Pacifica Institute San Diego Center officially opened at February 7th, 2009 in the presence of CA Assembly Woman Lori Saldana, CA Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, San Diego Assistant Chief of Police Robert Kanaski, National City Chief of Police Adolfo Gonzales, National City Assistant Chief of Police Manuel Rodriguez.
Ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by the First Turkish Food and Handcraft Festival which was first of its kind in San Diego. The festival featured a solo performance of a whirling dervish of Rumi, a traditional Turkish art performance of water marbling (Ebru), a traditionally decorated room for enjoying Turkish cafe as well as delicious home cooked Turkish foods.
Despite the rainy weather, more than 300 guests attended the opening ceremony and the festival. The event was a big success thanks to the hard work of the organizing committee and the friends of Pacifica Institute.