2013 Annual Community Report

Every new American deserves the opportunity to thrive!

Message from the President

Dear Friends, Because of your steadfast support, the outstanding work of our Executive Director Tom Wilson, our impressive sta and 400 dedicated volunteers, last year was a banner year for Canal Alliance. We celebrated three decades as Marins leading service provider and community advocate for immigrants who have ed their home countries to escape poverty or persecution and to pursue their dreams of better lives for themselves and their families. As a law professor at USF, I help students appreciate the need for vigilance in protecting the rights of each individual and the constitutional values of liberty and equality. As President of the Board, I am proud to see those same ideas shape the day-to-day work of Canal Alliance, including helping the broader community learn about the aspiring citizens we serve. In this Community Report, we are pleased to share a few of our clients remarkable success stories that inspire us every day. Today, with the prospect of family-friendly immigration reform on the horizon, we are counting on your commitment to ensure that Canal Alliance continues to improve, adapt and expand our services for young dreamers and families in need. Please help us expand our circle of support by inviting your friends, family and colleagues to join you in supporting this vital work. Again, thank you for your compassion and commitment.

2012-13 Board of Directors

Officers
PRESIDENT

John Adler USF, School of Law

VICE PRESIDENT & SECRETARY

Dick Fletcher One PacificCoast Bank Gina Fromer YMCA San Francisco Michele Manos Kaiser Permanente Tom Ngo Wetherby Asset Management Mara Perez Development & Planning Claudia Rivas Merrill Lynch Juliet Schiller Dominican University Tom Wilson Canal Alliance

Barbara Dittmann Community Volunteer

TREASURER

Sandro Rossini Comerica Bank

Members

Joseph Castro UCSF Miguel Angel Godoy Canal Alliance Joshua Davis USF, School of Law

Ambassador Advisory Council

Isabel Allende Mary Jane Burke Patricia Garbarino Belinda Guadarrama

Grace Hughes Steve Kinsey Anne Lamott Gary Ragghianti Deborah Santana Ethel Seiderman

John M. Adler President, Board of Directors Professor of Law, University of San Francisco

Angel Studies to Become an Engineer

At age 11, when Angel came to the Canal neighborhood from Mexico with his mom and two brothers, he faced many challenges. Although he was an enthusiastic student who excelled in math, school was a struggle due to his limited English skills. His Mom Helped His mom helped him enroll in Canal Alliances Youth Program, where he received intensive academic support and mentoring from bilingual, bicultural sta advocates. As he got older, both of his older brothers dropped out of high school. One got into trouble and was deported. But Angel persevered, earning good grades as he continued to receive support from Canal Alliance. Angels Life Changed Again Then at age 15, Angel became a father. But, instead of curtailing his dreams of an education, the birth of his daughter, Isabella, made Angel more determined than ever to earn a college degree. I knew I had to go to college to support my daughter, he explained. Angel continues to receive mentoring and scholarship support from Canal Alliance while he attends Cal State East Bay, where he is studying to become an engineer.

I knew I had to go to college to support my daughter, Isabella.

o o o o o

Youth Program Prepares Students for College

80 at-risk middle and high school students participate 4-5 days per week 35 college students receive mentoring and/or scholarship support All program graduates successfully enrolled in higher education during 2011/2012

Did you know?

In Marin County, the high school dropout rate for Latino students is 5 times higher than that of Caucasian students.1 During 2010, only 26% of Marins Latino high school graduates had taken college prep classes to be eligible to attend the UC or CSU system, compared with 70% of Marins Caucasian students. 2

1 A Portrait of Marin, Marin County Human Development Report 2012 2 California Department of Education Demographics Oce, 2011

If I can do it, anyone can!

