Previous Guest Speakers
2024
October 15, 2024
Brian Sobel, Media and Governmental Communications Consultant
Topic: 2024 Presidential/Vice Presidential Election & important/related political issues based on outcomes.
September 17, 2024
Zachary Kushel, Founder & Managing Partner of Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures (MSIV)
MSIV is the North Bay’s first regional venture capital fund. The MSIV social enterprise is propelling the North Bay’s economic future by fueling the high-growth startups of tomorrow.
August 20, 2024
Roy Giorgi, retired Drug Enforcement Commander, CA Department of Justice
"Enforcement of Illegal Narcotics"
July 16, 2024
Marin Forum Wildfire Panel
Wildfire and disaster preparedness are crucial for safeguarding lives, especially for our vulnerable populations. Please join us for a dynamic panel of fellow Marin Forum members and community leaders to discuss emerging work and strategies as Marin continues to navigate climate change, wildfires, and other natural disasters.
Jason Weber, Fire Chief, Marin County Fire Department
Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber began his career in fire service in the mid-'90s and has served in the department as a Seasonal Firefighter, Firefighter Paramedic, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Deputy Fire Chief. His extensive knowledge of the fire service provides the leadership skills to oversee the complexities in Administration, Emergency Operations, Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Communications, Vegetation Management, Training, partnerships with Cal Fire, and spearheading a countywide Fire Emergency Command Center. Chief Weber currently serves on the California Wildfire Coordinating Group, is Chair of the CAL FIRE Association of Contract Counties, Executive Officer of the Ross Valley Paramedic Authority, and was instrumental in developing the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority.
Mark Brown, Executive Officer, Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (Deputy Fire Chief, Marin Co. Dept. – Retired)
Mark Brown started his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1986 in Sonoma County. He was hired by the Marin County Fire Department as a Firefighter/Paramedic in 1991 and retired as the Deputy Fire Chief. After serving for nearly 30 years with the Marin County Fire Department, Mark retired to assume the position of Executive Officer for the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority, a joint powers agency charged with increasing the safety of Marin’s residents through vegetation management projects, evacuation route clearing, evacuation system improvements, public education, and defensible space evaluations.
Rachel Kertz,
Central Marin Neighborhood Response Group (NRG) Coordinator / Founder, Prepared and Resilient Communities (PARC) Rachel Kertz has combined her project management background, her passion for working in the community and her personal experiences to bring emergency preparedness to all. Using her business background, experience in volunteer management and with her lens toward equity, Rachel has developed PARC to make emergency preparedness available and accessible to our low-income, marginalized communities. Rachel has lived in North San Rafael for 25 years and serves as a City of San Rafael Councilmember.
June 18, 2024
Heidi Kühn, 2024 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
Heidi Kühn is the Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace. She founded the humanitarian non-profit organization with a vision of turning Mines to Vines. After winning her own battle with cancer, Ms. Kühn was inspired to remove an insidious ‘cancer of the earth’—replacing remnants of war with bountiful farmland worldwide. Since 1997, her farmer-focused development model that restores farmland, food security, livelihoods and resilience after devastating conflicts has transformed war-torn lands worldwide. For more than a decade, she has shown millions of people living in war-torn regions around the world a way forward for restoring peace and prosperity through agriculture.
May 21, 2024
Colleen Arnold is Chief Executive Officer of the Marin Aging and Disability Institute. Her life’s work has been grounded in disability justice and equity, and her passion for innovation and leading organizations through strategic change and growth make her uniquely qualified to guide MADI through its next phase of development.
April 16, 2024
Omid Shamsapour - Director of Operations, Marin TV.
March 19, 2024: Dick Spotswood
Dick is the politics and government columnist for the Marin Independent Journal. He is also the senior political correspondent for KRCB-Television (PBS, Channel 22 in Rohnert Park) and has been part of KRCB's award-winning national and state election coverage for the past sixteen years.
February 20, 2024: Beau Blanchard
Associate Director of Institutional Giving, California Film Institute (CAFILM)
Beau started at the nonprofit California Film Institute in 2009 with the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival and has since risen to his current position of Associate Director of Institutional Giving. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Beau studied Journalism and Cinema which led to a producing position with Sony Pictures Entertainment & Columbia Pictures. After a decade on the studio-side of the Hollywood film industry, Beau returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2008 to rediscover his 'cinephile roots' through independent, foreign, and documentary film exposition, distribution, and education.
January 16: Dr. Jonathan Eldridge
Superintendent/President, College of Marin
Dr. Eldridge serves as the Superintendent/President at College of Marin. He has been at the College for eleven years as vice president and works with the College’s talented faculty and staff, as well as community partners such as 10,000 Degrees, to create a truly coherent and integrated educational program for students. Jonathan received a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Political Science from Central Washington University, graduating from CWU’s William O. Douglas Honors College. His master’s degree is in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University and his doctorate is in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. In addition to working at College of Marin, Dr. Eldridge has also worked at the University of Washington, served as Dean of Students at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon and Vice President for Student Affairs at Southern Oregon University.
2023
November 21
Change is the Only Constant in Media: Rob Devincenzi
Rob became president and publisher of Marin Independent Journal eight years ago. He oversees all aspects of the San Rafael-based media company, which includes the IJ and all of its digital offerings and magazines.
