EMPOWER SAN DIEGO - Latest Blog Entries

EMPOWER Supports Chula Vista Bayfront Agreement

Fri, 14 May 2010 17:33:00 -0500

Port approves landmark settlement agreement for Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan

The San Diego Board of Port Commissioners on May 4 approved a settlement agreement between the Bayfront Coalition and the Port District that ensures significant community benefits, wildlife protection, and green energy practices are part of any development plan for the Chula Vista Bayfront. EMPOWER San Diego has endorsed this settlement and will be speaking at a public hearing at the Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday May 18^th.

"The settlement agreement allows development to move forward without sacrificing the health of the South Bay. It will protect the environment and promote regional energy sustainability and recreational opportunities for this region," said Laura Hunter of the Environmental Health Coalition.

The Sweetwater Park Compromise Plan supported in the agreement will protect the environment and increase public access to open spaces. Most importantly, it will protect 100 acres of the Sweetwater District from high-rise development, removing all residential development from the lands adjacent to the Sweetwater Marsh and South San Diego Bay Refuges -a top priority for the community and environmental groups.

"The Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is one if the last safe points of refuge for endangered bird species in our region. This plan will ensure the protection of their fragile habitat while allowing more appropriate, less invasive development that is good for people and the environment," said Jim Peugh of the San Diego Audubon Society.

The plan reduces proposed residential units from a one-time high of 3,400 condos to 1,500. It also ensures that additional funding be made available for community benefits for Western Chula Vista, including additional funding for protection of natural resources, sustainability, affordable housing and education and culture projects. Two public participation committees - one for natural resources and one for design and culture - will ensure that these community and environmental benefits occur.

"This plan is economically feasible and contains significant commitments to use green and energy efficient technology," said Chula Vista resident Lynda Gilgun. "This agreement calls for sustainable development that moves us forward technologically and environmentally."

The Bayfront agreement is the result of a multi-year effort by the Bayfront Coalition to ensure that all commitments related to the Bayfront development were enforceable and funded. Bayfront Coalition organizations and members of the Environmental Health Coalition Community Action Team who live in Chula Vista negotiated the agreement.

Bayfront Coalition member organizations are: Environmental Health Coalition; San Diego Audubon Society; San Diego Coastkeeper; Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation; Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter; Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association; and, EMPOWER San Diego.

Celebrate San Diego Grown Democracy!

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:44:00 -0500

Celebrate
San Diego Grown Democracy

with EMPOWER San Diego

Special Guests:

The Honorable Bob Filner

Councilmember Todd Gloria

Honoring San Diego Grown Leaders:

Lorena Gonzalez
Secretary-Treasurer and CEO for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Colin Parent
The American Constitution Society and New Leaders Council

Saturday May 8th, 2010
5pm - Sunset Reception
6pm - Award Presentation

at the Historic home of Ron Oster
in North Park's Dryden District
3694 Pershing AveSan Diego, CA 92104

EMPOWER current members - $75 individual ticket
Non-members - $100 individual ticket
Host Committee - $250 VIP Ticket

As we celebrate San Diego Grown Democracy, we will also feature local wine and beer & locally grown food.
Join us in creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable San Diego.

View our event webcast!

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 22:25:00 -0500

co-sponsored by participants in the Democracy Dialogues Working Group.

How We the People of California Can Come Together and Find Solutions to the Challenges in Our Communities: An Introduction to Dynamic Facilitation and Wisdom Councils.

Thank You for making our 2010 Kickoff Fundraiser a success!

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:02:00 -0600

EMPOWER San Diego
would like to send a big

THANK YOU!

to all those who attended and supported our

2010 Kickoff Fundraiser

You all helped our event become a wonderful success! The event raised crucial funds for EMPOWER and motivated people to make a meaningful political change in our local community.

As EMPOWER launches our new year of voter engagement efforts to bring San Diegans more accurate and useful information about the issues on the June ballot, we hope you will continue to follow and support our work--especially our work to engage voters for the June 8th election.

Did you miss the event? Learn about EMPOWER's new Civic Matters Campaign for 2010

Thank you to Richard Barrera and Norma Damasheck for speaking about the many important issues surrounding our campaign.

Thank you to our Host Committee: Bill Powers, Eric Isaacson, Ian Trowbridge, Stephen Whitburn, and Mark Greenberg for their valuable contributions.

And most of all, Thank you to our Board Members, Interns, Volunteers, and Supporters -- without you this event would not have been possible.

Meet the newest EMPOWERStudents! Interns

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:41:00 -0600

The EMPOWERStudents! Intern Team is welcoming a new group and saying goodbye (and thank you) to our outgoing interns.

From left to right: Chi Dang, outgoing Programs Intern; Jackie Taylor, incoming Communications Intern; Emily Serafy Cox, Program Coordinator; Shasta Weinerman, incoming Student Organizing Intern

More about our incoming interns:

Jackie Taylor is a senior at UCSD in International Studies and grew up in the Encanto neighborhood of San Diego. Jackie enjoys working behind the scenes and is helping EMPOWER with online communications and administrative tasks.
Jillian Dyer is a senior at SDSU in Business Administration. She got engaged in politics during last year's presidential election and is excited to give back to her community. Jillian is helping EMPOWER with graphic design for our outreach and educational materials.
Shasta Weinerman is a senior at UCSD in Political Science and was at President Obama's inauguration. She is interested in working for a non-profit after she graduates. Shasta is doing outreach to student groups in preparation for EMPOWER's voter engagement outreach on campus.

