic Voices for Economic Justice

P. O. Box 784

Novato, CA 94948-0784

415.847.8030

pamela@mariniwj.org

www.mariniwj.org

Peer Summit set for Nov. 13 at college – Marin Independent Journal

Grassroots Leadership Network — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:46:09 +0000

The Marin County Office of Education will host its 14th annual Peer Summit for seventh- and eighth-grade students throughout the county from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the College of Marin at 835 College Ave. in Kentfield.

The event will include interactive educational workshops led by youth and community agencies on subjects such as conflict resolution, relationships, alcohol and drugs and college preparation.

For information, call 499-5811.

via Peer Summit set for Nov. 13 at college – Marin Independent Journal.

Novato Human Needs lands $190,000 in grants from Marin Community Foundation – Marin Independent Journal

Grassroots Leadership Network — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:45:21 +0000

The flat economy has been especially ruthless to lower-income families and seniors, and that’s why the Novato Human Needs nonprofit is so grateful for $190,000 in grants it has received from the Marin Community Foundation targeted to those areas.

Deanna Euritt, executive director of Novato Human Needs, said the dollar amount is almost four times what it received from the foundation a year ago when it was restructuring its funding contributions to nonprofits.

Novato Human Needs’ Thriving Families program, which assists particularly vulnerable low-income families, received a $150,000 grant. The Senior Services program received $40,000.

One of the foundation’s top priorities is to support nonprofits that work to break the cycle of poverty, said foundation Executive Director Thomas Peters.

“We are thrilled to support Novato Human Needs in these areas of need,” Peters said. “When it comes to families, they have a track record of helping individuals focus on those steps that will take them not just out of this particular recession but to be in a better position overall.”

Novato Human Needs has an annual budget of just more than $1 million, Euritt said, and it was forced to tap into its reserves last year. Foundation grants to Novato Human Needs were $57,500 a year ago.

“We ran a pretty big deficit and weren’t quite sure what was going to happen this year,” Euritt said. “We are so grateful for the continued support from Marin Community Foundation.”

For more information:

via Novato Human Needs lands $190,000 in grants from Marin Community Foundation – Marin Independent Journal.

Marin Organizing Committee has coming-out party in San Rafael – Marin Independent Journal

Grassroots Leadership Network — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:35:52 +0000

Gilbert Mejia, an 18-year-old Novato boy whose family has been at the center of an immigration rights controversy in Marin the past several months, told 1,100 people packed into the San Rafael High gym on Sunday that the upstart Marin Organizing Committee can be a powerful forum for those who are forced to “live in the shadows.”

Mejia received a standing ovation after he spoke about his family’s dilemma at the Marin Organizing Committee Founding Convention. Heads of nonprofits, religious congregations and local and state government shared the podium with Mejia, whose undocumented parents are scheduled to be deported to Mexico on Nov. 2. He was born in Guatemala and is undocumented himself but safe from deportation until a hearing in July 2010.

Saying that he was speaking for the county’s undocumented Hispanic population, he said, “We are rarely heard from and are forced to live in the shadows even though we work, we pray and we study just like every other human being here.”The Marin Organizing Committee, founded in 2005, is a nonpartisan conglomerate of delagates who were essentially staging a coming-out party Sunday.

Saying they were “standing for the common good,” the organizers hope to influence political leaders to pay attention to issues that are important to Marin’s diverse community.Among the committee’s goals are a permanent homeless shelter, greater accountability of county mental health funds, affordable housing, fair care at local hospitals, immigration

Sustainable Novato’s Sustainable October

Grassroots Leadership Network — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:44:57 +0000

creating a greener, healthier future
www.sustainablenovato.org

Sustainable Novato October Events

Oct. 22nd – General Meeting

Oct. 17 – Hamilton Hometown Festival

Oct. 24 – International Day of Climate Action

Oct. 28 – Environmental Toxins and Human Health

Not too late for Novato to Join MEA!

