KIN Network Updates and Community Engagement Efforts
KIN Backbone Team Strategic Planning Meeting 12/17/2025
The KIN Backbone Team held a strategic planning meeting focused on strengthening grantee support in the coming year. Discussion topics included capacity-building training ideas, methods support, and the structure of cohort gatherings. These gatherings will occur every other month and will emphasize connection, community-building, co-learning, and research training aligned with grantees’ needs and goals.
Planning the KIN Granting Program Kick-Off Celebration and Grantee Orientation 12/2025
Planning began for the official kick-off of the granting program. The event will open with a breakfast roundtable bringing together the KIN community and partners to celebrate grantees and the work ahead. This will be followed by a grantee orientation outlining grant details, available supports, and expectations for the year. The event will prioritize relationship-building, connection, and shared momentum as the cohort begins its year-long journey together.
Initial Grantee Meetings began 11/2025
Between November and December, the KIN Methods team met individually with each of the six grantees to gain a deeper understanding of each organization and project and to collaboratively identify areas of support. These meetings emphasized relationship-building and centered each group’s origin story and goals for the year ahead. A one-page overview was shared with each grantee prior to the meetings, and the team is currently summarizing the discussions and developing tailored menus of support for each group.
Next of KIN Focus Group Report Back 11/24/2025
During the summer, the KIN Network convened a focus group with the Next of KIN Committee to explore their experiences co-designing the granting program. The discussion assessed factors such as sense of belonging, shared power, ownership, recognition of lived experience as expertise, and team effectiveness. In November, findings were shared with the committee, followed by a deeper discussion that yielded additional insights into members’ perspectives and experiences.
Presented at San Diego Hunger Coalition 7th Annual State of Hunger 11/17/2025
KIN Co-PI Blanca Melendrez served as a panelist at the San Diego Hunger Coalition’s 7th Annual State of Hunger event. This gathering brought together local leaders, stakeholders, and changemakers to examine the current state of hunger, including SNAP benefit cuts, discuss strategies for collective action, and highlight the impactful work already underway in San Diego County to address these critical issues.
Foundations of Food Justice training 11/12/2025
Elle Mari, MSc, a member of both the Methods and Training teams, facilitated the network’s first training offering, “Foundations of Food Justice,” for postdoctoral trainees. The session covered the urban food equity approach, food sovereignty, the history of the food justice movement, and what it means to engage in food justice work.
October Community Chat 10/29/2025
Community Council member Rocina Lizarraga led a discussion on the social determinants of health, including social connectedness, environmental justice, political will, and her personal experiences. Participants reflected on community health priorities in San Diego and current efforts to advance health equity.
LiveWell Advance Conference & School Summit 10/22/2025
KIN team members attended and hosted a table at the Live Well Advance Conference & School Summit. This event brought together thousands of partners and stakeholders to network, learn about new tools and best practices, and participate in breakout sessions. Leaders from across sectors convened to advance a shared vision of a healthy, safe, and thriving San Diego region.
Grantee selection completed as of 10/2025
After a month-and-a-half–long process supporting a group of 11 dedicated selection committee members in reaching consensus, the KIN Network selected a strong and well-balanced cohort of six grantees. These organizations and community leaders are advancing food sovereignty, uplifting cultural foodways, nurturing youth power and healing, supporting postpartum families, and strengthening belonging and food access across San Diego County.
This year’s cohort reflects the network’s core vision: cultivating an ecosystem of movement-builders, culture-keepers, and community healers who are advancing food justice throughout the region.
Onboarded team members!
The KIN Network welcomed Dr. Nicole Karongo, PhD, and Dr. Clare Viglione, PhD, as postdoctoral fellows, completing its first cohort of trainees. Both earned PhDs in Public Health (health behavior concentration) from the Joint Doctoral Program at UC San Diego and San Diego State University.
In June, Dr. Karongo defended her dissertation, “Designing a Culturally Responsive Nutrition Intervention for Cardiometabolic Health Among an East African Immigrant Population in San Diego, California.” In October, Dr. Viglione defended her dissertation, “Strengthening Protective Factors in Primary Care: Advancing the Implementation of Equitable Family-Focused Strategies to Address Childhood Adversity.”
The network also welcomed its first intern, Ryder, an undergraduate neurobiology student at UC San Diego. She has been supporting data analysis and evaluation planning within the KIN Methods Core.
Mama’s Kitchen
On August 31st, Community Co-PI Earl Felisme toured Mama’s Kitchen, an organization that provides medically tailored meals. The visit provided an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s work and to share information about the granting program.
Food Shed Co-Op
On August 30th, Community Co-PI Earl Felisme attended the San Diego Food Shed Co-Op Saturday Market. In addition to connecting with community members, he shared information about the granting program.
San Diego County Food Vision 2030 5th Annual Gathering
On August 16th, KIN team members Zyna Bakari and Elle Mari attended the 5th Annual Gathering hosted by the San Diego Food Systems Alliance. This event provided opportunities to connect with food justice leaders in San Diego and share information about the granting program.
San Diego Youth Services
On August 23rd, KIN team members Earl Felisme and Zyna Bakari attended the San Diego Youth Services event Healing Hooves and learned about the organization’s work with the community. The event also provided an opportunity to share information about the granting program.
Applicant Support Sessions
Each week throughout the application window (8/26/2025-9/13/2025), the KIN team is hosting 3 Application Support Sessions where interested applicants can come meet with the research team, ask questions, and get feedback on their research project idea.
