Governor Greg Abbott and the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature failed to improve public school funding, despite a $33 billion surplus and the high cost of inflation. Listen as this week’s guest, Dr. Jaime Aquino, shares his vision for education as superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District, the city’s largest inner city public school district with about 45,000 students, 90% of whom are Latino and economically disadvantaged.  

This week’s guest is Veronica Salazar, Executive Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Enterprise Development Officer at the University of Texas at San Antonio. 

Could UTSA's Institutute of Texan Cultures become the future site of a new Spurs arena? Listen as Veronica Salazar discusses the future of UTSA's presence downtown. The university’s Chief Enterprise Development Officer, Ms. Salazar oversees the Campus Master Plan and the continuing expansion of the Downtown Campus, including the $90 million School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center, integration of the Southwest School of Art, and ongoing planning for the future of the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) currently located at Hemisfair. 

This week’s guest is Humberto G. Garcia, a San Antonio attorney, avid golfer, and author of "Mustang Miracle," a book chronicling the inspiring small-town Texas story of five Mexican-American caddies in segregated Del Rio who overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to form the San Felipe Mustangs Golf Team.  Overcoming racism, exclusion, and poverty in a deeply segregated city and state, they went on to win the 1957 State High School Golf Championship. 

Garcia’s book has become a major motion picture titled “The Long Game” scheduled for nationwide release on April 12, 2024. The film is directed by Julio Quintana and stars actors Jay Hernandez, Jaina Lee Ortiz, Dennis Quaid, and Julian Works.

This week’s guest is Charles Blank, co-founder of the local nonprofit River Aid San Antonio (RASA), the volunteer organization that leads monthly cleanups of litter and dumped materials that perpetually clog and deface San Antonio’s watershed, its network of creeks and the San Antonio River.

Saturday, Feb. 17 will mark the 29th anniversary of Basura Bash, the annual, one-day, citywide anti-litter event. River Aid has become the host of the event.

River Aid

On this episode of bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard, Bob is joined by Nicholas Frank, senior arts reporter for the San Antonio Report as they speak with Juan Tejeda, founder of the San Antonio Conjunto Festival.

He has published a family memoir centered on the life of his brother Frank Tejeda, former U.S. Marine and decorated Vietnam War vet, state legislator, city councilman, Congressman, and Southside leader who died at the age of 51 in 1997.

This week’s guest is Laura Terrill, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas, a position she assumed last year following the retirement of longtime CEO Jeffrey Hons. Laura joined Planned Parenthood in 2012 as executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Orregon in Portland. Before coming to San Antonio, she served as vice president of external affairs at Planned Parenthood of Montana in Bozeman.

Planned Parenthood South Texas

Laura Terrill on LinkedIn

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This week on the bigcitysmalltown podcast, host Bob Rivard welcomes Carlos Contreras, CEO and President of Goodwill Industries in San Antonio.

As Carlos shares insights about San Antonio’s economic challenges—with nearly half its population financially insecure—he underscores Goodwill’s mission: lifting individuals above precarious living conditions towards sustainability and self-sufficiency. 

Goodwill San Antonio website

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The setting is Velocity TX, once a cold storage complex now reimagined by Rene Dominguez and his team at the Texas Research and Technology Foundation (TRTF). They're igniting growth in the city's near East side with a focus on bioscience and healthcare.

Dominguez reflects on TRTF's four-decade journey since General McDermott's ambitious vision for a research park akin to North Carolina’s Research Triangle. Despite initial challenges attracting tenants due to its remote location, TRTF pivoted towards creating an urban innovation district that thrives on proximity and collaboration.

Velocity TX emerged from this shift – both as a physical hub fostering startups through robust programs like accelerators and incubators, and as an economic powerhouse generating revenue streams for further development. With plans to unify under one brand, they've already attracted significant players who are pioneering stem cell manufacturing within their campus.

The organization isn't stopping there; it has acquired historic properties like Allan & Allan Lumber with intentions of preserving San Antonio legacies while fueling their mission financially. As  Dominguez transitions from public service to leading Velocity TX, he envisions not just an innovation district but also honoring G.J. Sutton’s legacy in future developments.

With strategic partnerships and community support, TRTF aims to convert 70 acres into thriving mixed-use spaces centered around health sciences – potentially anchored by military medical research consolidated under Defense Health Agency. This bold plan promises job creation and invigorated economic activity for San Antonio’s east side.

Velocity TX website

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bigcitysmalltown will return on January 8th, 2024 with a brand new episode. We extend heartfelt thanks to Graham Weston and his company Western Urban, alongside Geekdom for their unwavering support throughout the year. Our journey has been enriched by the people who contribute daily to San Antonio's progress – you can catch up on all episodes at bigcitysmalltown.com.

On this episode of bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard welcomes Fr. Eddy Morales.

On May 24th, 2022, Uvalde was shaken by Texas' deadliest school shooting at Robb Elementary School - 19 students and two teachers perished. In grief's shadow, Father Eddy guided his community through loss with funerals for over half the victims and nurturing healing in its aftermath.

Recognized nationally for his compassionate service during this dark chapter, Father Eddy Morales received the US Surgeon General’s Medallion Award for Health - a testament to love triumphing over despair. Honored at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, Fr. Eddy Morales exemplified unwavering kindness amid sorrow.

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