Far South/Border North Round II Grant Recipients

Asian Culture & Media Alliance, or ACMA, serves to elevate and amplify the voices within our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) diaspora through the transformative power of media arts, specifically film, television, and new media. The organization aims to advocate for positive social change and better equity by increasing the visibility of diverse AANHPI artists, creators, and cultural practitioners. In doing so, ACMA actively works towards dismantling social and cultural barriers.

Best STEP Forward is a nonprofit serving the Imperial Valley area dedicated to providing an inclusive, neurodiverse environment where children with disabilities can learn and thrive. S.T.E.P. stands for Sports, Theatre, Expression, and Perseverance. The organization hosts various events throughout the year that incorporate sports and artistic expression.

DISCO RIOT exists to elevate a collaborative art culture in San Diego and beyond — because the world needs more movement-based art. The organization connects dancers and artists who want to move themselves and audiences in ways that push boundaries to make high-impact art that promotes community, justice, and movement as a form of radical expression. DISCO RIOT produces and supports innovative dance programming, connects artists across media and form to grow and intensify community, and provides an educational space that reflects contemporary and progressive professional realities.

Environmental Health Coalition (EHC)  is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving environmental and social justice. The organization believes that justice is accomplished by empowered communities acting together to make social change. EHC organizes and advocates to protect public health and the environment that is threatened by toxic pollution. EHC supports broad efforts to create a just society and foster a healthy and sustainable quality of life.

The Hill Street Country Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to shaping the growing arts and culture scene in Oceanside and the surrounding North Country region. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse atmosphere that reflects the socioeconomic landscape of our community.  The organization's mission is to encourage art beyond gallery walls to create a culture where artists and the community can thrive together in North County San Diego.

The mission of the Imperial Valley Desert Museum is to preserve, interpret, and celebrate the deserts of Southern California through outstanding collections, research, and educational programs. The organization’s goal is to be the foremost research and educational institution devoted to the preservation, interpretation, and celebration of the deserts of Southern California.

Kumeyaay Community College (KCC) aims to promote a quality education focusing on Kumeyaay studies for the community interested in a unique and supportive educational experience. KCC lives its mission by promoting Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination; preserving Indigenous values of family, respect, healing, and spiritual awareness; developing a supportive learning environment for the community; promoting cultural education by embracing cognitive development and traditional teaching methods; and designing and developing of curriculum that prepares students professionally and socially to succeed in a diverse global society.

Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Inc. is a community-based nonprofit working to increase the capacity of the underserved communities of the Imperial Valley and intertwined regions facing socio-economic and environmental injustices, health care access disparities, and institutional discrimination.  The organization builds the capacity of these communities from the ground up, supporting those facing injustices, challenges, lack of educational opportunities, poor infrastructure, and lack of affordable and adequate housing by using culturally competent and relevant organizing and advocacy methods.

Maraya Performing Arts' (MPA) mission is to uplift historically marginalized communities through creative youth development and place based artistic productions that help forge thought leaders that cultivate meaningful community change.

Media Arts Center San Diego (MACSD) promotes access to media arts in marginalized communities and supports the professional development of media artists through outreach education. The organization's mission is to provide new media tools and channels to create equitable and engaged communities where underserved voices are heard. MACSD endorses the involvement of diverse voices in media arts the portrayal of accurate images of these communities by mainstream media, and promotes community access to and use of media technology.

Outside the Lens (OTL) amplifies youth voices through photography, filmmaking, and digital media, catalyzing change within themselves, their communities, and the world. OLT provides youth with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in a digital world. OLT's vision is that all youth, regardless of income, geography, national origin, or identity, have the artistic and technological skills and access to create and share their stories.

The Imperial County Historical Society disseminates the history of Imperial County and close geographic areas where they were impactful. The organization’s mission is to maintain current collections and continue to collect relevant future artifacts held in the extensive archives of the Pioneers' Museum for the public benefit and to facilitate educational and cultural development. To carry out this mission, the organization works to procure, restore, preserve, interpret, and protect documentary materials and artifacts to bring history to life for current and future generations.

Playwrights Project empowers people of all ages and backgrounds to voice stories through theatre, inspiring individual growth and creating meaningful community connections. Its vision is to sustain an inclusive, compassionate community that broadens minds through the power of creativity and theatre. It champions individual voices, with a focus on uplifting underserved communities through equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist practices that raise BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and similarly marginalized individuals. Programs serve youth in San Diego schools and individuals of all ages who have experienced poverty, homelessness, foster care, immigration, substance use disorder, the justice system, and the military. 

The mission of the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art (SDAAMFA) is to present and preserve the art of African Americans globally and to broaden the knowledge and understanding of the visual arts in Southern California generally and San Diego specifically by collecting, preserving and displaying works of art by and about African Americans; by creating and hosting quality traveling exhibitions; by collecting and preserving fine art and by developing and helping to foster an appreciation of art through meaningful public programs, symposia, and other educational programs.

San Diego State University Research Foundation is a nonprofit supporting San Diego State University (SDSU). The foundation supports and furthers the vision and research objectives of San Diego State University and helps faculty and staff find, attract, and administer their research and sponsored programs. SDSU-Imperial Valley fulfills its mission to generate new knowledge and attain distinction through excellence in its faculty's research, scholarship, and creative activity with support from the foundation. The Imperial Valley Campus is a satellite campus of San Diego State University in Calexico, near the U.S.-Mexico border. The community is devoted to exceptional research, teaching, student success excellence, and creative and scientific innovation.

San Diego Urban Warriors uses theatre, art, culture, health education, and heritage to creatively develop youth, families, and community to be healthy, active, and fit, mind, body, and spirit. The organization aims to create an urban performing artist community advocating, teaching, and demonstrating collective work and responsibility, promoting health, self-determination, and discipline through creative edutainment, artistic experiences, and exploration. This community represents the performing arts and serves as an alternative means of intervention when traditional forms don't work.

The Urban Collaborative Project CDC serves the historically redlined community of Southeast San Diego through community capacity-building efforts to connect residents to upstream services and resources through action teams and strategic partnerships between community members and key stakeholders. UCP empowers residents to identify their neighborhood issues and address challenges. Teams create action plans, outreach, and solutions to address disparities focusing on health, housing, transportation, art, and infrastructure. This community healing process builds capacity by encouraging,  training, and supporting residents to identify and solve community issues together.

Via International promotes sustainable development by engaging and supporting leaders in emerging communities. The organization is driven by and centered on including community voices and strengthening (“formation”) community leadership. It is committed to meeting leaders where they are and working together to identify solutions that elevate communities. Via International works through the lens of asset-based community development, which builds off already present strengths and assets. It encourages a participatory process where people identify their needs and act to improve their quality of life, families, and communities.