Launched Request for Applications
On August 18th KIN launched its Request for Applications (RFA) for the KIN Granting Program, “Community Researchers for Food Justice,” following seven months of co-design. Check out the granting program information here: www.ymcasd.org/kin
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An information session on 8/18 drew more than 30 participants.
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A Budget 101 workshop on 8/20 supported new applicants in developing budgeting skills, with 10 participants.
Olivewood Gardens Day of Play
On July 26th, Community Co-PI Rocina Lizarraga hosted the Day of Play event through her organization. Community Co-PI Earl Felisme attended in support.
Next of KIN Half-Day Working Meeting
On July 9th the Next of KIN Sub-Committee held an in-person working session to finalize the granting program co-design. This meeting marked a key milestone in developing the KIN Granting Program.
KIN All-Hands Meeting
On July 8th, the full KIN team gathered for the biannual all-hands meeting. The meeting included celebrating project progress, reflecting on partnerships, planning for the next six months, and connecting through activities, poetry, and song.
Taste of the Pacific
On July 10th, KIN team members Earl Felisme, Gabriel Garcia, Valary Rodriguez, and Zyna Bakari attended the Taste of the Pacific event in celebration of NHPI communities. Community Co-PI Tana Lepule, President of the Pacific Islander Festival Association (PIFA), invited the team to attend.
KIN Website
The KIN website was officially launched in June. View the site here.
June Community Chat: Immigration
On June 26th, a Next of KIN Sub-Committee member led a discussion on immigration in the U.S. and how KIN and its members can support immigrant communities. A member also shared a link with resources and volunteer opportunities.
Lemon Grove Farmers Market on Juneteenth
A Next of KIN Sub-Committee member hosted a farmers market in Lemon Grove. Community Co-PI Earl Felisme attended the special Juneteenth edition, representing KIN and conducting a survey asking community members what food justice means to them.
May Community Chat: Community-Driven Research
On May 29th KIN Co-PIs Tana Lepule and Eric Hekler facilitated a discussion on community-driven research, centered around an article by community organizer Rigoberto Reyes.
Neighbor Day
On May 17th, KIN team members Amy Atun, Earl Felisme, Valary Rodriguez, and Zyna Bakari tabled at Neighbor Day, a community event hosted by a member of the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative’s Community Council. The team represented KIN and began sharing information about the granting program with communities in Chula Vista.
Sharing About KIN
The KIN project recently presented at two gatherings: the COI Leadership Council meeting and the COI Community Domain meeting. These sessions provided an opportunity to share an overview of the project, its three core components, and anticipated outcomes, and to invite community members to get involved and stay connected.
KIN Online Presence
The KIN team is in the final stages of launching a dedicated web page on the UC San Diego Center for Community Health website. With content finalized, the page will be going live soon. This digital space will highlight KIN’s work and keep the community informed and engaged.
NOK Biweekly Meetings
Every two weeks, the KIN team meets with the Next of KIN Sub-Committee, which includes six dedicated community members and three Community Principal Investigators. These meetings are a vital part of the co-design process for the KIN Granting Program’s pilot cycle, where key program details are collaboratively developed. The team is grateful for the group’s deep commitment and excited to continue building this work together.
Two-Part Food Justice Workshop
On March 24 and April 8, the KIN team held a two-part food justice workshop with the Next of KIN Sub-Committee of the Community Council, a subgroup focused on co-designing the KIN Granting Program. As part of developing the program for the pilot funding cycle, one of the initial steps was to establish a shared understanding of “food justice” within the KIN context.
The workshops were grounded in a definition developed by the SDCOI Community Council, informed by StreetWyze data, which captured 8,000 stories from 1,500 San Diego County residents. Featured speakers included Blanca Melendrez and Elle Mari (Center for Community Health), along with Consuelo Martinez and Lakisha McZeal (San Diego Food Systems Alliance), who shared insights and highlighted key elements from the San Diego Food Systems Alliance Food Action Plan. These discussions helped shape the working definition that will guide the KIN Granting Program during its first funding cycle.
San Diego Childhood Obesity Initiative COI Strategic Planning
On March 21, the San Diego Childhood Obesity Initiative (COI) convened at the Southeastern Live Well Center in San Diego County to celebrate accomplishments, share updates on current efforts, and strategize future projects. Dr. Thomas R. Coleman delivered a keynote on childhood obesity, its challenges, approaches, and collective impact, followed by an overview of the COI’s history by Naomi Billups. Domain Leads also provided project updates before participants engaged in small group discussions to develop a community-informed strategic plan for COI’s three priority areas: healthy food, physical education, and healthy places.
San Diego Childhood Obesity Initiative Community Council Strategic Planning
On February 28, the COI Community Council (CC) gathered at the Southeastern Live Well Center to strengthen relationships, create a two-year work plan based on the council’s three priorities (food justice, health justice, and neighborhood justice), and align these priorities with the broader COI strategic plan. Participants created a timeline of past milestones and achievements, reviewed the Council’s purpose and projects, and engaged in small group action planning. Insights and reflections from this session helped shape the priorities addressed at the COI Strategic Planning Retreat in March.
Black History Month Empowerment Fair
On February 21, representatives of the UC San Diego Center for Community Health, the COI, and the YMCA of San Diego County participated in the Black History Month Empowerment Fair, hosted by Joyce Moore of Thrive Lemon Grove—a community leader engaged in the KIN project. Held in Lemon Grove, the event celebrated Black history and community, featuring resources, Black-owned businesses, performances, dancing, educational activities, games, and more. Participants hosted an informational table to share resources, recruit for the COI Community Council, and distribute a food justice survey, inviting community members to share their perspectives on food justice.
