Community HousingWorks receives national award

Non-profit affordable housing developer Community HousingWorks (CHW) was recently named a 2013 LEED for Homes Award winner by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for Kalos, an affordable-housing complex in North Park. The award recognizes projects, developers and homebuilders demonstrating outstanding leadership in residential green building. Kalos was named the USGBC’s Outstanding Affordable Project.

With more than 50 percent reductions in water use, over 70 percent in gas and electrical use and electric car-charging stations, Kalos exceeds local and national standards with its LEED elements.

“We’re glad that our partners at U.S.G.B.C. and the Home Depot provided a grant to offset the extra documentation cost of the LEED program, and are proud to be recognized nationally for the groundbreaking work CHW has been doing for years in the field of sustainability,” Anne Wilson, a senior vice president at CHW, stated in a press release.

United Way promotes summer book drive

United Way San Diego recently launched its third annual Summer Reading Book Drive to help provide bilingual summer reading for low-income children in San Diego. Running until May 15, the book drive targets reading loss seen over the summer in kids younger than 8 years old.

“Many economically disadvantaged families have little or no access to reading material when school is out, and our goal is to help remedy that by providing enjoyable, age-appropriate options,” United Way President and CEO Kevin Crawford stated in a press release.

Last year, Crawford said United Way San Diego raised over $62,000, which funded the purchase of almost 25,000 books. He hopes to surpass that number in 2014.

A donation of $20 will buy books for eight young readers. Donations can be made at UWSH.org or by texting “BOOKS” to 41444.

Application for local professional artist grant now open

The San Diego Foundation recently released its application guidelines for the 2015 Creative Catalyst Fund: Individual Artist Fellowship Program (CCF Fellowship Program), which funds local professional artists to encourage civic engagement and social change in San Diego. The Foundation will provide fellowships ranging from $10 – 20 thousand for as many as 10 local artists.

San Diego artists working in the visual, performing, literary and media arts are eligible to apply. Artists must be at least 18 years old and not enrolled or plan to enroll in a degree program during the fellowship.

The fellowships begin on Jan. 1, 2015 and run until the year’s end. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on May 23. The application is available at sdfoundation.org/grants/grantopportunities.aspx. Interested artists are encouraged to attend an information workshop on Monday, May 12 from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at The Foundation, 2508 Historic Decatur Rd. in Point Loma. To RSVP, email Ruth Ambriz at [email protected].

Nominations for local Philanthropy Day awards open

The San Diego chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) will celebrate National Philanthropy Day (Oct. 28) by honoring eight local philanthropists. The deadline to submit nominations is 5 p.m. on May 30.

The eight categories are outstanding organizational volunteer, development/ fundraising volunteer, philanthropic organization, philanthropic corporation, celebrity volunteer, youth/student volunteer, philanthropist and development professional.

The chosen philanthopists will be honored at AFP’s 42nd annual philanthropy awards luncheon at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel San Diego.

Visit NPD2014.org to access the online nomination process.

Coastkeeper sues San Diego County Water Authority

Non-profit waterway watchdog organization San Diego Coastkeeper recently filed a lawsuit against the San Diego County Water Authority for neglecting to adequately account for the environmental impacts of its recently approved water supply plan. The suit was filed on April 25 in the California’s Superior Court.

“We care about our water supply’s energy use because it produces greenhouse gas emissions, a primary driver of global climate change,” stated Matt O’Malley, San Diego Coastkeeper’s Waterkeeper, in a press release. “Water supply decisions based on this plan could jeopardize the health and economic viability of San Diego County by contributing to climate change impacts like sea level rise.”

In the lawsuit, Coastkeeper cited the California Environmental Quality Act, a state law requiring local water authorities to identify and address the environmental impacts of its actions.

Known as the Regional Water Facilities Optimization and Master Plan Update, the water supply plan in question dictates the county’s water usage through 2035. The plan also projects a 15 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions.

City Council committee hears minimum wage hike proposal

On Wednesday, April 30, the City Council’s Economic Development and Intergovernmental Relations (ED & IR) Committee heard Council President Todd Gloria’s proposal to allow workers five sick days per year and increase San Diego’s minimum wage to $13.09 per hour. The ED & IR Committee voted to direct the City Attorney’s Office to work with Gloria’s office in order to determine whether or not the proposal would be best moved forward as an ordinance versus a ballot proposition. An ordinance would be heard by the City Council, while San Diego voters would vote on a ballot measure. The committee will hear the proposal’s final language on June 11. If approved then, it will go on to City Council to either be placed on the November 4 ballot or approved as a city ordinance. The current minimum wage in California is $8 per hour, which will increase incrementally to $10 per hour by 2016. Gloria’s proposal would incrementally increase San Diego’s minimum wage to $13.09 by July 2017.

Little Italy revamps Kettner Nights

To celebrate the changing façade of the northern part of the neighborhood, the Little Italy Association (LIA) is launching a new quarterly event in North Little Italy: NoLI Nights. The event is designed as an opportunity for North Italy businesses to present all the culture, arts, entertainment and culinary delights hidden within one of San Diego’s best-kept secrets. Similar to Kettner Nights, NoLI Nights will feature a more diverse collection of businesses. Each quarter, visitors can stroll down the sidewalks and experience the newest, most unique events and offerings at North Little Italy galleries, restaurants, boutiques and shops. The first NoLI Nights will take place Thursday, May 15, from 6 – 9 p.m. North Little Italy is considered the area between I-5 Freeway and Pacific Hwy., with cross streets at W. Grape Street and W. Laurel Street. For more information on Little Italy and NoLI Nights, visit littleitalysd.com.

Events for National Bike Month announced

In celebration of National Bike Month, the San Diego Country Bicycle Coalition has produced a calendar of bicycle events, educational opportunities and rides for all cycling levels. The San Diego Bicycle Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to making bicycling better in San Diego through educational programs, reviewing infrastructure, and acting as a voice for bicyclists to elected officials. The first event featured was the National Bike Month kick-off on May 1, in which participants were invited to ride with the Bike Coalition from Hillcrest to Recon Environmental in Little Italy, before heading to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) building for a press conference. Other upcoming events include a Bike Fiesta on May 10, National Women’s Ride on May 11, and Bike to Work Day on May 16. To learn more about the free activities in San Diego, visit sdcbc.org.