Supporting our community
The Engineering Exchange for Social Justice (ExSJ) honors partnerships and seed-funds projects through a variety of awards and is funded by grant awards and generous donations from private donors.
Awards Granted by the ExSJ
Seed Fund Awards
Supporting the design and development of an engineering solution to a community need.
$5,000
Awarded to Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve to support the establishment of a community based waste-upcycling business in Los Laureles Canyon, Tijuana Mexico. Funded by the USD Strategic Initiative in 2019.
$2,000
Awarded to support Tobago's collaboration with Primo Energy to use wind turbine technology to power small farm systems. Funded by the USD Strategic Initiative in 2020.
Project Development Awards
Supporting the co-development of a community-defined problem brief.
$1,000
Awarded to Brenda Sutter on behalf of the Laurel Tree Charter School in Arcata, Calif., to facilitate a partnership between the school and Primo Energy, a company that specializes in wind and solar energy technology. Funded by the USD Strategic Initiative in 2020.
$500
Awarded to to Rochelle Harris and Christie Greene on behalf of the Blind Community Center of San Diego (BCCSD) to support collaborations between the BCCSD and USD. For multiple semesters, BCCSD community members have partnered with student teams in Dr. Odesma Dalrymple's ENGR 103 User-Centered Design course. Funded by the USD Strategic Initiative 2020.
$5,000
Community Scholar Award to Debbie Stein to honor three years of facilitating collaborations between USD and the Viejas Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. Half of the awarding was funded by the USD Strategic Initiative and the second half funded by private donors in 2020.
To be considered for a Seed Fund or Project Development Award for your community project, apply today.
Grants and Donor Support
Shaping our collective future
$90,000
Strategic Initiative Award
Support from the University of San Diego to seed-fund the ExSJ. (2019)
$30,000
Supports the development of community-centered waste upcycling businesses in Tijuana. (2020-23)
$50,000
ExSJ Research, Development and Community Fund
Provides support for students engaged in engineering and social justice work during the summer months. Gifted by Walter and Csilla Foley. (2021)
Sponsor
A generous sponsor of community capstone design projects partnering with Clear Blue Sea and Ocean Discovery Institute.
Donor
ExSJ Support
A special note of thanks for the generosity of our countless private donors.
Why support ExSJ
Every gift, no matter the size, helps us to continue and expand our vital work. We are educating the world's future leaders who are not only technically capable, but who care about social justice, sustainability and the world we all share.