Dominican Deepens Community Connections
February 9, 2022
by DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA
Dominican University of California is partnering with two Marin County nonprofits – Canal Alliance and Performing Stars of Marin – to collaborate on programs, leverage resources, and develop college-career pathways with a long-term focus on addressing racial inequity in Marin.
The partnerships signal a deepened institutional commitment to addressing issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion, both on and off campus, says President Nicola Pitchford.
“Community-identified needs will be at the center of our work,” President Pitchford says. “We will act strategically, in concert with our partner organizations and community members, to advance the priorities of Canal and Marin City residents and advocate for greater equity across the County. This is in the university’s interests and in the County’s interests.”
Dominican has signed separate Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements with Canal Alliance and Performing Stars of Marin to deepen ongoing relationships with both organizations.
San Rafael’s Canal Alliance offers immigration legal services, education and career programs, and social services to the area’s Latino immigrant community. Marin City-based Performing Stars of Marin works with low-income, primarily multicultural, children through enrichment programs to build pride, character, discipline, and self-esteem.
These institutional level commitments to the Canal and Marin City neighborhoods will create opportunities for Dominican’s students to deepen relationships with specific organizations, understand the larger social contexts that impact marginalized communities, build practical workplace skills, and be better prepared to address pressing societal issues. Almost 70 percent of Dominican’s undergraduates self-identify as BIPOC.
“As educators, we know that community-based teaching and learning are critical for student growth. All students, but especially underrepresented and first-generation students, learn best (and we teach best) in contexts of applied discovery and problem-solving,” President Pitchford said.
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