Port of San Diego Graduates Two More Cohorts of the Award-Winning Portside Community Academy
Contact: Josh Kellems, 619.642.1153, jkellems@portofsandiego.org
The Port of San Diego has graduated two more cohorts of the award-winning Portside Community Academy. The Academy hosted two spring 2025 courses, one in English and one in Spanish, which culminated in a joint graduation ceremony during a boat tour of San Diego Bay this week. The Academy is now accepting applications for fall 2025. Classes in the fall will also include a bus and boat tour of Port of San Diego maritime operations.
The Portside Community Academy is an educational program aimed at building deeper connections between the Port of San Diego and portside communities. The public is given a unique opportunity to explore innovations in the maritime industry that are helping improve human health and quality of life on and around San Diego Bay.
“The Port of San Diego’s guiding theme this year is ‘Progress Anchored in People,’ and the graduates of the Portside Community Academy represent this vision perfectly,” said Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “We are so proud of and grateful to our graduates for taking the time out of their busy schedules to learn more about the Port’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and improve air quality. As alumni, they now join a growing network of influential community ambassadors, prepared to share how we are using innovative technology to enhance the quality of life for all around San Diego Bay.”
Since its launch in 2023, the Academy has graduated nearly 150 participants from its structured educational program. Designed for adult community members, this five-session program was developed by Port subject-matter experts. The curriculum explores the Port's clean air and electrification projects, focusing on impacts to human health, quality of life, and technological advancements in the maritime industry. It includes a bus tour of the Port’s marine terminals and a narrated boat tour of San Diego Bay as well.
This educational program is designed with topics of special interest to residents of portside communities, which encompass parts of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights and National City, along with communities in Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, and San Diego. The Portside Community Academy is a pioneering cross-departmental effort, representing the Port's dedication to becoming a “Port of Firsts.” It aligns with the Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) and efforts to be an early adopter of zero-emissions technologies for ships, cranes, tugboats, and trucks, while also addressing the specific needs and concerns of environmental justice communities, including community education.
Participants receive a certificate of completion, commemorative lapel pin, and the opportunity to be recognized at a Board of Port Commissioners meeting.
For more information and to sign up on the interest list for the Portside Community Academy, please visit portofsandiego.org/academy.
About THE Port of San Diego
The Port of San Diego serves the people of California as a specially created district, balancing multiple uses on 34 miles along San Diego Bay spanning five cities. Collecting no tax dollars, the Port manages a diverse portfolio to generate revenues that support vital public services and amenities.
The Port champions Maritime, Waterfront Development, Public Safety, Experiences and Environment, all focused on enriching the relationship people and businesses have with our dynamic waterfront. From cargo and cruise terminals to hotels and restaurants, from marinas to museums, from 23 public parks to countless events, the Port contributes to the region’s prosperity and remarkable way of life on a daily basis.