2nd Annual Hate Crimes in Held East County

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:56:00 -0600

James McElroy, chair of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), served as keynote speaker at the second annual Hate Crimes Summit on October 1st at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon.

The event was sponsored by United for a Hate Free San Diego (UFHFSD), a coalition of 70+ faith and community leaders and organizations, including EMPOWER San Diego. Formed in 2007, to counter a growing trend of hatemotivated crimes and behavior in San Diego communities, UFHFSD is chaired by EMPOWER board member, Estela De Los Rios.

East County was selected for this year's summit following the attack on several black teenagers in Jamul earlier this year. The theme of the conference, "Even One is Too Many," was explored by a panel representing San Diego law enforcement, courts, schools, parents, faith community and hate crime experts.

Keynote speaker Jim McElroy, a San Diego civil rights attorney, played a key role in the Southern Poverty Law Center's (SPLC) landmark case against Tom Metzger and his hate group, White Aryan Resistance (WAR) in the early 1990s. Widely recognized as a longtime crusader for human and civil rights, Mr. McElroy has received the Anti-Defamation League National Civil Rights Achievement Award in 1994, the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood in 1995 for his work on behalf of women's rights, and the San Diego County Bar Association's Outstanding Attorney of the Year in 2004.

Read more about the summit in the OB Rag.

Empower Hosts Live Webcast Event!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:56:00 -0500

How We the People of California Can Come Together and Find Solutions to the Challenges in Our Communities: An Introduction to Dynamic Facilitation and Wisdom Councils.

Jim Rough speaks in San Diego

The Democracy Dialogues Working Group—an emerging collaborative comprising members of Empower San Diego and those of several other organizations--hosted an event to explore approaches to "deliberative democracy." Internationally renowned speakers Jim Rough, Dr. Manfred Hellrigl, and DeAnna Martin discussed the uses of ‘Dynamic Facilitation’ and ‘Wisdom Councils’ in notable policy and decision-making contexts throughout the world. Held at Lincoln High School's Center for Social Justice, with the participation of student organizer Di’onte Victorian and an audience of over 50 people from across the San Diego region, the event was also webcast live. (All donations were given in support of student organizing at the Center.) Click here to see a video of the event.

Co-sponsored with: Common Cause-San Diego, the League of Women Voters-San Diego, Plan of Action in a Changing Era

Dr. Manfred Hellrigl, Director of the Department for Future Related Issues in Austria, is currently applying these social inventions in different cities of Austria.

DeAnna Martin, the Director of the Center for Wise Democracy.

Jim Rough is a social innovator, seminar leader, consultant, author, and speaker. He originated Dynamic Facilitation (www.DynamicFacilitation.com) and has been teaching related seminars for 20 years all over the world.

For more information, check www.SocietysBreakthrough.com and (www.WiseDemocracy.org).

Empower joins Facebook!

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:02:00 -0500

Empower San Diego has joined Facebook to extend our reach in the digital world and connect to San Diegans from around the region. Come join us!

Are you on Facebook? If so, become a fan of Empower San Diego.

People United Against Cuts

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:29:00 -0500

Lorena Gonzalez speaks at the People Against Cuts Rally on June 23, 2009 against the backdrop of paper machet protest puppets and the Governor's San Diego Office.

Hundreds of local organizations* including Empower San Diego are mobilizing and and coordinating as "People United Against Cuts," a local coalition formed to oppose the Governor's proposed state budget cuts that will have a catastrophic impact on children, seniors, people with disabilities, low income families, college students, and HIV/AIDS patients. Speakers will included: Lorena Gonzalez - San Diego - Imperial Counties Labor Council; Gene Lamke - California Faculty Association, San Diego State University; Camille Zombro - San Diego Education Association; Aida Reyes - Supportive Parents Information Network.

*The Coalition is growing! Partners Include: SEIU Local 221; San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council; Empower San Diego; ACLU of San Diego-Imperial Counties; Center on Policy Initiatives; Justice Overcoming Boundaries; Affordable Housing Coalition; Access to Independence; Children's Defense Fund of California; International Socialist Organization; ACORN; San Diego Coalition for Peace & Justice; San Diego Disability Action Coalition; UDW Local 3930; CSEA; Supportive Parents Information Network; San Diego County Democratic Party; UPTE-CWA 9119 Local 9 and Plan of Action In A Changing Era.

Green Jobs: Fighting Poverty and Pollution

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:07:00 -0500

Working to solve our environmental and economic crises simultaneously.

On Thursday, April 30th, Empower San Diego co-sponsored a visit from *Green For All's CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins to discuss the role of green jobs in the economic recovery.

