As part of the Knowledge to Action series, this episode features two leaders from Ocean Discovery Institute, Board Member Vanessa Sandoval, and Carla Camacho, Manager of Business Development. They discuss their previous experience with the Institute and how getting involved at a young age helped shape their careers in adulthood. Vanessa and Carla discuss the mission of Ocean Discovery Institute, and the commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion while inspiring the next generation of...

The oral history episode series continues with architect and former C-3 President, Fred Marks. Kate Goodson sits down with Fred to talk about evidence-based design and the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, including how humans are affected by architecture, building scale, and urban design. They also cover the critical role C-3 played in the beginning of downtown San Diego’s redevelopment in the late 1980s and ’90s, and how we can do better in the future knowing now how cities evolve...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, Executive Director Phillip Musegaas and former Executive Director and managing attorney, Matt O’Malley, from San Diego Coastkeeper, discuss how their organization uses a combination of science, advocacy, education, and community engagement to address various water-related issues. They talk with host Jen Whitelaw about Coastkeeper’s history and efforts to restore drinkable water to San Diego, as well as the challenges they face and work to...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw is accompanied by Clarissa Anderson to discuss the topic of coastline and wetlands. Clarissa Anderson is a member of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS), one of the 11 regions that collaborate with the United States Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). Clarissa talks about SCCOOS’s origin story and their connection with Imperial Beach, what makes their history unique, and how to get involved...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw is joined by Theresa Talley, Scientist and Extension Specialist at California Sea Grant. Theresa talks about using science to advance the field of ecology, address coastal environmental issues, train tomorrow’s leaders, and raise awareness of our local ecosystems. She talks more with Jen about how Sea Grant bridges the gap between academia and policy, the four main pillars behind Sea Grant’s mission, and how we can...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw welcomes Angela Kemsley and Mary Liesegang of WILDCOAST. Along with their international team, Angela and Mary are working to conserve coastal and marine ecosystems and address climate change through natural solutions. They speak with Jen about WILDCOAST’s mission to establish and manage marine protected areas, restore blue carbon ecosystems, and engage communities in the stewardship of healthy, thriving oceans, coastlines,...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw welcomes Zach Plopper, Senior Environmental Director at the Surfrider Foundation. Zach is a coastal marine conservationist by trade, surfer, and ocean lover at heart. Zach walks us through his career journey in advocacy-driven coastal and marine conservation, including his previous work at WILDCOAST where he helped California significantly strengthen its network of marine protected areas. At C-3, Zach is the Chair of the...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw welcomes Mirle Rabinowitz-Bussell, Ph.D., and Leslie Lewis, Ph.D. from Homelessness Hub, two of the great minds leading the collaboration between Urban Studies and Planning and Geographical Information Systems at UC San Diego. Mirle and Leslie discuss Homelessness Hub’s use of data and visualization tools to support research and policy development for the unsheltered in San Diego County, some of the misconceptions about...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw welcomes Ricardo Flores, Executive Director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) San Diego. Ricardo talks about the complex work LISC does throughout its extensive network of investment-based collaborations that support San Diego’s underserved neighborhoods. He discusses how LISC stands behind its mission in many ways, including training community development professionals, and gives actionable information about...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw welcomes Diego Velasco, Principal and Founder of Citythinkers, an integrated and multi-disciplinary planning, urban design, and research firm based in San Diego, California. Diego shares how he got into design and planning, and how his love and pride for San Diego translates into all the projects he takes on. Diego discusses the big issues in San Diego’s urban core, how our needs differ from the needs of other cities, and...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw speaks with Stephen Russell, current President and CEO of San Diego Housing Federation and former Executive Director of the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement District. He sheds some light on the important role of Business Improvement Districts, including supporting economic development activities and promoting city growth and community engagement. Steven talks about The Boulevard’s successful growth due to the BID and...

In this episode of the Knowledge to Action series, host Jen Whitelaw speaks with Developer Rammy Cortez of Rammy Urban Infill. Rammy speaks about his work specializing in creating attractive infill residential micro-unit communities in urban walkabout areas. Rammy discusses his belief in housing people and not cars, and how San Diego can better build efficient dwelling units that help all members of the community. Rammy talks about the three worlds of urban planning, environment, and...

Welcome to The Finest City’s Knowledge to Action Series, where we interview movers and shakers covering six areas of land planning in our region: the urban core, mesas, valleys and canyons, San Diego Bay, the binational border, coastline and wetlands, and the backcountry. In this episode, host Jen Whitelaw speaks with urban planner Suchi Lukes who also spearheads C-3’s Urban Core Knowledge Action Network. Suchi talks about her commitment to bringing together local thought leaders from...

