Economic Empowerment
Coming This October: WISE en Español
We’re excited to launch our final WISE (Women in Self-Employment) workshop series of 2025, offered entirely in Spanish! This 8-session program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs in the “dream” or early start-up stage.
· Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 7–30
· Format: Sessions 1 and 8 hosted at Launch SA; Sessions 2–7 offered virtually
· Focus: Business model development, pricing, marketing, financial basics, compliance, and launch planning
We invite Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs ready to take their ideas to the next level to join us. Spots are limited—email sortega@ywcasa.org.
Preparedness has also been a major focus. Our Community Health Workers (CHWs) participated in the San Antonio Area ChemPREP training, a program designed to prepare frontline responders for chemical incidents and community threats. This training strengthens their ability to recognize warning signs, connect with regional resources, and provide families with trusted guidance during emergencies. In moments of crisis, having CHWs equipped with this knowledge can make all the difference.
Through Metro Health’s Reproductive Justice program, YWCA San Antonio continues to expand access to reproductive healthcare by providing free long-term contraceptives. Our team also plays a critical role in navigating women to providers who accept Medicaid and Texas Health Women’s, ensuring that affordability is never a barrier to care. By participating in coalitions and workgroups such as CARE, we are also raising provider awareness about the importance of Medicaid acceptance and advancing equity in access to care.
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Leading the Future at NALCAB
In September, our Director of Economic Empowerment, Dr. Melinda J. Perez, PhD, proudly represented YWCA San Antonio as a Pete Garcia Fellow at the NALCAB National Conference. She also served as moderator for the closing panel, “Leading the Future: Insights, Innovation, and Impact.” The discussion centered on building resilient, purpose-driven teams and preparing organizations for the evolving future of work. Dr. Perez brought these insights home to strengthen the services we provide every day.
Child Care
In September, we had the joy of celebrating Grandparents Day!
Our children shared sweet moments with their grandparents by making ice cream sundaes together! Such a fun way to honor the special role grandparents play in their lives
From July through September, the Economic Empowerment team has been busy helping clients tackle financial goals through one-on-one coaching. Together, we’ve reduced debt, improved credit scores, and grown savings accounts. Each coaching session provides practical, step-by-step strategies that move our clients closer to financial stability. Whether it’s a debt payoff plan, a secured credit card, or an automated savings strategy, we are proud to see measurable progress and lasting confidence.
Women’s Live and Learn Center Capital Campaign
We are getting closer to the completion of the onsite child care and administrative building, scheduled for January 2026, with a ribbon-cutting celebration planned for March!
As we approach this milestone, we are finalizing our capital campaign and invite you to join us in the Pave the Way campaign to bring this dream to completion. Your gift will be commemorated on the bricks of our labyrinth—a lasting symbol of community, empowerment, and hope.
Contact Francesca Rattray, YWCA CEO, to learn more about how you can be part of this incredible journey!
Save the Date
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Health Equity
Are you or someone you know looking for quality childcare?
Contact us for a tour.
As summer turns to fall, we are proud to share the momentum building across our Health & Education programs. From expanding access to reproductive healthcare, to strengthening our community health workforce, to launching new maternal health initiatives, our team is working every day to remove barriers and create healthier futures for women and families. We invite you to stay connected with us—join us at upcoming community events, share our resources with those who may need them, and partner with us in advancing health equity across San Antonio. Together, we can continue building the supportive networks and services our community deserves.
Our Ventanillas de Salud (VDS) team proudly represented San Antonio at the annual national VDS conference in Houston. There, they connected with colleagues from across the United States and deepened relationships with our anchor partners at the IME of Mexico. By bringing home new ideas and best practices, they are ensuring that our community continues to benefit from the highest standard of culturally competent care and outreach.
Women’s Live & Learn Center
Healing Through Art: Our residents have been participating in group therapy sessions centered on art as a tool for healing. Activities like clay sculpting and plant growing have not only fostered creativity but also strengthened their sense of community. Our wonderful clinician, Maureen, continues to bring innovative, out-of-the-box approaches to promote growth and healing.
Resident Assistant Program: We officially launched our Resident Assistant Program, designed to provide leadership development opportunities on campus. Our first two RAs recently completed their three-month tenure, supporting the Residential Services Manager in building community, addressing resident concerns, and gaining firsthand experience in residential program management. Each RA brought their own style to the role, offering themselves as trusted peers while also organizing bonding activities such as movie nights and game nights.
