Leading with Community: San Diego Wave FC x San Diego Native

To kick off Black History Month 2026, San Diego Wave FC is proud to partner with San Diego Native (SDN), a Black-owned business rooted in creativity, culture, and community, to host Imagination Station as part of SDN’s ongoing Imagination Hours initiative.

On Saturday, February 22, Wave FC and SDN will collaborate on four Imagination Hours sessions hosted at The Hometown Wave in the El Cerrito neighborhood. Designed for kids ages 4–10, each session will create space for youth to explore creativity, self-expression, and play through hands-on activities and guided imagination.

Imagination Hours is devoted to creating positive change through creativity, connection, and community. Through installations, workshops, and interactive experiences, the program encourages future creatives to engage, build confidence, and see themselves as contributors to culture and community.

Together, San Diego Wave FC and San Diego Native are proud to support programming that empowers the next generation to create waves that move current.

Celebrating Black History Month in San Diego

Each February, we honor and celebrate the achievements, contributions, and lasting impact of African Americans who have shaped our history, culture, and communities. At San Diego Wave FC, we are committed to promoting inclusivity, equity, and positivity not just during Black History Month, but throughout the year.

To support that commitment, we’ve compiled a 2026 guide of local events, organizations, Black-owned businesses, and national resources to explore, learn from, and support across San Diego and beyond.

If there are additional resources you’d like us to highlight, please email [email protected].

San Diego Black History Month Events

San Diego History Center “San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods”
All Feb. | San Diego History Center
Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego History Center is presenting the exhibition “San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods,” in partnership with the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art. The immersive exhibition uses augmented reality, oral histories and archival materials to explore local communities — including parts of Julian, City Heights, the Gaslamp Quarter, La Jolla, Chollas View, Southcrest, and MLK Way — that were displaced by redlining, freeway construction and other discriminatory policies.

SHOP B.L.A.C. – Historic & Cultural Arts District
Feb. 7 | The Mental Bar
A block event that is open to the public, Shop B.L.A.C. SD honors culture, creativity and connection. Enjoy live music, local vendors and immerse yourself into the vibrant atmosphere of the Historic and Cultural Arts District.

Women of Color ROAR
Feb. 7 | San Diego City College
The Eighth Annual Women of Color ROAR Black History Month Breakfast celebrates the strength and stories of women of color, with the theme “Spirit of the Warrior.”

Black History Night at SD Clippers
Feb. 8 | Frontwave Arena
A celebration of Black culture featuring performances, community activations, and a matchup against the South Bay Lakers.

Black Com!x Day
Feb. 14-15 | Worldbeat Center

Black Com!x Day is a free two-day event highlighting creators of African Descent in the arts of Comic Books, Animation & Film. Activities for children, along with panels, meet-and-greets, and more. Free admission to all.

Daygo Eatz
Feb. 15 | San Diego Black Arts and Culture District
A community festival featuring food trucks, local performers, diverse vendors, and community resources, Daygo Eatz is open to all ages.

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir of San Diego
Feb. 15, Feb. 21, Feb. 28 | Various Locations
San Diego’s Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir is presenting three free concerts during Black History Month. Primarily gospel, both traditional and contemporary, the choir will play in Ramona, Miramar, and Mission Valley.

The Muse: BHM Edition
Feb. 20 | Quartyard
The Muse is an archival series of San Diego’s current fashion, art, and music in one unified community. Enjoy music, vendors, live art and community at the Quartyard with this free event open to all ages.

North San Diego County Black Festival
Feb. 22 | El Camino High School
The North San Diego County Black Festival is a vibrant event bringing together entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, and the community for an afternoon of empowerment, networking and entertainment.

San Diego & Southern California-Based Organizations

Movement BE — Located at 6787 El Cajon Blvd, Movement BE strives to create a safe and nurturing environment for youth to explore and express their unique creative spirit. Their goal is to foster a creative community and cultivate a passion for the arts and its potential to enrich lives.

The Blue Heart Foundation — A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides mentorship to underserved African-American males ages 13-18 of San Diego County. This programming helps facilitate positive interactions, education, empowerment and emotional well-being.

County of San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce — Utilizing innovative programs, networking opportunities, and business partnerships to advance and strengthen Inclusive Economic Development throughout the City and County of San Diego with the mission to create generational wealth through business enterprise, education, employment, and investing.

The Worldbeat Cultural Center — Formerly a water tower, the Worldbeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park is a non-profit arts organization that celebrates African diaspora and Indigenous world cultures through art exhibits, concerts, dances, outdoor festivals and educational virtual events.

Jack and Jill of San Diego — A membership organization of mothers with children ages 2 -19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and civic duty.

Urban League of San Diego County — A civil rights and direct service 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1953, whose mission is to assist African Americans and other underserved people in San Diego County to achieve social and economic equality through advocacy, bridge building, program services, and research.

LISC San Diego — The organization’s San Diego Black Homebuyers Program (SDBHP) aims to eradicate the racial wealth gap in San Diego County through investment in wealth-building opportunity through Black homeownership.

NAACP San Diego — San Diego’s branch of the nation’s largest civil rights organization committed to social justice.

North County African American Women’s Association — Dedicated to providing a support network through education, health awareness, and life skills programs for women and girls in San Diego North County to increase their self-sufficiency. NCAAWA has provided over $300,000 to young women and girls to further their education.

