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The Task Force is conducting several listening sessions to help them identify best practices for government, child-serving systems, businesses, not for profits, and philanthropy to mitigate, adapt and respond to climate change as it relates to young children. It will also develop policy framework for implementation at all levels of government.  Click the link below to see more about the presenters.

https://www.capita.org/events/2022/1/9/early-years-climate-action-task-force-listening-session-four

Local students will soon get the chance to be automatically admitted into Sonoma State University thanks to a newly minted agreement between university leaders and the Petaluma City Schools district.

The deal was put to paper during the school district’s Tuesday board meeting, as Superintendent Matthew Harris and SSU President Dr. Mike Lee signed an agreement to enact a “Promise” program – an initiative to guarantee students in Petaluma schools direct admission to the California State University as long as they meet certain requirements like a minimum grade point average upon graduation.

According to administrators, students will be able to begin the qualification process as early as junior high.

“Not only is this great for those students who choose to attend Sonoma State, it also raises the bar as far as what we will expect from students upon entering in 9th grade, and will help us develop a more university prep mindset,” Harris told the Argus-Courier.

Harris said the program is the first of its kind between the Rohnert Park university and any school district. While he did not give a specific start date – Tuesday’s signed agreement was described as an MOU, or memorandum of understanding – he said the program is intended to begin in “the near future.”

Dr. Lee called the program “transformational” as well as “visionary and exciting.”

“This agreement could significantly increase the number of students from Petaluma going to a university,” Lee said in a statement. “But just as important, it would ensure that as Sonoma State increases in enrollment, these students would be secured a spot at Sonoma State University.”

Lee noted that Sonoma State saw a decline in enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that since then local students have made up a larger proportion of the first-year student population.

However, “We are beginning to see an increase in applications, deposits, and enrollments as the pandemic ends and students think again about their college choices,” Lee said. “There is no doubt that our new Strategic Enrollment Management Plan will help us return to our maximum enrollment capacity of 9,000-10,000 enrolled students, but local Petaluma City Schools students will have access to guaranteed admissions” regardless of SSU’s enrollment numbers.

The university lists 20 degree programs eligible for students participating in the Promise Program – from anthropology to art history to English to physics – meaning eligible Petaluma students will be guaranteed a spot in those majors.

Amie Carter, Sonoma County superintendent-elect, also attended the district’s board meeting Tuesday, which reached full capacity in attendance. Carter praised the partnership between the district and university.

“What a great model for our students,” Carter said. “I am so proud of my own children’s Petaluma City Schools’ high school diploma, and this promise agreement is just something really special for Petaluma.”

https://www.petaluma360.com/article/news/petaluma-schools-sonoma-state-sign-promise/

https://www.marinij.com/2022/12/05/college-of-marin-starts-work-on-82-5m-library-project/The College of Marin is gearing up for its latest major construction project: the $82.5 million library building at its campus in Kentfield.

The 78,000-square-foot, three-story building will rise along College Avenue just south of the academic center at the corner of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

The building, called the Learning Resources Center, will include a new library, event spaces, offices, classrooms and a pantry and health services. A space for faculty professional development programs is also planned.

The project is the latest in college’s multiyear revitalization efforts on its Kentfield and Novato campuses made possible by voter-approved Measure B bond funds.

“The new LRC is intuitive, functional and beautiful, with a balance of owned and shared spaces,” said Nicole Cruz, the college’s communications director.

“It engages and welcomes in Marin County’s broader community,” she said. “It is a place that provokes joy, inspiration and new connections.”

Cruz added that one of the goals of the new Learning Resources Center is to create a feeling of home for each student by incorporating a natural and comfortable design.

“They are connected to the surrounding nature and this place,” Cruz said. “Each student truly belongs.”

The college held an online forum last week to update the community on the project. It was led by Isidro Farias, the college’s capital projects director, and Beth Rhodes, project communications manager.

According to Rhodes, the work at the site includes installing underground piping, water lines, valves and fiber connections. That work is expected to be done by the end of this year, she said.

The next phase, which is grading, soil mixing and foundation work, will begin in March, Rhodes said. Building construction is anticipated to start by July and last until the fall of 2025.

“We understand we cannot completely mitigate the impacts for all folks,” Rhodes said of the construction work. “We will be address impacts such as noise, vibration, truck deliveries, workers shouting and machines running.”

Farias said every effort will be made to schedule construction activities around community routines, such as avoiding truck deliveries during the student commute times for Kent Middle School, which is across College Avenue from the project.

A “sound blanket” will be placed on the south side of the campus academic center so that construction noise will be muffled for classes and other activities inside the center, Farias said.

Donna Reeve, a neighbor of the campus for the last 45 years, asked whether there would be a plan to address a traffic “backup” at the college parking lot entrance between about 8:30 and 10 a.m. as students and staff arrive for school.

Farias said efforts would be made to avoid worsening the normal “bumper to bumper” backlog in the mornings.

“We would only close a lane in the parking lot during deliveries,” he said.

According to Rhodes, the college is seeking to maintain close partnerships with the community to make sure all work is done safely and with the least disruption.

“Safety is really critical in such a compact area,” she said.

Outreach, including additional public forums, will be organized to update the community as the work progresses, Farias said.

More information is at measurebcom.org/lrc-3/.

The economic impacts of Sonoma State University (SSU) are broad and deep on both the North Bay economy and the state of California.

Our annual operations tell one story; our alumni tell another. The connected story told is about our students and social mobility.

