| ICF
to Release “Blurred Borders”: A report highlighting
cross-border issues in the San Diego-Tijuana region
March 22, 2004
The International Community Foundation
(ICF) will release Blurred Borders, a report highlighting
cross-border impacts and solutions in the San Diego-Tijuana
region. The report’s release is scheduled on March
23, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Joan Kroc Center
for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego (5998
Alcala Park, San Diego, CA. 92110) at an event co-sponsored
by the USD Trans-Border Institute; San Diego Grantmakers
and LEAD San Diego.
Underwritten by the Rockefeller Foundation and the California
Endowment, Blurred Borders identifies emerging trans-boundary
issues for the San Diego-Tijuana region in the areas of
urban planning, education, health, human services, environment
and the arts. The report also features existing cross-border
collaborations among San Diego and Tijuana non-profit organizations.
Most importantly, the report explores opportunities for
binational civic action through increased philanthropy,
volunteerism, public advocacy and increased civic engagement.
Blurred Borders features profiles of area trans-border
and trans-national residents; the results of a binational,
bilingual perception survey of San Diego and Tijuana residents;
and a survey of twelve area migrant-serving organizations.
Among the report’s key findings include:
• There is consensus that the border matters. Over
68% of San Diego and Tijuana resident surveyed believe the
border has a positive net impact on their community while
14.5% of San Diegans and 11.2% of Tijuanenses surveyed believe
the border has a negative impact.
• Cross-border transit is stronger than ever. Over
90% of San Diegans surveyed visited Tijuana at least once,
while over 55% visited during the last year. In turn, over
33% of Tijuanenses surveyed have never visited
San Diego. Among those Tijuanenses that have visited San
Diego, over 87.7% have visited in the last
year.
• San Diego and Tijuana residents care about the same
things. San Diegan and Tijuanense residents identified the
same three top issues of concern – quality of education,
health care, and jobs and the economy.
• Need for collaboration, consensus, and cross-border
dialogue on terrorism and homeland security. Tijuanenses
differ with San Diegans on the importance of homeland security
and the threat of terrorism, even though public safety remains
a preoccupation for most Tijuana residents.
• Urban sprawl and expanded regional growth is further
blurring the borders between San Diego and Tijuana to adjoining
counties (Imperial, Orange, Riverside) and municipalities
(Tecate and Rosarito) on both sides of the border, requiring
expanded regional solutions to emerging issues in education,
health, human services and the environment.
A full copy of the report is available after Tuesday, March
23, 2004 on www.icfdn.org
For a full press kit and a copy of the report, please contact
ICF at 858-677-2910
About the International Community Foundation (ICF): ICF
is San Diego-based public charity committed to providing
leadership and strategically focused guidance to U.S. donors
who want to contribute to worthwhile non-profit groups and
other charitable organizations throughout Asia and the Americas
in the areas of education, health, human services, community
development, the environment and arts and culture. During
2003 (FY), ICF made grants totaling $2.6 million with over
70% of this funding benefiting non profits and charitable
causes along the Baja California peninsula.
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