The San Diego Promise Zone has doubled its SDPZ Partner engagement since inception, growing from 28 nonprofits to the current 56. Organizations sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of San Diego to formalize their commitment to this effort that touches on multiple facets of the commuity. SDPZ Partner participation is essential for our success across our six goal areas. SDPZ Partner Workshops for Warriors, located in Barrio Logan, is a nonprofit school that trains, certifies and helps place veterans into advanced manufacturing careers. (Photo courtesy Workshops for Warriors)

Implementing Partners

Civic San Diego

County of San Diego Health and Human Services

Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation

San Diego Housing Commission

San Diego Unified School District

San Diego Workforce Partnership

Supporting Partners

Able-Disabled Advocacy

Access Youth Academy

ACCION San Diego

Barrio Logan College Institute

Center for Community Health, UC San Diego

Community Housing Works

Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP)

Diamond Business Association

Family Health Centers of San Diego

Feeding San Diego

GRID Alternatives

Habitat for Humanity

Harmonium

Heartland Coalition

Home Start

I Am My Brother’s Keeper

International Rescue Committee

Jackie Robinson YMCA

Jewish Family Service

Kitchens for Good

Leah’s Pantry

Legal Aid Society of San Diego

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)

Logan Heights Community Development Corp.

Meals on Wheels

Metro Community Ministries

Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee on Anti-Poverty (MAAC)

National Conflict Resolution Center

Neighborhood House

Paving Great Futures

Project New Village

Reality Changers

Regional Taskforce on the Homeless (RTFH)

San Diego Community College District

San Diego Food System Alliance

San Diego Futures Foundation

San Diego Police Department

San Diego State University

San Diego Youth Development Office

San Ysidro Health Center

Second Chance

Small Business Development Center

Social Advocates for Youth San Diego

South Bay Community Services

United Way of San Diego

Urban Collaborative Project

Urban Corps of San Diego County

Urban League of San Diego County

UrbanLife Ministries

Workshops for Warriors

 

Are you in the Zone?

Over 77,000 San Diegans live in the 6.4 square miles of the Promise Zone. With 15.61% unemployment and low educational attainment, this area faces unique challenges, but is also home to many opportunities! Learn more about why we were chosen as a Promise Zone and our history here. (link to history page)

Get Involved

• Sign up for our newsletter to hear about great opportunities. View our most recent. (link to most recent)
• Attend a Promise Zone meeting or event (link to calendar)
• Check out our success stories. (link to blog)
• Are you a nonprofit or business? Find out more about becoming an official partner! (link to partner page)

Improving Educational Opportunities

Goals

• Increase the number of students meeting school readiness and grade level expectations
• Increase the number of college/career readiness programs for middle school children
• Increase educational and career supports for Opportunity Youth (disconnected youth 16-24)
• Increase the number of adults who are educated and prepared for middle wage jobs

Current Priority Projects

Promise Zone partners are currently helping to expand San Diego Unified’s online platform to include job placement opportunities and nontraditional schooling programs.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Second Wednesday of each month at Jacobs Center for neighborhood Innovation
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Sandra Ainslie and Sara Boquin (Barrio Logan College Institute)
• Check out our metrics

Increasing Economic Activity

Goals

• Strengthen the business base and attract new businesses to vacant land
• Make infrastructure improvements and address disparities
• Support small businesses, entrepreneurs, and self-employed residents

 

Current Priority Projects

• Partners are pursuing new financing options for businesses in the Promise Zone to participate in the City’s Storefront Improvement Program. Promise Zone businesses are also eligible for a higher percentage refund of their project costs from program.

 

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Second Wednesday of each month at Jacobs Center for neighborhood Innovation
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Christina Bibler (City of San Diego) and Gary Knight (San Diego Futures Foundation)
• Check out our metrics

Increasing Access to Affordable Housing

Goals

• Create new, ecofriendly, affordable and mixed income residential units along transit corridors
• Preserve existing affordable housing in the San Diego Promise Zone through capital improvement projects
• Administer loans, grants and other mechanisms to help households with low to moderate incomes become first-time homebuyers

Current Priority Projects

• Partners are planning a pilot program to assist Promise Zone homeowners in adding accessory dwelling units to their homes. The City recently passed legislation to make building these units easier, with special consideration being given to the Promise Zone.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Second Thursday of each month at San Diego Housing Commission
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Daisy Crompton (San Diego Housing Commission) and Jeff Zinner (Civic San Diego)
• Check out our metrics

Creating a Priority of Safety

Goals

• Use technology & community events to engage residents, businesses, and schools in their own safety
• Advocate for infrastructure improvements that deter crime and improve the quality of community amenities

Current Priority Projects

• Partners will assist in educating Promise Zone residents about the City’s Get It Done app after its relaunch Fall 2018. Getting residents involved in caring for their neighborhood is a great way to increase engagement, while making for more walkable communities.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Third Tuesday of each month at Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Mary Baum (SAY San Diego) and Rosa Ana Lozada (Harmonium)
• Check out our metrics

Creating Jobs

Goals

• Connect Opportunity Youth (disconnected youth aged 16-24) to employment
• Increase the number of residents employed in middle skills jobs in growing industry
• Identify opportunities with employer institutions and champion model policies that encourage equitable practices

Current Priority Projects

• The workgroup is currently focused on connecting Opportunity Youth to careers in the advanced manufacturing and information/communications technology industries, through linking service providers to educational opportunities to employers.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Third Wednesday of each month at San Diego Workforce Partnership
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Lydia Morena (City of San Diego) and Karmin Noar (San Diego Workforce Partnership)
• Check out our metrics

Increasing Access to Healthcare and Healthy Foods

Goals

• Build resident capacity and leadership through the creation of healthy foods choices & an accessible food system
• Champion practices and policies that promote a healthy food system
• Improve residents’ health through access to healthcare insurance, access to healthcare services, including mental health, access to appropriate care, and support a continuum of care

Current Priority Projects

• Partners will begin outreach to land owners to participate in Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones, allowing their vacant land to be used to increase the supply of healthy, local produce.

Want to know more?

• Attend our meeting: Third Thursday of each month at Family Health Centers HITEC
• Reach out to our co-chairs: Tina Emmerick (County of San Diego HHSA) and Anthony White (Family Health Centers of San Diego)
• Check out our metrics