E4E In The News
No Justice, No Peace
Encinitas Advocate (encinitasadvocate.com) August 10, 2021
Encinitas4Equality, a grassroots organization aiming to work in allyship with the BIPOC community in North County, held its summer “FUNdraiser” Aug. 9 at Viewpoint Brewing in Del Mar.
NBC 7 – San Diego (nbcsandiego.com) July 22, 2021
With the sun beating at her back, Felicia Booker bent over and tended to a young, humble garden in Carlsbad. “Oh, my God, this is wonderful,” Booker said with a smile. Booker represents a group called Black Girls Who Garden, but they aren’t the only ones with their hands in the dirt. “We have to work together, otherwise we’re going to end up in the same position we’re in now 40 years from now,” said Mali Woods-Drake, president and co-founder of Encinitas4Equality.
KGTV – ABC10 News – San Diego (10news.com) July 2, 2021
A new community garden in San Diego’s North County is more than just a place where fruits and vegetables will grow — it’s a resource hub to connect neighbors, activists, and volunteers. This week, the new nonprofit Encinitas4Equality held one of its first events since opening its new space off North Coast Highway.
Encinitas Advocate (encinitasadvocate.com) April 26, 2021
Encinitas4Equality receives nonprofit status
The effective date of the organization’s nonprofit status is July 24, 2020, enabling tax-exempt donations made from that date forward. For filing, Encinitas 4 Equality’s employer identification number (EIN) 85-2480044.
Encinitas Advocate (encinitasadvocate.com) April 22, 2021
Encinitas teen Joy Ruppert is set on doing her part to make the world a better place. For her that means helping end racism in all its forms. Already the 16-year-old has made her mark. Joy and classmate Aya Jaffer lead the youth committee of Encinitas4Equality, a group that fosters racial diversity and equity in Encinitas and neighboring communities.
Encinitas Advocate (encinitasadvocate.com) February 13, 2021
In effort to make Encinitas a more welcoming place for all types of people, the city will form an Equity Committee to offer advice on a wide range of issues, the City Council unanimously decided Wednesday, Feb. 10. “I’m really looking forward to having these difficult conversations,” Hinze said, mentioning that she wants the group to build on the knowledge gained by the Encinitas4Equality community organization, which formed last year.
Encinitas Advocate (encinitasadvocate.com) February 13, 2021
Encinitas4Equality, a grassroots organization that emerged in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, will host a virtual benefit concert in honor of Black History Month on Feb. 27 at 5:45 p.m. “This event is kind of the culmination of the last nine months while really taking time to celebrate how far we’ve come but still how much work we have to do,” said Mali Woods-Drake, an Encinitas4Equality co-founder. “For this event specifically, we were very intentional about making sure everyone that we’re partnering with are Black businesses, making sure we’re highlighting these Black businesses.” The concert will feature artists selected by SoFar Sounds, a company that provides more intimate, low-key concerts as well as virtual concerts for private parties.
Del Mar Times (delmartimes.net) January 20, 2021
The local chapter of Diversify Our Narrative, a national student-led organization, has ambitious goals to make meaningful changes within their schools to promote diversity, inclusion, and educational equity. DON’s student-directed work was presented to the school board on Jan. 14 by San Dieguito High School Academy sophomores Joy Ruppert and Aya Jaffer, along with Canyon Crest Academy seniors Shiva Kansagara, Frances Chai, Ella Sobhani, Roxy Morris, Ema Nastic and Kylie Hayase. This effort was set in motion back in August when Joy and Aya, co-leaders of the Encinitas4Equality youth group, organized a protest in front of the district office to demand that the school board address racial inequities and diversity in the district at an upcoming board meeting.
Encinitas Advocate (encinitasadvocate.com) December 15, 2020
Encinitas4Equality, a grassroots organization aiming to work in allyship with the BIPOC community in North County, announced recently that it has successfully completed phase one for its Community Space and Black Collective initiative at 414 North Coast Highway, fulfilling its lease set to end Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020. As part of the phase two process for the Community Space and Black Collective initiative, Encinitas4Equality will relocate the retail space (new location to be announced at a later date) while continuing its online store at www.encinitas4equality.org and hosting a series of virtual experiences and workshops centered around allyship, housing, equity in education, public safety, youth and fundraising; in-person events and experiences will be hosted on-site at the new location.
ABC KGTV (10News.com) October 5, 2020
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A new collective in the the north county is dedicated to Black-owned business. The recently opened store was started by the organization “Encinitas4Equality” and features more than a dozen local retailers.
NBC 7, San Diego (nbcsandiego.com) September 24, 2020
Encinitas4Equality, a new North County-based nonprofit has officially opened its doors as a community gathering space and retail showcase for Black artists and businesses. NBC 7’s Jackie Crea has more.