This week we welcome former C-3 President, Bill Anderson. Bill walks us down his career path to become a nationally recognized urban planner and also discusses timely issues like transit-oriented development, smart density, and mixed-use communities. He also discusses San Diego’s legacy of unjust exclusionary housing policies, and how we can ensure inclusion at every level of development, moving forward.   Timestamps: [1:55] How did Bill’s interest in urban planning and cities originate?...

This week, we welcome former C-3 board member Andrew Spurlock. Andy first talks about his move to San Diego in 1975 to jumpstart his career in landscape architecture, after he read Temporary Paradise and was inspired by its vision. Andy talks about a few of the important changes he’s seen in San Diego in over four decades, and how C-3 can look forward to the future and effectively protect our region’s open space with limited funding. Andy also discusses how C-3’s humanizing perspective can...

In this episode, we feature retired SANDAG planner and longtime C-3 member, Mike McLaughlin. He discusses how transportation is linked to responsible land-use decisions, and why many of the planning challenges from 40 years ago are still relevant today. Mike talks about the Smart Growth Movement, and where we go from here to best prepare for the future and get the next generations on board. Mike also reflects on how we might break that impasse between meeting our housing needs and protecting...

This week, we welcome Don Wood to share his story of falling in love with San Diego, one surf session at a time. Don discusses a few of his key takeaways from working with SDG&E, the Community Action Partnership, and C-3. He talks about the climate of natural resource management in San Diego in the 1980s, and a few of the battles still being fought today. Don shares a few of C-3’s biggest accomplishments that he is most proud of, and what we need to move forward with even more strength...

We welcome back longtime C-3 member and director Diane Coombs. Diane shares her journey to San Diego from growing up on a farm, and the lessons it taught her about the environment and cultivating a relationship with nature. Then, Diane talks about the history of managed growth and smart growth in San Diego, from open space preservation to densification. Diane talks about the biggest battles of the 1970s, how we can teach the younger generations to learn from the past, and how certain issues...

This week we welcome Phil Pryde, San Diego State University Professor and self-proclaimed “bird guy.” Phil talks with us about regional planning in the 1970s and his tenure on C-3’s board, which coincided with the release of Temporary Paradise. Phil reflects on the passage of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, how attitudes towards conservation and growth management have evolved, and the fight against the Mission Valley Flood channel. Phil also speaks to the climate crisis and the...

This week, we had a chat with Angeles Leira, former C-3 board member. During her 30-year tenure as city planner, she experienced a diversity of challenges corresponding to massive growth in suburban development in the region. She shares how she came to live in San Diego from Spain, and why she got involved with C-3. Angeles gives us an inside look at the city's planning department in the 1970s, and C-3’s influence on the practice of urban planning, as well as notable battles in the fight for...

This week, Kate sits down with Mike Stepner, former City Architect and long-time C3 member. Mike discusses “Temporary Paradise?” and why its quantitative approach still holds up today after being created in 1974. He and Kate discuss the relation between C3 and “Temporary Paradise?”, and how advocacy groups like C3 will continue to be a vital resource for our next generation of city architects and planners. Mike shares how specifically he feels “Temporary Paradise?” has influenced planning...

As we continue our journey through the C-3 Oral History Project, we welcome Judy Swink, a longtime C-3 champion, researcher, and librarian. Judy walks us through her early days in C-3, including how she joined amidst a battle over the location of the Naval hospital in Balboa Park. Judy also discusses how C-3 intersects many different interests, a few of the largest lessons she has learned in her work with Mission Bay Park and Beyond, and a few of her favorite takeaways from Clare Crane’s...

This week, Kate sits down with trailblazing activist Anne Hoiberg. Anne discusses her life’s work and passion, dedicated to removing systemic barriers to women’s advancement. From her tenure as a research psychologist at the Naval Health Research Center to organizing a week-long conference in Portugal sponsored by NATO, Anne takes the future of women’s opportunities very seriously. Anne talks about the League of Women Voters, why all voices need to be heard, and how the League was uniquely...

In this episode, Todd Pittman sits down with Diane Powers, a native San Diegan and local champion of cultural tourism. Diane, an accomplished design professional and entrepreneur, shares how she came to preside over Bazaar Del Mundo, a grouping of colorful shops and restaurants in Old Town San Diego. She shares how her interest in art and design started at an early age and credits her growth as an artist from studying under Lloyd and Ilse Ruocco.

In this week’s episode, we continue our journey through C3’s oral history interviews, in collaboration with the San Diego History Center. Former C3 President Kate Goodson spoke with renowned San Diego artist James Hubbell at his unique home in Santa Isabel. James is the principal creative force behind Ilan-Lael. We speak to James about becoming an internationally renowned artist, poet, designer, and teacher, along with his reverence for nature’s gifts and using materials from the natural...