West Marin has long been defined by a strong sense of community—neighbors showing up for one another, organizations working side by side, and a shared commitment to preserving what makes this region such a special place.
That spirit was put to the test last year, when the closure of several ranching and dairy operations threatened to displace families, resulting in the loss of both homes and livelihoods. Layered onto an already difficult landscape of high housing costs, limited childcare options and constrained economic opportunity, the challenge at times felt overwhelming.
Yet the people of West Marin rose to the occasion. Neighbors opened their homes, donated resources, and offered support in every way they could. Community organizations worked together with extraordinary creativity and determination. Public agencies, foundations, and donors responded quickly and thoughtfully to emerging needs.
As director of programs and impact at West Marin Fund, I have witnessed what is possible when a community comes together around a shared purpose. Over the past year, in partnership with Marin County and local organizations, the fund supported efforts to identify housing solutions for families facing displacement, strengthen social services, and expand opportunities for those experiencing job loss and financial uncertainty. The programs created in the wake of the displacement crisis have brought renewed economic vitality to our region and demonstrated the incredible resilience of our people.
For example, the West Marin Fund, in partnership with the county and the Small Business Development Center, created Start Up West Marin, a small business training and grantmaking program that helps participants build business skills, develop viable business plans, and access the resources needed to launch or grow their ventures.
In March, we celebrated the graduation of the program’s first cohort: 23 entrepreneurs who completed 15 weeks of intensive training in Spanish. The ceremony was deeply moving. Participants spoke about how the program helped them regain confidence, imagine new possibilities, and reclaim a sense of agency over their futures. Graduates are now preparing to launch or expand businesses that range from catering and photography to translation services and car detailing. Each participant is eligible to apply for a grant of up to $5,000 and receives one-on-one coaching to help turn their ideas into sustainable enterprises.
To address other workforce challenges, West Marin Fund, the county, and the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay formed an Economic Vitality Workgroup. Through this collaboration, advisors are now available in West Marin each week to help residents explore careers, search for jobs, and access training opportunities.
The work group discovered that many jobs in West Marin are not publicly posted and are shared only by word of mouth. This informal approach often means many residents never learn about available positions and employers have limited ways to reach a broader pool of local candidates. In response, the partners launched the West Marin Jobs Hub, a free and bilingual online resource that makes local job opportunities more visible and accessible.
To help connect residents with these and other support opportunities, the Economic Vitality Workgroup partnered with community organizations to bring services and resources directly to residents through West Marin Connect. Following an initial event focused on social services last September, a second event held in April highlighted employment and economic opportunity. Local employers and organizations shared information about job openings, internships, and support services.
The work group continues to explore longer-term strategies to strengthen the local economy, including expanding access to commercial kitchen space for food entrepreneurs and advancing other investments in community economic infrastructure.
Taken together, these efforts reflect a substantial shift in how organizations and agencies across West Marin are working: with greater coordination, stronger relationships, and a shared commitment to practical solutions.
The displacement crisis underscored a truth that has always been at the heart of this community: No single organization can solve complex challenges alone. Lasting change happens when residents, nonprofits, public agencies, businesses, and philanthropic groups each contribute what they do best and move forward together.
There is still much work ahead. Housing remains scarce, many families continue to face financial uncertainty, and the systems that support rural communities require ongoing investment and improvement. But there is also real momentum.
What gives me hope is not only the programs we have launched, but the spirit behind them: a willingness to collaborate, to listen, and to act with solidarity and urgency. By continuing to invest in one another and in the future we want to create, we are building a community in which opportunity endures across generations.
Valeria Brabata is the director of programs and impact at West Marin Fund. She lives in the East Bay but feels most at home in West Marin.