Background
City Heights, known for its diversity, is a dense urban community of 95,000 living in approximately 6.5 square miles within San Diego. Poverty, unemployment, child obesity, asthma, and violence are some key problems this community faces.
Within the complex landscape of need, City Heights has many valuable assets: nonprofit organizations, philanthropies, and residents highly engaged in and dedicated to their community. City Heights leaders and residents have a track record of achievements, including starting New Roots Community Farm, making City Heights Farmer’s Market among the first farmers’ markets nationwide to accept food stamps, and several high-quality affordable housing developments.
City Heights Building Healthy Communities is held by Mid-City Community Advocacy Network (CAN). The mission of Mid-City CAN is to promote a safe, productive, and healthy community through the collaborative efforts of families, youth, schools, religious and cultural organizations, businesses, and public and private agencies. As part of Building Healthy Communities, Mid-City CAN supports several Momentum Teams, or issue-based workgroups: Access To Healthcare, Peace Promotion, Food Justice, Improving Transportation, Restorative Pipeline to Success, and the Youth Council.