A new initiative is transforming the streets of Tijuana by blending urban art, civic engagement, and public space restoration. Known as the “Tijuana Project: Route of Peace”, the effort targets key areas in the Downtown and North Zones, using “Footprints of Artistic Intervention” alongside grassroots work led by Jóvenes Sembradores de Paz group (Young Sowers of Peace).
The project seeks to reclaim the identity, history, and communal pride of spaces that shape the everyday lives of residents. Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda noted that tackling the underlying social factors and encouraging community use of public areas are vital steps toward fostering safety, social cohesion, and Shared Well-being.
“Few things are as transformative as reclaiming our public spaces. Restoring the identity, history, and sense of belonging to places that had long been forgotten changes lives in profound ways. I extend my gratitude to President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for her unwavering support in advancing programs that cultivate the peace we aspire to for Tijuana and Baja California,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Abdiel Gutiérrez Coronado described the project as a tangible, visible renewal of the city’s streets and stressed that the collaborative effort among various institutions is designed to restore calm, encourage positive interaction, and ensure that public areas are once again owned by the community.
Raúl Romero Rivera, coordinator of Peace Campaigns in Tijuana, spoke on behalf of Beatriz Olivares Pinal, director of the National Center for Crime Prevention and Citizen Participation. He commended the coordination across governmental levels and la the involvement of young people in the community rebuilding process.
The Tijuana Project: Route of Peace will roll out a full slate of activities throughout August, including historical and cultural walking tours, open-art workshops, and interactive community events in the newly revitalized sectors of the Downtown and North Zones.
The initiative aims to cement art and citizen participation as tools that reinforce prevention, identity, and a lasting sense of Shared Well-being for families and communities across Tijuana.
