Poverty in Marin isn’t invisible, it’s hidden in plain sight. Our perfect Marin bubble is blind to the struggle and sacrifice surrounding us. While Marin has a reputation for wealth, Data USA states 7.8% of residents live in poverty and Marin has the highest child poverty rate in the Bay Area. A local organization, Community Action Marin (CAM) is at the forefront of fighting this crisis. Erin Hawkins, Vice President of Whole Family & Community Services at the organization speaks up to say, “Understand that these are our neighbors. The folks that we serve are folks we interact with every day. And they are a vital part of our community. For the work they do and for the culture they bring. We need to look ourselves in the mirror and see the things that are not easy to see, and be willing to take action to change them.”

Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty” started many initiatives and inspired movements like the Community Action Movement. These programs were implemented to push Americans toward self sufficiency and success. Today, CAM is Marin’s largest anti-poverty organization, helping families with food, housing, education, health, and financial justice. CAM works to not only provide services for families experiencing poverty and immigrants learning to push past the barriers to success, but also to change systems and shift the narrative around poverty, immigration, and equity. 

Their “whole family approach” assesses the needs of families and provides tailored support. CAM is dedicated to ending poverty, not just responding to it. They do this by being an advocate for change in our communities, fighting laws and policies that are unjust, and giving power to clients by letting those directly impacted shape the narrative. Hawkins proclaims, “It’s extra hard when you feel like a lot of the laws and policies coming out right now are working against you and the people you are trying to help.” The “whole family approach” is rooted in dignity and long-term stability. 

Marin’s rising costs and high rent force families into making impossible choices. Families are battling food insecurity, financial issues, and trying to avoid homelessness. Many are doing this while under the fear of ICE raids and deportation. During a time of true uncertainty, CAM is showing resilience in the face of fear and anger. With the unpredictability of immigration raids, CAM is scared both for their clients and their staff who too have loved ones who may be at risk. The organization’s team is persistent in their fight to advocate for those who are scared, help those who need legal representation, and work to prepare for the worst situations. While CAM makes sure they inform their clients of their protected rights and privacy, Hawkins makes it clear that we are living in an unprecedented time and it is important to be completely transparent with their community members. 

CAM holds a special responsibility for young people and students. They carry sympathy for students who are facing homelessness and living with food or financial insecurity. Their programs are there to create stability so kids are able to thrive academically. 

With such demanding and important work, it is inevitable that it will take an emotional toll on staff. Hawkins, tends to worry about her staff and encourages them to prioritize their mental health. She shares, “I think especially for my staff who are working directly on the front lines…on the housing justice team, they come in and they do really hard work, and at the end of that day when it’s time for them to go home, that often means they are dropping someone back off at a tent. ”

Finally, Hawkins calls for Tam students to get involved now. She explains that activism is a “long game.” You must think now about the world you want for your kids and get involved to make that change. She references the groundbreaking civil right movement saying, “They had to trust that their involvement would change things. We need to lean in and be willing to be vocal and active and have faith that we can shift the system.” It is important we stand up to injustice and open our hearts to our neighbors by embracing the differences among us. It is especially vital, in a time when our country is struggling, scared, and polarized, to remember that it is our community whose labor and culture sustain the country. Poverty isn’t a distant issue, it is interwoven in our society and systems, and it is crucial that we continue Community Action Marin’s fight for systemic and profound change.