Volunteers describe revitalization projects, park partnerships under 'Venetians Adopting' initiative

Kelly Baldwin told the Community Services Commission that Venetians Adopting Venetia (presented as a grassroots volunteer initiative) coordinates residents, service clubs and schools to carry out park maintenance, beautification and veteran recognition projects across Benicia. Baldwin said a core committee of about 15 meets monthly and that the network mobilizes roughly 300 volunteers for varied events.

"We collaborated with the city of Benicia and created what we call park partners," Baldwin said, noting projects such as a Playground of Dreams restoration that drew roughly 150 volunteers over two days and ongoing cleanup and mulch projects at the Benicia Historic Cemetery. She described youth engagement with Benicia High School (about 40 students expressed interest in creating a school service club) and multiple upcoming park events in May.

Commissioners asked whether the group is a formal nonprofit and how it coordinates across clubs; Baldwin said the Together We Can coalition is not a 501(c)(3), but representatives from Lions, Soroptimists and Kiwanis participate and clubs contribute resources for projects. Commissioners praised the group’s ability to marshal volunteers and suggested ways the commission could amplify and coordinate volunteer efforts through roundtables and outreach. Director Dunleavy said the city will host and support collaboration and that staff attend Together We Can meetings when invited.

Commissioners discussed using the commission’s outreach and roundtable ideas to build on the group's work rather than displace it; they also discussed logistical options for commissioners to sit in as liaisons when appropriate. The presentation was raised during the commission’s brainstorming on goals for 2025–2026, where members proposed summit-style networking and more formal coordination of safety-net providers and volunteer organizations.