Meet Gina Gianzero of Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP) in Southeastern San Diego

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Gianzero.

Gina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My entire professional life has been focused in one form or another on the pursuit of equity and social justice. Although the perspectives from which I have approached these issues have varied throughout my career — whether through university-based research, work in developing countries, or leadership in the nonprofit sector — my vocation has remained consistently focused on improving lives. Two beliefs inspire my commitment to, and persistence in, this work. Firstly, I am driven by the conviction that, in a world in where so much of life is determined by mere accident of birth, we have a duty to change the status quo to the extent that we find it unacceptable. Secondly, life teaches us in infinite ways the extent to which the welfare of one of us is inextricably linked to that of others — indeed, when your children succeed and prosper, my children thrive. Raised in a home where living one’s life in service to others exemplified a life well-lived, I have vowed never to allow the fact that I was born into a community of relative affluence to blind me to the needs of others. In the end, when I work to ensure that all children have access to the resources they need to achieve their dreams, I achieve my own.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Each and every one of us experiences trials and tribulations in life. For me, most of those have come in my professional life as opposed to my personal life and for that I am grateful. The work I lead now as the Executive Director of the Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP) is extremely challenging. As with many nonprofits, not only are we trying to address complex problems to which there are no simple solutions, but we need to constantly raise funds to do the work well. I am also aware every day that I work in a specific neighborhood of San Diego about which I still have much to learn. I am challenged daily to be a better listener and a constant learner.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP) – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
DEEP is a nonprofit focused on mobilizing over 50 partner organizations, including five elementary schools, around a theory of change intended to ensure that children in southeastern San Diego enter kindergarten prepared for success and complete third grade reading proficiently. Given well-documented links between third-grade reading outcomes and high school graduation, we must close opportunity gaps that prevent some children from attaining what I believe is their right to read. DEEP is all about investing early in children’s lives when the returns on investment are greatest. Together with partners, we seek to build a continuum of school and community-based supports that provides children with a strong foundation during their first eight years of life.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
DEEP will continue to pursue this work until at least 70% of children in our partner schools read proficiently by the end of third grade – the same percentage achieved in more affluent parts of San Diego. We have already seen movement in this direction with DEEP schools, but the change needs to be faster and include more schools. We want to ensure that every partner school has access to a comprehensive portfolio of supports that includes programming before children enter kindergarten, during their PK through third-grade years, and beyond the classroom, after school and during the summer. We are also working to make as many supports available remotely. DEEP is committed to working collaboratively with others and using research to guide all that we do. Ultimately, I envision a network of partners that regularly ensures that southeast San Diego’s youngest learners access the opportunities they need to achieve their dreams.

Contact Info:

• Address: Diamond Educational Excellence Partnership (DEEP)
  404 Euclid Avenue, Suite, 304
  San Diego, CA 92114
• Website: www.deepsd.org
• Phone: 619-919-DEEP (3337)
• Email: info@deepsd.org
• Instagram: DEEPSanDiego
• Facebook: @DEEP San Diego
• Twitter: @DEEPSanDiego

Image Credit:
All images were taken by DEEP staff or volunteers — no credits required

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