Teresas Business Takes O

Teresa was only 13 when her mother died. She and her siblings traveled to San Rafael from Mexico to live with their relatives. I can remember carrying my sister on my back as we crossed the border, she recalled. Over the years, Teresa struggled to build a life for herself in her new country. Her rst marriage ended in a dicult divorce that left her with no money to pay the bills and feed her children. Canal Alliance Provided Help Teresa received rental assistance, groceries each week, and immigration legal assistance that helped her become a US citizen. When Teresa was hospitalized due to a serious illness in 2010, Canal Alliance volunteers helped clean her apartment in preparation for her return home. It meant so much to me, she said. Teresas Hard Work Pays O Despite many obstacles, Teresas dream was to start her own business as an event planner. First, she completed Canal Alliances small business training course, where the instructor really helped motivate me. Then, she enrolled in Canal Alliances Individual Development Account program to save money to invest in her new business. Later, she attended ESL classes to improve her English skills. Today, Teresa is a busy entrepreneur, building the event planning business of her dreams. She is condent in her future success. I want to share my story with others, because if I can do it, anyone can!

Residents Receive Education to Increase Earning Power

1,200 students participate in ESL classes 200 receive technology, career development, job readiness or business training 40 clients use the Individual Development Accounts to receive matching funds for home purchase, higher education, or small business investment

Y Y Y Y Y

Did you know?

Small businesses owned by immigrants employed an estimated 4.7 million people in 2007, and according to the latest estimates generate more than $776 billion annually. 1

1 Furman, Jason and Gray, Danielle: Ten Ways Immigrants Help Build & Strengthen Our Economy, The White House Blog, www.whitehouse.gov/blog/, July 2012

Elsa Helps Community Grow

A native of Guatemala, Elsa came to the US in 1975 and has lived in the Canal neighborhood for over 20 years. She is deeply appreciative of how Canal Alliance is always working for the community. When she rst moved to the neighborhood, she needed help and received rental assistance from Canal Alliance. Volunteering Builds Pride Later, she volunteered in Comit de Vecinos, a grassroots leadership group organized to promote positive change. We got an unfair towing ordinance repealed, Elsa recalled proudly. Her group also helped install container vegetable gardens in ve Canal apartment buildings. Garden Builds Community In 2011, Elsas husband lost his job, and Elsa once again received rental assistance and emergency food from Canal Alliance. When Elsa heard about the new Canal Community Garden, she immediately signed up for a plot. Its a good feeling to grow your own food, Elsa explained. She enjoys the sense of community she gets from tending her garden plot among other gardeners. We like to talk about what we are growing and share plants with each other.

Food Pantry and Community Garden Improve Health

In partnership with the San Francisco & Marin Food Bank, Canal Alliance provides the largest emergency food pantry in Marin, providing food to 1,891 families annually In partnership with Trust for Public Land, City of San Rafael and County of Marin, the new, organic Canal Community Garden opened March 30, 2013, featuring 92 raised beds, greenhouse, and ongoing outdoor, environmentally-friendly classes

Canal Alliance is always working for the community.

Y Y Y Y Y

Did you know?

The Canal neighborhood is described as a food desert by the USDA and has one of the highest rates of selfreported poor health and obesity in Marin.1

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1 A Portrait of Marin, Marin County Human Development Report, 2012

School was the one place I could be like everybody else.

Ariana Accepts Dream Job Helping Students

Ariana was four when she and her parents traveled from Latin America and settled in West Marin. Like many undocumented youth, Ariana was aware that she was considered illegal by some, but there was little impact on her life until she became a teenager and was unable to get a California drivers license. After high school, Ariana attended Santa Rosa Junior College and transferred to Sonoma State, but knew she wouldnt qualify for a teaching position due to her immigration status. A Bittersweet Moment Knowing her employment options were very limited, she described graduating from Sonoma State as a bittersweet moment. School was the one place I could be like everybody else, she explained. After graduating with distinction and a B.A. in Sociology, Ariana worked as a nanny but dreamed of a having a job she felt passionate about. Then, in 2012, when the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy was issued by President Obama, she discovered a link to Canal Alliance on a friends Facebook page oering DACA application assistance. Ariana attended three DACA workshops, the immigration legal team reviewed her application, and she was quickly approved. Proud to Work Today, Ariana is proud to work at 10,000 Degrees, a college support organization for lowincome youth, where she helps high school students in Point Reyes prepare for college. Ariana explained my life has changed so much since I received my documents; a burden has been lifted o my shoulders.

