Weaving Movements Brings Equity in San Diego to the Forefront

Equity and inclusion occur when diverse groups and communities come together for a greater purpose.

This was one of the key takeaways shared during The San Diego Foundation Center for Civic Engagement event, Weaving Movements: Linking Innovation with Inclusion, at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation.

The event featured civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, who shared her lifelong commitment to civic engagement and social change.

As Dolores kicked off the speeches at the event, she underscored the importance of opportunity. For example, Dolores encouraged schools and institutions to create more pathways to success for underserved youth. “We need social workers in every school,” she highlighted. “This would give students the necessary support and increase graduation rates to over 96 percent.”

She went on to explain, “If young people don’t have a good education and the support associated with that, their job opportunities will be limited.”

That goes for businesses, too. Dolores encouraged corporate executives and entrepreneurs to think about how they are recruiting new employees and to adopt values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Dolores was joined by other regional leaders, including USC Director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity Dr. Manuel Pastor, Southwestern Community College Board President Nora Vargas, University of San Diego Director at the Institute for Innovation & Learning Ed Hidalgo, and Executive Officer of Manpower Phil Blair.

In a panel moderated by Kathlyn Mead, each speaker shared ideas about how to provide economic stability for all San Diegans, and how access to education, career networks and diverse hiring practices will stimulate a thriving innovation economy.

The group emphasized that everyone has a role to play.

From the audience members to the panelists, the night was full of thoughtful and positive dialogue about how to grow a more equitable and promising San Diego, which is one of the core purposes of the campaign.

Weaving Movements is a series of free public events that bring community together to increase dialogue about challenges and opportunities in San Diego in partnership with civil rights icon Dolores Huerta and local leaders.

If you didn’t make it to the first event, you can join the social conversation at #WeavingMovements.

What’s Next

As Center for Civic Engagement Manager Bruna Mori explains it, “Social justice movements will endure as long as inequalities persist and there’s a need for change.”

As the Weaving Movements event series continues on October 5, the Center for Civic Engagement will explore how not all communities have equal access to safe, clean natural parks and outdoor space, and why environmental equity is important for all.

During the event, Weaving Movements: Love for the Land, national leaders and experts will talk about the importance of every citizen having a right to clean, healthy environments to live, work and enjoy.

RSVP Today