October 17: David Sutton
Marin County Public Defender
September 19: Albert Flynn DeSilver
Mountain Biking, Mindfulness and Communication
Writer, workshop leader, and Marin's very first Poet Laureate, Albert Flynn DeSilver, will join us on September 19th to speak about writing, mindfulness, and authentic communication. His latest book, “Singletrack Mind”, artfully weaves together mountain biking in wild places and mindfulness. DeSilver creates a nexus in his writing and speaking with many entry points to help all of broaden our perspectives and build new skills.
August 15: AI (Artificial Intelligence) Education, Kaz and Sam Keller
Sam Keller, a Harvard alum and tech industry veteran, and his 12-year-old son, Kaz, a member of the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, are the co-founders of Gen AI Academy. Together, they're empowering individuals of all ages to leverage AI tools, earn income, gain skills, and serve their communities. Kaz has trained hundreds on using the AI tool, ChatGPT, and now they're expanding this initiative across the U.S. and Europe, training an intergenerational group of trainers.
July 18: San Quentin State Prison - past, present, and future
Lesley Currier, Managing Director, Marin Shakespeare Company
San Quentin is California’s oldest state prison with a storied past, poised to become the model for a more humane system focused on rehabilitation. Lesley Currier is the co-founder of Marin Shakespeare Company, and founder of Shakespeare for Social Justice, which has provided theatre classes at San Quentin and other state prisons for the past 20 years. A graduate of Princeton University, Lesley has been honored with numerous awards for directing and producing plays, as well as being elected to the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame, receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award form Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, and the 2017 Burbage Award for excellence in Shakespearean production. Recently, she spearheaded the construction of a new 165-seat indoor theatre at 514 Fourth Street in San Rafael.
June 20: Vivalon’s Healthy Aging Campus and Why Social Connection Matters
Anne Grey, Chief Executive Officer, Vivalon
Vivalon is a nonprofit organization that helps Marin County’s older adults and vulnerable residents thrive through the power of human connection with rides, meals, classes, care, advice and more. Please join us to learn more about why social connection matters for older adults and how Vivalon’s Healthy Aging Campus supports older adults and envisions the road ahead. Anne was appointed CEO of Vivalon in January of 2021. Prior to joining Vivalon, Anne held executive leadership positions at Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, One Legacy Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and American Heart Association Western States Affiliate. She currently serves on the Meals on Wheels California Board of Directors and is the incoming chair of the Aging Action Initiative.
May 16: Charles Goodman - Career Technical Education (CTE) Program
Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides multiple pathways to a wide range of in-demand careers with competitive salaries. CTE integrates academic, technical, and occupational knowledge to provide students with pathways to high-demand, livable-wage careers. CTE prepares learners for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies and makes academic content accessible to students by providing it in a hands-on context. CTE programs partner with businesses, industry leaders, and post-secondary institutions to provide opportunities for students to succeed in both the workforce and post-secondary education. CTE courses are available to Marin County youth.
Local business leader Charles Goodman will share the big things ahead for CTE. Mr. Goodman grew up in Marin and has a 50-year background in the building materials industry. He is an experienced elected leader serving 3 terms as Mayor of the Town of Ross, as well as 12 years of service on the Ross Town Council. Goodman’s volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of the Coast Guard Foundation, LeMay Museum, Fromm Institute for Life Long Learning and the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum. He is also an avid car collector and founder of several automobile Rally’s and gatherings. Most recently, Charles co-launched the CTE (Career Technical Education) Project in partnership with former Marin Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke.
April 18 - National Model for Healthy Outcomes
Harold Wallace, MPH
Chief Executive Officer, Marin City Health and Wellness Center
Marin City Health and Wellness Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to providing innovative health and wellness services to all, with the goal of African American Health Equity. MCHWC was founded by a grassroots effort to serve those experiencing poor health outcomes and lack of access to healthcare, especially African Americans, residents of public housing and the homeless. MCHWC provides wraparound healthcare including medical, dental, behavioral health and treatment services. MCHWC patients represent all ethnicities and ages, but most deal every day with Social Determinants of Health – the reality is that their zip code has a greater impact on personal health than their genetic code.
March 21 - Marin Educators for Equity Initiative
Robin Pendoley is an educator with expertise in social impact leadership, educational equity, and nonprofit management. A Bay Area native, he grew up in the public schools in Vallejo and San Rafael, witnessing the inequity and injustice of our education system. Robin's work at Marin Promise Partnership (MPP) includes supporting partner institutions to envision and build an educator of color pipeline for Marin students. Prior to joining MPP, Robin served in a diverse array of public schools, including as a teacher and administrator. He also founded and led Thinking Beyond Borders, an educational institution developing social impact leaders rooted in critical consciousness. Robin holds a BA in International Development Studies from UCLA and an EdM from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has a spouse and daughter, and can often be found running the trails of Marin County.
February 21 - The Housing Landscape for Older Adults in Marin
Linda M. Jackson, Director
Marin Aging Action Initiative
Throughout our lives, we have found places to call home. But as we grow older, the road map for the best place to live can seem complicated. The best time to make a decision about where to live is before the fall, the loss of a job or the health diagnosis. What's the right decision for you about where to live the rest of your life? AAI Director Linda Jackson will review the housing landscape for older adults in Marin, talk about how housing needs change for older adults and present the range of housing options to consider. Everyone deserves an affordable, safe and comfortable home for the later years of life. Learn what might be the best choice for you.