United Women of East Africa — A San Diego nonprofit providing health services, education, and advocacy for the well-being of the East African community, women, and families. In 2022, Wave FC and Naomi Girma, in collaboration with the NWSL, partnered with the organization as part of the Nationwide Community Impact Program.

SD Black Artist Collective — Committed to helping Black Artists in San Diego produce work that is unapologetic, authentic, and healing to the Black experience.

Somali Family Services of San Diego — A community-based social service organization that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services to refugee and immigrant communities of San Diego.

RISE San Diego — Elevating and advancing urban leadership through dialogue-based civic engagement, dynamic nonprofit partnerships, and direct training and support to increase the capacity of urban residents to effect meaningful community change.

Textured Waves — Created to propagate the culture and sport of women’s surfing towards women of color and underrepresented demographics through representation, community, and sisterly camaraderie.

Common Ground Theatre – Their mission is “to produce classics and new works by and about people of African descent that entertain, educate, and connect with audiences of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds.” As the premier San Diego Black theatre, they aim to produce high-quality theatrical productions that provide a “common ground” for people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds to participate, interact, connect, and share their love of theatre. As they continue the legacy of their founders and the late great Dr. Floyd Gaffney, they hope that you will support their endeavors.

San Diego Central Black Chamber of Commerce – A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that utilizes innovative programs, networking opportunities, and business partnerships to advance and strengthen Inclusive Economic Development throughout the City and County of San Diego. Their mission is to create generational wealth through business enterprise, education, employment, and investing.

The Links, Incorporated, San Diego Chapter – The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of more than 17,000 professional women of color in 302 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining, ​and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.

Black-Owned Business in San Diego:
According to recent Census Bureau and LendingTree analysis, Black-owned businesses account for roughly 3% of U.S. employer firms, despite Black Americans representing approximately 12–14% of the U.S. population, underscoring the importance of continued support for Black-owned businesses within our communities.

National Support and Education:

The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) – Founded in 1996, is an innovative think tank that connects academics, activists and policy-makers to promote efforts to dismantle structural inequality. They utilize new ideas and innovative perspectives to transform public discourse and policy.

Association for the Study of African American Life and History — Promoting greater knowledge of African American history through a program of education, research, and publishing.

Black Veteran’s Project — Furthering research and storytelling to advance racial equity in and out of uniform. Leading a movement for racial inclusion and justice across the United States military while ensuring the welfare of all Black veterans who’ve served.

Black Women’s Blueprint — Providing services and spaces for healing, reconciliation and human connection with the natural world. Dedicated to working towards a world where women, girls, and all people experiencing gender-based oppression are valued, everyone is given the opportunity to rise to their potential, and resources are leveraged for the influence of restoration and reconciliation.

Black Women for Wellness — Advancing the health and well-being of Black women and girls through education, empowerment and advocacy.

BlackHistoryMonth.gov Exhibits, Collections, and Teaching Resources — The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. Discover interactive activities such as Analyzing a Letter from Jackie Robinson: “Fair Play and Justice”, The Impact of Bloody Sunday in Selma, We Shall Overcome: March on Washington, and Examining Where Rosa Parks Sat.

Center for Racial Justice in Education — Fighting for the idea that unless Black history is taught throughout the year, it perpetuates an “othering” of Black Lives and Black students, and is also a manifestation of anti-blackness. Ensuring the ongoing integration of Black history and experiences throughout all curriculum is imperative as educators continue to uplift every student and reinforce that Black Lives Matter everyday.

Common Goal — Rooted in the belief that the world’s most popular sport is one of the few cultural forces strong enough to help shift society towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all. One of the organization’s initiatives is the Anti-Racist Project, which strives to end racism in football on the field, on the sideline, in the front office and across our communities.

CommonSense.org — Resources, including videos, texts, lessons, podcasts, and more, about activists, art and culture, inventors, engineers, historical events, and beyond.

DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center — The first non-profit museum dedicated to the collection, documentation, preservation, study and the dissemination of the history and culture of Africans and African Americans.

EDSITEment — A teacher’s guide offering a collection of lessons and resources for K-12 social studies, literature, and arts classrooms that center around the achievements, perspectives, and experiences of African Americans across U.S. history.

Learning for Justice — Go beyond trauma and struggle to examine the liberation, civic engagement, creativity and intersecting identities of Black people.

NAACP Legal Defense Fund — America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Using the power of law, narrative, research, and people, we defend and advance the full dignity and citizenship of Black people in America.

National Archives — A wealth of material documenting the Black experience in the U.S., from public programs to online exhibits. Featured sections include a keynote speech from congresswoman Barbara Jordan, exploring the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Black college life in the New Deal.

National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) — A national organization that works to improve the quality of life for Black children and their families. NBCDI’s mission is to ensure that every Black child has the opportunity to live a joyful and prosperous life.

National Black Justice Coalition — America’s leading national civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS through coalition building, federal policy change, research, and education.

National Education Association — Resources to protect honesty in education and learning more about your rights to teach the truth.

The National Urban League (NUL) – A nonpartisan historic civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of economic and social justice for African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It is the oldest and largest community-based organization of its kind in the nation.

Police Brutality Center – Exists to bring awareness to the growing epidemic of police brutality, racial profiling, and excessive force.

Public Broadcasting Service — Lesson plans and resources that cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events.

Trans Women of Color Collective — Seeks to shift the narrative of surviving to thriving in our communities. Striving to build economic empowerment and global networks that connect rural communities with suburban enclaves, inner city youth with elders, donors with Black trans entrepreneurs, healers with those seeking to be whole and collaborators with agitators.