Background

The 2017 wildfires changed so much about Sonoma County. In the aftermath of the disaster, it was apparent that recovery would require a collective, sustained effort. We would need to work together to recover. We would need to innovate how we work collaboratively.

The Map OneSonoma initiative was born out of this need, with philanthropic partners Community Foundation Sonoma County and United Way of the Wine Country creating a space for community leaders to come together around areas of urgency. Funded with support from Hewlett Foundation, the Map OneSonoma collective includes partners from the health, education, labor, environment, and housing sectors of Sonoma County.

It aims to elevate racial and economic equity and increase strategic coordination amongst the various sectors working to strengthen Sonoma County’s resilience and economic well-being. Over the last three years, Map OneSonoma has engaged close to 200 community leaders and subject matter experts to understand the ecosystems that drive the economy, health, and prosperity of the area’s residents and those that hold us back.

For more background, view our 2020 Action Report.

A focus on housing:

In looking at the issues facing our community, most Map OneSonoma participants rated the lack of housing and the depth of Sonoma’s housing disparities as one of the most critical issues to address.

Today we are pleased to release a new research report on housing: Sonoma County Housing 101: A Toolkit for Understanding and Tackling Sonoma County’s Housing Shortage.

The report was authored by Margaret Van Vliet with input from housing leaders in our community. It explains Sonoma County’s housing challenges, including housing economics, and offers a series of recommendations for consideration towards progress.

We encourage you to read this research, share it with your professional network, and consider how your organization can address our systemic housing challenges.

Map OneSonoma Small Grants Program

Through Map One Sonoma, United Way of the Wine Country awards small grants for projects, programs, organizations and coalitions that will further the overall goal of the Map One Sonoma initiative committed to fostering a prosperous, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Sonoma County where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

The Map One Sonoma Grant Committee prioritizes innovative proposals that:

• Impact levers identified by the Map One Sonoma process (listed in the RFP)
• Advance racial equity
• Involve collaboration across sectors
• Engage marginalized communities, especially at the decision-making level

Congratulations to the 2020 Map One Sonoma grantees!

Daily Acts Organization for a Coalition Model for Equitable Climate Change Action and Policy Development to increase civic empowerment within frontline communities and communities of color.

Generation Housing for Youth Housing Advocacy Certificate Programs to inspire and prepare young people, ages 16-25, advocate for more affordable multi-family in-fill housing

LandPaths for the LandPaths Equity Project to address individual, systemic, and institutional biases in our organization that directly impact the people, partnerships, and projects Landpaths supports.

Latino Service Providers for Youth Promotores Verdes who are powerful ambassadors to help raise awareness about climate change and provide environmental education among Latinx community members.

Los Cien Sonoma County for Los Cien Virtual Platform to engage the community relevant to topics regarding Map One Sonoma the Latino Community through a virtual platform and partnership with KBBF.

North Bay Jobs with Justice for Sonoma County United in Crisis to ensure equitable response and recovery to Covid-19 by engaging local communities in decision-making and helping community organizations collaborate.

Sonoma Land Trust for its Conservation Council, a youth development program for under-represented Sonoma County high school teens to learn about and participate in outdoor activities.

YWCA Sonoma County for a Special Place Therapeutic Preschool and Counseling Services, a full-time year-round therapeutic preschool and childcare program for children impacted by trauma.