October 13, 2016
CrossFit Fortius South owners Carlos and Alejandra Lopez, together with coaching staff, members, and family, celebrating the first anniversary of their newly expanded location in San Ysidro with a ribbon cutting on October 8th.
Click here to learn more about CrossFit Fortius South.
(click for larger image)
October 11, 2016
September 29, Governor Jerry Brown signed Chamber-supported legislation, Senate Bill 1212 (Hueso), to expand 2-1-1 services across the state. 2-1-1 is a free phone number that quickly connects callers to existing health and human service programs, joblessness support and disaster response.
2-1-1 San Diego has served as a model for this statewide assistance system. By partnering with businesses, 2-1-1 has exceptionally filled the gap between community members and local services.
Why this matters: When disaster strikes, 2-1-1 plays a vital role. By reducing nonemergency call volume on 9-1-1 lines, 2-1-1 allows emergency responders to handle true life-or-death situations. In fact, during Southern California’s 2007 wildfire emergency, 2-1-1 San Diego answered more than 33,000 calls in one day.
By signing S.B. 1212, Governor Brown has ensured that all regions and vulnerable populations – including rural counties – have access to 2-1-1’s community services and assistance. When cities are better equipped to handle emergencies, their communities – and the businesses that occupy them – are better poised for a quick recovery.
Related information:
October 7, 2016
Jerry Sanders, Chamber President & CEO
I hope you’re enjoying the last few weeks of our summer season. Last week the Chamber team, together with 130 business and community leaders from San Diego and Baja California, traveled to our nation’s capital for our annual “Mission to Washington, D.C.” trip.
From education and energy to healthcare and veterans, each delegate played an important role in ensuring our nation’s decision makers understand the issues facing our binational region.
Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber and the work we do to advance our region. For the full D.C. delegation recap, click here.
Back in San Diego, I had the pleasure of meeting with many of our local businesses and organizations. I’d like to thank all of the businesses I met with, including North Island Credit Union for inviting me to join their ribbon cutting ceremony. North Island recently celebrated the official opening of its tenth full-service branch in the newly-renovated Mister A’s building in Banker’s Hill.
Ribbon cutting at North Island Credit Union
I’d also like to thank Smurfit Kappa – a leading producer of paper-based packaging – for giving me a tour of their business in Tijuana. Smurfit Kappa’s impressive operation includes 100 percent renewable products produced with sustainable practices.
Business tour with Smurfit Kappa
Looking ahead, our annual Legislative Lounge is coming up on November 10. This light-hearted reception includes a tongue-in-cheek awards ceremony to honor San Diego’s elected officials and their staff. It’s always a lot of fun, so if you’re looking for a laugh after this election season make sure to reserve your spot to attend.
Until next time, enjoy your weekend and I hope to see you at a Chamber event soon.
Jerry Sanders
President & CEO
San Diego Regional Chamber
October 6, 2016
As part of its Fuel Your School program, Chevron delivered classroom supplies for a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) project to Sequoia Elementary School, a high-poverty school in the city of San Diego. As part of the “Let the Fun Begin! Lego Robotics and Coding” project, fifth grade students unboxed gifted Lego robotics and coding kits, and got to participate in a hands-on coding lesson led by their teacher, Gregory Roy. Mayor Kevin Faulconer attended the event at the school’s fifth grade classroom to support the program’s inaugural launch in the city of San Diego.
Chevron’s Fuel Your School helps teachers get the supplies they need for eligible classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org, an online organization that organizes funding for schools in participating markets across the country:
“Chevron’s Fuel Your School program helps equip teachers with the resources they need for engaging lessons and activities – including hands-on science based activities to spark curiosity in young minds and inspire future engineers and scientists,” said Hector Infante, Policy, Government and Public Affairs Manager for Chevron in San Diego.
Since its inception in 2010, Fuel Your School has helped fund more than 33,685 classroom projects – 16,063 of which focus on STEM – at 5,155 schools in the U.S. The Fuel Your School program is part of Chevron’s overall support for education, which has totaled over $300 million worldwide since 2013, helping to provide students with the critical skills they will need to succeed in the jobs of the future.
For a full list of participating communities in the Fuel Your School program and to track progress, please visit www.FuelYourSchool.com. In addition to funds generated through the Fuel Your School program, anyone may also independently browse and fund inspiring classroom projects on DonorsChoose.org by making separate, individual contributions.
October 5, 2016
(click to view a larger image)
Last week our Chamber team, together with 130 business and community leaders from San Diego and Baja, were in our nation’s capital to advocate for jobs, commerce, and the regional economy as part of our annual “Mission to Washington, D.C.” trip.
Our delegation included local elected officials, policy experts, and business leaders from both sides of the border representing various industries and interests that are vital to our region’s economy. From education to energy, healthcare, trade and veterans, each delegate played an important role in ensuring our nation’s decision makers understand the issues facing our binational region.
Right now, each federal executive department is transitioning for the next administration – this includes preparing a set of policy recommendations which will guide the decisions of our next Commander-in-Chief. The meetings were an opportunity to provide input on the recommendations.
Because San Diego is so far from Washington, it’s not easy for us to have a presence there which can lead to the needs of our region getting overlooked. That is why this trip is so critically important. It gives us the opportunity to join together with a unified voice and meet with our nation’s leaders so they can better understand the policy decisions that will allow our region to thrive, regardless of who becomes our next President.
