MARIN NONPROFIT BOOSTS ENTRY WAGE

Community Action Marin, one of Marin’s largest employers with more than 225 staff, announced that it raised its entry-level wage to $24 per hour — up from $23 and well above Marin County’s minimum wage of $16.50 per hour. For the past five years, this anti-poverty nonprofit has increased its baseline wage by an average of 10% each year, exceeding federal cost-of-living adjustments. “As we entered this year’s budget process, the scenarios we were facing were complex and uncertain,” said Chandra Alexandre, CEO of Community Action Marin. “Despite the volatility in public funding, our Board of Directors unanimously approved a budget that keeps our values front and center. This decision reinforces our commitment to staff who themselves face everyday challenges. They are the heart and hope of our agency. The work they do helps people and changes lives.”
The majority of Community Action Marin’s operating budget is from local, state and federal government sources. Like many human service organizations, CAM is grappling with the ripple effects of delayed contracts and budget cuts at the state and federal level. Still, the agency has strengthened its commitment to pay equity. “Raising our wage floor is one important way that we commit to justice,” Alexandre added. “It’s about building the future we know is possible starting with the people who make change happen daily. We will continue working toward a future in which everyone in Marin can live, work and thrive with dignity and purpose.”