Last weekend was the opening blessing for the San Antonio Tibetan Buddhist Center for World Peace, located just to the east of Camp Bullis. In the photo above, Lama Passang Gelek, one of San Antonio’s newest citizens and the Lama in Residence at the Center and Geshe Thubten Dorjee, visiting from the University of Arkansas where, in 2008 he was co-founder of the TEXT oral history project, which documents the stories of Tibetans in Exile, sign the Charter for Compassion. (Fayetteville is a compassionate city, too, Geshe Dorjee was quick to point out.) Lama Passang carefully studied the San Antonio Compassionate City resolution, passed unanimously by the City Council signed by Mayor Ron Nirenberg on June 22, his first day in office and is honored to be living in a compassionate city. Let’s all welcome to a new voice for compassion in San Antonio!
Seen in the San Antonio Express-News, 18 October, 2017
Spurs link arms for National Anthem before season opener
Before the Spurs kicked of their season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, they linked arms for the National Anthem. A message also appeared on the scoreboard at the AT&T Center that read:
“We understand your desire to attend our games as an escape and chosen form of entertainment. In fact, we feel there is a significant commonality in all of us that allows our community to be so special.
“That commonality should include aspirations for social justice, freedom of speech in its many forms, and equal opportunity for education and economic advancement regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religion.
“It is our hope that we can, as a community, inspire and evoke real change. We ask that you join with us in your daily lives in the pursuit of equality.
“And in that, we honor our country by exercising demands for what this great nation has promised, and what our military continues to fight for.”
Written by Cary Clack for FOLOMedia, October 18, 2017
Why it’s hard to talk about race
Inheritances are blessings and curses, gifts and burdens. As individuals and generations, we aren’t responsible for our ancestors’ actions, but we’re obligated to understand the consequences of those actions, good and bad.
Seen in the Express-News, 24 October, 2017
New arrivals show pride of origin in San Antonio school parade
After all the countries had been given their time to shine, the whole school sang the song “Together We Can Change the World.” “Change your mind and change your life/ Set aside the fear and strife, “ they sang. “Together we can change the world.”
Seen on Kens 5, 18 October, 2017
People Who Make San Antonio Great: Trainer Tre Tremillo
fter being medically discharged from the Marines in 2015, Tremillo started the Warrior Fitness Center in his garage. He had seen tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and suffered from extreme PTSD. Once out of uniform, he launched the gym to help heal himself and other recuperating veterans.
Seen in the Rivard Report, 19 October, 2017
Eastsiders Decry ‘New Pearl’ Development to Area Democratic Reps
Representatives cited investment in education, creation of jobs, a more restorative way of addressing crime, and heightened involvement on the community level as tools to break cycles of criminal activity. They all agreed that fostering cohesiveness among neighbors and consistent outreach to elected officials also are effective solutions.
Found in Out in SA, 18 October, 2017
After Three Months in Office, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg Ratifies His Commitment to LGBTQ Rights
That [support] means that marginalized members of the community, people who have felt voiceless, people who are underrepresented, believe that they have a champion in the mayor’s office, and that makes me feel really good.
Found in the Express-News, 19 October, 2017
Local crime watch organization spots graffiti correlation, trains neighbors
“Its absolutely the best approach, for neighbors to get to know each other and trust each other, and to call when they see something suspicious,” [Tinker Schultz] said. “It’s a much more proactive approach and hopefully sustaining over time.”
Seen in the Express-News, 19 October, 2017
Top Workplaces 2017 special awards winners stand out for leadership, values
“We strive to give our employees a purpose and we treat each other with respect, which makes it easier to come to work every day,” Randolph-Brooks President and CEO Christopher O’Connor said. “We aren’t just trying to reach certain sales goals or make a certain amount of money. Our employees know they are really helping our members.”
Found in the Rivard Report, 20 October, 2017
Local Nonprofit Builds Free Data Tool for Community Insight
CI:Now’s Viz-a-lyzer, released last month, allows users to explore Bexar County data across several key indicators at varying geographic levels over time. The tool reflects the broader mission of CI:Now, which is to improve the public’s ability to use and access data, an issue that has proven to be a common roadblock to data literacy in San Antonio.
Seen on KENS5, 20 October, 2017
People of faith pray at crime scene where two children were shot
[Johndavid] De Leon said that his most fervent hope is that the Palms will no longer be in the news for bad things, but transformed into a community where great things happen.
Seen in the Express-News, 21 October, 2017
NEISD teacher wins statewide humanities award
“[Ryan Sprott] invites his students to consider different perspectives and empathize with people of different cultures and beliefs,” [US Rep. Joaquin] Castro said. “In the moments that we’re in now, we understand how important that is for our students to appreciate.”
Seen on KSAT 12, 20 October, 2017
Program pairs adults with tutors to combat city’s illiteracy problem
“The good news is the solution lies with all of us — by becoming a volunteer tutor,” [Carolyn Heath, executive director of Each One Teach One] said.
News release from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Web site, 19 Oct0ber, 2017
Texas All-Stars: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio Lead the Way in LGBTQ Equality
Shining like beacons of hope, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio earned one of HRC’s 41 MEI “All Star” designations. MEI All Stars are cities nationwide that are excelling by advancing LGBTQ equality without relying on state law. This year, Austin earned a 100, Dallas earned a 100, Fort Worth earned a 100 and San Antonio earned a 95. The average score for cities in Texas is 41 out of 100 points, which falls below the national average of 57.
Found in the Express-News, 22 October, 2017
Former foster children reunite in San Antonio to honor mentor
“So many of you came from unimaginable circumstances,” [Leland] Hacker told the several dozen who showed up for a reunion held Saturday at the Churchill Estates rec center. “And now, look at you. We made it through and that’s what counts; my heart just fills with this.”
Found on KEN5, 22 October, 2017
Pediatric cancer patients celebrate Halloween at ‘Boo Bash’
These kids are such heroes, and I’m reminded every year. It kind of grounds you that you think you might have problems in life, but you come and see these kids. They’re such true heroes. It just inspires you,” said Delores Hagen, lead volunteer with the American Cancer Society.
Seen in the Rivard Report, 23 October, 2017
SA Leaders Head To Darmstadt To Launch Sister Cities Agreement
“It’a simple recipe: You start with friendship, then find opportunities based on mutual understandings and exchanges,” said San Antonio Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Richard Perez, who will be accompanied on the mission by three other Chamber executives. “People do business with people they know and trust.”
Seen in the Express-News, 24 October, 2017
Memorial standouts balance breakthrough season with fatherhood
“They’re our family members. We’re going to take care of each other,” [Coach Kemmie] Lewis said. “We don’t judge. We’ve got each other’s back.”
Written by Congressman Lloyd Doggett for the Express-News, 24 October, 2017
Congress is allowing CHIP to die; it mustn’t
Dr. Rudy Morales Urby shared the story of Juan and Maria, whose parents make a bit too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private coverage. Both of these children with chronic illnesses were finding themselves in the emergency room about once a month, before getting covered through CHIP. Now, when they need care, the children can see a family physician, instead of the inside of an ambulance.
