San Diego News

by Rose Davis

San Diego County is the home of a timeless people who have a harmonious relationship with nature. It is this connection that is protected and deemed sacred by elders and leaders who work to maintain this sanctified unification.

Economic conditions within a capitalist system has opened the tribes and reservations surrounding San Diego County to business enterprises that have allowed the people to thrive economically and to develop a political power structure. Economic empowerment fueled by the Gaming Industry is a double edged sword. Many cultural purists resent the intrusion of the greed driven enterprise on their sacred land.

As Chairman Anthony Pico points out, “although gaming has been a great boost we should not take it for granted. It may not always be here. We need other economic tools in order to survive with dignity.” Indian Tourism supports the economic vitality and growth of sustainable enterprises.

Tourism contributes to the well being of indigenous peoples and the preservation of valuable assets: lands, culture, heritage and language. The aim of Indian Tourism is to strengthen the capacity of American Indian tribal communities and individual entrepreneurs to develop enterprises participating in the global tourism market. Entrepreneurs and business oriented people within the Indian community have been caucusing and sharing ideas and plans to develop the tourism market.

Following the lead of the Nevada Conference on Native American Tourism, a conference is being planned to pull together all people and enterprises who might be interested.

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists a people “traveling or staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.”

Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2011 there were over 983 million international tourist arrivals worldwide, representing a growth of 4.6%. Tourism brings in large amounts of income in payment for goods and services available. It also creates opportunities for employment in the service sector of the economy, including transportation, airlines, cruise ships, taxicabs, casinos, entertainment venues and shopping malls.

Europeans are fascinated by American Indians; several states (AZ & NM) have reservation-based activities to attract such tourists. Furthermore, other states (FL) have driving tours to learn about Indian History. In San Diego County we have 14 populated reservations. If we could develop a bus/driving tour or an ecotourism activity that combines different places/activities on different reservations, we could attract Asian as well as European tourists, history buffs, and others fascinated by Indians. This will require discussions and meetings with tribal councils of all the reservations to learn of their concerns and creative ideas. The Council of American Indian Organizations which represents San Diego County Urban Indians who come from tribes abound the United States can add their perspectives.

Additionally the cultural exchange and coalition building that can result with networking with other indigenous communities is exciting. Judith Meeks CEO of the San Diego Black Wall Street is working with and collaborating with associates interested in promoting African tourism.

Also Clair Carters Multi Cultural Convention Services Network, Dr. Chang and his Chinese Business Network, Karen Huff San Diego Historian can all be major contributors to the project.

Within the context of capitalism tourism is the least toxic and benign enterprise available. It offers an excellent platform for education and cultural exchange. If choreographed correctly it can be non intrusive to the culture that seeks protection from avaricious tourists while providing an answer to Chairman Pico’s desire to push us toward a sustainable self sufficiency.

San Diego – Hillel of San Diego, a local non-profit organization that provides opportunities for college students to participate in Jewish community, will break ground on Sunday, April 28, 2013 on a new LEED certified building to serve as the center for Jewish life at San Diego State University (SDSU). The Melvin Garb Hillel Center, which will open in early 2014, will be the first modern Hillel facility in San Diego.

The lead gift of $2.5 million was generously donated by the Melvin Garb Foundation, which supports Jewish causes throughout San Diego County. The Garb Foundation, along with 50 other individuals and foundations, have contributed more than $7 million toward the $9 million campaign so far. Opportunities are still available to dedicate spaces in the building.

“This project is an important investment in the community,” said Stephen Cohen, President of the Melvin Garb Foundation. “It will ensure that Jewish students at SDSU will have a place to thrive and connect with their Jewish heritage for decades to come.”

“This is an exciting moment for the San Diego Jewish community,” said Herb Solomon, an alumnus of SDSU, past president and longtime member of the board of directors of Hillel of San Diego. Solomon has led the effort to raise more than $7 million to date to build the new center.  “It is a testament to the strength of Hillel’s lay leadership, professional staff, students and the San Diego Jewish community that Hillel at SDSU has thrived during the past 30 years despite its inadequate facilities. The new center will provide a permanent space and a vital hub for Jewish students at SDSU - a place in which they can take enormous pride.”

Hillel at SDSU has endured tired, cramped, and dilapidated quarters for decades - most recently a 1,700 square-foot house built in the 1950s that leaked in the rain.

“It has been a long-held dream for many SDSU alumni and community leaders to build a new home for Hillel,” said Jackie Trolley, Hillel’s Campus Director at SDSU. Tolley has spent the past 34 years in her role leading the transformation of Hillel at SDSU into a vibrant organization. “A modern facility has been our missing piece. It’s going to make an enormous difference in programming and activities for the students.”

Finding available space for Hillel’s activities on the crowded SDSU campus is increasingly challenging. Hillel’s new facility, located just a short walk from the center of campus in the redeveloped Lindo Paseo corridor, will offer plenty of flexible space to accommodate a wide variety of activities.

The prominent architectural firm, MW Steele Group Inc. designed the 10,500 square-foot, state-of-the-art building with large modern meeting rooms, coffee bar, game area, upscale outdoor space, and a banquet room for special events served by a full kosher kitchen.
 
The project’s environmental design complies with the City’s Sustainable Building policy and has been designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. The project incorporates renewable energy in the form of solar photovoltaic panels on the roof, which will supply more than thirty percent of the on-site energy demands.

Hillel of San Diego, accredited by Hillel: the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, serves an estimated 5,000 Jewish undergraduate and graduate students at institutions of higher education across San Diego County. Students from all backgrounds are invited to participate in Jewish life on campus.  Social, cultural, educational, and community service programs provide opportunities for students to build relationships with each other and develop Jewish community. For more information, visit www.hillelsd.org.