When greater:SATX Regional Economic Partnership launched its SA WORX program ten years ago, we started with a big question: How can we better connect young people in our region to the skills, experiences, and networks that lead to meaningful careers right here in San Antonio?
This question became the foundation for SA WORX, a program that began as a job shadow initiative and has evolved into something much greater—a nationally recognized work-based learning model creating equitable opportunity fueled by regional collaboration. Today, SA WORX stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when employers, educators, community leaders, and the investors who make our work possible align around a shared goal: preparing talent for the jobs of today and the future.
Over the past decade, SA WORX has served more than 53,000 young people across San Antonio through internships, Job Shadow Days, and Alamo Fellows. Our paid internships alone have generated more than $7 million in direct impact on youth salaries.
This summer, 170 high school students interned across key industries like advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, healthcare, IT, and financial services. They didn’t just earn a paycheck—they refined essential skills, explored career paths, and built professional networks that will serve them long after graduation. For many, it was their first meaningful step toward a future they can envision for themselves in San Antonio’s thriving economy.
We’ve expanded our outreach across 19 school districts (including private and charter) and partnered with youth-led organizations to deepen our community impact. Our efforts extend beyond students as employers get access to a growing pool of homegrown talent, and our city strengthens its position as a place where opportunity lives. More than 500 local educators have participated in teacher externships with STEM-focused employers, bringing real-world insight back into classrooms and helping students see the relevance of what they’re learning.
The progress we’ve made over the past decade is our shared success. It would not have been possible without our employer partners' commitment, our education leaders' dedication, our funders' generous support and, most importantly, our students’ desire to learn and grow. This milestone is a win for students, a win for employers, and a win for the San Antonio region.
Watch our video to hear directly from the employers and students who have participated over the past 10 years.