Southeastern San Diego, a seven-mile-area near downtown, has gotten a face lift… and another and another. SEDC, a city owned non-profit, works non-stop to improve the community in creative ways. For one, it finds land that nobody wants and redevelops it, bringing in new business and new housing. We’ll show you the dramatic changes.

Reporter: Corrie Vaus
Photographer: Gary Seideman
Editor: Gary Seideman

The Girl Scouts are dedicated to building girls’ character, self-respect and community involvement. The Muslim religion has the same standards. That’s why a San Diego woman – a devout Muslim – decided to combine the popular children’s activity with her faith to start three Muslim Girl Scout troops. The troops’ 50 girls reach out to their peers to expose them to Islam, while also earning patches tailored to their religion.

Reporter: Jessica Chang
Photojournalist: Robert Hotz, Ann Zevely
Editor: Ann Zevely

For more information:
www.girlscoutssdi.org, and www.icsd.org

There’s a new species of Talking Toucan in town, and it’s teaching fourth-graders all about the environment and San Diego history. Built by a world-renowned Hollywood special effects company, “Socrates” is one of the most sophisticated animatronic robots on Earth, and the first interactive computerized bird ever to be used in a live stage show or lecture. You’ll meet bird and owner and see the show.

Reporter: Jeanne Rawdin
Editor: Michael Spaulding

For more information:
www.keynotespeak.com, and www.drwilderness.com

Chris White, a UCSD microbiologist, is turning yeast into gold. Ten years ago he started growing yeast cultures to sell to home beer brewers. Now with the explosion of home brewing and micro-breweries, White Labs in Mira Mesa is one of the world’s largest suppliers of brewers’ yeast, supplying more than two-thousand breweries.

Reporter: Jack Gates
Photojournalist: Michael Spaulding
Editor: Michael Spaulding

“Grossology” is a new interactive science exhibit at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. Curious guests can visit the Vomit Center and the Burp Machine, for example. We’ll take a look at the good, the bad and the downright ugly of runny noses, body odor, and much more.

Voice: Corrie Vaus
Producer: Brittany Pierce
Photojournalist: Ann Zevely
Editor: Ann Zevely