Economic Empowerment
Celebrating 115 Years of Service
The YWCA is proud to be the oldest and largest women’s movement, providing services for women and their families.
This year, YWCA San Antonio celebrates 115 of impact in our community. That’s 115 years of experience, compassion and unwavering commitment to women and their families.
Each year, YWCA San Antonio serves 30,000 individuals through quality childcare, workforce development, financial literacy and health services.
YWCA San Antonio exists to eliminate racism and empower women. We achieve this mission by removing barriers from women, particularly women of color, to break the cycle of poverty and become self-sufficient. The barriers we address include:
Access to high-quality early childhood education and care
Services for youth success
Economic Empowerment and workforce training
Health Equity and access to care
And soon, Supporting Housing
All of our work is done through a lens of racial justice and gender equity.
We work to bring out the individual strengths of women and youth to foster resiliency and self-sufficiency. Our philosophy, in keeping with the mission of the YWCA to empower women and families, centers on providing the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
All of this is possible through the generosity of our donors.
Join our legacy with a monthly donation of $15.
You can help be a part of the difference.
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
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.
More Exciting News
Women’s Live and Learn Center Phase 2 Ground-breaking
The cement building foundation has been poured for the Women’s Live and Learn Center Phase II, The Harvey Najim Early Childhood Development and Care Center. This not only marked a key event in construction progress, this also unlocked a $845,000 commitment made by the Mabee Foundation in April 2023.
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Health Equity
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.
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Do you know someone looking for quality childcare? Look no further!
YWCA’s Olga Madrid Learning Center is enrolling children.
Our dedicated teachers provide a nurturing and welcoming environment and encourage families to engage in interactive activities, building strong families.
The Olga Madrid Learning Center has maintained a 4-star rating through the Texas Rising Star Program and teachers are committed to their growth, earning their CDA certifications.
Contact us for a tour.
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Youth
This summer, a group of local teenagers took part in a vibrant camp experience that blended fun with purpose, focusing on leadership, advocacy, and community engagement.
One of the camp’s main goals was to empower youth through leadership development and advocacy training. Campers explored how to use their voices for positive change, learning about key issues affecting their communities and how to advocate for what matters to them.
Inspiring guest speakers visited throughout the summer, offering powerful lessons on poetry, storytelling, and student voice. These sessions encouraged self-expression and gave teens the tools to speak confidently and creatively about their experiences and ideas.
Campers also enjoyed exciting weekly field trips to the Bexar Heritage Museum and the Witte Museum, where they explored local history, science, and culture in fun and interactive ways. Weekly swimming trips added to the excitement, giving teens a chance to unwind and bond with friends in the sun.
A big part of the summer was giving back. Campers volunteered at places like SA Threads and a our food pantry, learning the importance of service and making a real difference in their community.
With a balance of fun, learning, and purpose, Camp 2025 gave teens an unforgettable summer filled with personal growth, meaningful connections, and memories."
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."
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 months ahead promise even more opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and community impact. To learn more about our work, research contributions, or to volunteer with us, please visit https://ywcasa.org/health-equity.
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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.
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YWCA’s New Board Chair
Haley Ellison was elected Board Chair for YWCA San Antonio. A board member since 2019, she is a partner with Davis & Santos and is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law. Her practice is focused on federal and state appeals and commercial litigation, including bankruptcy litigation and complex business disputes. She holds degrees from Trinity University and St. Mary's University School of Law.
The Ready to Work staff hosted a job fair and welcomed 65 attendees, including 47 clients who are currently unemployed.
The connections made with participating employers were incredibly meaningful, and clients are hopeful to see job placements and positive outcomes over the next 3 to 6 weeks.
This event was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together. The energy, dedication, and teamwork shown throughout the day truly embodied the YWCA’s mission of empowering individuals and strengthening our community.
VIA generously donated three 7-day bus passes to our Workforce Development Program. These passes were given to women at the RESET Program to help support their journey toward self-sufficiency. Transportation can often be a barrier to everyday needs like getting to work, job interviews, or even grocery shopping. This contribution from VIA helps bridge that gap and empowers our community members to move forward.
Thank you for your continued support of the YWCA mission.
La Cuenta Pendiente Telenovela Premier a HUGE Success
On May 8th, YWCA San Antonio premiered a groundbreaking telenovela, La Cuenta Pendiente (The Outstanding Balance). The premier was held at City Base Cinema and hosted nearly 200 guests.
This powerful production captured the daily realities and struggles faced by childcare workers, women of color, immigrants, and those burdened by poverty and racism. Through compelling storytelling and vibrant characters, the audience was able to witness the untold narratives of resilience, hope, and the relentless pursuit of justice against systemic barriers.
The film not only demonstrated the lives and challenges of everyday heroes but also highlighted unity, strength and the power of standing together.
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And on June 20th, another screening of La Cuenta Pendiente (Outstanding Balance)” was successfully screened at The Jewel at King William during a beautiful summer evening under the stars. The outdoor setting created an intimate and heartfelt atmosphere, with over 40 people in attendance.
Following the screening, we held a powerful Q&A session where guests shared personal reflections and engaged deeply with the film’s themes of workplace justice, resilience, and empowerment. It was truly a moving night.
Even more exciting — the short film has officially been selected for CineFestival and will be showcased at the Jo Long Theatre at the Carver Cultural Community Center on Thursday, July 10 at 7:00 PM.
Thank you to all of our volunteers for their partnership and compassion.
Volunteer Highlights
On June 7th, volunteers gathered at the Olga Madrid Center, where they pulled up their sleeves to help spruce up the Olga Madrid Center to ensure the space was ready for children attending programs for the summer. They also helped organize the food pantry to ensure items are accessible for clients.
On June 28th, volunteers from Power Home assembled sensory and had fun with painting projects. Power Home also serves YWCA as a generous donor; earlier this year, they committed $100,000 to benefit the Women’s Live & Learn Center.
