We Are One Marin Podcast

S1 | E17:  Stinson Beach has been called the most southern California of Marin's beach towns.  In a town of 541 people, where there are three real estate agencies, two restaurants, one grocery store and about 150 rental houses, there is only one residential cleaning business - that's Good & Clean.

Stinson Beach is separated from the rest of the County by a steep, windy, two-lane highway.  Along the drive there, you may see a few white cars with Jeremy and Milton Gooden's company name branded on all sides.  This remote beach town supports Good & Clean as its only Black owned business since Milton began it in 1996.

His son Jeremy officially started in 2006 after graduating college and brought with him some ideas for expansion and modernization, like the hybrid cards, to grow their business.

As in our previous episodes about Marin City, today we have a deeper conversation about the Black experience in Marin, in business and in the United States in general.  So, for Milton the talk of community is a chance to reflect on how far he has come and it's a story that might surprise you.  Stay tuned as we clean house with father and son on our continued pursuit of how Marin works.

Guests:  Milton Gooden and Jeremy Gooden, Good & Clean

www.goodandcleaninc.com

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

S1 | E16:  Alegre Home Care is a safe place for everyone, including it's LGBT clients and staff.  Founder and CEO, Charles Symes, started Alegre from a small apartment in San Francisco's Castro District by following his personal mission to be of service.  His company now serves people in nine office throughout the greater Bay Area, and they do it thoughtfully.  As a gay man starting his own business, Charles wanted other LGBT mentors.  He found groups like the Golden Gate Business Group in San Francisco and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. 

Since 2014, Alegre Home Care is the only in-home care business that is LGBT certified in all of California.  While advertising as an LGBT certified business is a plus for many, it carries the risk of anti-gay backlash too, which Charles candidly explains seems to be on the rise lately.  Stay tuned for our conversation with Charles and his colleague, Carol Parks, as Kalina and I continue our education about how Marin works. 

Guests:  Charles Symes and Carol Parks, Alegre Home Care

www.alegrecare.com

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

We Are One Marin Podcast | The Marin Council of Chambers.  

This is storytelling at the local level, told one diverse voice at a time. Meet the merchants of our County as host Stephanie Plante listens to how Marin works.

Welcome to our inaugural series sponsored in part by the Marin Community Foundation. Special thanks to the Marin IJ.

S1 | E15:  In our continuing celebration of Marin City's 80th, we made a visit to MC Arts & Culture, where we learned that the "MC" stands for many things.  It can be Marin County, Marin City or, in the more traditional sense, Master of Ceremonies, which is where Oshalla Diana Marcus comes in.  As you will hear, she wears the title MC very well. 

She is of the world, but always circles back to her MC, Marin City, where the gallery is located.  Oshalla's family roots represent some of what will be featured in the MC80 exhibit, as well.

So stay tuned as Oshalla leads us on a cultural and historical tour as we continue to learn how Marin works. 

Guest:  Oshalla Diana Marcus, MC Arts & Culture

www.mcartsandculture.com

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

S1 | E14:  Today's guest practically needs no introduction.  She's lived and worked in Marin City for more than thirty years.  She's both a youth advocate and these days, she's becoming an historian.  Felecia Gaston is the Director of Performing Stars Marin, an arts enrichment program with a mission to combat the isolation of Marin City's children.

Stay tuned for the second episode in our three-part special this month, where Felecia shares how Marin City's history has been gifted to her and how she plans to highlight it through the upcoming MC80 events.  Here's today's look at how Marin works, then and now.

Guest:  Felecia Gaston, Performing Stars

www.performingstars.org

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

S1 | E13:  Paul Austin has heard this refrain from many parents as the founder and head coach of Play Marin in Marin City.  It's one of the reasons his program grew from one basketball team of nine players to twelve separate teams full of kids from his neighborhood and all over the County.  When we met, he led us in some drills, not only on diversity and inclusion, but we also talked about his coaching philosophy and how the lessons he teaches his players on the court translate to lessons for life.  Stay tuned for the first in a three-part special this month dedicated to Marin City's 80th anniversary.  Today Play Marin, coming up in the next episodes, other influential leaders who continue to impact so many of our County's young people.  Here's another window into how Marin works.

Guest:  Paul Austin, Play Marin

https://www.playmarin.org

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

S1 | E12:  As promised, we're back with Bishlam Bullock, the owner of Salon B, which is the only Black-owned storefront on 4th Street in San Rafael.  In Part II, we go back to Bishlam's childhood in Marin City and learn how that foundation invigorated his activism today.  Welcome back.

Guest:  Bishlam Bullock, Salon B

www.salonbsanrafael.com

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

S1 | E11:  We made an appointment with Bishlam Bullock at Salon B in San Rafael for this episode and haircuts were just the beginning of the conversation.  We spoke to him about his hairstyling history, his business history, his personal history and what he learned along the way.  Colorist, stylist, specialist - or is the specialty something else entirely?  The answer may surprise you, so stay tuned for a look in the mirror at Salon B as we highlight how Marin works.

Guest:  Bishlam Bullock, Salon B

www.salonbsanrafael.com

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

S1 | E10:  Happy customers are the key to any business, but Sergio Vergara isn't a weather man.  Together with his wife, Susy, he owns the Stinson Beach Market, where they sell just about everything - except sunshine.  We spoke to him about the special sauce they provide at their West Marin grocery store and how the allure of this beach town drew them from their native Peru in the first place. 

A visit to West Marin also gives us a chance to learn more about this show's producer, Kalina Cloud.  She grew up five miles up the coast from Stinson Beach in Bolinas.  Stay tuned for a road trip to West Marin as we learn how Marin works.

Guest:  Sergio Vergara, Stinson Beach market

www.facebook.com/Stinson-Beach-Market-136371746398279

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast

S1 | E9:  This is Frank Gomez, owner of Wink Optics in San Anselmo.  When Kalina and I sat down with him, he went to the heart of the We Are One Marin campaign's mission - how do we promote social equity in business and in community right here in this County?  From his childhood in one of Sacramento's poor neighborhoods to his early career in the emerging rave culture, Frank has made the most of his opportunities.  Even after he started selling sunglasses, it wasn't enough to be the rep, he found a way to own the shop and be the optician instead.  As he grew his number of locations and took on a partner, he remained true to where he started by advertising as a minority-owned business in a predominantly White area.  

If you're a regular listener of the podcast, this episode may sound a little different, and by different, I mean it's a little bit longer and the subject matter is more sensitive too.  You will hear our conversations about domestic violence and racial equity, and you'll hear some of Frank's personal opinions.  Stay tuned for our deepest dive yet, as we really talk, about how Marin works. 

Guest:  Frank Gomez, Wink Optics

www.winkoptics.com | www.sunglasscity.com

For more information on today’s episode follow us on Instagram at weareonemarin_podcast