Community Meetings & Advocacy: Our monthly Community Meetings continue to be a space where residents connect with guest speakers, learn about available services, and explore career pathways through shared workforce experiences. In September, we were honored to welcome Terri Castillo, our district representative. This meeting created a forum for residents to engage directly with their representative, share their ideas, and practice advocacy skills. Residents spoke passionately on topics ranging from education access and neighborhood improvements to creative ideas for supporting vulnerable San Antonio residents, including our four-legged friends! Their thoughtful contributions reflect our program’s goal of empowering residents to build self-sufficiency and use their voices to shape the community around them.
The Ready to Work program has helped me shape my career. Before meeting them, I was in a place of uncertainty about my future. After joining the program, I was able to get my first job in the IT field as a Desktop Support Specialist.
However, the program does more than just provide job placement. They’re always there, offering support through all challenges, whether professional or personal. Knowing someone has your back makes it easier to put all your effort into accomplishing your personal goals. All the support and help played a role in who I am today, and even now, they check on me once in
a while, which I’m so grateful for. I wore my graduation hat with great pride and my family was very proud of me.
Thank you, Ready to Work program!
Capital Campaign
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Youth
This September, our Youth Programs got off to an exciting start!
The Youth Program started E=MC² at the beginning of September. Students in E=MC² jumped right in, exploring hands-on STEAM activities that spark curiosity, creativity, and lots of “aha!” moments.
Meanwhile, our Teens Taking Action crew had a blast volunteering at the Texas General Land Office’s Adopt-a-Beach program. Teens and staff from the Good Samaritan Center joined in too, working together to clean up the shoreline, enjoy the outdoors, and make a real difference in the community.
It’s been a great start to the season—full of learning, teamwork, and fun!"
Partnership Spotlight: Mexican Consulate
This year, YWCA San Antonio strengthened its partnership with the Mexican Consulate through the Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera (VAF), a trusted hub connecting families to financial education and local resources. It has been a pleasure working alongside Cónsul Susana Monreal, whose leadership and dedication have been instrumental in this collaboration. As her term as Cónsul de Comunidades comes to an end, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her partnership and wish her the very best in her next chapter.
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Workforce
The Ready To Work Program is a Workforce Program for individuals that want a career for life!
For more information, contact: readytowork@ywcasa.org
Community education remains at the heart of our work. From monthly pláticas to large-scale health fairs, our staff is committed to sharing vital health information in both English and Spanish. Partnerships with providers such as Communicare allow us to bring preventive and reproductive healthcare directly to the community, meeting women where they are and creating new entry points into care.
We are also proud of the ongoing development of our workforce. CHWs at YWCA San Antonio are not only serving families today but also shaping the future of health equity through advanced training, certification, and leadership opportunities. This commitment to workforce pathways ensures that the women who lead our efforts have the tools they need to thrive in professional healthcare roles while continuing to serve the communities they call home. Just ask Gabriela Martinez, a former CHW trainee who just accepted a role with UTHSCSA's All For Them HPV Vaccination program.
"As a former student and employee at the YWCA, where I held my first role as a community health worker, I learned to take on new responsibilities and develop skills that perfectly prepared me for my role at UT Health.
I also had the opportunity to work in marketing and coordinate an event at a start-up health company that hosted over 50 people, which strengthened my leadership and organizational skills.
Even after my time at the YWCA ended, I continued to feel supported by my supervisor, Corin, and my case manager, Michelle. I am deeply grateful for the guidance from both of whom shaped my professional growth and confidence."
SURVEY / ENCUESTA: https://redcap.link/ceal.ywca
Survey closes January 15, 2026
La encuesta cerrará Enero 15, 2026
Finally, we are thrilled to welcome Emily Lopez as our new Maternal Health Manager. Emily brings experience in maternal and child health, program development, and community outreach, and she will be working closely with our seasoned team of CHWs, doulas, and clinicians. Together, they will build our community-based maternal health club model, developed in partnership with UTHSCSA Health Confianza and United Way. This innovative model will create safe, supportive spaces where women can access comprehensive care, strengthen social connections, and receive holistic support during pregnancy and beyond. Emily’s leadership marks an exciting step forward in bringing this vision to life and expanding the impact of our maternal health programs.
The survey will take about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Your time and feedback are valuable.
La encuesta tardará entre 15 y 20 minutos en completarse. Su tiempo y comentarios son valiosos.
Dr. Tharani Ravi, Associate Professor at UT Health San Antonio, is conducting a research study to better understand what supports - or gets in the way - of living a health lifestyle.
