About Us

We are thrilled to share that San Rafael is partnering with the national organization Not In Our Town (NIOT) to launch a local movement to stop hate, racism and bullying, and build safe, inclusive communities for all.

Thanks to the partnership of multiple San Rafael and Marin County public agencies, non-profit organizations and concerned community members, NIOT San Rafael is off the ground and the work is well underway!

• The Steering Committee of over 20 partners continues to grow.

• NIOT San Rafael joined with San Rafael High School to sponsor their “Our Stories” evening and introduced NIOT San Rafael to the community.

• The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution in support of United Against Hate Week and the efforts of NIOT.

• The San Rafael City Schools Board of Education approved a resolution in support of United Against Hate Week and the efforts of NIOT.

Please read below for more information about these exciting developments and we hope you can join us for future events! 

The City of Novato started working with Not In Our Town two years also and have held multiple events and conversations.

Join us!

 

Our Stories - Immigration in Our Community

San Rafael High School’s Link Leadership Class, under direction of SRHS teacher Faye Padayachee, hosted an evening that showcased students' personal stories of immigration while interweaving history to share with our community the realities of immigration. The evening included traditional and modern dance performances and student poetry.

Over 500 community members heard discussions on why people decide to come here; the struggles students who have immigrated go through; and how people can be allies. The event clarified misconceptions surrounding immigration and to prevent instances of hate that we have seen throughout the nation from happening here.

The event featured several SRHS students bravely and admirably sharing their personal immigration stories with the attendees. Additionally, a highlight of the evening included a panel answering community questions about why someone would leave their country; the realities of being a DACA recipient; the legal process for an undocumented resident; the life of a local business owner and the journey a local firefighter went through after leaving El Salvador as a teenager.

"What an incredible inspiring night, so well organized by San Rafael High School LinkCrew students and all courageous souls sharing their powerful stories," commented Maika Llorens Gulati, San Rafael City Schools Board Member.

The student-led evening was proudly sponsored by the partners of Not In Our Town San Rafael.

San Rafael High School’s Link Leadership Class at the Our Stories event on Nov. 19, 2019. View more photos

Thank You Chief of Police Diana Bishop 

In planning Our Stories, San Rafael Police Chief Diana Bishop, met with the Link Crew students multiple times and developed a relationship of friendship and trust. The students asked Chief Bishop to make the evening's final remarks and to lead join them in singing "Lean On Me." 

San Rafael High Senior, Vanessa Torres joins Rachel Kertz (San Rafael City Schools Trustee) and Supervisors Damon Connolly (District 1) and Judy Arnold (District 3) to receive a Marin County Board of Supervisors resolution proclaiming the week of November 17-23, 2019 as United against Hate Week and support the efforts of Not In Our Town.

The Work Continues...Join Many NIOT Partners for this Important Work! Here's how:

Contact Us

Want to get involved and become part of NIOT San Rafael? Not In Our Town San Rafael can be reached at niotsanrafael@gmail.com. 

Learn More

Not In Our Town San Rafael's next event will be in early 2020. Visit and like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/notinourtownsanrafael/