City Heights Economic Recovery and Resilience Agenda
Pueblo Studio, in partnership with LISC San Diego, led the development of the City Heights Inclusive Economic Recovery and Resilience Agenda through an extensive collaborative of local community-based organizations, public agencies, regional workforce and small business development partners, philanthropic institutions, and academic researchers. Central to this effort was a deliberate process of narrative weaving—gathering individual stories from business owners and residents through multilingual online surveys and in-depth storytelling sessions, and integrating these firsthand accounts into a cohesive, community-rooted narrative.
These stories did more than illustrate needs—they shaped the plan’s priorities. By elevating the lived experiences behind the data, Pueblo Studio ensured that the community’s own words guided decisions about how future programs, investments, and resources should be designed, funded, and delivered for small business owners and residents of City Heights.
Grounded in both qualitative narratives and quantitative demographic and economic data, the resulting three-year strategic action plan builds on longstanding community resilience efforts while identifying new, actionable opportunities for equitable economic growth. The plan served as the blueprint for LISC San Diego’s local work plan and investment strategy and helps coordinate the efforts of nonprofits and public agencies working in the neighborhood.
Ultimately, this Agenda transforms individual stories into a shared roadmap—one that addresses the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, meets the evolving needs of City Heights entrepreneurs and families, and directs resources toward a more inclusive and resilient economic future.
Services Provided
Story-based Strategy
Award of Merit: Economic Planning and Development (2021)
California Chapter, American Planning Association
Economic Development (2021)
San Diego Chapter, American Planning Association
Advancing Diversity and Social Change (2021)
San Diego Chapter, American Planning Association
