On the first day of early voting in the San Antonio runoff for mayor, 12,218 voters voted, the biggest turnout in recent memory. Compassion is not a warm, fuzzy feeling: it is ACTION, and one of the most effective ways to act is to take your part in the civic life of our community. Voting is caring! You can get a list of early voting locations and their hours here. The polls are open through Tuesday, June 4, and election day (when you must vote at your local precinct) is Saturday, June 8.
This compassionate news roundup is published every Wednesday. If you want to get the news sooner, follow us on Twitter @compassionNET1. And don’t forget to use the hashtag #compassionateSA so we can find YOUR compassionate acts!
Seen on KSAT 12, 22 May, 2019
Fifth grader writes award-winning essay about immigration
Noah Delgado, 10, will now compete nationally. “I just felt badly for everyone who just wanted a better life,” he said.
Found on WOAI 4, 22 May, 2019
Monument is first to honor unaccompanied & homeless veterans at Fort Sam Houston
“If you serve in the military you will always have a family, and the family will be those who served with you.”
Seen on WOAI 4, 22 May, 2019
Wagner High School senior awarded David Molak Kindness Scholarship
Peter Fernandez was nominated for the $1,000 scholarship by one of his teachers for demonstrating patience and kindness to his classmates.
Found in the Express-News, 22 May, 2019
San Antonio charter school turns farming into a classroom
“Gardeners know to invest in soil. When you improve the soil, you bear good fruit.”
Seen on KSAT 12, 22 May, 2019
Alamo Community Group breaks ground on affordable housing project near SAMA
86 units to be reserved for families earning less than 60% of area median income.
Found in Mother Jones Magazine, 23 May, 2019
Thousands of Immigrants Were Dumped in San Antonio. The City’s Response Was a Lesson in Kindness.
“When it’s up close and personal, people do a better job separating the politics from the people.”
Found in the Rivard Report, 23 May, 2019
San Antonio’s Musical Bridges Wins International Award For Connecting Cultures
Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW) is the first U.S. recipient of the Fair Saturday award, given by the Bilbao, Spain-based Fair Saturday Foundation to arts organizations that “generate a notable social impact through culture.”
Found on FOX 29, 23 May, 2019
Drug treatment facility treating drug addiction with fitness
“I see them digging deep, I see them resilient, I see them persisting, I see them showing up for each other.”
Visto en KWEX 41, 23 de mayo de 2019
Inauguran hogar para sobrevivientes de tráfico humano [House for survivors of human trafficking is inaugurated.]
Se trata de Mariposa Home un lugar de vivienda de transición de 18 meses que brida atención y reparación para mujeres sobrevivientes de trata de personas, agresión sexual y violencia doméstica. [Mariposa Home is an 18-month transitional housing site that provides care and reparation to women survivors of human trafficking, sexual abuse and domestic violence.]
Seen on KSAT 12, 24 May, 2019
Local food truck doing more than making great food
“This is our mobile ministry that we use to serve people great food, but also just to reach out to people and help them. We designed this as a vehicle to help people in need.”
Seen on KSAT 12, 24 May, 2019
New shelter empowering sex trafficking victims who have aged out of other shelters
“This is a program for women who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. They are ready to say, ‘I want my life restored.’”
Visto en KWEX 41, 23 de mayo de 2019
San Antonio continúa recibiendo a decenas de inmigrantes [San Antonio continues to receive dozens of immigrants]
La ciudad es una de las principales localidades en la recepción de migrantes que cruzan la frontera sur. La mayoría de los que llegan son centroamericanos. [The city is one of the main localities in the reception of migrants who cross the southern border. The majority of those who arrive are Central Americans.]
Found in the Rivard Report, 25 May, 2019
San Antonio Sees Improvement In Park Access But Still Ranks Low Among Large Cities
“Quality, close-to-home parks are essential to communities. Parks bring neighbors together and help cities fight climate change. Parks are proven to improve physical and mental health and get children and adults to put down their phones and enjoy the outdoors.”
Found in the Express-News, 27 May, 2019
Hoping for interreligious dialogue to become way of life
In the dialogue of the hands, we work to make the world a better place where we all must live together. In the dialogue of the heart, we share the emotional experience of those different from us.
Found in the Express-News, 27 May, 2019
The domestic violence challenge — change things
Councilman Palaez: “We can’t ask the orphaned children of the 28 women murdered last year what they would like for us to do about domestic violence. But I think it’s safe to assume that if asked, they’d beg us to do something — anything.”
Found in the Rivard Report, 28 May, 2019
At Vets’ Retirement Community, Volunteer Group Pledges ‘No One Will Die Alone’
The group is trained in pain management, the stages of death, and how to provide spiritual help. They hold the dying person’s hand, caress his or her head, talk, sing, and listen.
Found in the Express-News, 26 May, 2019
Former Roosevelt student-athletes raise $8,000 with their annual golf tournament
“We said let’s not wait until something bad happens in our backyard and we tell ourselves we could’ve did something about this.”
Seen on KENS 5, 27 May, 2019
Kids with disabilities dancing without limits
The adapted program allows children with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, intellectual and visual impairments to dance together.
Found in the Rivard Report, 27 May, 2019
Lead-Based Paint Exposure Still Poses Health Risks for Children
The Green and Healthy Homes initiative has served 1,073 units across the city since 2005; more than 2,685 children have been spared from exposure to lead over that period.
Seen on KSAT 12, 28 May, 2019
Local school districts to offer free meals over the summer
ECISD, EISD, NEISD, NISD, SAISD, SSISD, SWISD & Idea Public Schools participate.
Found in the Rivard Report, 29 May, 2019
Volunteers Find Connection and Friendship by Visiting with Elders
By volunteering time, Meals on Wheels Friendly Visitors can help seniors combat some key health concerns. Too often, seniors who are no longer able to leave their homes can start to feel isolated and depressed.