A panel of local experts and activists answered questions about how a collective focus on creating good, green jobs could improve our community for the benefit of all. The discussion was especially enlivened by the participation of two of Empower's guests from Lincoln High School, Sakeenah Shabaz and Dionte Zictorian. The presentation of a Green Jobs Quiz by these dynamic teenagers and their questions to the panel about the role for youth in the new Green Economy elicited some great dialogue about the need for more efforts like San Diego's IBEW union apprentice program, which has made recruiting at high schools in South East San Diego a priority. Held at the Center in Hillcrest, over 200 San Diegans participated.

*Green For All is a national organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. Van Jones, the White House Special Adviser for Green Jobs, founded Green For All and raised it to national prominence as its first CEO. Jones calls Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, his successor, "one of the nation's most brilliant, inspirational and creative problem solvers for working families." Previously, Ellis-Lamkins led the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and Working Partnerships USA. San Jose Magazine named her one of the 100 most powerful people in Silicon Valley.

Her San Diego appearance was co-presented with the Center on Policy Initiatives as part of the CPI Speaker Series by Empower San Diego, Sierra Club San Diego Chapter, Urban League of San Diego County, MAAC Project, Organizing for America-San Diego, Coalition of Neighborhood Councils, IBEW Local 569, San Diego County Building & Construction Trades Council, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, San Diego Apollo Alliance, Heartland/United GREEN, Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice of San Diego, California Center for Sustainable Energy, and San Diego Workforce Partnership.

2009 Tommie Awards--A Success!

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:30:00 -0500

Empower's event last Thursday evening at the home of Carlos and Linda LeGerette was terrifically successful. Empower San Diego honored six awardees with "Tommie Awards" for their contributions to the San Diego/Tijuana region as "Champions of Progressive Principles." Also, as we bid outgoing Executive Director Tommie Watson a sincere farewell, we introduced our new staff members, including Executive Director, Annie Lorrie Anderson-Lazo, Ph.D. and Part-time Development Director, Emily Serafy Cox. We especially appreciated Richard Barrera for his role as emcee, and Assembly Member Lori Saldaña for commencing the event with an update on issues of concern to community members in our region, especially her exhortation to support the work of United for a Hate-Free San Diego to address the escalation of hate crimes in our region.

Empower also expresses its deepest thanks to the "2009 Champions of Progressive Principles" for their efforts on behalf of our community; please return to this page later this week for more about our wonderful awardees, and a full description of the awards program.

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:58:00 -0500

Thanks to you, our many progressive allies, who have contributed to our grassroots organizing, GOtV efforts, listening campaigns, and public forums on progressive principles, Progressive San Diego has grown and blossomed! Last summer, we formed EMPOWER San Diego, a 501(c)3.

Come Celebrate Our Progressive Community with
EMPOWER, a New Non-Profit Organization,

at the

2009 Tommie Awards

Recognizing activists working toward an equitable, sustainable San Diego/Tijuana Region

Thursday, April 16th
5:30pm Doors Open
Local, Sustainable Food/Live Music by the Marcia Forman Band
Award Ceremony and Farewell to Tommie Watson

At the home of Linda and Carlos LeGerrette
1359 Grove Street | San Diego, CA 92102

We thank these sponsors for their contributions:
Big Kitchen, Garden of Eden Organics, La Milpa Organica and Old World Deli.

Schmooze with:
Tommie Watson
Outgoing Executive Director, Progressive San Diego & EMPOWER San Diego

Annie Lorrie Anderson-Lazo, Ph.D.
Incoming Executive Director, EMPOWER San Diego

Emily Serafy Cox
Incoming Development Director, EMPOWER San Diego
& All the Recipients of the 2009 Tommie Awards

EMPOWER San Diego, a non-profit 501(c)(3) education organization, will continue to support the efforts of residents and communities working together for an equitable, just and sustainable society.

Progressive San Diego, a non-partisan political action committee that works to create more equitable and sustainable society in the San Diego region by promoting progressive candidates and policies.

For More Information Contact: Emily@EmpowerSanDiego.org

Politics Magazine's Reed Award Winner

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:05:00 -0600

San Diego -- Empower San Diego in collaboration with PSD, Common Cause, League of Women Voters and The N3TWORK organized a costume canvass around SDSU on Halloween, 2008. As part of the national Trick or Vote effort organized by the Bus Federation we won "Best GOTV Plan & Execution" by the Politics magazine's Reed Awards.

2009 Reed Award Award Winner "Best GOTV Plan & Execution"

The Campaigns & Elections' Politics magazine Reed Awards were judged by political luminaries from across the political spectrum, including Morton Blackwell, Tucker Carlson, Tom Davis, Monica Dixon, Ben Dworkin, Vic Fazio, Martin Frost, Julie Germany, Shane Greer, Ken Khachigian, Mike Hennessy, Ron Klain, Mike Krempasky, Kevin Madden, Mark, McKinnon, Dick Morris, Terry Nelson, Christie Pelosi, Amy Pritchard, Larry Sabato, Ron Silver, Jamal Simmons, Michael Steele, George Stephanopolous, Robert Traynham, Joe Trippi, Suzanne Turner, Vaughn Ververs, Amy Walter, Christine Todd Whitman, and Reid Wilson.