LSA 47 leans into Civic Engagement

This month’s LSA 47 class day included 8 rounds of “fights” that began in the ring at San Fernando Boxing Club–meeting City and County leaders who shared the roles, tools, and challenges they face each day as civic leaders. The morning line up included: AJ Rodriguez of Texas 2036, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, Bexar County Commissioner Rebecca Clay Flores, and City of San Antonio’s City Manager Erik Walsh.

Once the class had the tools they needed to jump in the ring, they were challenged to solve for the digital divide (as one of San Antonio’s most pressing needs outlined by Texas 2036). Jordana Barton, of Connect Humanity’s Statewide Working Group for TX Broadband Development, and Brian Regnier of Big Sun Solar led an interactive activity with absolutely no technology allowed in the room. To help our LSA leaders solve the issue, Salena Guipzot and her Board Room Project leaders (future LSA class of ‘57) stepped in to share their insight and innovation in solving for digital access.

The class concluded by meeting eleven nonprofits working in the digital divide space locally and signing up for board roles, fundraising support, and other civic engagement opportunities. Henry Cisneros closed the day with powerful and inspirational words reminding us that civic engagement is most effective at the local level, leaving our LSA “fighters” ready to take on San Antonio’s biggest challenges in the future. “Wake up every day thinking about the small things you can do to make big change on a local level,” relayed Cisneros.

Special thanks go out to LSA 47 Civic Engagement sponsors including Valero, Dykema, City of San Antonio, K. Charles Salons, First Tee – Greater San Antonio, VIA, EY, The Tobin Center, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, San Antonio River Authority, Security Service Federal Credit Union, San Fernando Boxing Club, La Panaderia, and Great Graze.