Culturingua receives visit from Duke and Duchess of Sussex

part of Culturingua’s Sewing for Success program, a Welcome Project grantee. The Duke and Duchess were hosted by Nader Mehdawi, Culturingua COO, and Nadia Mavrakis, Culturingua CEO, respectively.

The Welcome Project, a program of the Archewell Foundation, supports the programming provided by Culturingua for women who have recently resettled in San Antonio from Afghanistan. Through Culturingua’s Sewing for Success classes, these women benefit from group gatherings where they develop their sewing skills and build community.

Restoring the lives of young women rescued from sex trafficking

Youth Center of Texas Restoring Lives

Residents of the Youth Center of Texas are in many ways typical young women in their late teens and early twenties. They love music, clothes, doing their hair and nails and making plans for the future.

To look at them, you’d never know they are all survivors of sex trafficking in San Antonio.

They’re now receiving comprehensive care through YCOT, the only residential facility in Bexar County providing support services exclusively to young women aged 18-22 who have experienced sexual exploitation or trafficking.

Teaching kids life lessons through golf

first tee San Antonio

“The thing I loved about the SVP fellowship was that it was more tactical toward what you’re doing every day,” she said. “With me being new to nonprofits, looking at the financials, HR, marketing, fundraising – the information was incredible. But beyond that, the conglomeration of other nonprofit leaders just sharing ideas with the tools we were given from SVP was truly invaluable.”
Zamora is one example of how First Tee of Greater San Antonio is changing the lives of young people. First Tee San Antonio is the local chapter of a national youth development organization that empowers kids and teens through golf.

Creating a world-class park in San Antonio

One of the best parts of Shannon Perry’s job is when she sees children leaving a show at the Magik Theater. As soon as they turn to see Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair, their eyes get bigger, their jaws drop and they start running with joy toward the colorful, vibrant playground next door.  

“That never gets old,” she said. “I love seeing the faces of those kids.”

Supporting moms and families

When Tia Gibson’s younger brother died tragically, she was lost in grief. 
“I didn’t realize how deep-rooted it was. I didn’t know how to deal with it, but I knew I still had my children to take care of,” Gibson said. “I decided I needed to do something that would allow me to feel again and to live out his legacy.”

That’s when she decided to start Monster Moms…

Advancing and engaging people with disabilities

Melanie Cawthon was working with people with intellectual disabilities when she discovered her calling. She saw that while many organizations exist to help people with specific disabilities, a person or their caregiver dealing with multiple disabilities would need to find three, four or more different agencies to get assistance. The city needed a unified community of service providers. That insight … Read More

Supporting veterans with personalized care

Military service sometimes comes at a personal cost for service members and their families. That’s why Endeavors, a San Antonio-based nonprofit organization, is dedicated to helping veterans and their families with personalized, comprehensive care. Hear from one of the SVPSA Fellows on their mission to support military and their families.

The Power of the SVPSA ConnNectwork

Connections through SVPSA

A car wash does not seem to be a very big deal. However, when a fledgling organization gets an unexpected communication offering the proceeds of a Haunted Car Wash to be held the weekend prior to Halloween, the wheels start to turn.

Nonprofits We Love: Pride Center San Antonio

The Pride Center San Antonio provides much-needed support to the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) community, who often face significant obstacles in their daily lives.