Artists + Practitioners + Organizations

Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Inc. is a community-based nonprofit working to increase the capacity of the underserved communities of the Imperial Valley and intertwined regions facing socio-economic and environmental injustices, health care access disparities, and institutional discrimination.  The organization builds the capacity of these communities from the ground up, supporting those facing injustices, challenges, lack of educational opportunities, poor infrastructure, and lack of affordable and adequate housing by using culturally competent and relevant organizing and advocacy methods.

The Urban Collaborative Project CDC serves the historically redlined community of Southeast San Diego through community capacity-building efforts to connect residents to upstream services and resources through action teams and strategic partnerships between community members and key stakeholders. UCP empowers residents to identify their neighborhood issues and address challenges. Teams create action plans, outreach, and solutions to address disparities focusing on health, housing, transportation, art, and infrastructure. This community healing process builds capacity by encouraging,  training, and supporting residents to identify and solve community issues together.

Best STEP Forward is a nonprofit serving the Imperial Valley area dedicated to providing an inclusive, neurodiverse environment where children with disabilities can learn and thrive. S.T.E.P. stands for Sports, Theatre, Expression, and Perseverance. The organization hosts various events throughout the year that incorporate sports and artistic expression.