Immigration Legal Services Open Doors

Delivered legal services to 509 clients for new matters during 1,834 oce visits Helped 51 clients complete citizenship applications Provided information to 811 young people, and assisted 545 with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applications

Achieving Success

Everybody Counts!
Canal Alliance believes everybody counts; that every new American deserves the opportunity to thrive. The success stories in these pages bring to life the courage and determination of thousands of Canal Alliance clients who have overcome, or who continue to work hard to overcome, many daunting challenges. Community Advocate For more than three decades, Canal Alliance has been the leading community advocate for lowincome, Spanish-speaking immigrants eager to succeed. Canal Alliance provides a robust array of services focusing on family stability, education, legal services and economic development helping 3,000 people each year make positive strides toward achieving success. Community Partnerships By eectively collaborating with at least 40 other agencies, 400 volunteers and thousands of community supporters, Canal Alliance and its partners are proud to empower our newest Americans to be full participants in our community.

Canal Alliance has provided a needed voice for those who often arent capable of navigating the local political process and who often are fearful of speaking up.
Marin Independent Journal Editorial, June 28, 2012

z z z z z

The most valuable return on investment is the impact of Canal Alliance's work with young people that really stands out. It is the young people who are now raising their voices, often at their own risk, to talk of the American ideals of fairness, equity, opportunity and equality.
Dr. Thomas Peters, President and CEO Marin Community Foundation From Remarks at the Canal Alliance 30th Anniversary Celebration, September 13, 2012

Did you know?

Between August and December 2012, the US Customs and Immigration Service received 367,903 applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and has approved 102,965.1

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1 United States Customs and Immigration Services, http://www.uscis.gov, 2013

Helping Young People and Families Thrive

Building on Success
Thanks to our supporters, Canal Alliance provides a full spectrum of immigrant integration services under one roof from basic assistance and classes to impacting systemic solutions. No other single organization oers Marins low-income, immigrant community this array of services. We continue to enhance our cutting edge evaluation processes to ensure that progress toward successful outcomes can be consistently measured and service strategies ne-tuned to achieve the best results. Canal Alliances bilingual, bicultural sta members are unrivalled in their ability to understand the needs of Marins immigrant community. Moving Forward Top priorities for moving forward are summarized in our recently completed Strategic Plan, which emphasizes the need for more proactive client-centered wraparound services, and improving the organizations technology, stang and fundraising capacity. Implementing the Plan over the next three years will ensure that Canal Alliance will become even more eective in helping young people and families thrive. Full community support is needed to achieve these strategic goals, and we thank you!

Ways to Contribute
Leadership Circle donors give $1,000 or more annually via cash, credit or stock donations and are invited to special information briefings and events. Donations of all sizes are greatly appreciated. These funds can be undesignated to be used however they are needed most, or can be designated for a specific purpose. Legacy Circle members make a planned gift naming Canal Alliance as a beneficiary in their will, trust, insurance policy or other planned gift for the organizations Endowment Fund at Marin Community Foundation.

b b b b b

Did you know?

Spanish-speaking immigrants are the most economically disadvantaged working group in the US. For every $1 of net worth that Caucasians have, Latinos have only 12 cents.1 The Canal area has the largest number (9,000) of lowincome residents in Marin, with 98% of elementary school children qualifying for free/reduced lunches.

Volunteers serve as members of the Board,

help raise funds, tutor youth, teach ESL classes, assist young people to apply for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, distribute emergency food, or support management with business skills.

