About the Marin Justice Center
The Early Years 1990's-2003
The idea of creating a "one stop shop" for legal services began as a series of conversations among nonprofit agencies back in the early to mid 1990's. By 2000, when faced with rising rent rates and the sale of their building, Legal Aid began exploring the idea of purchasing the location as a home for this legal service center. The agency co-wrote, along with a few other partner organizations, a concept paper about the Justice Center idea and submitted a joint grant proposal to the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) for a down payment. Rather than make a grant to an individual organization, MCF purchased the building itself, began a series of phased improvements, and brought in new tenant agencies.
By the summer of 2003, MCF had completed the first two phases of improvements for 6 legal service organizations that now called 30 North San Pedro home: Legal Aid of Marin, Marin Advocates for Children, Children and Family Law Center, Bay Area Legal Aid, the Bar Association, and the Legal Self Help Center.
In addition to office space, Justice Center agencies share a conference room and kitchen, T1 Internet access, and a central computer network with file sharing, email, and Microsoft Office applications. Tenancy at the center also includes building standard office furniture, installed as part of the building improvement process.
During the development of the building, co-located agencies, as well as other legal service agencies located throughout the county, began to meet on a monthly basis. Recognizing that the real power of co-locating at the building was the potential for what could take place within it, these agencies began to map out and implement a coordinated referral system and combined outreach program that would improve all of their clients' access to, and experience with, the legal system.
Growth 2004-2006
Mediation Services moved into the building in the summer of 2004 and the Marin Tenant's Union (no longer at the center) and Marin Family Action joined the center in 2005.
From 2004-2006 MarinSpace was contracted by MCF to assist with the development of the center. During this time, in addition to 
overseeing general building operations, MarinSpace stewarded the development of the center's banding, production of outreach materials, and installation of a signage system. It developed and installed a community-based art display, and facilitated numerous tenant workshops, programs and events. These included workshops on topics such as "Personal security in the workplace" and "How to leverage the buildings shared computer network" as well as quarterly Town Hall meetings to review building operations and planed building improvements. MarinSpace also facilitated staff networking events such as holiday parties, coordinated the center's 2005 Grand Opening and managed a building wide Green Business Certification program that resulted in certification of 100% of the building's tenants. The center was also highlighted as a national model during the 2005 NonprofitCenters Network conference at Ft. Mason.
Also during this period, Justice Center members continued meeting on a regular basis to improve the coordination of thier programmatic efforts. They evaluated and enhanced their client referral system. They modeled the Justice Center concept through "co-locating" their agency booths at the Marin Human Race and launched a regular program of staff training sessions. They assisted with the Bar Association's annual Installation Dinners as part of a joint fundraising effort, and completed two annual planning retreats.
The Future 2007 and beyond
In addition to continuing the shared programs and services already in place, Justice Center members, at the 2006 planning retreat, decided upon a 4 point Strategic Initiatives plan for 2007 and beyond.
Future efforts will focus on:
* Creating and Implementing a Financial Sustainability Plan
* Refining the Groups Membership and Operating Structure
* Expanding Cooperative Outreach Efforts
* Improving Coordinated Client Services
The idea of creating a "one stop shop" for legal services began as a series of conversations among nonprofit agencies back in the early to mid 1990's. By 2000, when faced with rising rent rates and the sale of their building, Legal Aid began exploring the idea of purchasing the location as a home for this legal service center. The agency co-wrote, along with a few other partner organizations, a concept paper about the Justice Center idea and submitted a joint grant proposal to the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) for a down payment. Rather than make a grant to an individual organization, MCF purchased the building itself, began a series of phased improvements, and brought in new tenant agencies.
By the summer of 2003, MCF had completed the first two phases of improvements for 6 legal service organizations that now called 30 North San Pedro home: Legal Aid of Marin, Marin Advocates for Children, Children and Family Law Center, Bay Area Legal Aid, the Bar Association, and the Legal Self Help Center. In addition to office space, Justice Center agencies share a conference room and kitchen, T1 Internet access, and a central computer network with file sharing, email, and Microsoft Office applications. Tenancy at the center also includes building standard office furniture, installed as part of the building improvement process.
During the development of the building, co-located agencies, as well as other legal service agencies located throughout the county, began to meet on a monthly basis. Recognizing that the real power of co-locating at the building was the potential for what could take place within it, these agencies began to map out and implement a coordinated referral system and combined outreach program that would improve all of their clients' access to, and experience with, the legal system.
Growth 2004-2006
Mediation Services moved into the building in the summer of 2004 and the Marin Tenant's Union (no longer at the center) and Marin Family Action joined the center in 2005.
From 2004-2006 MarinSpace was contracted by MCF to assist with the development of the center. During this time, in addition to overseeing general building operations, MarinSpace stewarded the development of the center's banding, production of outreach materials, and installation of a signage system. It developed and installed a community-based art display, and facilitated numerous tenant workshops, programs and events. These included workshops on topics such as "Personal security in the workplace" and "How to leverage the buildings shared computer network" as well as quarterly Town Hall meetings to review building operations and planed building improvements. MarinSpace also facilitated staff networking events such as holiday parties, coordinated the center's 2005 Grand Opening and managed a building wide Green Business Certification program that resulted in certification of 100% of the building's tenants. The center was also highlighted as a national model during the 2005 NonprofitCenters Network conference at Ft. Mason.Also during this period, Justice Center members continued meeting on a regular basis to improve the coordination of thier programmatic efforts. They evaluated and enhanced their client referral system. They modeled the Justice Center concept through "co-locating" their agency booths at the Marin Human Race and launched a regular program of staff training sessions. They assisted with the Bar Association's annual Installation Dinners as part of a joint fundraising effort, and completed two annual planning retreats.
The Future 2007 and beyond
In addition to continuing the shared programs and services already in place, Justice Center members, at the 2006 planning retreat, decided upon a 4 point Strategic Initiatives plan for 2007 and beyond.
Future efforts will focus on:
* Creating and Implementing a Financial Sustainability Plan
* Refining the Groups Membership and Operating Structure
* Expanding Cooperative Outreach Efforts
* Improving Coordinated Client Services