As a dedicated nonprofit striving to give communities of concern in Southeast San Diego a voice, the San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition (SDUSC) partnered with the Sage Project to investigate historical events that led to the current state of inequalities in Southeast San Diego. SDUSC wanted to know more than where the county is now, they wanted to know how it got there. The student writers and researchers from Dr. Dustin Edwards’ RWS 507 Nonprofit Communication class that collaborated with SDUSC staff went on a deep dive into policies and practices that forged problems residents now face. The web of laws, regulations, and economics that has shaped San Diego is constantly changing; thus, this report does not suggest solutions to current challenges nor is it comprehensive. Each section topic is a glance into influential events and policies, as an entire history would warrant its own report.