The state of social innovation in San Diego, California is strong and growing. As the eighth largest and sixth most diverse city in the country, San Diego is home to a vibrant community of social innovators, entrepreneurs, and activists working to address a wide range of social and environmental challenges. With its mild climate (San Diego ranked No. 1 with 261 "pleasant" days per year), stunning natural beauty, proximity to major research institutions, and a flourishing life science industry, San Diego has long been a hub for technology and innovation.

In recent years, the city has seen a surge in the number of organizations focused on social and environmental issues, with many of these ventures leveraging the latest technologies and business models to tackle challenges like homelessness, food insecurity, and climate change — issues most San Diegans feel passionate about. Driving social innovation in San Diego is the city's commitment to civic engagement and community-based problem-solving. The city has committed itself to innovation with the appointment of a new position in our city government, Chief Innovation Officer, who the Kroc School had the pleasure of hosting for a discussion.

San Diego is home to a wide range of organizations, institutions, and initiatives focused on promoting social justice, civic participation, and collective action, all of whom we invite in our doors to build community. These include grassroots groups and community-based organizations, non-profits and b-corps working on issues such as affordable housing, immigration reform, and racial equity, as well as more formal institutions like San Diego Futures Foundation or the San Diego Foundation, which supports community-driven initiatives through grant-making and other forms of support.

At Spark @ USD, we're harnessing this local energy into impact through a combination of teaching, learning, knowledge generation, and ongoing engagement with pioneer social innovators and entrepreneurs. Learn more about Spark @ USD and our initiatives here. 

As the city continues to evolve and grow, we can expect to see even more exciting and innovative solutions emerging from San Diego's vibrant social innovation community, and Spark @ USD will be here to support our innovators as they embark on tackling the world's most pressing challenges.