Community Action Marin’s 4th annual Step Up Marin on May 16 began with a festive ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of its new Novato campus, setting the stage for an inspiring evening of powerful stories, meaningful conversations, and a shared vision for the future.
Poem and Song Capture the Spirit of the Moment
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a joyful and inspiring beginning to the evening. The Marin Girls Chorus opened the celebration with a moving set of songs that filled the new campus with youthful energy and hope. Next, CEO Chandra Alexandre welcomed the crowd with heartfelt remarks, reflecting on the significance of Community Action Marin’s new home as a place for belonging, dignity, and transformation. Distinguished guests including Assemblymember Damon Connolly, Marin County Supervisor Eric Lucan, and Novato Mayor Tim O’Connor also addressed the audience, with Supervisor Lucan delivering a compelling original poem that captured the spirit of the moment.
Photography, Reflection and a Message of Resilience
175 guests enjoyed a reception in the welcoming lobby of the agency’s new headquarters, where they enjoyed a special art exhibit, “I Will Not Be Forgotten: The Dignity in Homelessness,” by Marin photographer Lea Del Pomo. As a memorable takeaway, each guest received a signed copy of author Michael D. Tubbs’ inspiring memoir, “The Deeper the Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home.”
A Powerful Call to Action
At the main event, Tubbs, who served as the keynote speaker, delivered an inspiring address that moved the audience to take bold steps toward racial and economic justice in Marin and beyond. The evening’s most heartfelt moment came as Monica Umaña, joined by her daughter, accepted the 2025 Community Courage Award. Her story of resilience, perseverance, and hope deeply resonated with all in attendance.
The spirit of solidarity was palpable as guests then raised their paddles high during the live auction and Fund-a-Need—championing Community Action Marin’s mission to end poverty in Marin and demonstrating the power of community-driven change.
To learn more about Community Action Marin, please visit camarin.org.
Donna Berry Glass is a freelance writer in Marin who writes about family, kids and parenting, Glass is the mother to one son, one dog and a hamster named Miss Geri. When she’s not writing, trekking up steep hills in Marin or driving her kid to sports practice, she and her family spend time in their tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to Bay Area seniors and disabled adults. Glass is obsessed with baking the perfect loaf of banana bread, something she makes so often she no longer needs to look at a recipe card.
