I’ve learned that raising your voice is very important and that the old saying about unity, ‘In unity lies strength and sharing of the message’ is essential for getting everyone the help they need,” Yolanda shared.

“When my husband left us early in the pandemic, I was so afraid…”

Norma tugged at her bracelet then continued: “I thought my world might fall apart, or maybe it already had. It was a dark place. One day, I simply made the decision to believe in myself, to believe I could make it through this. So I went out and bought this bracelet.”

“I’m a stay at home mom, but I’m much more with this work in the community. I feel so proud of what we’re doing,” Lucero shared.

Someone was crying.

It’s not a sound we typically hear around our office, but the quiet sobs were unmistakable.

Friends, meet Lizeth Soto!

In 2013, Lizeth went all in on a day spa business right in the heart of downtown San Diego.

Friends, please join us in welcoming Haneen Mohamed to the team!

A recent graduate of UC San Diego’s Urban Studies & Planning program, Haneen received “Best Thesis” for her research on historically Black mosques for placemaking in Black Muslim communities.

“I know what it takes to get things done and to organize the community because I’ve done it, and that’s why I’m sharing my story. Many are struggling to pay their rent.”

This is Iris, and she is incredible.

“He wasn’t just a unique community member in City Heights, he was unique in the whole region.”

That’s a common response when you ask people about Bill Tall, who passed away last month after a long battle with cancer.

This is John, the owner of a new mobile bike repair business called Stay True Cycleworks. As many small businesses struggle to stay solvent under the pandemic, John’s business is booming.

Alexis knows how it feels to be forced out of City Heights. She’s been displaced.

“I remember the landlord talking about how he was going to make more money and that would mean us moving out,” she recalled.

Miriam served her country, she worked two jobs, she's a full time student, she never missed a rent payment, but the weight of this pandemic is threatening to break everything she's worked so hard to build for herself and her kids.

“For me, I got my first glimpse of promotora work watching my auntie. After a long hard day of work, she would take the time to connect with neighbors and friends and check in on them. She often found ways to connect people with the resources or contacts they needed at that time.”

This is Esperanza, a pillar of our community and one of the promotora healthcare community advocates we're supporting in the battle against COVID-19.

“I love getting involved in new things, trying new things and just exploring. I’ve been in many clubs and organizations, just trying to get an idea of what I like to do. I really want to keep growing as a person, ya know?”

“From the get-go, my parents—being immigrants—instilled in me the value of hard work,” Erick shared. “I’ve worked hard, and now I’m set to graduate valedictorian of my high school.”

Like so many young people in City Heights, Hana knows the struggle, hustle, and resilient hard work of a new immigrant here. Her parents taught her the value of education, and now she is going to college and majoring in aerospace engineering.

“My family immigrated to the United States from Vietnam when I was three years old. I still remember landing in LAX...”

Thang is one of the winners of our City Heights Legacy Scholarship, and he has big plans. He worked hard and overcame plenty of obstacles to reach this point. He seems happy, but he remembers hard times.

“As a child my father would take me to the San Diego Waste landfill to show me the negative impact waste has on the environment. Despite his broken English and third grade education, he motivated me to become an advocate for sustainable changes in my community.”

From an Ethiopian refugee camp to being a student at Mira Costa College, Roda continues to face challenges, but she refuses to allow anything to interfere with her goals of graduating from college.

Last week, a friend and community member named Tranisha Dangerfield passed away. Here are just a few of the fond memories, tributes, and words of encouragement our community has for her. Rest in power, dear friend!