Robert V. Tobin, MPA
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"I was impressed enough to invest nearly $200,000 over the last three years ...
... Tobin brought together the operational, branding and  financial elements t
hat any effective enterprise must delicately intertwine, cultivating for the agency the same self-sustainability it advocates among program participants." 
MICHAEL BRUBECK, Social Entrepreneur
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"GOOD DOERS, NOT DO-GOODERS: Using Resiliency to Unleash the Power of Possibility"
Field guide for leaders of homeless supportive housing projects or other social service programs who are seeking to achieve the highest success rate at the lowest possible cost by moving away from traditional intervention strategies and conventional organizational structures. Describes one agency's shift from a provider/consumer relationship through the cultivation of three fundamental  operating principles (i.e. participant-driven, solution-oriented, and strength-based) and three core values (i.e. trust, optimism  and compassion).

"ENGAGED CITIZENRY: A New-Fangled Solution to an Old School Problem"
Summary of three research studies describe philanthropic, economic development and social service initiatives addressing very different community problems whose common solution was found hiding in plain sight.

MEDIA COVERAGE:

he is
Serna Village
OP-ED PIECES: Homeless-Related
"Area shouldn't be afraid to put homeless aid in private hands"
- Sacramento Bee - 10/8/10 
“Late mayor would be proud of Serna Village progress, people”
- Sacramento Bee - 8/24/09
“Sacramento’s homeless camp: More fiction than fact” - Politicsdaily.com - 4/28/09                  
“Q & A: Should Sacramento legalize tent city for the homeless?”
- Sacramento Bee - 3/22/09 
“CPS bound by law to uphold confidentiality” - Sacramento Bee - 12/12/08 
“Housing effort concentration: Another View” - Sacramento Bee - 4/20/08
“Region has to catch up on affordable housing” - Sacramento Business Journal - 4/23/04  
“Helping Hands Don’t Have To Grease Palms” -
San Francisco Business Times - 11/26/93 
"Homeless Not Helpless: Ten steps toward a solution” - San Francisco Magazine - 3/88

NEWS COVERAGE: Homeless-Related (samples)
"New approach is needed on the homeless"
- Sacramento Bee Editorial - 9/12/12
Presentation Video: Al Geiger Award - 
Sacramento Metrochamber - January, 2010
"Marriage at life's margins" - New York Times - 6/28/09
$500,000 Donation from Secret Santa - KXTV-10 News - 12/23/08
"Troubled people tell how resiliency program works for them" - Sacramento Bee - 10/29/08
"Neither helpless nor hopeless" -
Comstocks Magazine advertorial - 12/07
"Rising from the streets: Serna Village offers successful piece to Sacramento's homeless puzzle" - Sacramento Bee Forum Section - 12/2/07
"Non-profit builds on homeless success" - Sacramento Business Journal - 6/11/04
"The affordable housing project that could" - Clearing House Review Journal on Poverty Law & Policy - July/August, 2003
 
OP-ED PIECES: Youth Development
"Auburn's Teens: Doin' It for themselves"
- Auburn Sentinel - 10/9/98
"Making Auburn's kids tomorrow brighter" - Auburn Sentinel - 4/17/98
"Healthy communities means healthy youth" - Auburn Journal - 1/13/97
"Doing the right thing" - Auburn Sentinel - 2/16/96

NEWS COVERAGE: Youth Development (sample)
   "Teens seeking place to hang out" -
Auburn Sentinel - 3/1/96

OTHER WRITING SAMPLES
"Turn to elders for wisdom about maintaining our social safety net"
-
Sacramento Bee - 7/30/11
Process Facilitator & Co-author:  “12-Point Policy for San Francisco’s Homeless” ratified by San Francisoc County Board of Supervisors - 1988
Co-author: “Impact of Federal Funding Cutbacks on Local Human Services & People They Serve” - report to United Way of the Bay Area  (4/82)
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OTHER WORK PRODUCTS:

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Design/Layout for CHI Capacity Expansion presentation package (2010) 

Design/layout for
CHI Powerpoint Presentation (2009) 

Guide development of
CHI Slideshow presentation (2009)

Design/layout for CHI agency brochure (2009)

Support youth-driven video production -
Sweet Lemonade (2008); also Play Day (2009) and Skylab (2010)

Organized CHI's first signature event -
Beacon of Hope - +600 attendees & net nearly $100,000 (2010)

Designed the
Passport to Self-Sustainability (see top of page) program participation tracking system

Organized San Fancisco's first annual
Summer Youth Festival 

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"Robert would be an asset to your organization...

... programs were managed effectively and efficiently. His passion and leadership were essential to the success of Cottage Housing and the growth of its programs."
                                                                                                                                                            LARRY KELLEY, President
                                                                                                                                                            McClellan Business Park