Un Mar de Colores · National City, CA
Free Bilingual Arts Program for National City Title I Youth
Coastal storytelling, oral tradition, poetry, film, photography, and mural arts — not generic craft afternoons.
Un Mar de Colores's Cultural Arts & Storytelling workshops center Indigenous, Latino, and Chicano voices of the California coast — and National City youth are welcome in every cohort. Quarterly workshops run throughout San Diego County in partnership with National School District and National City Public Library, with summer artist residencies open to National City students via referral from National School District / Sweetwater Union High. All supplies, instruction, and exhibition opportunities are provided at no cost.
Schedule — National City Program Days
Quarterly workshops + summer artist residencies · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Latino surf culture history is absent from school — your child learns about Duke Kahanamoku but not Chicano longboarders.
- —Representation in local galleries doesn't match 91% of National City residents — who gets to be 'coastal artist'?
- —Exhibition opportunities seem reserved for kids whose parents already know gallery owners in La Jolla.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Bilingual instruction and materials in English and Spanish — 61% households served fully.
- Trauma-informed, welcoming culture for nervous first-time artists from National City schools.
- All ages welcome — multi-generational National City households create together.
Why We Run This Program in National City
National City is 63% Hispanic/Latino and among the most economically impacted cities in San Diego County. Our programs here are built around transportation — youth from Central, Kimball, and Olivewood Elementary travel to Imperial Beach and Coronado for water programming, with classroom components at National City Public Library and the MLK Community Center. National City is a priority Title I partnership for our Ocean Stewards recruitment.
- Population
- 56,173
- BIPOC residents
- 91%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 61%
- Distance to beach
- 8 mi
Cultural Arts & Storytelling in National City — What You Should Know
Guest-artist workshops bring professional BIPOC creators to National City cohorts — mentors who reflect community, not imported tourist artists.
Cultural arts integration with watershed education connects Tijuana River stories to visual art — National City students paint, film, and perform environmental justice.
Why National City Matters to Our Mission
National City's Spanish-speaking households (61%) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.
Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for National City youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.
Local National City Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with National School District / Sweetwater Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 4+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- National School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Central Elementary (National City)
- •Kimball Elementary
- •Olivewood Elementary
- •Sweetwater High School
Community partners
- ◆National School District
- ◆National City Public Library
- ◆Kimball Park (City of National City)
- ◆Casa Familiar (nearby in San Ysidro)
Program Curriculum
Cultural Arts & Storytelling at Un Mar de Colores is where the surf, the coast, and community narrative meet. Quarterly workshops and summer artist residencies bring together youth, professional artists, and Kumeyaay elders to create work that reflects the living cultural traditions of the California coast. Programs center Indigenous, Latino, and Chicano voices historically marginalized in coastal culture, and every workshop ends with a public exhibition, publication, or film screening that returns the art to the community that made it.
- →Coastal storytelling and oral tradition
- →Kumeyaay history and living culture
- →Latino and Chicano surf culture history
- →Visual arts (painting, mural, photography)
- →Poetry and spoken word
- →Film and documentary-making
What's Included — Free for Every National City Youth
- ✓All art supplies provided
- ✓Guest-artist workshops
- ✓Exhibition and publication opportunities
- ✓Bilingual instruction
- ✓Culturally grounded curriculum
- ✓Partnership with local galleries and museums
Why Un Mar de Colores
Program safety is documented: lifeguard coordination, 4:1 ratios on youth water days, trauma-informed staff training, and parent communication protocols in English and Spanish.
What our community says
“"He used to approach new activities with extreme anxiety — to the point where sometimes we couldn't even get out of the car. Now he goes much deeper into the water."”
Frequently Asked Questions — Cultural Arts & Storytelling in National City
Who can participate from National City?+
All ages welcome — youth, teens, adults, grandparents, and families from National City. Multi-generational participation is encouraged, especially for oral tradition and storytelling sessions.
Are workshops bilingual in National City?+
Yes — bilingual instruction and materials in English and Spanish. In National City, where 61% of households are Spanish-speaking, artists and elders deliver workshops in both languages.
Do participants get exhibition opportunities?+
Yes — every workshop cycle aims toward public exhibition, publication, or film screening. Un Mar partners with local galleries and museums to return National City youth art to the community — not sell it to tourists.
Are cultural arts & storytelling in National City really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in National City are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No National City family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do cultural arts & storytelling happen in National City?+
National City is 8 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Imperial Beach (8 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at National School District and partner schools inside National City.
What ages can enroll in National City?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In National City specifically, our recruitment runs through National School District / Sweetwater Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and 1 other Title I schools. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
Does my child need to know how to swim before starting?+
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at Imperial Beach (8 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In National City, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our National School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in National City?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in National City, where 61% of households are Spanish-speaking, we intentionally pair at least one bilingual coach to every session. Cultural programming is delivered in both languages, and parent communications are always sent in Spanish and English.
How is Un Mar de Colores different from other cultural arts & storytelling in National City?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most National City surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 91%-BIPOC National City community we serve; (3) our curriculum includes environmental justice, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts — not just surf skills. We exist because the ocean should belong to everyone in National City, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my National City child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and referrals from National School District and National City Public Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping National City youth access the coast.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for National City youth. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oceanside, California. We provide free surf, ocean, and environmental programming for youth across San Diego and Tijuana — bridging cultures, coasts, and communities since 2018.
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