Portside Community Academy Invites Applicants for Fall 2024

Free Educational Opportunity for Adult Residents Includes Bus, Boat Tours of Waterfront

The Port of San Diego invites residents to sign up for the next cohort of the Portside Community Academy, an educational program aimed at building deeper connections with portside communities. This is a unique opportunity to explore innovations in the maritime industry that are helping improve human health and quality of life on and around San Diego Bay.

Sessions will be offered in both English and Spanish and begin in September 2024. Selected participants will be notified and provided with the schedule to confirm their attendance.

Following its launch in 2023, the Academy has graduated 55 participants from its structured educational program. Designed for adult community members, this five-session program was developed by subject-matter experts within the Port and covers various aspects of the Port's clean air and electrification projects, focusing on impacts on human health, quality of life, and technological advancements in the maritime industry. It includes a bus tour of the marine terminals and a narrated boat tour of San Diego Bay.

"We are excited to welcome new participants to the Portside Community Academy," said Chairman Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. "This is a wonderful opportunity for residents to engage with our community, learn about our ongoing clean air and electrification initiatives, and become ambassadors for positive change. We encourage everyone interested to sign up and be part of this enriching experience."

This educational program is designed with topics of special interest to residents of portside communities, which encompass parts of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights and National City; along with communities in Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, and San Diego. The Portside Community Academy is a pioneering cross-departmental effort, representing the Port's dedication to becoming a "Port of Firsts." It aligns with the Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) and efforts to be an early adopter of zero-emissions technologies for ships, cranes, tugboats, and trucks, while also addressing the specific needs and concerns of environmental justice communities, including community education.

Participants receive a certificate of completion and the opportunity to be recognized at a Board of Port Commissioners meeting.

Feedback is continuously collected from participants. Recent graduates of the program have provided these comments:

"I enjoyed the discussions with the speakers after their presentations. I liked the opportunity to hear from my peers in the program and their diverse experiences."

"The information learned at the Academy made me more well-versed in Port issues and projects. These sessions will certainly help in my professional life."

"It was especially interesting to hear from people working on our Port who have firsthand experience in operations."

For more information and to sign up on the interest list for the Portside Community Academy, please visit portofsandiego.org/academy.