Tag: community

New website follows the life of San Ysidro.

There’s a brand new website that follows the life and history of San Ysidro. It’s called San Ysidro Archive.

I learned about this new community resource today during my visit to The FRONT gallery and cultural center in San Ysidro.

San Ysidro Archive‘s stated mission is to serve as a living repository for the countercultural histories of 92173. By documenting local activism, joy, and resilience, the archive curates a communal memory that thrives independently of the border.

The website collects old and new photographs that people can contribute. It also tells the stories of individuals who make San Ysidro their home, including business owners, artists, longtime residents, and everyone in between. The website also helps people stay up to date with what is going on in the neighborhood through upcoming events, recent happenings, or ways to get involved.

What an awesome community project!

The San Ysidro Archive website is up and running, even though it officially launches in a couple days. I encourage you to check it out today!

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Casa Familiar art collection exhibited in San Ysidro!

Casa Familiar has been serving residents of South San Diego County since 1968. Over those many years, the organization has amassed a collection of art that represents the life and culture of the South Bay border community. Through the collection, preservation, and exhibition of art, Casa Familiar promotes and encourages appreciation for the vibrant artistic community it serves.

Casa Familiar operates a gallery and cultural gathering space called The FRONT in San Ysidro. Today–and for about another week–The FRONT is home to an exhibition of pieces from Casa Familiar’s art collection. The exhibition is titled MOMENTOUS.

The exhibit contains four distinct sections: transborder culture, the poetics of living, the original people of this land, and art created for Casa Familiar’s annual ABRAZO Award.

I stopped by today to enjoy this important exhibition. The artwork is not only quite good, but it stems from each local artist’s personal experience, and is emotionally stirring. The image of a heart enters much of the art.

I was amazed and happy to learn some of the fine pieces were created by individuals that Casa Familiar has assisted!

Abrazo Award 2015, by David Flores, watercolor on Arches paper.
Bodies, by Andrea Echeverri, high temperature glaze ceramic.
Untitled, 2004, by Paulino Marquez, oil painting.
Mi Abuelita, mi nietecita, 2015, by Arturo Rodriguez Torija, photo print.
Triptych, 2014, by Jamex and Einar De La Torre, photo transfer on metal.
Hotel Nelson, 2024, by Paola “Panca” Villaseñor, acrylic on wood.

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Women of the Armed Forces exhibition at Bonita Museum.

An excellent exhibition opened in July at the Bonita Museum. Strength of Service: Women of the Armed Forces celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America by highlighting voices of local women who’ve served their country.

As the exhibition webpage explains, visitors can enjoy a unique look at local Military Women, history, personal stories, and inspiring artistic tributes.

A variety of military uniforms worn by local heroes stand at the center of the museum gallery. They bring home the fact that real people actually wore those uniforms and sacrificed to protect freedoms that we enjoy.

The walls surrounding the uniforms feature military honors, articles, personal memories, emotionally moving works of art, historical flags, and posted thank you notes penned by grateful visitors.

Two of the gallery walls contain a long, detailed timeline, covering the Revolutionary War to the present. Words, illustrations and photographs recall many ways women have served our nation over the course of its history.

If you’re in the neighborhood, I recommend a visit to the free Bonita Museum before this exhibition wraps up on August 29, 2026.

(I hadn’t visited the museum in a very long time and was excited to find new public art outside. I’ll be blogging about that shortly!)

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Solana Beach post office garden beautified!

About a month ago, I discovered a very beautiful garden in front of the Solana Beach Post Office. It was obvious that people have carefully tended the green space that includes paths for strolling and public art.

Those people, I’ve learned, are the volunteer SeaWeeders of the Solana Beach Garden Club. Their mission is to promote the sustainable beautification of the City of Solana Beach through social interaction, garden education, and home and civic enrichment.

Here’s a webpage that describes the Solana Beach Post Office garden rejuvenation project. (Other community projects by the SeaWeeders, too!)