January 17 - Preventing Opioid Overdose , Aligning for Success in Marin County
Matt Willis, MD MPH
Public Health Officer, County of Marin
Opioid overdose impacts every community and is the leading cause of accidental death in Marin County. Marin is in the third wave of the opioid crisis. Fentanyl use is accelerating the crisis nationally and in Marin. Fatal overdoses and drug poisoning have doubled over the past 3 years. Dr Willis will review the latest trends and review potential solutions including OD Free Marin, the local coalition tackling this complex problem. Please join us for this important conversation.
A Marin native, Dr. Matt Willis has been the County’s Public Health Officer since 2013.
Dr. Willis calls on experience as a physician, an epidemiologist, and a member of this community to guide public health strategy for Marin. He has served in the US Public Health Service as Director of Primary Care on the Navajo Reservation and at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, where he conducted research and outbreak investigations in the U.S. and abroad. He has published research in tuberculosis control, disaster response, and opioid safety. He holds a Medical Degree from Temple and completed a Master’s in Public Health and Internal Medicine residency at Harvard.
2022
December 20 - Marin Villages
John Power
Executive Director, Marin Villages
Our population is aging. What that looks like in Marin and beyond varies, but there are clear trends. One approach to support aging-in-place depends on a "village" of volunteers. Find out how Marin Villages lets older adults rely on one another for the support, activity and friendship they need to live independently in the places they already call home.
John joined the Marin Villages Team as executive director in May 2021, after three decades as a trusted authority and expert to local, state, and national nonprofit, government, corporate and private philanthropy leaders on community-building, nonprofit development, and volunteer engagement. For two decades he led The Volunteer Center in San Francisco and launched the national Board Match. He previously served as Deputy District Director for San Jose Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. Bay Area locally-grown, a graduate of UC Berkeley with an MBA from Santa Clara University, John lives in Kentfield with his partner of 26 years. An avid runner, he can be found on trails throughout Marin.
October 18 - Raising Our Voices, Supporting Success: Affordable Housing in Marin
Chantel Walker
Board Member, Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative
As the nonprofit organization, Public Advocates, highlights, ‘Bay Area cities and counties are required to update their local housing action plans – the “Housing Element” – by January 2023’. Marin Forum Member Chantel Walker will share ideas and information at the October 2022 Forum Meeting about timely opportunities to support affordable housing for families and individuals our community. A best and highest use of the Marin Forum (our network ) is learning more about current window of opportunity to support the development of realistic action plans that will guide local government policies and practices as well as help Marin remain a viable community. Engaged community housing advocates, local government partners and Housing Elements can help to preserve current affordable housing stock, push back against housing segregation and expand access to affordable housing. We will discuss the state of affordable housing in Marin, identify opportunities to raise our voices to support all people in Marin, and highlight useful information resources to guide future affordable housing engagement.
Chantel is an active and dedicated volunteer for family and community issues. At the Marin Forum’s October 2022, she will build from her volunteer work with the Marin Environment and Housing Coalition (MEHC) where she serves a Board Member, and was one of the original conveners of the organization almost 2 decades ago, to highlight the opportunities to support permanently affordable housing in Marin through the Housing Element development process and community-based advocacy.
Chantel has more than 30 years of experience in collaborative community development, Housing Finance, libraries and organizational development in philanthropy, government and the broader nonprofit sector. She is fluent in Spanish and is an experienced convener, trainer and facilitator. She has published and presented on issues of social services and community development, the role of philanthropy in community change; library services and racial equity; organizational design; Human Resources; and employee engagement. Chantel's paid work is as the Assistant Director of County Library Services at the Marin County Free Library (MCFL). At MCFL, Chantel’s focus is finance, human resources, library technical services, capital projects, strategic planning; and, working with partner organizations.
September 20 - Marin County, Our Economy and the Marin Economic Forum
Mike Blakeley
CEO Marin Economic Forum 
The Marin Economic forum enables Marin’s economic stakeholders to collaborate on improving the County’s economic vitality, focusing on Marin’s targeted industries while enhancing social equity and protecting the environment. The Marin Economic Forum focuses on:
- Connecting Businesses to partners and solutions
- Educating on the importance of business for Marin County’s future
- Providing data and information to help businesses and local governments
- Supporting economic development efforts for sustainable growth of local businesses
Mike Blakeley is a senior economic development specialist supporting clients in the public and private sector. He is an expert at building partnerships and mobilizing different stakeholders to create shared outcomes and strategies. Mike joined the Marin Economic Forum having previously served as a Managing Director at Nathan Associates Inc., a global consulting firm that designs and implements large-scale foreign assistance programs in emerging markets. In this capacity Mike led a global team of experts providing strategies on topics including entrepreneurship, business strategy and workforce development.
Mike is a former founder and President of an international trading company in San Francisco that exported agricultural commodities, including many products from California. He acquired his MA in International Economics and has served on multiple boards of local and international non-profits.
Mike grew up in Marin County and currently resides here with his wife and two children.
August 16 - Melissa Prandi Children Foundation in Kampala, Uganda.
Melissa Prandi 
This month we hear from one of our own and learn about the great work underway by the Melissa Prandi Children Foundation in Kampala Uganda. Melissa will tell us about her journey, performing “service above self” to improve the lives of children far away from Marin.
Melissa is a Marin County native, entrepreneur, community leader, national speaker, best-selling author, and owner of PRANDI Property Management, Inc. In addition to her success in business, Melissa is dedicated to service and numerous community associations.
