Marin Opportunity Centers
The Marin Opportunity Centers is an initiative promoted by several nonprofit agencies in Marin County with the following partnering lead agencies: Legal Aid of Marin, Canal Alliance and the Ritter Center. The project is designed to help low-income residents in San Rafael and Novato to achieve self-sufficiency.
Description:
The Marin Opportunity Centers will primarily serve Marin's immigrant work force and non-immigrant temporary workers. It is comprised of two inter-related components designed to help individuals and families integrate into the community and increase self-sufficiency: (1) two service referral sites called Opportunity Centers and (2) a Virtual Hiring Hall (VHH).
Our new offices, one in San Rafael and one in Novato, will be multi-cultural, multi-service places where we will aim to provide assistance to temporary workers seeking information and/or a referral to address a variety of needs.
The Opportunity Centers (one in San Rafael, one in Novato) will be dignified spaces for temporary workers, including domestic and other temporary workers to receive information about resources and may also provide a place for workers to participate in customized vocational, employment-related, literacy, health and other education and training. The two centers are intended to serve as locations where temporary workers can safely meet and have access to resources such as bathrooms, running water, computers, internet service and phone service. These centers will be staffed and be supplemented by volunteer members of the workers’ community, called “promotores”, who have presumably earned the workers’ trust and can offer information and counsel. The “promotores” will work with other non-profit and county agencies to assist with the trainings, workshops, and other resources. Various outreach activities for the temporary workers and employers may be provided.
The Virtual Hiring Hall will be facilitated through a web site and telephone number that links employers with workers in trades, such as construction, gardening, domestic services or a general desire to work. There will be three components to the system. First, there will be a database that will contain a list of workers, their trade(s), and their cell phone numbers. Second, staff members will match workers and employers based on the employers’ identified needs, and the workers' identified trade and availability. Finally, staff members will also be responsible for maintaining a daily list containing the workers' information, and communicating with both, workers and employers about the logistics of exploring a match for the work assignment.
History:
The current model of accessing temporary workers in Marin County is ineffective. Temporary workers do not have access to jobs and may lack the skills to market their availability. Employers looking for short-term help don’t know where to turn to or they are hesitant to approach workers on the street or without a reference.
Marinhelpers.com is an initiative that aims to bridge this gap and connect workers and residential employers (homeowners and renters) in a legal, safe and more efficient way. Marinhelpers.com is not an employment agency. We provide the opportunity to both parties for a job match. There is no fee. All wages go directly to the workers.
Contact person: Margarita Vega, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Main office number:
(415) 492-0230 ext. 315
Address:
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30 North San Pedro Road, Suit. 220
San Rafael, CA 94903
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://Marinhelpers.com
Directions:
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Nearest Bus Stop: Civic Center, 49 or 45(k) |
| Last updated on January 28, 2010 |