The colorful sculpture you see in my photos is by artist Christi Beniston. It was originally created for the El Paseo Invitational Sculpture Exhibit “Topiaries” in Palm Desert. For a while it had been located on North Cedros Avenue.

You can join the SeaWeeders to help keep Solana Beach green and beautiful! Learn more about this opportunity here.

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Come enjoy free Love City Heights Day!

Everyone is invited to enjoy a free festival this Saturday in City Heights. Love City Heights Day will take place at Pop-up Winona, at 4951 El Cajon Boulevard.

There will be live music, live painting, food, community vendors and fun for the whole family!

Come by between 2 and 9 pm. Check out the above flyer for all the info.

Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association building.

This picturesque building stands in downtown San Diego’s historic Chinatown, the Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District. It’s the 1911 Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association building.

According to this webpage : The building site at 428 Third Avenue has an association with the Chinese community going back to the early days of Chinatown. In 1883 the land and structures were removed and a Taoist temple was built. On 1880’s Sanborn maps, this building was constructed and occupied by the Gee Goon Tong (Chee Kung Tong), known for helping to plot Dr. Sun Yet-Sens’s revolution and founding of the Republic of China.

Curious? Follow the above link for much more history.

A historical plaque near the entrance is now barely readable…

The original tenants of the two-story, Oriental theme structure were the Gee Goon Tong, famous for their help in plotting the 1912 revolution, which formed the Republic of China. The Benevolent Society was founded in 1920 as an outgrowth of the Tong, to serve the Chinese community.

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Children together with nature in Golden Hill!

This happy mural was painted in 2017 at the Golden Hill Recreation Center. It depicts children together with nature.

Members of the community and volunteers with I Love a Clean San Diego came together on Coastal Cleanup Day to paint the colorful art. It decorates a retaining wall behind the center near the playground. You can see a photograph of the event and people working on the mural here.

Despite a little vandalism, the mural remains bright and beautiful almost ten years later. Flowers, butterflies, a hummingbird, coyote and rabbit populate a world where children jump and play.

A few photos for you to enjoy…

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Youth Summit 2026 in Balboa Park!

A cool opportunity for youth in San Diego to meet others, share, learn and create is coming up on June 3, 2026!

Youth Summit 2026 will be taking place in Balboa Park. The free event is hosted by the City of San Diego Office of Child and Youth Success, in partnership with the San Diego Public Library, Youth Will, Reality Changers, The LGBTQ+ Community Center, and Our Time to Act.

There will be speakers (including San Diego Poet Laureate), art presenters, breakout sessions, workshops, fun games, and hands-on activities. Youth will learn how to access useful resources, too.

I saw the above announcement in Balboa Park today and thought I’d share it. Do you know any young people who might like to participate?

For all the information, check out this webpage.

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Free community screening of GOAT in Encinitas!

A free family screening of the sports comedy movie GOAT will take place this Friday, May 29, 5:30 -7:30 pm, at the Encinitas Community & Senior Center!

The event is hosted by the Encinitas Youth Commission and will include a good time watching the funny animated movie plus activities for youth and teens. There will also be raffle prizes featuring movie merch!

How cool is this?

The movie screening is being done in partnership with the Kevin Love Fund and Sony Pictures Animation. This event is in recognition of Mental Health Awareness month.

You can register for the fun event by clicking here!

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Treasure maps created in Golden Hill!

On a fence at the Golden Hill Recreation Center there’s a student art exhibit. Kids attending Golden Hill Elementary School created neighborhood treasure maps!

I took these photos when I visited the Goldenpalooza festival on Saturday.

According to the posted “My Neighborhood Treasure Map” sign: Students were asked to draw a map of their favorite spots in their neighborhood using any art supplies. They had the option to make it realistic, whimsical or pure fantasy. Students from TK up to 7th grade participated.

Questions to guide their personal journey were: Where do you feel happiest? Where do you love to explore? What place do you want to go back to again and again?

So, what is important in a young person’s life? Take a look at these maps to discover treasure!

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