UC San Diego Design Lab, as a lead strategic partner, was engaged by WDC 2024 to design, prototype and launch a series of Design to Action Networks on behalf of WDC 2024 and in service to the regional community, providing a foundation for the WDC 2024 Legacy Program.

Through WDC 2024 leadership, the Legacy Program and Design to Action Networks continue to gain momentum, uncover, support and promote WDC 2024 Impact Projects that will potentially create meaningful and transformative change in our region.

Researchers, academic, business, community and design leaders from across the San Diego Tijuana region will work together to support and bring impact projects to life. These are the Design to Action Networks. In 2024 and beyond, Design to Action Networks will guide projects in measuring their impact, sharing their progress with the public and gathering feedback to ensure they are responsive to the broader community every step of the way.

Cordoba Corporation, a nationally recognized firm, presents an innovative solution to address border congestion and enhance mobility in the Cali Baja region. The Binational Transit Extension (BTX) aims to extend the existing LRT Trolley Blue Line from San Ysidro, California, to Tijuana, Mexico, providing a groundbreaking cross-border transit option. This project, selected by SANDAG’s Request for Innovative Concept, incorporates a holistic approach to modernize mobility, reduce border wait times, and foster socio-economic benefits for the binational community.

Submitted by Jacqueline Reynoso, Cordoba Corporation

This collaboration brings together over 60 organizations, including institutions, NGOs, and individuals from Mexico and the U.S., united in a shared vision. These signatories have committed to a shared vision of ‘Re-imagining our River’, advocating for the restoration of the Tijuana River and its basin. Focused on ecosystem restoration, recreation opportunities, and efficient water management, the project addresses water pollution from 34 micro-watersheds.

Submitted by Eduardo Antonio Sánchez Castro, Iniciativa Río Tijuana

Partnering with an Indigenous Advisory Board and the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), The Museum of US is undertaking a 10-week design challenge to reinterpret the façade through a decolonial lens. The exhibit aims to represent the San Diego Tijuana region by acknowledging its unceded ancestral homeland status of the sovereign Kumeyaay Nation. By addressing the complex colonial history and building on trust with Kumeyaay partners, we strive to honor their requests for a more inclusive and respectful narrative, fostering a deeper understanding of our shared history.

Submitted by Micah Parzen, Museum of US

Bebé Bus is a mobile initiative delivering recreational activities and Child Development talks to infants and toddlers (0-3 years) and their parents in Tijuana’s migrant shelters. Funded by UNICEF in collaboration with PILA Global, the project aims to enhance secure attachment and child development in vulnerable conditions through play, exploration, and creativity during 50-minute intervention sessions. Additionally, humanitarian packages including diapers and wipes are provided to support the babies and their families.

Submitted by Lea Castillo, Centro 32.

Discover the Bay to Park Paseo, a 1.7-mile walk from San Diego Bay to Balboa Park. This volunteer-driven project aims to create a clean, safe, and memorable pedestrian experience. Initially proposed by urban planner John Nolen over a century ago, this project now passes through key city landmarks, including the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge and Petco Park. The Bay to Park Paseo showcases the transformative power of design in connecting iconic city destinations.

Submitted by Urban Interventions & Chloe Lauer.

The Transfronterizo Institute bridges borders, empowering Tijuana and San Diego students for a unique educational journey. Focused on expanding career opportunities and fostering a unified binational region, the institute aims to graduate students from a 4-year university, addressing educational disparities and contributing to workforce development. The impact is transformative—creating an integrated Tijuana and San Diego with reduced poverty, homelessness, and immigration law impact. The Transfronterizo Institute is shaping a united and prosperous binational community.

Submitted by Mitzi Salgado, TransFronterizo Institute

The C Street Initiative is a visionary urban transformation project strategically using design to revitalize Downtown San Diego’s C Street corridor. By prioritizing effective infrastructure, placemaking, and community engagement, the initiative aims to create a vibrant, inclusive urban space. Collaborating with local designers and businesses from San Diego-Tijuana, it celebrates the region’s cultural diversity. The project anticipates economic benefits, social vibrancy, and a renewed sense of community pride, emphasizing a holistic approach to positive urban change.

Submitted by Joel Hermosillo, City Center BID | Downtown San Diego Partnership

A series of Public Convenings to discuss the future of Friendship Park, a binational park located at the western end of the US-Mexico border. For generations people have gathered here to meet up with friends and family “across the line.” While this historic location remains fully open and joyously well-utilized in Mexico, the U.S. side is marred by a system of double walls erected by the Department of Homeland Security.

Submitted by Jim Brown.