Since that time, the organization has expanded with additional offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Brawley, California and Sitka, Alaska. Heartland has served over 2,248 people. In October of 2007, the agency’s sister organization, UnitedGREEN was founded to support the agency’s green initiatives and green education events such as the 2008 Architecture 2030 Conference, co-sponsored by UCSD. In Octo
ber of 2008, UnitedGREEN orchestrated a Green Economy Event at UCSD. Heartland presented courses in productivity, communication, organizational finance, and business incubation at this conference and at other conferences and community workshops since the UCSD meetings. Heartland’s commitment to the community is exemplified by the agency’s huge disaster relief effort after the 2003 San Diego Wildfires. After the 2007 San Diego Wildfires, UnitedGREEN assisted fire survivors in rebuilding green. Heartland’s Project Renaissance has provided public art for schools and communities, also showcasing artworks by fire survivors. Heartland currently runs seven projects. Under the dba UnitedGREEN, Heartland is directing Rebuilding Green, which will employ 16 people. The GreenSmart Training, Service and Eco-Industrial centers in Barrio Logan, Southeast San Diego, and Otay Mesa will be extensions of this program. In addition, our Apple Valley location will provide instruction in building information management, as well as wind, solar energy and weatherization. This location will also include a commercial vertical organic urban farm. In cooperation with JPMorgan Chase, Heartland will weatherize and solarize homes that have been repossessed, making them available to low-income families. Heartland collaborates with 85 community partners including major educational institutions and school districts, the San Diego Imperial Counties Labor Council and Employee Rights Center, construction trade unions, corporate partners such as JPMorgan Chase Bank and Toyota of El Cajon, California Center for Sustainable Energy, SDG&E, environmental and solar enterprises, San Diego Workforce Partnership and many others.
