When San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer launched his 2014 election campaign at his headquarters in Logan Heights, he heard a story all too familiar to San Diego, “When are underserved communities in our city going to get the attention they deserve?”
The concerns of these communities resonated with the Mayor and since being elected, he has turned his attention to these communities, beginning with his oath of office, which he held at the Jacobs Center for Community Innovation.
But Mayor Faulconer wanted that commitment to be about more than symbolism. He wanted to make an investment in community improvement, education and expanding opportunities for everyone.
This motivated him and First Lady Katherine Stuart to launch One San Diego, a 501(c) 3 non-profit dedicated to promoting equal access to economic prosperity, safe and vibrant communities, and an enhanced quality of life that ensures every San Diegan has the opportunity to succeed.
One San Diego first project last fall was securing $30,000 in funding for 60 laptops for the San Diego Library’s new Do Your Homework @ the Library afterschool program for K-8th grade students. The donation was made possible by a $15,000 gift from the Walmart Foundation that was matched by the San Diego Public Library Foundation.
One San Diego’s dynamic board of directors includes Chairman Tony Young, former City Council President; Margarita Wilder, an executive with the Spanish language media company Entravision; Lani Lutar, former executive director of the Asian Business Association; Ruben Barrales, former CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber and now CEO of Grow Elect, an organization dedicated to recruiting and training Latino candidates for public office; and Dee Chavez, vice president of the Latino American Political Association. One San Diego’s board will work with Executive Director Barbara Chavez Ybarra and community partners to bring communities together to create solutions and results-oriented collaborations for all San Diego communities.
Working closely with the Mayor’s Office, One San Diego will engage neighborhoods through collaboration and community involvement, and better connects San Diegans with leaders to build more resilient and successful communities.
For more information, visit www.1sandiego.org