JUly 19 - the icb: the building, the artists and the place
John Kunzweiler
Artist
Learn about ICB, the artists and the place. The building, in the Marinship District of Sausalito, has an interesting history. Original facility part of a complex building Liberty ships during World War 2. It has morphed a couple of times until taken over by several local but world famous artists to become what it is today --one of the largest concentrations of creative talent in the United States.
Our speaker is John Kunzweiler, one of the Marin County-based artists with a studio at the ICB in Sausalito. John’s journey to painting started with advertising art in college and early jobs. But then John got derailed with an MBA and 30 years in international management consulting (Accenture). But with extensive travel, a camera, and a sketch book, he used his time to observe and record the changing world.
June 21- protecting the Golden gate bridge for future generations
Denis Mulligan
General Manager
The Golden Gate Bridge is a symbol of our community, as well as a key transportation artery connecting us to San Francisco. Our speaker this month is one of our own – Denis Mulligan. This month we will learn about protecting the Bridge for future generations, efforts to save lives for individuals in distress, and how our regional bus and ferry system are navigating the long tail of the pandemic.
Denis Mulligan is General Manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. The District owns and operates the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as regional bus and passenger ferry service that provides alternatives to driving across the Bridge. Pre-pandemic, weekdays from 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m., 23 percent of the trips from Marin and Sonoma Counties into San Francisco are on the District’s buses and ferries reducing congestion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of life in the community.
May 17- fire-safe and drought tolerant landscaping
Sophia Porter
Fire-Smart Landscaping Coordinator
We all love the tremendous beauty of Marin County, whether it be Mount Tam or the quiet of our own yards and landscaped public spaces. However, fire and drought are becoming ever more commonplace in Marin with the unfolding climate emergency. Learn about fire-safe and drought tolerant landscaping and plants to coexist with the changing world.
Sophia Porter is the Fire-smart Landscaping Science Education Coordinator for the University of California Cooperative Extension. She works with UC Marin Master Gardeners and with local agencies such as the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority and Fire Safe Marin focusing on education, outreach, and research.
Sophia holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis in Communications and Psychology and earned several degrees from Santa Rosa Junior College in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Studies including course work in fire ecology and environmental policy. Sophia has a breadth of experience and background, including involvement with non-profit entities particularly those focusing on civic engagement and sustainability. She is a long-time steward at Pepperwood Preserve, a research facility located in Sonoma County.
Sophia has a strong devotion to community service and civic engagement, and the interconnection between humanity and the environment.
april 19- an update on what's happening from washington DC to marin county
Jared Huffman
U.S. Congressman Serving California's 2nd District
Jared was first elected to Congress in November 2012 and currently serves on the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. During his four terms in Congress, Jared has built a reputation as a progressive leader and an environmental expert who focuses on making a difference. Jared is also committed to ensuring our communities are resilient to the effects of climate change, including wildfires and droughts.
While his Congressional District spans the North Coast of the state, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, and includes Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte counties, Jared lives in San Rafael with his wife Susan, a teacher. They have two children, Abby and Nathan. In his free time, Jared enjoys fishing, hiking and playing tennis.
March 15 - The Future of Rail in the north bay
Eddy Cumins
General Manager
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District
This month we learn about the future of rail in the North Bay. We will hear from the new General Manager of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District, Eddy Cummins, and we will learn where SMART is headed in the future. All aboard for a great meeting!
Eddy Cumins is the General Manager of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District. As General Manager he is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of SMART’s transit and freight services. Prior to joining SMART, Eddy served as Chief Operating Officer for the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). Before he became UTA’s Chief Operating Officer, Eddy was the Regional General Manager of UTA’s Mt. Ogden Business Unit. Eddy began his career at UTA in 2011 after a distinguished 20-year military career in the United States Air Force.
2021
DECEMBER 21ST - BUILDING EQUITY IN MARIN: DISABILITY INCLUSION BUILDS HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES FOR US ALL
Abby Yim
Executive Director of Integrated Community Services
Abby Yim is a Novato native who has been the Executive Director of Integrated Community Services (ICS) for the past 6 years. Integrated Community Services is a cross-disability employment and living skills services provider in Marin that is focused on building accessible and equitable systems that create the kind of diverse and flourishing workplaces and neighborhoods we all deserve to be a part of. Abby will give a primer on what services ICS provides for people with disabilities along with sharing some of the current projects we're working on to build a more diverse, equitable and healthier Marin.
SEPTEMBER 21ST - COAST MIWOK AND SOUTHERN POMO TRIBES IN MARIN
VICTORIA CANBY
Executive Director Museum of the American Indian
What is the history and current-day life of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Tribes in Marin, as well other Indigenous communities in Marin and throughout the Bay Area? The history and overview of the Museum of the American Indian located in Miwok Park on a cultural heritage site was also discussed by Tory who serves as Executive Director.
august 17th- The Remarkable history of marin county: from first contact to the battle of olompali
George Webber
Sonoma History Tour Operator
George Webber is a former Marinite, and now a Sonoma history tour operator, character portrayal actor and historian. In an eclectic, entertaining presentation, George will describe the first contact of Spaniards with the Native Americans in Marin, to William Richardson, General Vallejo, the Bear Flag Revolt, and the only actual battle between Bear Flag Revolters and Californios at Olompali.
