Blog
Stay informed with news and updates from Canal Alliance programs and read about the impact of our work on the Latino immigrant community.
Stories from the Front Lines: One Year Later
Posted: July 22, 2021
Laura Jiménez-Diecks, Supervising Case Manager, shared a client story that spoke to the severe impact of COVID-19 on immigrant families in Marin. Now, about a year later, Laura reflects on the response effort, a “metamorphosis over the course of the pandemic.”
Volunteer Spotlight: Dominican University student gives back
Posted: July 22, 2021
Christina Pathoumthong, a fourth-year History and Political Science major got involved with Canal Alliance through the Dominican University Service Learning Program.
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”
Aliados por la Salud (Allies for Health) implement creative strategies to support the health of vulnerable communities
Posted: June 11, 2021
In January 2021, Canal Alliance joined the Aliados por la Salud (Allies for Health) campaign. This partnership includes University of California San Francisco, Marin County, and Merced County and is focused on identifying challenges and proposing solutions for improving COVID-19 services to Latino immigrant communities.
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.
Stories from the Front Lines: one year later
Posted: May 12, 2021
Regina Vindel, Workforce Supervisor supports students in construction, business, and tax classes as they apply for classes, carry out their learning, graduate, apply for jobs, and enter new workforce positions. She spoke to us about her experiences and conversations while communicating with clients during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis during the past year.
Reflections and resources
Posted: April 28, 2021
In the past week, as we have had time to reflect on the outcome of the Derrick Chauvin trial, we recognize the court’s decision as simply one step towards accountability and know that much more work needs to be done.
At Canal Alliance, we stand up as an ally in the face of injustice. We are determined to remain alert and to advocate for social justice, and we encourage everyone in our community to do so as well.
UP! Alumni spotlight – Melanny Lemus
Posted: April 7, 2021
Melanny said that UP! offered different activities and workshops for students to learn life lessons, which boosted her self-esteem and confidence. Melanny graduated from Sonoma State University in 2019 as a double major with a BA in Spanish and a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Management.
Biden Administration immigration updates
Posted: April 7, 2021
The Biden administration has passed an influx of recent immigration law changes, with many proposals currently under review. We want to highlights laws and bills that could be impactful to the Marin County immigrant community.