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!