A few highlights from our work on the Hill:
Meeting with Department of Transportation
Department of Labor Meeting with Deputy Secretary Chris Lu
Senator Elizabeth Dole discussing Hidden Heroes Initiative
Thank you for your continued support of the Chamber and the work we do to advance our region. For more policy updates, be sure to sign up for our Policy Update newsletter.
A hearty thanks goes to the following sponsors who made this trip possible:
For a complete list of photos, be sure to check out our #SDinDC hashtag on Twitter.
Nice view of D.C. From my room. Here to support #SDinDC – https://t.co/ESRjTk0SZF pic.twitter.com/oMdUvzM1LN
— Bill Trumpfheller (@trumpyski) September 25, 2016
@USChamber updating on direction and mood of country @SDChamber #SDinDC #SanDiego #Jobs pic.twitter.com/Ksh4PqzCC4
— Peter Callstrom (@PeterACallstrom) September 26, 2016
@USDOTFHWA sharing great info on how to get projects built under the Build America Bureau w/@portofsandiego @SDChamber. #SDinDC pic.twitter.com/FXVqPe1y7k
— David Alvarez (@AlvarezSD) September 26, 2016
Always great to have a bit of San Diego in DC! Great discussion with @SDChamber on Mid-Coast trolley, Salton Sea. #SDinDC pic.twitter.com/1BZB609LeO
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) September 26, 2016
Great meeting at HUD speaking of collaboration to house our veterans. @Kevin_Faulconer @mapintar @chrisward and @SDHCC @211SD #SDinDC pic.twitter.com/ILb7jIgjJA
— 211jo (@211jo) September 26, 2016
Lively conversation with @RepJuanVargas @DarrellIssa. Thank you both! #SDinDC pic.twitter.com/yA8GCbF3nk
— Sophie Barnhorst (@SophieBarnhorst) September 27, 2016
Great meeting @ewfitzsimons finally at @SDChamber's reception! It's so great to be your Advocacy partner! #sdindc pic.twitter.com/uetzMCr7Tp
— Jill Nguyen (@GJNguyen) September 26, 2016
Chamber delegates with Alan Bersin, Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Wednesday morning panel on data analytics in elections
Mexican Ambassador Carlos Sala
Congressman Juan Vargas and Congressman Darrell Issa
Chamber delegate Dennis Dubard with Rear Admiral Paul Pearigen
Department of Labor meeting with Deputy Secretary Chris Lu
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Eileen Braden, Vice President of Political Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Eileen Braden, Vice President of Political Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Jack Howard, Senior Vice President Congressional and Public Affairs at U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Elliot Hirshman, President of San Diego State University
October 3, 2016
The La Maestra Community Health Centers provide healthcare, education and social services that help low-income, diverse community members to be healthy, safe and self-sufficient. Since the 1980s, La Maestra has expanded to serve 46,000 people annually in underserved areas of San Diego County. For the past 24 years, LMCHC has provided culturally and linguistically-competent primary care, specialty services including behavioral and mental health, chronic disease management and essential support services to men, women and children in San Diego’s most culturally diverse and lowest income communities.
Services are provided at four medical clinics, seven dental sites, three school-based health centers, and a mobile medical unit. LMCHC’s main health center is located in City Heights, a community that is home to more than 90,000 residents, many of whom are recently settled refugees and immigrants from more than 60 countries with unique health and well-being needs. Additional health center locations include the underserved communities of El Cajon, National City and Lemon Grove, where the majority of patients are also refugees and immigrants in need of affordable, quality health care and social services.
The La Maestra Foundation, which operates as the charitable arm of La Maestra, provides and supports advocacy and community services that improve the overall well-being of low-income, culturally diverse individuals and families in San Diego and guide them along the path to self-sufficiency. Services include job training and placement; microcredit loans; microenterprise assistance; affordable housing assistance; transitional housing and access to nutritious food and clothing.
Zara Marselian , CEO of La Maestra Community Health Centers & La Maestra Foundation
Zara Marselian, the CEO of La Maestra Community Health Centers and the La Maestra Foundation, represents the embodiment of La Maestra’s mission. Ms. Marselian has been recognized locally and nationally for her commitment to develop and share La Maestra’s grassroots, innovative and scalable Circle of Care™ model, a holistic approach to addressing the health and wellbeing needs of these emerging communities. Zara participates in many local, national and global initiatives and has formed the Circle of Care Nationwide Collaborative, with participants from many sectors in four states and growing. Her recognition includes the prestigious Community Health Leaders award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Greenlining Institute Lifetime Achievement Award; most recently, December 8, 2015 was declared “Zara Marselian Day” in the City of San Diego.
Zara is a passionate advocate and expert on the impacts of cultural diversity and social determinants of health on low income working families and people with unique needs, including immigrants and refugees; public housing residents; people who are homeless or in recovery from substance use; victims of violent crime, domestic violence and human trafficking; women, youth and older adults. Her expertise spans health care; education; cultivating successful partnerships with diverse stakeholders; and developing innovative healthcare and social service delivery models. These models include medical-legal-social services integration; telehealth; peer promotora outreach programs; economic empowerment through microlending, social enterprise and unique job training models; healing through art; and programs that engage youth and older adults.
Zara enjoys spending time with her family, sewing and painting, cooking recipes passed down through generations, and traveling. She continuously pursues education and professional development opportunities to strengthen her lifelong vocation of teaching and helping others, which began in her teenage years when she was an aide in English as a Second Language program for adults. Zara is one of few community health center leaders in the nation to become a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has a Bachelor in Psychology from San Diego State University, a Master of Arts in Organizational Development from University of Phoenix in San Diego, and recently began pursuing her doctorate in Nonprofit Leadership at the University Of San Diego.