Canal Alliance Launches “Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro” Initiative to Empower Residents and Shape a Sustainable Future
January 23, 2025
Designing the future we deserve
As part of the Marin Climate Justice Collaborative (Marin CJC), Canal Alliance officially launched the Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro (NCNF) initiative to the public on October 19, 2024. This event, a vibrant community fair at Canal Alliance’s new headquarters at 711 Grand Avenue in San Rafael, highlighted the work the NCNF team along with the Consejo, our resident advisory committee, have done thus far.
While the Canal community in San Rafael faces climate change and climate injustices first hand, residents understand they must take more control of decisions about what investments and tradeoffs their community needs to ensure a safe and healthy future for their families. The Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro initiative will bring in resident voices, ultimately developing a holistic Canal community’s vision for the future, imagining a Canal that is safe, healthy and affordable for everyone. As part of the Marin CJC, the NCNF initiative will build resident and organizational capacity and leadership in participatory planning, placemaking and community design. The NCNF team, along with the Consejo, the initiative’s resident advisory committee, will document this shared vision in a Neighborhood Vision Plan. This Neighborhood Vision Plan will highlight the community’s strengths, needs and dreams, and will be used by Canal Alliance staff and the community to guide future neighborhood investments from government, philanthropist, and private businesses.
Our Consejo (resident advisory committee)
The Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro launch party in October, was the first step on this journey, and brought together over 200 community members. Attendees were welcomed by Canal Alliance staff and then invited to visit various stations hosted by Canal Alliance departments, the City of San Rafael’s Sea Level Rise project, the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), Voces del Canal, Marin Transit, and Canal Arts. The booths served as a way to increase community awareness around the work and goals of these various projects, inviting the community to get involved in the processes. Attendees also enjoyed tacos, live music, raffles, and a kids coloring activity. To make the event as accessible as possible to Canal residents, Canal Alliance enlisted Vivalon to provide shuttles to and from the event to local meeting points around the Canal.
The day was one of community and also of feedback, and staff worked together to gather input. Canal residents expressed appreciation for their neighbors in the Canal, organizations like Canal Alliance and the essential services we provide, Latino businesses who provide familiar food and help send money and packages to Latin America, and access to nature via Pickleweed Park and the Bay Trail. Kids colored in line drawings of the Canal and shared their perspectives too, comments like, “My Canal is united, beautiful, home, pretty, and original.” The coloring pages were created based on images taken around the neighborhood, highlighting important spaces in the community such as recognizable local apartment buildings, Pickleweed Park and library, and street vendors.
Scanned collage of completed kids coloring pages from the Launch Party
Residents also acknowledged existing needs and gaps in the Canal as they took part in a placemaking exercise that invited them to reimagine that a local boating dock could become recreational and green space, a way to celebrate Latino culture with art, or affordable housing for Canal residents. If you would like to learn more about what residents shared at the fair, the full data analysis of the feedback received can be found here: Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro, and here: TAM’s Bellam Blvd Engagement in the links provided.
Looking to the future, this year Canal Alliance will identify one or two placemaking projects to pilot based on this first feedback session and future ones as well. Our next Community Fair will be held May 3rd and will be another opportunity for residents and community members to share ideas and dreams. (More details to come on this event in late February.)
Launch Event Picture Gallery
About Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro
Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro is a multi-year initiative to identify community priorities and work towards implementing them in the Canal. TEXT “nuestro” TO 844-508-1276 TO PARTICIPATE. Stay informed by signing up for alerts and notifications. Receive updates on community events, workshops, and important announcements related to the Neighborhood Vision Plan.
Voces del Canal member Aurelia introducing TAM’s Bellam Blvd Improvement to community members (picture on the right)
