The 2019-2020 project focus was particularly interesting because of the similarities between the cities of Erie and San Antonio. Comparing and contrasting how our communities were tackling some of our greatest issues provided a rich learning opportunity for trip participants, as well as a chance to bring ideas back from San Antonio to implement at home.
Both of the cities are tasked with providing basic human needs – access to nutritious food and safe and affordable housing. Due to a variety of factors, both cities are struggling to do so for all residents. See the USDA’s helpful Food Access Research Atlas to see which areas within Erie and San Antonio are food deserts – areas with residents experiencing high food insecurity due to limited access to a variety of nutritious food. Our cities also have a significant portion of the population living at or below the national average’s poverty line, with Erie at 27% and San Antonio at 15.7%. During this trip, we worked with community based organizations assisting families in poverty and in need of support. Some of those organizations included:
- San Antonio Food Bank
- Ronald McDonald House
- Habitat for Humanity
- UTSA Dreamers Center
- Raices
A unique commonality between our two communities is the percentage of our populations that are new citizens: 20% of Erie’s population and 13.5% of San Antonio’s population. San Antonio also happens to be one of the fastest growing cities in the country, adding a layer of complexity to offering access to those basic needs. Take a look at our trip through the photo gallery below:
Our trip to San Antonio addressed the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
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