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1 MeasureofAmerica.org

Honor Roll Leadership Circle Thank You

INDIVIDUALS
Anonymous (23) John Adler Sue & Richard Barry George & Shelia Bertram Rick, Helen & Ricky Boebel Ann Bolger & Ronald Helow Joan & Nick Boodrookas Katherine Brinnier In Memory of Kathy Crary Maureen Broderick & David Thompson Elizabeth Brown Linda Brown James & Caroline Burroughs Gerald K. Cahill & Kathleen S. King Fund* Elizabeth & Terry Calaway Michael Train Caldwell Patricia Callahan & David Dee Castellanos Family Trust Joseph Castro Amy E Christensen Cohen Family Fund* Katie Crecelius & Mark Agnew Chris & Helen Cullander Nancy Curley Mark Davids Josh Davis & Jessica Nenner Georgine Dixon Louise & Timothy Erdman Lorenzo Ersland Elizabeth Fain & Edmund Payne Barbara Farley Stephanie Fein & David Lakes Virginia Fifield Dick & Alison Fletcher Nancy Freedell Alison & Brock Fuller Terri Moreno Gelbaum & Daniel Gelbaum John Gibbons & Neal Brengle Judith & Gregg Gibson Susan & Dennis Gilardi Sarah & Dirk Godsey Mary & Steve Gorski Judy & Je Gough Christine & Ron Grossi Ginnie & Peter E. Haas, Jr.* Lysa Hale Terry Helbush & Dale Miller Ruth & Alfred Heller Inge Hendromartono & Christopher Senn Claire Horn Leslie & Stephen Johnson Juli & Scott Kauman Nancy H. & James Kelso Fund* Margaret Lumpkin Keon Marcia & Ronald Kinney In Memory of Mike Kinney Joyce Kleiner Caroline Kornfield Karen & Robert Kustel Peter Lambert Dee & Richard Lawrence Janet Lee & Edward Chen Lia Rudnic Lee & Nelson Lee Larry Litvak & June Cooperman Gale & Jon Love David Lusterman Craig MacLeod Carole & Stephen Mahoney In Memory of Lois & Jim Duggan J. Michael Mahoney Sheryl Manis Michele Manos Joan & Gordon Marks Michie & Thayer McDougle On Behalf of the McDougle & Shiota Families William & Christney McGlashan Vera & Kenneth Meislin Gilbert Mendez & Roaru Clayton Jane Miller Tamra & Kurt Mobley Melissa Nelken & Ron Lee Tom Ngo Becky & Jerry Oken Diane Ongaro Lea & Allen Orwitz Barbara & William Peterson Cindy Pickens Purple Lady/Barbara J. Meislin Fund* Bruce & Theresa Raabe Tracy & Michael Radclie In Honor of Sam Hybiashi Maja & Craig Ramsey Rand-Montgomery Fund* Bob & Paula Reynolds Joyce & Gary Rifkind Sandy Rolleri Pennie & Sandro Rossini Rose Rovan & Susan Cummins Stephanie & William Ryder Michelle & Edward Sarti Glenn & Janice Saunders Steve & Martha Saunders Bruce Scotton George L. Shields Foundation Stacey & Spencer Sias Larry & Gail Siegel Marla Simpson & Barry Dinerstein Scott & Dina Smith Jacquie & David Spielberg Tom Steyer & Kat Taylor Judith & Peter Valentine Sally & Bill Van Ingen Yadira Vigil Nancy Warfield David & Suzanne Warner Weinreb Segal Family Fund* Heidi & Richard Willetts Jim Williams Tom Wilson & Terry Bright Rex Wolf Juan & Lanya Zambrano May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust St. John's Church Morris Stulsaft Foundation Sun Valley School Tipping Point Community Trust for Public Land U.S. Bank Foundation Unbroken Chain Foundation Union Bank Foundation United Way of the Bay Area University of California, San Francisco van Lben Sels/RembeRock Foundation Villa Marin Wells Fargo Foundation Zellerbach Family Foundation

FOUNDATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

Isabel Allende Foundation Bank of America Foundation Bella Vista Foundation Bernard Osher Marin Jewish Community Center Bothin Foundation Brandeis Hillel Day School California Highway Patrol California Prison Industry Authority Cloudview Foundation College Access Foundation Comcast Foundation Comerica Charitable Foundation Community Development Block Grant County of Marin ForWords, the Catie Siegel Community Writing Center Carl Gellert & Celia Berta Gellert Foundation Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund Heernan Foundation Hilltop Group Charitable Foundation HolaKids! Huckleberry Youth Programs Joerger Family Charitable Foundation Jonas Family Foundation Kaiser Permanente Foundation Kalliopeia Foundation Kimball Foundation Latino Community Foundation Lumpkin Family Foundation Alexander M. & June L. Maisin Foundation Maria Kip Orphanage Fund Marin Charitable Association Marin Community Foundation Marin Evening Rotary Marin/SF Jewish Teen Foundation Morrison & Foerster Foundation Newman's Own Foundation Milton & Dorothy Sarno Raymond Foundation Saint Mark's School San Francisco Foundation Alice Shaver Foundation William E. Simon Foundation Simon-Strauss Foundation

BUSINESSES
Argumedo Garazon Law Group Autodesk Bank of Marin Bank of the West California Film Institute Chevron Citibank Club 101 Dodge & Cox Firewood Marketing First Federal Savings & Loan Association of San Rafael FowlerHoman Gilardi & Co. Hewlett-Packard Kuvara Law Firm Lautze & Lautze Law Oces of Fellom & Solorio Macy's Marin Independent Journal Marin Sanitary Service Mi Pueblo Foods One PacificCoast Bank Pacific Gas & Electric Pacific Sun Panama Hotel Ping's Mandarin Restaurant Raptor Discoveries Remedy Interactive Seyfarth Shaw Sol Food Stacy Scott Fine Catering Tangram Insurance Services The Lodge at Tiburon Unicorn Group Wetherby Asset Management

Leadership Circle members listed contributed $1,000 or more between January 1, 2012 March 31, 2013. While every eort has been made to be accurate, please let us know if we need to correct our records. * Donor-Advised Fund at the Marin Community Foundation

Outstanding Volunteers, Community Partners and Sta

LEADING VOLUNTEERS
Pedro Alvarez Alicia Arce Marabeth Bacon Marsha Berman Chas Blackford Monica Bonny John Brown Claudia Bruckert Noemi Camargo-Martinez John Cape Jean Carter Evelyn Cruz Anne Cullinane Linda & Drew Deer Samantha Deer Lloyd Elliot ELS Language Centers Firemen's Fund Insurance Co. Jude Fletcher Nancy Freedell Tricia George Kelly Giddings Joe Goldman Robert Greber Diane Green Nicolas Guzman Shari Hang Sue Husari Paula Irons Sara Isbell Martha Jackson Nancy Jacobs Lyn Jones Susan Kaplan Dan Keller Susan Keller Allison Kirk Linda-Marie Koza Mark Krahling Sue Kramer Tom Latinovich Katie Lynn Lopez Wayne Loucks George Luna Marin Catholic High School Edith Martinez Amy McCarthy Corrie McCluskey Monica McMillan Maurice Moreno Bev Munyon Paulina Mustazza Catherine Newhall

Eileen Ormiston Emily Perman Chloe Pfeier Zoe Poynor Joan Raab Catherine Ramberg Virginia Randolph Redwood High School Carmen Rios-Ramirez Teresa Rodriguez Tamayo Sato Maxine Sattizahn Caroline Silverstein Jane Solomons Law Oces of Antonia M. Stainbrook Dan Steinberg Don Stibich Cora Swanson Marsha Jo Tanforan Diana Tarrazo Gary Topper Sandivel Torres Yvette Wakefield Wells Fargo Bank Heidi Willets Candace Yoshida Jerey Zankel

