More than 300 civic leaders gathered at UC San Diego Park & Market on May 12 to launch OneSD, a regional coalition focused on rebuilding trust, strengthening connection and solving shared challenges together.
The event received coverage from Times of San Diego, which also syndicated the story through MSN, expanding the reach of the OneSD launch beyond the San Diego region.
Led by the Burnham Center for Community Advancement, the kickoff brought together representatives from more than 50 organizations across San Diego County. The gathering marked the beginning of a broader effort to strengthen the region’s community fabric and create more opportunities for collaboration across differences.
Turning Concern Into Action
BCCA President and CEO Tad Seth Parzen opened the conversation by highlighting both the challenges facing San Diego and the opportunity to address them.
The OneSD Baseline Report presented data on declining trust, rising hate crimes and growing threats against public officials. But the research also pointed to a strong foundation for action: San Diegans want to participate, connect and help make their communities better.
“I think we’re better than that.” Parzen used those words to challenge San Diego to respond to division with collaboration and action.
Andrew Blum, BCCA senior program director and OneSD leader, reinforced the opportunity. “San Diego has real problems. But there’s also real potential to address those problems.”
A Coalition Built for Collaboration
OneSD brings together organizations from across sectors and communities. Early coalition members included organizations working in social services, philanthropy, education, culture, business and civic engagement.
The kickoff also featured a conversation with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who shared lessons from OneOKC, a civic initiative that has worked for nearly a decade to strengthen civic involvement in his community.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria closed the gathering with a call for civil dialogue and common-sense solutions.
The message was clear: San Diego can strengthen its future when people and organizations work across differences toward shared goals.
OneSD: Stronger Together
The kickoff marked a starting point, not an endpoint.
OneSD now includes more than 100 organizations working to strengthen trust, connection and collaboration across the San Diego region.
The Times of San Diego coverage captured the urgency and opportunity behind the initiative. Through syndication on MSN, the story also introduced OneSD to a broader audience.
Read the coverage: Times of San Diego — “Burnham Center, civic leaders kick off ‘OneSD’ coalition to revitalize San Diego.”
Learn more about OneSD: Explore how the coalition is bringing San Diegans together to build a stronger, more connected region.
OneSD is stronger when more people take part. Join the conversation and help build what comes next.