In a long and varied career George has been an options trader on the San Francisco Stock Exchange Options Floor, performed as Count Haraszthy at Buena Vista Winery, and is now running the George Webber Experience Walking Tour of the Sonoma Plaza. This historic re-enactment tour features three different tour guides: General Vallejo, (founder of Sonoma in 1835) Mark Twain, and William Tecumseh Sherman. The history of Sonoma is revealed through the different perspectives of these three tour guides, all performed by George.
July 20th - Homelessness in Marin
Christine Paquette
Executive Director
St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County
What is the current state of homelessness in Marin County in 2021? Is the situation getting better or worse for people experiencing homelessness and the communities who are affected by this challenge? Learn more about how evidence-based practices, collaboration, technology, and the pandemic have changed the landscape around addressing homelessness in Marin.
Christine Paquette is the Executive Director for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Marin County, where she has held management positions for the past fifteen years. Key accomplishments at the St. Vincent de Paul Society include quadrupling the agency’s budget during her tenure; launching the County’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) which has helped to reduce chronic homelessness in Marin County by 28% in two years; and expanding services and fund development for low income and homeless residents during the Covid-19 crisis.
Christine is a board member of Marin’s Homeless Policy Steering Committee and the Center for Volunteer and Non-Profit Leadership in Marin/Sonoma/Napa/Solano Counties. She also teaches nonprofit management seminars at UC Berkeley Extension and has served on the national development board for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, USA. Christine was named the winner of the Excellence in Leadership Award at the Heart of Marin awards in 2020.
Christine is a Tiburon native and a graduate of Redwood High School and U.C. Berkeley.
June 20TH - Race, Equity & The Path Forward
Panel of Speakers
- Chantel Walker, Marin Library
- Denis Mulligan, Golden Gate Transit
- Jaime Ortiz, Bank of Marin
- Eli Gelardin, Marin Center for Independent Living
A diverse panel of business leaders discuss their key reflections they've had as organizational leaders in the community.
May 18th - Educational Equity in Marin
Ann Mathieson
Founder & CEO - Marin Promise Partnership
Marin, a county of 260,000 people with incredible natural beauty and resources, is ranked one of the wealthiest, healthiest, best educated counties in California. Yet, systemic inequities in schools and communities continue to limit what’s possible for many children of color and youth living in poverty; resulting in some of the greatest disparities in the state. Hear about efforts to close the educational opportunity gaps in Marin.
The persistent and unacceptable educational equity gap is why Marin Promise Partnership was formed. MPP is a collective impact partnership committed to closing educational opportunity gaps by catalyzing systems change among school districts, community based organizations, funders, government and business in Marin County. COVID-19 and the shift to distance learning has exacerbated the digital divide for students and elevated MPP’s sense of urgency. The Partner Institutions refuse to settle for a world in which a child’s potential is dictated by race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance.
Ann Mathieson is the founder and CEO of the Marin Promise Partnership. A proud Marin Forum member, she is passionate about educational equity, innovation and community. She has been a trustee and Board Chair of the Marin Community Foundation and was elected twice to the Kentfield School Board where she served as President. Prior to founding MPP in 2012, Ann’s was a marketing executive, first at Hallmark Cards and then with Collagen Corporation, a biotech startup in Silicon Valley. She has a BS from Indiana University and an MBA from Stanford University. She lives in Kentfield with her husband Andy. They have four grown children.
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April 20TH Book Passage – 45 Years Strong!
ELAINE PETROCELLI
Founder of Book Passage
Some Marin Forum speakers need a topic. For some, mention their name and you know the topic. Elaine Petrocelli founded Marin’s beloved Book Passage in 1976. Forty-five years later it is as vibrant and an important part of the Marin community as it has ever been.
This month we will hear an update on the independent book selling business, how Book Passage is doing and then she will share some books that Marin Forum members might enjoy. With over 700 events each year, now online, Book Passage gives visibility to authors in Marin, San Francisco and around the world. The bi-monthly Book Passage News & Reviews is read by more than 40,000 people worldwide.
Elaine has been named “Bookseller of the Year” by Publishers Weekly and recognized as a “Woman Making History” by the International Women’s Forum. She has received a “Creative Achievement Award” from Mill Valley as well as an “Inspiring the Future Award” from the Marin Education Fund. Elaine Petrocelli has written herself into the heart of the community and the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame.
MARCH 16TH - COVID in Marin - Our County’s Emergency ResponseDr. Lisa Santora |
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Dr. Santora will provide an overview of Marin County’s COVID-19 emergency response. This will include an update on current and projected COVID-19 disease burden, tier assignment, school reopenings and vaccine distribution. She will also describe how the Outbreak Prevention and Response Teams are helping the County achieve equitable vaccine distribution. Lastly, Dr. Santora will discuss the role of the County’s Healthcare Preparedness Program (HPP), MarinRecovers, Marin VOAD, and Community Advisory Board in informing and guiding emergency response strategies.
Lisa M. Santora, MD, MPH, is the Deputy Public Health Officer for Marin County. In this position she provides clinical oversight for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP), Communicable Disease Prevention and Control (CDPC), and Detention Health. Prior to this role, she was the Chief Medical Officer for the Beach Cities Health District (BCHD). Santora is a family physician who has worked in federally-qualified health centers across the country. She is a graduate of Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School and completed residencies in preventive medicine and family medicine.
