On a beautiful San Diego Saturday in June, the Fleet Science Center opened its doors early to community members from the Greater Neighborhoods of Southeastern San Diego (GNSSD). Families from the 22 neighborhoods that stretch from Encanto to Lincoln Park and from Southcrest to Mount Hope streamed through the doors to experience the Fleet’s exhibit galleries before the general public.
While at the Fleet, both adults and kids were invited to get creative in Studio X, the Fleet’s maker space; experience a VR ride; and enjoy a private screening of Deep Sky, the IMAX documentary about the global mission to build and launch the James Webb Space Telescope.
This free event was one of four Community Mornings inviting residents to visit the Fleet as a community. Community Mornings were generously sponsored by SDG&E as part of the Fleet Science Center’s 50th anniversary celebration and in recognition of the Fleet as a countywide organization, reaching people in more than 90% of San Diego County ZIP codes.
Also participating in this Community Morning were some of the Fleet’s partners in GNSSD, including Our Genetic Legacy, who had a display and spoke to visitors about their Drone Project to train young women as licensed drone pilots. Additionally, First Gen Scholars offered information on their programs to support students who are the first in their families to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Two of the artists working in GNSSD on the Fleet Science Center’s Art for Planetary Health Initiative (AFPH) were in attendance. LaRaza Webb whose “Water Mane Art Experience” promotes sustainable hair care practices while raising awareness about water conservation enjoyed the day with her family, sharing that, “the experience I had with my nephew in the ball pool was amazing!”
Ivan Cofey chatted with community members while handing out free Stardust t-shirts to promote AFPH artist Dawud Hanson’s “Stardust Project,” which aims to foster a deeper understanding of astronomy in GNSSD. “We are related to the universe. The iron in your blood, the oxygen you breath, all of these atoms came from stars that died long ago,” Ivan shared with GB Magazine San Diego, before heading into see Deep Sky and the images the Webb Telescope has captured of the origins of the universe.
As the 231 guests settled into the Fleet’s Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, they were welcomed by President and CEO, Dr. Steve Snyder, and Vice President for Community Service and Engagement, Dr. Mwenda KudumuBiggs, who grew up in the Lincoln Park/Valencia Park area.
Winners in the morning-long scavenger hunt contest were announced and awarded one-year Fleet Household memberships and, after the film, guests made their way back to the buses provided by the Fleet to return home free of cost!
For more information on Community Mornings, the Fleet Science Center’s programs and community efforts, or how you can support, please visit www.fleetscience.org.