STAFF
Tom Wilson Executive Director Omar Carrera Associate Executive Director Joshua Castro Director of Community Engagement Janet Fletcher Director of Finance and Administration Sherrie Holmes Director of Development Bob Jackson Director of Economic Development Sandy Ponek Director of Family Resources Raquel Saunders Director of Youth Scholarship Program Alyssa Simpson Director of Immigration Legal Services Pamela Vargas-Touchard Director of Marketing

Adriana Acosta Martha Aguiar Adrian Aragon Gabby Aragon Ericka Ayala Melissa Brandan Jorge Castellanos Gloria Castillo Axel Flores Saul Godinez Miguel Godoy Jamie Goekler Noah Harris Arleth Hernandez Erik Hernandez Nayeli Hernandez Sara Hundt Lupita Magaa Javier Morera Kathy Page Anna Penoyar Melissa Rivas Alexis Rodriguez Martin Steinman Reede Stockton Ana Tafolla Alia Vander Lind Maria Vierra Daniel Werner

Davidson Middle School Dominican University of California EARN Fair Housing of Marin ForWords, the Catie Siegel Community Writing Center Guatemalan Counsulate Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin Homeward Bound of Marin Legal Aid of Marin Levntate! Lift! for Teens Marin Academy Marin City Community Development Corporation Marin Community Clinics Marin Computer Resource Center Marin Literacy Program Marin Master Gardeners Novato Human Needs Center Novato Youth Center Parent Services Project Renew Computers - Technology Recyclers Ritter Center Saint Mark's School San Francisco & Marin Food Banks San Rafael High School Spark Point Center St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin Terra Linda High School UCSF Child Trauma Research Project Upwardly Global

COMMUNITY PARTNERS
10,000 Degrees Adopt A Family of Marin American Immigration Lawyers Association Northern California American Red Cross Bahia Vista Elementary School California Immigrant Policy Center Canal Welcome Center Catholic Charities - Kids Club Center for Domestic Peace Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership City of San Rafael College of Marin Community Action of Marin Community Institute for Psychotherapy Corporation for National & Community Service County of Marin

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Canal Alliance Financial Statement

Fiscal Year July 2011 June 2012

4% 25% 45%

Revenues Foundation Grants Corporate Support Individual Support County Contracts In-Kind Donations Other Revenue $1,707,207 $ 155,006 $ 585,609 $ 262,060 $ 973,051 $ 152,780 $3,835,713 45% 4% 15% 7% 25% 4% 100%

7% 15% 4%

Total Revenue

9% 9%

Expenses Program Services Administration Fundraising Total Expenses $3,154,989 $ 342,665 $ 339,851 $3,837,505 82% 9% 9% 100%

82%

Number of Clients Served Fiscal Year 2011-2012

2000

1594
1500

1418 831 880

Total unduplicated clients served in Fiscal Year 2011-2012: 3,000

1000 500

120
0 Family Advocacy Food Pantry Youth Program Adult Classes Immigration Legal Services

The complete audited financial report is available at www.canalalliance.org or upon request.

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Canal Alliance is proud to support the new Americans who have endured hardships and grueling journeys to become part of this great nation. They embody the American spirit, just like their predecessors who immigrated through Ellis Island. We believe familyfriendly immigration reform is essential to helping families create a better life.
Tom Wilson, Executive Director

Content: Jorge Castellanos Sherrie Holmes Pamela Vargas-Touchard Maria Vierra Graphic Design: Robin Brandes Design www.robinbrandes.com Mural: Precita Eyes Muralists Photography: Tim Porter www.timporter.com Photographs on page 11: Jamie Hopper, Trust for Public Land Front Cover Photo: Vickie Leonard www.vickieleonardphotography.com

Canal Alliance

91 Larkspur Street

San Rafael, CA 94901

415-454-2640

www.canalalliance.org