Two AmeriCorps fellows have joined San Rafael’s Office of Emergency Services to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters and reduce social isolation.
Jamie, who grew up in San Rafael, and Olivia DiRenzo of Sleepy Hollow, New York, are the city’s new Neighbor to Neighbor fellows, according to a city announcement posted Oct. 22. Both will spend the coming months attending neighborhood events and meeting residents as they work to strengthen community connections and emergency readiness.
The timing matters. Their arrival comes as San Rafael prepares for potential winter flooding. The City Council declared a local emergency Oct. 5 and authorized up to $500,000 for flood preparations in eastern San Rafael, as reported by the Marin Independent Journal.
The Neighbor to Neighbor program, launched in 2024 and managed by the Napa County Office of Education in partnership with California Volunteers, places AmeriCorps members at nonprofits and government agencies in Northern California. The program lists eight- and 11-month service options with a $3,000 monthly living stipend, according to the program’s website.
Jamie grew up in San Rafael before attending the University of Vermont, graduating with a degree in environmental studies and sustainable agriculture. Jamie spent the past year coaching youth climbing teams at the Gravity Vault in San Rafael. In a statement on the city’s website, Jamie said the goal is “to create positive change in my community.”
DiRenzo graduated from Boston College in 2026. She said her role focuses on expanding the capacity of the Office of Emergency Services to foster community engagement around disaster preparedness.
In coverage published Oct. 13, Quinn Gardner, San Rafael’s deputy director of emergency management, said the city faces a tough season ahead.
“This is going to be a challenging winter,” Gardner said. “I don’t want to sugarcoat that.”