Completed in 2021, the California State University (CSU) Chancellor’s Office commissioned a consultancy called ICF to estimate the economic impacts of all 23 campuses and the headquarters in Long Beach on the California economy.

SSU’s economic impacts affect Sonoma County and the North Bay economy within the Bay Area region as defined in ICF’s report. SSU’s economic impacts come from spending on and off campus, including the estimated wages of faculty and staff and also how our students spend on their activities while living on or close to campus.

Approximately 1,100 full-time equivalent workers come to SSU weekly. Economic impacts describe a “ripple” effect of one event or industry for a defined area. Like throwing a stone in a still pond, the jobs and spending on SSU’s campus ripple out into the Sonoma County economy to support more jobs, business revenues, and tax receipts at all levels of government. Hundreds of industries and thousands of businesses are supported, which also supports thousands of workers.

Some highlights of the 2021 study include:

• For every $1 million spent on campus for operations, another $625,000 is spent on other businesses throughout Sonoma County.
• For every $1 million spent on campus, $53,100 in state and local tax revenues are generated including new property taxes paid by faculty and staff living in Sonoma County, and an array of taxes and fees paid otherwise by SSU’s employees and students.
• For every $1 million dollar spent on SSU’s campus, approximately 13 workers in Sonoma County are supported.

The pandemic left a shadow over Sonoma County’s economy. As of late 2022, there are some businesses that have not hired back the same volume of workers as before the pandemic, which reduces the ripple effects of SSU’s operations and student spending.

Further, the pandemic reduced SSU’s spending levels and students on campus. Both changes also reduced the total economic impact, but not the multiplier effects of new dollars spent or provided from public, private or non-profits sources as new budget, new gifts or new grants.

These are investments in SSU’s growth and in the surrounding communities as the pandemic’s effects continue to fade SSU’s operations and student spending create revenues for regional businesses, whose workers are paid from these revenues and then spent on other merchants and businesses, whose workers spend on other businesses, and so on.

The total spending that begins with SSU’s operations becomes additional, regional output or impact. SSU’s economic effects are going to be almost all in Sonoma County due to SSU’s location. For example, when Sonoma State University uses $214 million in campus expenditures, SSU creates another $133.8 million in business revenue, supports another 1,574 jobs and $103.3 million in wages paid. Tax receipts include $11.37 million at the state and local level.

Sonoma State’s alumni expand SSU’s broad impacts on the regional and state economies. Higher education makes more economically-productive residents – creating a foundation for social mobility – as these educated residents contribute to the California economy through wages paid and spent and how they add value to their employers.

When alumni live and work in Sonoma County, SSU’s positive economic impact is enhanced. Because the alumni’s degrees provide augmented economic potential versus not having a college degree for our graduates, their education and subsequent jobs and earnings in California increase the positive economic impacts of SSU’s annual operations.

The synergistic effects of SSU’s positive economic impact are important not only to the North Bay, but to the state, the country, and the globe, as our alumni reside on all continents. In all, SSU generated $6.97 in economic activity for every dollar spent on campus or by students or alumni in Sonoma County, a return of almost seven times the initial investment.

While placing a monetary value on social mobility is tricky, it is important to remember that this spending also supports local schools, local community organizations, kids’ sports, places of worship, and the general quality of life.

This investment in the life of our community – in all of our communities – is at the heart of Sonoma State University’s mission. Our ability to achieve these positive impacts relies in large part on our partnerships with local businesses, civic organizations, community leaders, and stakeholders in general.

We appreciate the work that goes in to building and sustaining these collaborative relationships, and look forward to another year achieving positive economic impacts in pursuit of the public good.

https://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/article/opinion/sonoma-state-universitys-economic-connection-to-the-community/

BPM LLP, one of the 40 largest public accounting and advisory firms in the country, launches its new brand – further reinforcing the Firm’s commitment to its brand promise, “Because People Matter.”

With roots in the Bay Area, BPM has experienced significant growth over recent years and is now a global firm with over 1,000 colleagues – nearly 400 of which are members of its Virtual Region. BPM continues to expand its industry and specialty services to evolve with the growing needs of its clients.

“This new look and feel align BPM’s visual identity with its unique value to our clients, colleagues and communities,” said BPM CEO Jim Wallace. “Everything we present about our Firm – and the way we present it – is rooted in our brand promise, ‘Because People Matter.’ This remains true whether we’re delivering exceptional experiences for our clients or empowering our colleagues to be successful in work and life.”

Further demonstrating its commitment to people, and the planet, BPM recently became among the few public accounting firms in the nation to achieve B Corp status, joining a global movement that uses business as a force for good. BPM’s B Corp certification serves as a third-party validation ensuring transparency and accountability. The designation supports the Firm’s goal to attract, recruit and retain qualified colleagues and clients that align with its values.

“At BPM, we are more than what we do,” added Jessica Hekmatjah, BPM Chief Marketing Officer. “A passion for people is in our brand DNA. It’s what guides us and grounds us. It’s what shapes our approach to service. It’s what motivates us to go the extra mile for our colleagues and provide exceptional experiences for our clients. And it’s what makes us different from any other firm. No matter how big we grow, people will always be at the heart of who we are.”

BPM combines diverse perspectives, expansive expertise and progressive solutions to fuel the potential of clients around the globe. Its team-based approach gives clients direct access to the brightest minds in the profession. BPM’s values will continue to focus on “People,” “Being Our Best” and “Growing Stronger.”

https://www.bpm.com/news/bpm-llp-launches-new-brand/?utm_campaign=Brand%20Awareness&utm_content=227772256&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-16742