Rise Above: The Impact of natural disasters on Black businesses in Southeast San Diego

The County of San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce has recently embarked on a podcast series that is designed to amplify the voices of the community. With this series, we aim to foster open and honest discussions about challenges faced by members of our community.

One area where this conversation is particularly relevant is the aftermath of the recent floods that hit Southeast San Diego at the beginning of the year. The floods left an indelible mark on the area, causing significant damage and impacting the lives of residents and small businesses alike.

To shed light on the experiences of two of our black business owners, Tyra Hawthorne of Heartbeat Music and Performing Arts Academy, and Victor Peterson, owner and head chef at Soulfood City 313, we have invited them to participate in our podcast series. Through their testimonies, we hope to open up a conversation with those who have been affected the hardest by this natural disaster.