Sustainable Novato Board

John Schlag, President

Donn Davy, VP- Green Building

Marie Chan, VP – Environmental Health

Ed Mainland, Secretary

Tamara Hull, Interim Treasurer

Marla Fields, Chair, Green Community Planning

Annan Paterson, Member at Large

Development Director

Larry Dean Tackett

Sustainable Novato
General Meeting
Thursday, Oct. 22; 7-9 pm
Marin Community Foundation
5 Hamilton Landing

You are invited to what promises to be a lively meeting – we will be discussing a number of interesting events that are on the horizon.

Please join us next Thursday, Oct. 22nd to discuss upcoming events and how you can get involved in creating a greener, healthier Novato.

RSVP: info@sustainablenovato.org

Hamilton Hometown Harvest Festival
Saturday, Oct 17 11:00a to 4:00p
Unity in Marin

Sustainable Novato is hosting the “Sustainability area” of the festival which will showcase honorary Sustainable Novato member David Dixon, student at Novato Charter School, and the working electric quadricycle he built with his Dad as a school project. It is really a sight not to be missed!

Also showcasing pedal-powered smoothies compliments of Safe Routes to School, a demonstration apple-press, Novato Sanitary District’s waste reduction tips, SPAWN’s water-conservation tips and more.

Join Hamilton families and friends as we celebrate our community with culinary delights, great music, and a variety of fun activities. Bring your bikes and decorate them before the bike rodeo. Admission to the festival is free.

Contact Marla Fields for more info at marlafields@sbcglobal.net

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION
Saturday, Oct. 24th

Sustainable Novato is pleased to participate in the International Day of Climate Action. We hope, by this all-Marin event, to demonstrate the urgency for policymakers and voters alike to do what needs to be done to cut carbon emissions.

The Novato contingent will be meeting under a “Sustainable Novato” banner shortly before 1:30 pm Saturday, October 24 at Lindaro and 2nd Streets. Beachfront attire encouraged.

Questions or RSVP to Ed Mainland, Secretary, Sustainable Novato, 415-902-6365.

For more info about this event: www.sustainablesanrafael.org

For more info about International Day of Climate Action, go to www.350.org

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS & HUMAN HEALTH
October 28th; 6pm-9 pm.
Fireman’s Fund, 777 San Marin Dr.

Join us at our next Community Forum on October 28th to learn about the health effects of environmental toxins and the steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Click here for full details and schedule:
http://sustainablenovato.org/events.html

$5 donation requested at the door.
RSVP info@sustainablenovato.org

NOT TOO LATE FOR NOVATO
TO JOIN MARIN CLEAN ENERGY

Sustainable Novato urges Novato’s City Council to reconsider its decision last February not to join Marin Energy Authority (MEA).

MEA unites the County and nine Marin cities to boost green energy and carbon reduction — well above what PG&E can supply. MEA now is considering a contract with Shell Energy that would give Marinites:

25% renewable power immediately,

51% renewable power in five years and

100% renewable power in eight years

at or below PG&E’s rates! Projections show MEA to be a far stronger carbon reducer than PG&E in future years.

Sustainable Novato is calling on Novato’s City Council to agendize a briefing by MEA on November 10th to hear new facts and important changes since the Council’s earlier rejection.

PLEASE SEND A NOTE TO NOVATO CITY COUNCIL. Ask the Council to include a MEA briefing on the November 10 agenda – tell them you want to join Marin Energy Authority:
novatocouncil@ci.novato.ca.us

San Francisco Bay Area License Plate Project

The San Francisco Bay Area license plate project protects open space and natural lands, restores wetlands, protects rivers and creeks, improves water quality, completes regional trails, and preserves farmland and rangeland.

If you live in California and own or lease a vehicle, you can help. Replace your license plate with one depicting the Golden Gate Bridge and the words, “Nature Within Reach.” The DMV will issue the plates after 7,500 have been sold. The money raised will go to preserve and protect the beautiful Bay Area.

Buying this license plate will enable the State Coastal Conservancy to fund projects in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma counties.

Go to www.bayarealicenseplate.org for details and to purchase your plate.

SUSTAINABLE NOVATO:
Our mission is to bring about a healthy and vital environment, self-reliant economy, and inclusive community for the long term.

Forward email

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Sustainable Marin | 1017 Bel Marin Keys Blvd. | Novato | CA | 94949