Brennan James-Ward is the CEO and chief engagement and innovation officer at e3 Civic High, and lives in Carmel Valley. Weber is the co-owner of Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop and a member of the California Restaurant Association, and lives in Downtown San Diego. Over the last year, we’ve seen incredible innovations in Downtown San Diego. From our restaurants serving San Diegans in the middle of Gaslamp’s Fifth Avenue to our beloved Padres’ Petco Park pinch-hitting as a massive COVID-19 vaccination site, everyone has had to adapt. We also saw our regional leaders act decisively to protect those who call our streets and sidewalks home with “Operation Shelter to Home” at the San Diego Convention Center. This remarkable level of effort across agencies and service providers set a standard across California, and across the nation, securing permanent housing for more than 1,000 individuals by centralizing services and communications.