February 16th - Building a Unicorn - AirbnbRiley Newman |
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January 19 - A Film History in Marin County
Beau Blanchard, Corporate Development Manager, California Film Institute/Mill Valley Film Festival & A Special Guest
"From Broncho Billy to Luke Skywalker, A Brief History of Film in Marin: Join the California Film Institute's Beau Blanchard and special guest for a trip through film industry history in Marin County”
Beau started at the nonprofit California Film Institute in 2009 as the Development Coordinator for the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival and has since risen to his current position of Corporate Development Manager, now responsible for over $3M annually in cash and trade sponsorships. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Beau studied Journalism and Cinema which led to an Assistant Producer position with Sony Pictures Entertainment & Columbia Pictures. After over a decade on the studio-side of the Hollywood film industry, Born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland, Beau returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2008 to rediscover his 'cinephile roots' through independent film production and foreign and documentary film exposition.
2020
November 17 — michael st. John, kalyn dawes, MARIN county sheriff's search & rescue unit
Someone you know or love has just disappeared, and you fear the worst. Who can help in this type of situation? We are so fortunate to have an all-volunteer Marin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit. They can…and have…helped!
This unique organization is the only certified Mountain Rescue Team in the Country where high school-age members are an integral part of the program and response. The unit has 100 volunteer members and responded to 48 missions last year throughout California. Michael will review two recent extended SAR missions in Marin where the team participated in live-saving finds.
Michael St. John is a retired Battalion Chief from the Mill Valley Fire Department. He joined the Search and Rescue team in 1979 and has been the Unit Leader since 1989. Kayln Dawes is a senior at Redwood High School and has been with the Search & Rescue unit for three years since she was a freshman.
October 20 — Mike Swezy, Board of Directors, Marin Conservation League
Fire on the Mountain:
Pre-history, history, and the future of wildfire in Marin
This presentation will connect the long arc of fire in the environment since the beginning of time (at least here on earth) through the post-ice age role of indigenous people in Marin who used fire, through the changes wrought by European settlement, into our modern wildfire predicament, and the role of climate change in driving wildfire dynamics now and into the near future…in only 30 minutes!!
Mike Swezy recently retired as the Watershed Manager after a 23-year career with Marin Municipal Water District protecting watershed lands on Mt. Tamalpais and West Marin directing projects to reduce fire risk and safeguard Mt. Tam’s biological diversity. Mike is now Vice President of the Marin Conservation League and serves on the board of Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed. He lives in Fairfax with his wife Susan.
September 15 — Jennifer Garrison, PhD
The Unspoken Truth
Reproductive Longevity & Equality Affects Us All
Over the years, the area of women’s reproductive longevity has remained under-researched and even ignored. Ovaries show signs of aging decades before other tissues. They are the “canary in the coal mine” for aging. Beyond reproduction, the end of fertility sets off a cascade of negative effects in women’s bodies. On a societal level, reproductive equality impacts women’s health, family planning, infertility, and career development.
Research at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and the newly established Center and Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality, aims to intervene in that process and balance the scales. The goal of these new endeavors is to foster research to prevent or delay reproductive aging.
Jennifer Garrison, PhD, will join us on Tuesday, September 15th, to discuss her research on this topic at the Buck Institute. She is an Assistant Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Faculty Director of the Global Consortium for Female Reproductive Longevity and Equality, and Associate Director of the Buck-USC Biology of Aging PhD Program. She holds secondary appointments in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California (USC).
August 18 — lynda roberts
what's new for november? how covid has changed the election
As we all learn to live life in a Covid-19 world, we have learned that life does indeed continue. This brings us to the upcoming elections taking place this November. What’s new, what’s changing, and how can we keep up with it all.
Join us for a lively half-hour discussion on hearing the most current information from Marin County’s Registrar of Voters. Some of the processes have changed, and there are a number of useful online resources that you may find helpful in keeping track of what’s going on.
Lynda Roberts was appointed as Marin County Registrar of Voters in 2014 and has effectively honored the preservation of voter integrity from day one. She brings many years of experience to this role, beginning with her career in Salt Lake City in 1977. Lynda is also a graduate of the San Rafael Leadership Institute.
July 21 — Dierdre wolownick
The Sharp End of Life – An Inspiring Metamorph
Are you familiar with the 2018 movie, Free Solo, where a young man, Alex Honnold, climbed to the top of El Capitan in Yosemite ‘free solo’? This means he climbed up the side of a 3,200 sheer granite wall without ropes, harnesses, or any other protective equipment, forcing him to rely on not only his strength but also his skill.
Don’t you sometimes wonder how people get to those places? That would have you looking at Dierdre Wolownick, the mother of two highly talented children, raised to be ‘fearlessly confident’. And what does Dierdre do with her life? She takes up marathon running at the age of 54 to spend more time with her accomplished daughter, Stasia, who is an ultra-marathon runner. And then she starts rock climbing at the age of 58, ultimately climbing El Capitan with her son Alex (yes, she used protective gear) at the age of 66. In accomplishing that, she became the oldest woman to climb El Capitan.
Her life is more than physical accomplishments – it’s actually quite remarkable on many levels. Dierdre recently released a memoir called The Sharp End of Life (https://www.sharpendoflife.com/). It’s a true story of learning, acceptance, and spirit.
