Blog
Andrea Rivas Iraheta connects with newly arrived immigrant youth
Posted: April 12, 2022
A case worker helps young people connect to education and employment, build community, and pursue their goals.
Field Trips for Immigrant Youth
Posted: April 12, 2022
Immigrant youth learn the basics of rock climbing thanks to our community partners.
Volunteer Tax Experts Help Immigrants Access over $1 Million in Returns
Posted: March 17, 2022
The team at Canal Alliance provides one-on-one support, helping immigrants overcome barriers and access their tax returns.
A young person’s path to citizenship
Posted: February 15, 2022
Timoteo Vasquez-Mendez left his home in Guatemala, fleeing difficult conditions in his country, and traveled to the United States in search of a better future. He was stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as he tried to cross the border then sent to a detention center in New York, then released to stay with his uncle Jesus Vasquez in San Rafael. He was 17 years old.
Meet Francisco Gomez: entrepreneur and successful small business owner
Posted: November 4, 2021
What does it take to launch a successful small business during a pandemic? For Francisco Gomez, it required hard work, careful planning, and the application of practical skills acquired through the Workforce Program. We caught up with this busy entrepreneur to learn about his journey, over eight years in the United States, and his plans to grow F.G. Window Cleaning.
Workforce Development graduate builds a career in construction
Posted: July 22, 2021
Jhovanny, a Workforce Development graduate says he “advanced five years in my career by taking the three-month Construction Classes”
Community impact of Voces del Canal
Posted: May 12, 2021
Voces del Canal is a coalition of resident leaders and Latino immigrants from the Canal Neighborhood of San Rafael who came together in 2014 to lead an unprecedented community-driven research project alongside the leadership of Canal Alliance and Dominican University to identify the biggest challenges facing the Canal community. In conducting this research project and survey, residents wanted to affirm their role as authentic, local experts and give power to the collective experiences of Canal residents who shared their personal stories, opinions, and vision for a stronger and safer Canal.
Overcoming entrepreneurial obstacles during the pandemic
Posted: May 12, 2021
Nadia Montoya learned about Canal Alliance’s Construyendo Mi Negocio (“Building My Business”) class from friends. “It was the perfect place to receive support to start my own business,” Nadia remarked. She is now one year into the development of Nadia’s Dessert, a bakery offering organic, wheat-free, and vegan products with minimal sugar.
Now, she plans to open her own bakery with the knowledge she acquired through Canal Alliance.
A friendship forged in construction class
Posted: February 4, 2021
Starting over in a new country is tough, especially without the support and camaraderie of friendship. Besides being in a wholly different place with unfamiliar food, customs, and culture, it can feel lonely without someone to share these new experiences with. Read the story of two friends who deepened their friendship through participating in our Workforce Development Program’s construction certification course.
Providing financial relief
Posted: January 20, 2021
In Spring 2020, Canal Alliance established a Financial Assistance program as part of our organizational response to the pandemic and its devastating impact on Marin’s Latino immigrant community. Since the start of the program, more than $2.5 million has been raised from individual donors, foundations, and corporations, all of which has been distributed as direct cash assistance to over 4,000 individuals and families.