Human Relations Initiative

During Black History Month, we take honor the sacrifices and trials of unimaginable hardships endured by previous generations of black people; we also celebrate the outstanding achievements of black people within the fields of art, science, technology, literature, film, politics, sports, and every field of distinction. The Human Relations Initiative invites you to join in celebrating this very important month.

Thank you to Alamo Beer for their generous donations! By purchasing their Black is Beautiful beer, you have supported organizations like ours to promote social justice, diversity, and inclusion! Visit www.alamobeer.com for more information. Drink responsibly! 🍻

GIVING TUESDAY: DECEMBER 1, 2020
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF ALLYSHIP THROUGH DONATION

WHO IS THE UNITED COMMUNITIES OF SAN ANTONIO, INC. (UCSA)?

•UCSA is a human relations organization dedicated to creating safe and inclusive communities, while advocating for social justice, by promoting understanding and respect among all people through awareness, education, and dialogue (mission statement).

WHY DOES UCSA EXIST?

•UCSA is Called to Advocacy because individuals still suffer from Bullying, Exclusion, Harassment, Hatred, Oppression, Prejudice, Racism, And Violence.

As a Non-Profit 501c3, UCSA relies on charitable giving. Donations will assist UCSA in continuing to be a source of awareness, education, and dialogue while providing resources to the community through our services, in hopes that we can all be collaborative champions and allies in creating just, safe, and inclusive communities for all people.

To make a donation, please visit www.ucofsa.org, and select “CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION”. Thank You for considering allyship with the United Communities of San Antonio.

In Unity,
The United Communities of San Antonio, Inc., Board of Directors, and Herbert Nance, Jr. (President/CEO).

Today, the United Communities of San Antonio (UCSA) was honored to present our program “How to Get Along with Others”, to the Madison Square Presbyterian Church Racial Reconciliation & Justice Group.

We are humbled by the opportunity and hopeful that the discussion and resources provided will aid the participants with Individual Accountability and Collective Responsibility.

We all must lean into Human Relations through Kindness and Compassion, Empathy and Sensitivity, Respect and Healing, and Reconciliation and Justice.

In Unity, UCSA.

We must be clear that this is INDEED AN ACT OF HATE.

A component of the United Communities of San Antonio, Inc. (UCSA) portfolio of services to the San Antonio Region is Emergency Resource Availability – Emergency preparedness in a real time fashion to respond to current events by reaching out to involved and/or affected communities to obtain additional information, listen to concerns, and assess how UCSA can help via implementation of a plan to address both short term and potential long-lasting impacts.

Therefore, as a resource to the community in providing awareness; we respectfully share the information from the Hollywood Park Police Department, which was released to our community on November 8, 2020, related to propaganda flyers distributed at residences.

Additionally, it was reported through the media: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/police-investigating-anti-black-lives-matter-flyers-in-hollywood-park-parts-of-stone-oak

Our community continues to experience these incidents which has uprooted even more hatred, division, fear, and unrest within the region. UCSA unequivocally condemns all acts of bullying, exclusion, harassment, hatred, oppression, prejudice, racism, and violence.

UCSA is a human relations organization dedicated to creating safe and inclusive communities, while advocating for social justice, by promoting understanding and respect among all people through awareness, education, and dialogue (mission statement).

As a community, we must collectively work to remove hatred and racism and improve human relations. There must be awareness, education, and dialogue with citizens, neighbors, local groups, community leaders, elected, and appointed officials.

UCSA stands ready to convey compassion for those whom have been directly impacted. Additionally, UCSA is prepared to facilitate and perform the necessary efforts to bring healing and unity to our communities within the San Antonio region and beyond!

For more information, please visit https://ucofsa.org.

HOME | UCofSA.org

Today, the United Communities of San Antonio (UCSA) was honored to present our program on Conflict Resolution, to the Madison Square Presbyterian Church Racial Reconciliation & Justice Group.

We are humbled by the opportunity and hopeful that the discussion and resources provided will aid in Conflict Identification Management, and Resolution.

In Unity, UCSA.

As we approach Election Day, we remind ourselves of the values that distinguish us as humans: kindness, compassion, and reconciliation.

https://tinyurl.com/yxofavl3

The United Communities of San Antonio applauds the beautiful art work, "Door of Equality (La Puerta de Igualdad)" by the Artist Sebastien.

“With the current climate we are living in, one where walls are being proposed, I wanted to create a work that speaks to the importance of keeping doors open and being vigilant about true equality,” said Sebastian.

Thank you to the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture.

UCSA will continue to advocate for social justice by promoting understanding, dialogue, respect, and equality for all!

Today, UCSA was honored to present our Awareness & Education program (remotely) to the Madison Square Presbyterian Church Racial Reconciliation & Justice Group.

The program focuses on clarifying values, understanding diversity, appreciating culture, and cross-cultural communication skills.

For more information on our organization and services, please visit www.ucofsa.org.

Human Relations Initiative updated their phone number.