This study will look at:
Access to resources (like gyms, parks, or health food options)
Personal challenges (such as stress, time, or family support)
Why your voice matters:
Identify what resources are most needed in the community
Improve connections to existing services and support
Guide future programs and community planning
We also kicked off the new school year with our Annual Open House. Families had the chance to tour the building, meet the teachers and learn more about what’s ahead in the classroom.
It was a wonderful way to welcome everyone into another exciting year of growth and learning!
The RESET Program is designed to support young women ages 16 to 24 who are not currently in school or working.
RESET focuses on helping participants build the tools and confidence needed to become financially, emotionally, and socially secure. Through a supportive and individualized approach, we aim to guide each young woman toward long-term success.
Services include:
Educational Coaching – Support with high school completion, GED prep, and postsecondary planning
Career Readiness – Workshops, resume building, job search support, and job placement
Life Skills Training – Topics such as self-confidence, communication, financial literacy, and conflict resolution
Case Management – Ongoing one-on-one support to navigate barriers and set achievable goals
Paid Training Opportunities – Access to selected short-term training programs that lead to employment
RESET is more than a program, it’s a pathway to independence, stability, and growth. Staff is here to strengthen partnerships and referrals, and would love your continued support in sharing our services with eligible individuals.
If you know anyone that is interested in enrolling, they can click here and read more about the program and complete the intake form.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like additional information or would like to schedule a presentation.
Thank you for being a valued partner in helping young women reset their path forward.
We officially have three Social Work interns! [Click here] to read more about them. The RESET Program is now open for Social Work internships, providing valuable opportunities for learning and service.
Additionally, five clients have been awarded Thrive Funds to help address barriers such as transportation, supporting them on their path to success.
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Carol Jackson enrolled in the YWCA Ready to Work program in January 2025 with a strong interest in building her technical skills and pursuing a career in IT. From the beginning, Carol demonstrated determination and commitment, even when faced with the intensity of the coursework and the challenges of balancing personal responsibilities.
During her participation in the NPower Tech Fundamentals program, Carol successfully completed her CompTIA IT Fundamentals+ and CompTIA A+ 1101 certification exams. Although she initially expressed nervousness about the difficulty of the material, Carol remained focused, sought support when needed, and stayed consistent with her studies. Her persistence paid off she went on to pass both portions of the CompTIA A+ exam, earning her full certification.
Throughout the program, Carol also remained proactive in her career development. While completing her coursework, she pursued job opportunities, prepared for interviews, and attended resource fairs recommended by her Case Manager. She expressed both excitement and anxiety about transitioning into the workforce, but she never allowed challenges such as unemployment deadlines or exam pressures to deter her progress.
Today, Carol stands as a proud graduate of the NPower program and a certified IT professional. She has completed her educational phase, gained industry-recognized credentials, and is now better equipped to enter the workforce with confidence and competitive skills.
Carol’s journey highlights the power of persistence, dedication, and support. Her success story is a testament to her hard work and determination, as well as the impact of the Ready to Work program in helping participants achieve both educational and career goals.
Carol was very motivated to obtain employment and she actually began the job search process as she neared the completion of her training. On the same day she received her Completion of training from NPower on June 24 th , 2025, she also received a Job Offer letter from Aisin Texas for Document Control Clerk earning $27.50 an hour. Carol stated she could not have obtained this job without the training she received from Ready to Work.
La Dra. Tharani Ravi, profesora asociada en UT Health San Antonio, está llevando a cabo un estudio de investigación para comprender mejor qué apoya, o se interpone en el camino, de llevar un estilo de vida saludable.
Este estudio analizará:
Acceso a recursos (como gimnasios, parques u opciones de alimentos saludables)
Desafíos personales (como estrés, falta de tiempo o apoyo familiar)
¿Porque su voz es importante?
Identificar qué recursos son más necesarios en la comunidad
Mejorar las conexiones con los servicios y apoyo existentes
Guía futuros programas y la planificación de la comunidad
Thank you for your continued support of the YWCA mission.
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Community Connections Resource Fair
On September 20th, the San Antonio Food Bank hosted YWCA’s Community Connections Resource Fair. Over 60 community partners joined the fair and approximately 200 families and individuals received resources and services. Some services offered were: mammograms, glucose and cholesterol screenings, immunizations and other health services. Community partners provided resources and were available to answer questions.
Thank you to the San Antonio Food Bank for hosting us and thank you to the many community partners that joined the event.
