Building Community: Can Diversity Make Us Stronger? Environmental Forum of Marin Earth Day! April 22, 2015 Kathrin Sears, Gina Fromer, Matt Willis, Nancy Johnson, Mark Squire, Sue Gardner
Aug 09, 2015
Building Community: Can Diversity Make Us Stronger?
Environmental Forum of MarinEarth Day! April 22, 2015
Kathrin Sears, Gina Fromer, Matt Willis, Nancy Johnson, Mark Squire, Sue Gardner
Equity, Environment, EngagementAging Population + Youth Engagement
Needs of an aging population and need to engage younger generation in environmental conservation
EquityVulnerable populations, participation and
engagementResilience
Healthy eating, active living, economic opportunity, planning for a changing climate
“My interest is in the future, because I’m going to spend the rest of my life there.”
- Charles Kettering
Slide 4
National Income Inequality I N E Q U A L I T Y G R E AT E S T I T S B E E N S I N C E G R E AT D E P R E S S I O N
This chart illustrates that in 1928 and 2007 – the year before the two greatest financial crashes in U.S. history -income inequality peaked.
Local Poverty in MarinLiving below the Self-Sufficiency Standard
$102,223 for a family of 4 in Marin, $86,400 in Alameda
Marin County: 35% belowAlameda County: 38% below
Marin households living below the Self-Sufficiency Standard have increased 28% since 2007
Population Trends in MarinMarin County 2010 census:
• 17% of Marin residents are age 65 and older• Median age in Marin is 44.5, compared to
35.2 in California
Greatest increase in population over the next 40 years is expected to be the elderly and young adult households, which tend to have the lowest income levels.
Marin City Demographics31% of Marin City’s population is 5 to 24
years old, compared to 21% in the County as a whole
11% are 65 years and over, compared to 17% in the County as a whole
34% are Black or African American, compared to 3% in the County as a whole
16% are Latino, compared to 15% in the County as a whole
Marin City DemographicsUnemployment rate 14% compared
to 5% countywideOf those aged 18 to 64 years: 13%
have a disability compared to 6% countywide
Of those 65 years and older: 20% have a disability compared to 26% countywide
Sustainability & ResilienceCommunity resilience is the ability
to withstand and recover from difficult times while meeting basic needs for community members.
Communities and populations that experience social inequalities are likely to be more vulnerable or susceptible to immediate and lasting harm from hazards such as flooding.
Sustainability & ResilienceVulnerability is the flip side of
resilience.In a resilient system, change has the
potential to create opportunity for development, novelty and innovation.
In a vulnerable system, even small changes may be devastating.
December 3, 2014 - Mill Valley
Equity and Sea Level Rise PlanningSocial vulnerability analysis and
understanding of sensitive demographics
Vulnerability of critical services, infrastructure and facilities
Collaborative processCommunity engagementIntegrated adaptation
Southern Marin SLR Study Area
SASM
The Redwoods
Bothin Marsh
Manzanita
Tam Junction
Marin City
Waldo Point Harbor
Southern Marin Inundation Map
Manzanita
Bothin Marsh
Tam Junction
Marin City
Waldo Point Harbor
Vulnerablilities in the Study Area
RESIDENTIAL Tam Valley (“Birdland”)Houseboat community at Waldo
Point HarborThe Redwoods
COMMERCIAL AREASShoreline Highway between
Tennessee Valley Road and Tam Junction
Pohono/Manzanita
Vulnerabilities in the Study AreaVULNERABLE POPULATIONS Marin City public housing,
senior/disabled housing Fireside senior/family housing Bridge Housing on Miller Avenue The Redwoods
PUBLIC SAFETY Fire/sheriff substation In Marin City Emergency shelters (schools,
community centers)
Vulnerabilities in the Study AreaUTILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURESewer Agency of Southern MarinFlood zone pump stationsGas and electrical utility linesCommunications: cell, optic fiber,
telephone systems
TRANSIT/TRANSPORTATION Highway 1/Shoreline Hwy Highway 101 Marin City access
MCE Clean Energy – Grassroots Engagement
MCE Community Power, formed in 2014, is a grassroots coalition empowering community transformation to a clean energy economy by focusing on the interests of underrepresented and historically marginalized constituencies.
MCE Community Power - Goals
Expand access to affordable, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs
Advance equitable, local, and sustainable workforce and economic development
Accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more efficient energy economy
Build and develop equitable and inclusive programs and policies for all MCE communities
Equity, Environment, Engagement: The Way ForwardEcologically-based response that links
environment, social equity and public healthImportance of prior planning for vulnerable
populations and protection of critical infrastructure
Community-based emergency preparednessImprove resilience by bringing neighbors
closer together in places of worship, community centers and parks
Equity, Environment, Engagement:The Way ForwardEnsure that all of our local
communities are engaged and responsible for the decisions that are made in response to sea level rise and storm events
Educate and energize our youth about environmental conservation – the future is theirs!