Sunrise Home Partners with Welcoming Home to Sponsor the Furnishing of College of Marin's Rising Scholars lounge

The Rising Scholars Program at College of Marin supports students who have been impacted by the justice system, helping them pursue their educational goals through academic advising, resources, and a strong support network. The program is part of a broader California Community Colleges initiative dedicated to student success and personal growth for formerly incarcerated students.

As part of its commitment to the program, College of Marin provided Rising Scholars with a large, sunny room to serve as a student lounge. While the space was bright and spacious, it contained an assortment of furnishings left over from campus remodeling projects.

Members of Rising Scholars knew that Welcoming Home furnishes not only apartments for formerly homeless individuals and families, but also community spaces for local nonprofits - "a home away from home." They reached out to us for help. We immediately thought of Sunrise Home, Marin's beautiful design showroom, whose owner, Annie Bowman, had previously expressed interest in partnering with Welcoming Home on a project. When we approached her, the response was immediate and enthusiastic: "Yes, absolutely!"

What happened next is best told through the photos.

A few students were still on campus when the transformation was completed; they were amazed by what they saw. The room, once filled with an assortment of leftover furniture, had become a warm and inviting home away from home: a place to hold meetings, study and support one another as they move forward with their lives. To say that the Sunrise Home team exceeded expectations would be an understatement.

The club plans to host an official grand opening in September, when most of its members return to campus.

All of us at Welcoming Home are so grateful to Annie Bowman and the talented team at Sunrise Home for their generosity in sponsoring the Welcoming and for their thoughtful, beautiful work.