Patch (patch.com), September 23, 2020
Encinitas4Equality has officially opened its doors as a community gathering space and retail showcase for Black artists and businesses.
Encinitas Advocate (encinitasadvocate.com) September 22, 2020
Encinitas4Equality (E4E), a new North County-based grassroots nonprofit, officially opened its doors last week to bring “a much-needed, safe gathering space and retail showcase for Black individuals and businesses,” according to a news release.
NBC 7, San Diego (nbcsandiego.com) September 21, 2020
Encinitas4Equality, a new North County-based nonprofit, announced Monday it has officially opened its doors as a community gathering space and retail showcase for Black artists and businesses.
SDA Mustang Website (sdamustang.com), September 14, 2020;
Reprinted in the LA Times, HS Insider (highschool.latimes.co) September 15, 2020
What began as nightly vigils and peaceful protests at the Cardiff Kook, Encinitas4Equality evolved into a nonprofit organization to support Black residents and address systemic racism.
KPBS (kpbs.org) September 15, 2020
A new organization supporting the Black community in North County officially opened its doors Tuesday. Encinitas4Equalitygives Black vendors space for their businesses and offers programs for underprivileged youth.
Coast News (thecoastnews.com) August 26, 2020
Based on initial development proposals, sites that Encinitas told the state could support affordable housing will produce many fewer affordable units than projected, despite likely yielding more units overall.
Del Mar Times (delmartimes.net) August 25, 2020
On Aug. 14, students and parents protested in front of San Dieguito Academy High School in Encinitas, demanding that the San Dieguito Union High School District listen to the voices of its community members and that racism, diversity and inclusion are made a priority by the school board.
FOX KSWB (fox5sandiego.com) August 15, 2020
Students, parents and teachers gathered Friday at San Dieguito Academy to protest what organizers call the school board’s lack of action on concerns raised over social justice reforms. “We want them to make changes to the schools and their curriculum to be more inclusive and inviting to all cultures,” student Aya Jaffer said. Students shared stories of racist encounters with fellow students, including the use of incendiary language.
CBS KMFB (cbs8.com) August 14, 2020
Students are demanding that San Dieguito Union High School District create a more inclusive curriculum and more support for students. Organizers with the group, Equality4Encinitas, said they contacted the district numerous times since July, hoping to get this issue on the district board’s meeting agenda. They said they were told that due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there is no time to address their concerns.
San Diego Union tribune, August 9, 2020
Coronado schools face racial reckoning
School districts nationwide are being pressured to fix racial inequities. In Coronado, where nine out of 10 residents are White, 4,500 signed a petition.
“Colonial Day” is a long-running tradition in the Coronado Unified School District. Every January, fifth-graders dress in colonial garb and participate in activities like candle-making, cross-stitching and military drills, to learn what life was like prior to America’s founding. But it wasn’t fun for Mercedes Hayes. Hayes, now a 21-year-old bi-racial graduate from Coronado Unified, remembers wanting to stay home from school on Colonial Day. “I remember kids asking me if I was gonna be a slave,” said Hayes, whose mother is White and father is Black. Students, parents and recent alumni like Hayes are calling for a racial reckoning in the school district of Coronado.
ABC KGTV (10News.com) August 5, 2020
Neighbors quickly rip down white supremacist stickers
SAN MARCOS, Calif. (KGTV) — Kelley Keatly and her husband were walking in their San Marcos neighborhood Wednesday morning when something caught their attention. They noticed a red sticker stuck to an electrical box. When they looked closer, they saw a message of hate, one that read: “The symbol of white resistance.” The sticker included a link to a website filled with hatred – towards Jews, African Americans, and the LGBTQ community.
Keatly took the sticker and posted an image of it on a neighborhood Facebook page. Melissa Burgess saw the post and then found four – on electric boxes and traffic lights, including ones near San Elijo Elementary and Middle schools, where her children attend.
Runner’s World (runnersworld.com, August 7, 2020)
This Movement Will Run Until There’s Justice for Breonna Taylor
Running as a form of protest is a moving advertisement. You can create more awareness that way. Say her name. Now, say it again. That’s been the message at each Run for Breonna run in San Diego, led by Gina Wickstead and Nicol Hodges, in the wake of the widespread protests against systemic racism and police brutality in America.
San Diego Union Tribune, August 3, 2020
Abolish the police? It’s a real thing. Even cops say they’ve taken on too much
San Diego Union Tribune, July 29, 2020
Members of E4E seek information on arrests, use-of-force complaints, mental health
Coast News, June 19, 2020
Activists call for reforms of Carlsbad Police Department after tasing incident
San Clemente Times, June 12, 2020
