Canal Spanish Literacy Program wins the Marin County Participatory Budget Award

We're thrilled to announce that the Canal Spanish Literacy Program has been awarded funding through the Marin County Participatory Budget process! This is a huge win for our community and a testament to the power of grassroots initiatives. Our program addresses the critical needs of Spanish-speaking residents in San Rafael who face isolation due to language barriers, poverty, and low literacy. We believe that literacy is a fundamental right, and it opens doors to full participation in community life.

We provide accessible literacy classes to non-reading Spanish-speaking adults, empowering participants by fostering leadership skills and advocacy. We teach them how to navigate local systems and address community issues like housing and transportation. Furthermore, we directly address the educational and economic disparities faced by our students, many of whom hold the lowest-paying jobs.

We'll use the awarded funds to formalize our classes, teacher payroll. We will also strengthen partnerships and acquire essential software and hardware. We will establish a robust volunteer training program, and develop metrics to showcase our success and expand outreach. We are working with Marin Link to ensure our start up organization is successful. We are also reaching out to professionals in each field for advice and pro-bono work.

This funding will enable us to expand our reach and impact, ensuring that more community members have access to the resources and support they need to thrive. We are grateful for the support of the Marin County Participatory Budget and the community members who voted for our program. Stay tuned for updates on our progress!

For more information, visit: https://pb.marincounty.org/projects/marincounty::canal-spanish-literacy-program-1