JUne 16 — Jessie Rountree & Anna Costello
SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Marin Members
Creating a More Equitable Marin County
We will be joined by members of SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) Marin, a volunteer group dedicated to fighting racism and working to promote racial justice in the county. During our time, we will build a deeper awareness of bias and levels of racism, get clarity on different actions we may take, and learn how to better show up as allies.
may 19— Dr. Gordon Lithgow
Science and Research at the Buck in the Time of Covid-19
The Buck is bringing its expertise in aging and metabolism to a huge international effort to find treatments for COVID-19. Dr. Lithgow will share with us what the Buck Institute is currently doing with, and discovering from, their very targeted research.
Dr. Lithgow, a native of Scotland, established his lab studying the biology of aging at the University of Manchester, England before moving it to the Buck Institute in 2000. He is the recipient of numerous research awards and recognition, and has served on many national advisory panels in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Lithgow lab concentrates on identifying small drug-like molecules that re-engage and enhance homeostatic mechanisms in the microscopic nematode worm C. elegans. This area of research has been particularly helpful as the Buck's has focused part of their activities on the Covid-19 virus.
February 18— linda jackson
100 YEARS AGO WOMEN WON THE BATTLE
FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE!
With the use of photos, newspaper headlines and other graphics from the period, our speaker from the Marin League of Women Voters will share the raucous and often dangerous story of the journey from Seneca Falls to the final vote in the Tennessee legislature to ratify the 19th amendment. Linda will also tell the story about the League of Women Voters in Marin!
Linda Jackson is Vice-President of the Board of the Marin League of Women Voters and Vice-President of the San Rafael City Schools Board of Education. Linda holds an M.S. in Community and Regional Planning and an M.A. in Latin American Studies from U.T./Austin. After college, Linda served two years with the Peace Corps.
january 21— bill tyler
Preserving & Protecting our Communities During Fire Season
Wildfires are bigger, burn longer, cause more damage, and kill more people than ever before. The problem is likely to get worse in the future. Marin County is not immune to the unwanted negative effects from wildfire. Fire Chief Bill Tyler will layout the problem and discuss solutions, including a county wide approach to enhance and accelerate wildfire public safety efforts.
Fire Chief Bill Tyler serves as the President of the Marin County Fire Chiefs Association. This association serves as leaders in fire protection, and in identification and reduction of wildfire hazards and risks to our communities throughout Marin County. Their belief is that by working collaboratively, they are better together.
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2019
November 19— matt stevens
What's Next for the SMART Train in Marin?
Matt Stevens, the Community Outreach and Customer Service Director for SMART, will share an overview of how Marin’s newest transportation option is faring and what is in store for Marin stations and services in 2020.
From providing free transportation during Marin and Sonoma's darkest hours (literally!), to ensuring the safety and well-being of all of its passengers, the SMART train continues to be a lively topic of discussion for Marin residents.
Matt Stevens has worked extensively in both public and private sectors, with an emphasis in transportation, energy, health care, and the environment.
October 15 — jennifer jayme
Marin Census 2020: Everyone Counts in Marin
In the last Census, millions of people were missed or undercounted. "Hard To Count" populations include people with low incomes, families with young children, seniors, people with disabilities, immigrants and people with limited English proficiency, people experiencing homelessness, living in alternative housing, just renting or living in blended households. All have so much to gain, or lose, from their participation in the Census.
september 17 — Sam Dolcini
Perspectives from Over the Hill
August 20 — Jamison watts
Protecting and Preserving Farmland in Marin Now and into the Future
MALT was the very first farmland trust in the nation and since its inception nearly 40 years ago, it has successfully protected more than 54,000 acres of Marin farmland...forever. Across the country, we lose a staggering 175 acres of farmland every hour. But here in Marin, we’re writing a different story. With a vision for preserving a thriving agricultural community in Marin County and a mission to permanently protect Marin’s agricultural land for agricultural use, MALT serves as a national model for how to successfully and effectively safeguard viable, healthy and diverse farmlands from the pressures of mounting development. Jamison shared some of the unique challenges and trends facing farmers in West Marin and how MALT is planning to protect Marin’s treasured lands.
July 16 — danica remy
Astronauts, Asteroids, Astrophysicists and Rock Stars
Danica Remy leads B612 as well as Asteroid Day, which celebrated its 5th birthday LIVE from Luxembourg at the end of June. She is President of the B612 Foundation and leads the organization’s global efforts to protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts. She previously served as B612’s COO and has led operations for several businesses and philanthropic organizations, providing expertise and extensive experience in information technology, facilities, human resources, finance, and government relations.
Danica also co-founded the international program, Asteroid Day, supported by the Government of Luxembourg and sanctioned by the United Nations as an official day to increase global awareness and education of asteroids.
JUne 18 — remy gross iii
Living to 125 and Beyond. What the Buck has to say about
Lifespan and Healthspan
Mr. Gross is the head of the Business Development Office at Buck. His current mission at the Buck is to increase deal flow and corporate or start-up collaborations in order to translate the Buck’s inventions into innovations, in addition to other strategic endeavors.
In the past four years the Business Development group has licensed over forty patents/patent applications, contracted for more than $30 million in sponsored research funds, and is directing a phase 1b/2a clinical trial in Australia on a Buck therapeutic candidate using fund-raised venture philanthropic dollars. The Business Development group has also facilitated the creation of three technology start-up companies in the past 18 months, all three of which have raised seed and/or Series A funding in addition to several large, platform deals with companies like Nantworks and Calico.
may 21 — dameion brown
The Transformative Power of Arts in Prison
For Dameion Brown, life looks a lot different than it did two decades ago. Incarcerated at age 24, Brown served 23 years of a life sentence at Solano State Prison. In 2018, Brown was hired as Marin Shakespeare Company's first ever Artist in Residence, a full-time staff position that includes acting, teaching in juvenile correctional facilities, and working as a community ambassador.
