Mill Valley Agency Joins Partnership To Help Underserved Youth

MILL VALLEY, CA — A Mill Valley public safety agency has joined a partnership with a Marin County group that aims to empower underserved youth.

The Mill Valley Emergency Preparedness Commission plans to bring Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training Marin City high teenagers.

CERT training offers basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, fire suppression, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

In the event of an emergency or natural disaster, CERT volunteers could play a vital role, MPC Chairperson Michelle Godard Terrell told Patch.

Terrell co-founded the Tam High EPC with Elaine Wilkinson two years ago.

The Tam High EPC CERT program trained 27 9th and 10th graders two years ago last helped operate a cooling center at the Mill Valley Community Center amid a power shutdown, Terrell said.

“I see youth as playing a very important role during emergencies in our community,” Terrell said.

“On any given day, there are only a few firefighters and law enforcement officers on duty in Southern Marin and in the situation of a major disaster, trained residents will be the key to the safety and resiliency of our community.

Terrell recently discussed plans to launch a CERT program for Marin City youth with Jahmeer Reynolds of the Fredrick Leon Marcus Youth Academy.

The partnership follows the Southern Marin Fire District (SMFD) Board of Directors March 24th approval of several Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Terrell was among those who attended a FLMYA kickoff meeting on March 30.

In addition to enhancing public safety, the CERT program helps youth develop leadership skills, Terrell said.

“I see bringing CERT training to Marin City youth as providing emergency preparedness education to the larger Marin City community, as well as giving teens safety and leadership skills,” Terrell said.

“I hope it might be a good fit with the important work Jahmeer and FLMYA are doing!”