At a rally on April 26, City Heights residents and members of the Quality of Life coalition called on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to prioritize mass transit projects before it asks voters to support a raise in the county sales tax. The coalition represents more than 20 community-based, regional organizations and 150,000 San Diego residents.

Community leaders urged SANDAG to prioritize funding for projects that promote clean air, better transit, good jobs, and no-cost youth bus passes.

Tears streaming down her face, she looked out at the crowd. “We have a single income household. I have to choose between paying bills, buying groceries, and buying bus passes for my kids,” said Iliana Pacheco, mother of two high school students in City Heights. Her oldest son used the free Youth Opportunity Pass through Mid-City Community Advocacy Network in order to stay on the football, baseball, and track teams.

“If he didn’t have the bus pass, he wouldn’t be able to go to all of the practices and participate in school functions. My son even used the bus pass to go to his homecoming dance and ASB ball. It kept him off the streets, out of trouble, and home safe when I couldn’t get him after school,” said Pacheco. Unfortunately, Pacheco’s son lost his bus pass when his wallet was stolen, and he hasn’t been able to replace it. Now, he cannot go to practice.

This story was echoed by many people at the “Get on the Bus” meeting at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on November 12. The idea was to raise awareness of the lack of transportation for students and ask leaders to pledge their help. Partners in this effort include: Mid-City CAN, Justice Overcoming Boundaries, The Cleveland National Forest Foundation, Youth Activists for Change, the MAAC Project, SEIU-USWW, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, the North Bay Organizing project, Genesis, Gameliel of California, the National Gameliel Network, Urban Habitat, Partnership for the Advancement of new Americans, Clairemont Lutheran Church, and Capital Region Organizing Project. These organizations gathered from around the county to hear these stories and give their support.

School discipline recently grabbed national attention when a cell phone video surfaced showing a white male police officer shove a female student of color, flipping her over in her desk, then dragging the student across the classroom floor with considerable force.

“There is no justification whatsoever for treating a child like this,” said Victoria Middleton, Executive director for the South Carolina branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. “Regardless of the reason for the officer’s actions, such egregious use of force against young people who are sitting in their classrooms is outrageous. School should be a place to learn and grow, not a place to be brutalized.”

This issue was taken up multiple times at the 2015 Equity Summit in Los Angeles, leading to discussion on how effective punishment is in schools. Alan Obregon and Phuong Pham attended the summit with Mid City Community Advocacy Network’s Peace Promotion Momentum Team. The two students attend Crawford Law Academy and are active advocates for Restorative Justice: an alternative to the current school justice system.

Students, teachers, staff, administrators, and concerned community members want to help speed up the slow implementation of Restorative Justice in San Diego schools. Members of Mid-City CAN's Peace Promotion Momentum Team (PPMT) made their case in front of the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) School Board meeting on May 24.

Team members requested that the community be allowed to view a draft of the Restorative Practices Implementation Plan the school district is currently writing. They want to be able to provide community feedback and input.

City Heights' residents shared their personal stories of struggle and triumph with a crowd of more than 400 decision makers on February 26 at the Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices Summit.  The day-long meeting is part of an ongoing effort by Mid-City Community Advocacy Network's Peace Promotion Momentum Team and its many partners to educate those involved in the criminal justice system on the movement of restorative justice.

"Back in 2009 folks came together and they said there has to be something different because so many kids in City Heights are getting caught up in the system and want to heal; it's time to heal," said Diana Ross, Executive Director at Mid-City CAN.

The crowd went wild: hooting and hollering its way up the isles and out of the school board auditorium, leaving the room nearly empty so the meeting could continue while the celebration went full blast out in the lobby. Smiles and hugs were interrupted with songs and chants, the elation of a milestone reached after years of hard work.

“This is a huge step for inclusion, equality, and overall fairness,” said Amina Mohammed, Food Justice Momentum Team Member.