Corporate Partners For Racial Equity focuses on education, economic opportunity and justice

A dozen San Antonio area business leaders joined efforts to form Corporate Partners for Racial Equity, a new community effort with a mission of improving racial equity in our area.

As part of this effort, business members took a close look at racial equity disparities in San Antonio and recognized their complexity and deep roots. 

Over the last year, more than 30 local and national leaders and experts provided their input around the current systemic disadvantages underserved groups face and how those factors influence nearly every aspect of life, from access to healthcare, housing, transportation, education and capital to involvement with the justice system. These leaders also developed recommendations for meaningful collective action and selected community partners for execution moving forward.  

Many of the founding business members are jointly contributing nearly $14 million over the next five years to support initiatives for underserved people in three focus areas: equitable education, economic opportunity and community safety and justice. The United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, UP Partnership and the San Antonio Area Foundation are partnering with Corporate Partners for Racial Equity to execute the program’s investments into the community’s nonprofit organizations.

FOCUS AREAS

Equitable Education:

INITIATIVES FOR UNDERSERVED GROUPS

Invest in tutoring programs and STEM-related skills exploration opportunities for students of underserved communities. Offer educational, career and skill development opportunities that lead to living wage jobs. Further digital inclusion efforts that give families affordable access to quality technology and internet in their homes.

Economic Opportunity:

Deepen supplier diversity programs within member businesses. Establish a non-dilutive capital fund to offer robust services and training to small businesses. Accelerate dual-generation efforts, including subsidizing early childhood education, family engagement activities and adult education, such as financial coaching, workforce training, certification programs, digital literacy programs, etc. 

Safety and Justice:

Invest in wraparound services and violence prevention. Offer paid internships for justice-involved youth and young adults to advance fair chance hiring and create pathways for successful community reintegration. 

The partnership’s founding members include:

  • Brad Barron, President & CEO, NuStar Energy
  • Craig Boyan, President & COO, H-E-B
  • RC Buford, CEO, Spurs Sports & Entertainment
  • Joe Gorder, Chairman & CEO, Valero Energy Corporation
  • Phil Green, Chairman and CEO, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
  • Adam Hamilton, President & CEO, Southwest Research Institute
  • Kevin Jones, CEO, Rackspace Technology
  • Wayne Peacock, CEO, USAA
  • Robert Puente, President & CEO, SAWS
  • Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, President & CEO, greater:SATX
  • G.P. Singh, Philanthropist
  • Kevin Voelkel, President, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, Inc.