Celebrating 15 Years of Advocacy: United Taxi Workers of San Diego

Introduction

Today, December 18, 2024, we, United Taxi Workers of San Diego (UTWSD), proudly mark our 15th anniversary. This milestone not only celebrates our past achievements but also reaffirms our ongoing commitment to advocating for taxi workers and their families in San Diego.

Mission and Vision

Mission

The mission of UTWSD is to unify taxicab workers, improve working conditions through direct advocacy and empowerment, increase education and civic participation by taxi drivers and their families, and enhance professional transportation services for the San Diego community and visitors.

Vision

We envision a driver-led taxi industry that provides exceptional, efficient, and safe service for residents and visitors. Our aim is to meet the comprehensive and diverse needs of taxi drivers and their families, fostering a professional working environment free from humiliation, intimidation, discrimination, and exploitation. UTWSD strives to provide strong, representative leadership within a healthy, productive, and inclusive taxi industry.

Achievements in 2024

Technological Advancements

In 2024, we successfully launched the Ride United app. This new application enhances the experience for both customers and drivers, ensuring a smooth and safe ride. To support this initiative, we conducted comprehensive training sessions for drivers on app usage, including system navigation and customer service techniques. Additionally, we educated the San Diego community about the app’s benefits, encouraging local support for our taxi drivers.

Community Partnerships

Our partnerships have been pivotal in promoting affordable transportation solutions. We collaborated with San Diego Continuing Education to introduce a pilot taxi voucher program aimed at students. This program has not only ensured affordable transport for students but also provided support to local drivers.

Civic Engagement

This year, UTWSD played a significant role in promoting civic engagement among taxi drivers by collaborating with Engage SD during back-to-back election campaigns in April and November. Our efforts focused on increasing voter participation within the taxi driver community.

Major Projects

We partnered with the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) to provide outreach, education, and enrollment assistance for low-income undocumented individuals eligible for Medi-Cal. Furthermore, our collaboration with the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) aimed to study delivery options for businesses in City Heights, developing cost-effective solutions tailored to local enterprises.

A notable project launched this year is our community video studio funded by the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP). This initiative allows us to produce culturally relevant videos promoting state apprenticeships and career pathways within African communities.

Collaborations

In our efforts to foster community dialogue, we hosted the Somali Ambassador to the USA in partnership with the Somali Bantu Association of America (SBAOA). We also supported various community-building events such as UCSD student strikes and Eid celebrations while collaborating with local organizations like the California Center for Cooperative Development and local mosques (Masjid Al Ansar and Masjid Al Huda).

Organizational Growth

To further our mission, we launched a sister organization, the United Transportation Workers of San Diego (501c3). This new entity expands our capacity to support the community through charitable efforts.

Gala Fundraising Success

In celebration of our 15 years of resilience and community impact, we hosted our first Gala event on September 21, 2024. The event featured keynote speaker Ricky Shabazz, President of San Diego City College, who emphasized efforts toward enhancing inclusivity and representation at the college level. We raised nearly $50,000 to support our programs, with ongoing opportunities for year-end donations to our 501c3 organization.

Legacy of Change and Advocacy

Since its founding, UTWSD has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of taxi workers and African immigrant communities in San Diego. Our journey has been marked by:

• Advocacy for fair working conditions and equitable pay.
• Creating platforms for African immigrants to engage in civic participation.
• Establishing partnerships with local organizations to dismantle systemic barriers.

To commemorate this significant milestone, UTWSD released a special video titled “15 Years of Struggle & Change,” which reflects on our journey and accomplishments. Watch it here.

Looking Ahead: Vision for 2025

As we celebrate this anniversary, our commitment remains unwavering:

• Advocate for economic and social justice for taxi drivers and their families.
• Expand educational opportunities for youth in African immigrant communities.
• Enhance professional development programs tailored for drivers and their families.
• Build stronger partnerships to effectively address community needs.

Together, we aim to bring hope and progress to the San Diego taxi driver community. We invite you to join us on this journey by supporting our mission through tax-deductible donations to the United Transportation Workers of San Diego 501c3 organization. Feel free to contact us at 619-255-7355.

Thank You for 15 Years of Support

Your dedication has been instrumental in driving our success over the past 15 years. Let’s continue working together to create a brighter future for the UTWSD community. Here’s to another 15 years of resilience, progress, and unity!