ABOUT

The Tijuana-San Diego Border region is slowly turning into a single metropolitan area of 4.2 million inhabitants (2.9 million in San Diego and 1.13in Tijuana).  Growth is largely a result of increases in various sectors of the economy most notably in tourism, construction, and the maquiladora (assembly plant) industry.  However, because of economic, political, and social differences between San Diego and Tijuana, growth is asymmetrical.  San Diego's gross regional product is 80 billion dollars, while Tijuana's just reaches 5 billion.  This means there is a wide divide between most San Diegans' and Tijuanenses' standards of living.

Tijuana currently faces the challenge of meeting the basic needs of a population which grows at an average annual rate of 6.75% (as compared to 1.3% in San Diego).  Impacted by an influx of immigrants form other Mexican States, it also must anticipate and respond to problems arising from the region's increasing industrialization and trade.

Since NAFTA went into effect, binational groups have been aimed at controlling water and air pollution and managing hazardous materials and wastes in the region.  But additional effort at the most fundamental level is necessary to meet the basic food, housing, health and educational requirements of disenfranchised segments of the area's population.

The Binational Links for Community Service project, sponsored by the TransBorder Institute of the University of San Diego, identified public and private institutions in both San Diego and Tijuana engaged in community service projects on border issues.  This information can be used to promote increased involvement of students and faculty from USD and other institutions in the community.