Regional News

Jun 2025

SATX360 Newsletter | A Decade of Building Talent

Staff Reports

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A 360° Perspective

When we launched our 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 here?

What began as a job shadow initiative has evolved into something much greater—a nationally recognized work-based learning model grounded in regional collaboration and designed to create equitable opportunity. Today, SA WORX stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when employers, educators, and community leaders 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 programs like Alamo Fellows, designed to support first-generation college students. Through partnerships with CAST Schools, Family Service, Communities in Schools, Junior Achievement, and others, our paid internships alone have generated more than $7 million in direct impact on youth salaries. Those are real earnings that go into students’ pockets while they gain hands-on, meaningful experience from some of the region’s leading employers.

This summer, 150 high school students are interning across key industries like advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and health and bioscience. They’re not just earning a paycheck—they’re refining essential skills, exploring career paths, and building professional networks that will serve them long after graduation. For many, it’s their first meaningful step toward a future they can envision for themselves.

Our reach has expanded to 19 school districts and more than 40 campuses, building a truly regional talent pipeline. But our efforts extend beyond students. 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.

We’ve also enhanced our internship program with professional development digital badges. Over 500 badges have been earned to date, recognizing skills like time management, emotional intelligence, and resilience—qualities as critical as technical know-how in today’s workforce.

SA WORX has become a strategic partner for employers looking to grow their talent pipelines. That is why, year-over-year, 85% of employers return to participate in our programs. We have built trust not only with industry leaders but also with our education partners. That trust allows us to regularly convene college and university presidents from across the region for strategic conversations about educational attainment and curriculum development.

The future of our economy depends on this kind of alignment.

Looking ahead, our challenge—and our opportunity—is to scale what’s working. That means serving more students, engaging more employers, and expanding access to more opportunities for workers at every stage of their career. With artificial intelligence, green technology, and advanced manufacturing transforming the job market, our workforce strategy must be adaptive and inclusive.

That requires doubling down on data, strengthening regional collaboration, and ensuring opportunity reaches every ZIP code. It means treating workforce development as what it truly is: economic development.

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, and our funders' generous support. The momentum is real, and so is the responsibility to keep it moving forward for the next ten years and beyond.

Greater Together,

Romanita Matta-Barrera
Chief Business Advancement Officer

Regional Partner Highlight: Kerr County

KerrEDC is the newest organization to join greater:SATX as a regional partner. Just an hour from San Antonio, Kerr County offers businesses access to major markets, transportation infrastructure, and a skilled talent pool—alongside a Hill Country lifestyle known for its natural beauty, affordability, and strong sense of community. It’s where innovation and quality of life go hand in hand. 

 

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