Port of San Diego Accepting Applicants for Fall Portside Community Academy Following Recent Graduation

The Port of San Diego invites residents to sign up for the Portside Community Academy following the successful graduation of two more cohorts earlier this year. The Academy recently hosted two groups of participants between January and April 2026, culminating with a joint graduation ceremony during a boat tour of San Diego Bay. Graduates receive certificates of completion as well as Academy lapel pins. The Academy is now accepting applications for fall 2026 and spring 2027.

The Portside Community Academy is an educational program aimed at building deeper connections between the Port of San Diego and portside communities. The public is given a unique opportunity to explore innovations in the maritime industry that are helping improve public health and quality of life on and around San Diego Bay.

Since its launch in 2023, over 250 participants have graduated from the Academy's structured educational program. Designed for adult community members, this five-session program was developed by Port subject matter experts. The curriculum explores the Port's clean air and electrification projects, focusing on impacts to human health, quality of life, and technological advancements in the maritime industry. It includes a bus tour of the Port's marine terminals and a narrated boat tour of San Diego Bay.

This educational program is designed with topics of special interest to residents of portside communities, which encompass parts of Barrio Logan, Logan Heights, Sherman Heights and National City, along with communities in Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, and San Diego. The Portside Community Academy is a pioneering cross-departmental effort, representing the Port's dedication to becoming a "Port of Firsts." It aligns with the Maritime Clean Air Strategy (MCAS) and efforts to be an early adopter of zero-emissions technologies for ships, cranes, tugboats, and trucks, while also addressing the specific needs and concerns of environmental justice communities, including community education.

Feedback is continuously collected from participants. Recent graduates of the program provided the following comments:

"Getting to go onto the terminals and see the daily operations at the Port and the micro grid was so cool. Also just seeing all the different people and moving parts and how much goes into what they do definitely stayed with me."

"The Academy broadened my understanding of the Port of San Diego's day-to-day operations and highlighted how critical the Port is to the overall health, growth, and vitality of our city. Overall, it was an informative and eye-opening experience that provided valuable context and insight."

For more information and to sign up on the interest list for the Portside Community Academy, please visit portofsandiego.org/academy.