Dameion will share his story about how he came to understand the transformative power of the arts for men whom society often declares unredeemable, and how bringing the same artistic vision to juvenile offenders is helping to reconstruct their social perspectives for the better..
april 16 — john haveman, Ph.D.
Climate Change Economics
Jon Haveman, Ph.D., is the Executive Director of the National Economic Education Delegation. Jon has been a professional economist for more than 27 years, all of it devoted to better understanding the economics of policy issues. He has been a Marin resident for nearly 20 years and has given more than 50 presentations in the County on a wide variety of economic issues.
According to the Green New Deal,our target emissions should be zero. Economics has much to say about this as well as how to most efficiently achieve emissions reductions. There is a trade-off between addressing climate change and protecting the economy. We will see that addressing climate change is not at all inconsistent with a dynamic growing economy.
The National Economic Education Delegation is devoted to increasing economic policy literacy among the electorate. We are doing this by developing, and giving, aggressively nonpartisan presentations on important and pressing policy issues all over the country.
march 19 — torri estrada
Carbon Farming - Hope for A Hot Plant
Torri Estrada is Executive Director at Carbon Cycle Institute and directs its policy and climate justice work. Torri has worked with non-profit, community-based, and public institutions to advance solutions to social and environmental justice, climate, and environmental issues for over twenty years.
According to the Marin Carbon Project research, sequestration of just one metric ton per hectare on half the range land area in California would offset 42 million metric tons of CO2e, an amount equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from energy use for all commercial and residential sectors in California. The Carbon Cycle Institute's mission is to stop and reverse global warming by advancing natural, science-based solutions that remove atmospheric carbon while promoting environmental stewardship, social equity and economic sustainability.
february 19 — paul schiefer
Senior Director of Sustainability, Amy's Kitchen
Paul Schiefer is the Senior Director of Sustainability for Amy's Kitchen.He is responsible for leading Amy's sustainability programs and policy and is a member of the Amy's Leadership Group.
Previously at Amy's, Paul was responsible for launching the Amy's Drive-Thru, beginning a new organic business in India, and overseeing Amy's European market entry.
Paul is passionate about using business to meet both economic and values-based goals - with a strong focus on promoting organic and sustainable agriculture as the best path forward for our global food system.
JanuarY 15 — marc levine
Assemblymember, D-Marin County
Marc Levine was recently reelected to serve in the California State Assembly. A Democrat representing the 10th Assembly District, he is the current chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2012, he was a San Rafael City Councilmember.
2018
NOVEMBER 20 — ERIC TORNEY
MarinShip - The world's most amazing shipyard
Eric J. Torney is a 4th generation California native. His great great grandfather, Charles Fardon Langley, arrived in San Francisco in 1851, after an ocean voyage from New York to San Francisco as crew on the famous Clipper Ship Flying Cloud. Charles had booked passage with his cargo of medicine to sell to gold miners. The Flying Cloud made the passage in the world record time of 89 days. Charles set up a tent near what today is Union Square and sold his entire cargo in one day. The company Charles founded, after several buyouts, today is McKesson. Living in Marin all of his life, Eric graduated from Kent School, Redwood High School, College of Marin, and U.C. Berkeley. Now a retired remodeling contractor living in Greenbrae he volunteers at Sausalito Historical Society and has produced several exhibits featuring Marinship.
October 16 — Richard Spotswood
A pundit's look at the 2018 election - Marin, state and national
Dick Spotswood is the politics and government columnist for The Marin Independent Journal. His IJ columns appear every Sunday and Wednesday. He is co-host of the IJ’s monthly television program IJ Forum. In politics Dick is a registered independent and his occasional IJ blog is called “The Militant Centrist.” He is the senior political correspondent for KRCB-TV (PBS, Channel 22 in Cotati/Rohnert Park). He's been part of KRCB’s award winning national and state election coverage for twenty-two years.
September 18 — Chrisfino Kenyatta Leal
From Lock Up to Start Up
Mr. Chrisfino Kenyatta Leal is a founding member and returned citizen of The Last Mile program at San Quentin.
Upon his release from San Quentin in 2013, Kenyatta began a paid internship at RocketSpace and was subsequently promoted into Management and Sales positions with the San Francisco based technology campus. In 2018 Kenyatta joined The Last Mile full time as a Business Development Specialist. He also serves as an evangelist for The Last Mile and is a featured speaker at numerous conferences and corporate events.
August 21 — David Crane
California is Fixable
Mr. David Crane, Lecturer in Public Policy at Stanford University and president of Govern for California. From 2004-2010 he served as a special adviser to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and from 1979-2003 he was a partner at Babcock & Brown, a financial services company. Crane also serves on the board of the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California and formerly served on the University of California Board of Regents and as a director of the California State Teachers Retirement System, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Volcker-Ravitch Task Force on the State Budget Crisis.
July 6 — Kenneth Wilson
Studying Dietary Restriction and Longevity at the Buck Institute
Kenneth received his bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley and Master’s degree in Biological Sciences from Dominican University of California. He currently is a student in the Biology of Aging program between the University of Southern California and the Buck Institute. His research focuses on understanding how natural genetic variation can influence response to diet to affect longevity and health.