“In late August [UCSA President/CEO Herbert Nance] co-led a service at a multi-racial Presbyterian Church in San Antonio where... he recounted 20 life-forming racial incidents that he had in his life. Oral history is an important, but often overlooked component of qualitative research... a way to quantify important qualitative elements of the Black experience, that might not be a part of ‘textbook’ history.” -Craig Mills, Founder of 20 Recaps [in MDR].

https://ucofsa.org/resources

Thank you to Alamo Beer for their generous donation! By purchasing their Black is Beautiful beer, you support organizations like ours to promote social justice, diversity, and inclusion! Visit www.alamobeer.com for more information. Drink responsibly! 🍻

UCSA, as a human relations organization, continues to recognize the human lives lost related to the Coronavirus Pandemic (John Hopkins):

Globally: 1,023,817
United States: 207,816
Texas: 16,130

Specifically in the San Antonio Region (By County)
Atascosa: 32
Bandera: 8
Bexar: 1,318
Comal: 103
Guadalupe: 76
Kendall: 8
Medina: 46
Wilson: 26

Our thoughts remain with those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. We also acknowledge there are so many who are diagnosed, living, battling, or attempting to recover from the virus. You all remain in our hopes.

We ask that everyone follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and comply with governmental emergency declarations and executive orders.

Please remember acts of humanity, kindness, and compassion will aid us all collectively through this uncertain time.

In Unity, UCSA.

For more than 65 years, United Communities of San Antonio (UCSA) has worked to enhance inclusivity, respect, and justice in the San Antonio region and surrounding geographical areas through our portfolio of services. Today, we are pleased to provide our 3rd Quarter 2020 Update to the Community. In Unity, UCSA. https://ucofsa.org/

“Every person has a choice what they read or don't read, there is power in that power. We should celebrate it and thank our lucky stars that Librarians make a big deal of this week, standing up for our freedom to choose.” -Katherine V. Dillard, Librarian and UCSA Board Member.

Happy Banned Books Week! 📚

Here is the UCSA Social Justice Initiative Resource Document for Banned Books Week: bit.ly/3n98Hbg

UCSA will not "stand back" or "stand by", but instead will Speak Up and Speak Out!

UCSA unequivocally condemns bullying, exclusion, hatred, harassment, oppression, prejudice, racism, and violence.

UCSA will continue advocating for racial justice, furthering promotion of racial equity, and working to dismantle and eliminate racism in all its forms.

UCSA remains committed to uniting the communities of San Antonio, the region, and surrounding counties through our mission, purpose, vision, work, and services.

In Unity,
United Communities of San Antonio.

As we remain engaged with politics and the current Presidential Election, we take a moment to reflect on two of the core issues of recent weeks: diversity training and the broader topic of ending racism in America. Below is the UCSA resource document on the matter. Stay informed on how these important issues affect all of our lives. The first Presidential Debate is tonight at 8 pm CST/9 pm EST.

https://ucofsa.org/resources

Today, events experienced, actions taken, and statements made have uprooted even more hatred, division, fear, and unrest.

To improve race relations, there must be a call for dialogue with citizens, neighbors, local groups, community leaders, elected, and appointed officials.

Respectfully, while it is easy to identify and/or differentiate via the group(s) we may individually fall in of those mentioned above; we all fall under one group together, HUMAN.

Together, as a united community; we can be collaborative champions to create just, safe, and inclusive communities for all people.

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Be sure to check out our resource guide on how to make sure you are registered. Your vote matters! www.ucofsa.org/resources

A Champion. A Trailblazer.

The Late Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Former Associate Justice of The Supreme Court of The United States.

May the legacies of civil rights advocates lost this year, be a supporting catalyst to our individual advocacy, collective understanding, community inspiration, and inclusive illumination for all!

In Unity,
The United Communities of San Antonio.

Everyone, be sure to go support Cactus Land Brewing Co. by purchasing some delicious beer! Their amazing brewery produces “diverse beer for diverse people.” They are open today from 3-9 pm and on Saturday from 12-9 pm. Visit http://cactuslandbrewing.com/ for more info. Drink responsibly! 🍻

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)!

Today, we remember and honor those who lost their lives; we also honor the American spirit of unity, diversity, equality, kindness, sacrifice, and hope.

Today, the United Communities of San Antonio was honored to participate in a panel discussion live on the Texas Public Radio (TPR) local call-in talk show, “The Source”. This week the station was airing a multi-part national series, “Summer of Racial Reckoning,” followed by the locally focused episodes on TPR live.

Panelists:
Mario Salas, Organizer of the San Antonio Coalition for Police Accountability; Javier Salazar, Bexar County Sheriff; Herbert Nance, president and CEO of United Communities of San Antonio

The discussion can be listened to here: https://www.tpr.org/post/creating-future-racial-justice-equity-san-antonio-and-beyond

The recording is also available on the UCSA website on the media page. We hope it is a resource of awareness and education for the community.

In Unity, The United Communities of San Antonio.

Creating A Future Of Racial Justice, Equity In San Antonio And Beyond THURSDAY on "The Source" — After months of protests and difficult conversations, what is the way forward to create a more racially just and equitable San

On Thursday, September 10th from 12 – 1pm, United Communities of San Antonio (UCSA) President/CEO Herbert Nance will participate in a panel discussion focused on “Creating a Racially Just and Equitable San Antonio."

The discussion will be live on the Texas Public Radio (TPR) local call-in talk show, “The Source” https://www.tpr.org/programs/source. This week the station is airing a multi-part national series, “Summer of Racial Reckoning,” followed by the locally focused episodes on TPR live.

Listeners can contribute to the conversation by calling in during the live show at 833-TPR-TALK (833-877-8255). The show will livestream on www.tpr.org. Subsequently, the full program will be posted online in the afternoon, and will re-air that evening starting at 7:06 p.m.

We sincerely hope you will take the time to listen. In Unity, UCSA.