From the desk of Mike Ramsey: Happy Fiesta, San Antonio! It's our Fiesta Edition San Antonio Ready to Work Newsletter!

Don’t blink or you’ll miss it! San Antonio Ready to Work is raising the bar each and every day! Our dashboard numbers report that nearly 6,800 people are enrolled in their training programs, with nearly 1,300 having successfully completed their programs. To date, almost 800 San Antonians have been placed in better-quality, higher-paying jobs. That’s 800 lives changed for the better. 800 different stories that say their family is on a different trajectory now than prior to joining RTW. Each one represents how RTW is making a difference one person at a time.

Remember, we can only place as many people who have completed their program.

Check out this video for more happenings in the world of RTW.

Financial Snapshot

RTW is spending just slightly over $6,000 per student enrolled in training and education programs. The program has spent $35M to date, which is 24% of the total revenue collected to date at just over $146M.

Participant Spotlight

Delexma Hernandez

Delexma Hernandez is nothing if not optimistic. The 37-year-old San Antonio native is well on her way to finishing her medical assistant program with RTW prime partner Restore Education. 

“My ultimate goal is to become a registered nurse,” she said excitedly.

The outlook hasn’t always been so positive and upbeat, though. Hernandez faced many ups and downs over the years and did not find herself in a steady job, much less career.

It was her faith that turned things around for her, and when she came across RTW she signed up with hopes that things would turn around.

“It’s all about choices,” Hernandez said. “And the choices that I was making were all the wrong ones that were taking me to the left, you know, and I was found. God is good. God is great.”

Hernandez has a focus in phlebotomy and is continuously looking to improve her skills. She’s headed toward a career field that will allow her to grow personally and professionally. Her outlook on life and infectious smile greets everyone she meets as she explains what RTW has done for her. Hernandez said the best part of the program is the many layers of support available that not only helped her stay on track, but to go through her classes and training programs and get her resume built.

“Some of the most valuable lessons that I learned here were it takes a village and it’s just beautiful to know that there’s people out there that are willing to help you,” she said. “You are never alone.”

Hernandez confidently says you can do it, too. If there’s ever any doubt, just think about the road to success and that RTW can help you along your journey.

Partner Spotlight

A Conversation on Career Coaching & Case Management with Restore Education

RTW participants are guided through their journey by case managers and career coaches. It is those workers who make all the difference in the type of experience a person has when enrolling in their training and education courses.

Katherine Kelley represents RTW prime partner, Restore Education, as a workforce manager. She says she is a proud supporter of RTW. Her job entails connecting the student to the employer and finding out the best path for each.

“It’s a very fulfilling role because I get to talk to students and learn about their career goals, learn about their desires, taking the blinders off and reimagining who we could be if we had support, if we had guidance,” Kelley said.

Restore Education has been around for 15 years, serving the San Antonio community through the power of education for those who are seeking their GED or other means of education to meet their goals.

Kelley says that RTW has broken down silos in the community and has helped strengthen relationships and understanding of the San Antonio labor market. Whereas workforce development happened before RTW came along, now the program is getting workforce leaders talking to one another so that it can further help develop and train people for careers that employers need.

“I’ve never seen a collaboration like that, and I’ve been doing this work for more than 15 years,” Kelley said. “I’m very proud of it. I’m excited to see our lessons learned as this program has been ongoing and to keep it going and let it be stronger for more students like Delexma, for more community members in San Antonio.”

Kelley says the best part of her job is when students get hired and reach their milestones – getting a job from their externships, for example, which should be a seamless transition from training into employment. Kelly said that a recent graduate got a job at $28/hr.

“We can’t ask for a more fulfilling moment, seeing our students reach those milestones and leaving us better off than when they came to us,” Kelley said.

The best part is when the students turn around to become ambassadors of the program to let everyone they know about the benefits of RTW and what it can do for them, too.

“Students like Delexma are so important,” Kelley added. “When applicants come to Restore, they’re eager to learn more about the various career tracks available to them. Their general attitude and impression we receive is one of eagerness, motivation to improve their skills, and a need for support, guidance and cheering from our team. We love to meet them where they’re at to help them on career pathways.”

From a career coaching standpoint, Kelly advises students to research their desired career field.

“You want to make sure the training aligns well with your goals, your lifestyle, and that you can commit to the program’s requirements for graduation and/or employment. If you don’t know how to start, we can help!” she said.

Restore Education is supporting nearly 650 students in RTW through outreach, intake, and case management.

Employer Spotlight

University Health

George Hernandez, President and CEO

How crucial is University Health within the workforce ecosystem in San Antonio?

Our most important asset is our employees. Can you imagine a police department without police officers? Can you imagine a fire department without firefighters? In healthcare, it’s the same thing. You can’t run a healthcare system without healthcare workers. Early on, we committed to getting the best and the brightest healthcare workers we could find. It’s very important for us to have a source of up-and-coming healthcare workers, particularly now when Baby Boomers are retiring and there’s a huge vacuum and we need people to fill in the spots that are vacant. It takes time in healthcare to understand the system. The earlier we start, the better. Healthcare is very, very important in this community and the workforce is what makes it work.

How important are employers when it comes to hiring RTW graduates?

I think all employers are going to need a source of employees for the future. Whether you’re in banking, insurance or healthcare, it doesn’t matter. We need the future leaders of this community, and that starts with hiring folks, sometimes at entry-level positions and then growing them.

Why did you say yes to becoming a Pledged Employer on the spot?

When I started as CEO some 19 years ago, it became obvious that we needed a strong workforce. I was lucky enough to serve on a statewide committee on healthcare – not so much workforce. One of the aspects was how do we prepare for the future. What shocked me was my ignorance at that time of the generational divide and the need for a training program for new employees. One of the things that I did was start training programs within University Health to grow our employees. Then, also to recruit and have an onboarding process that develops young employees.  When the city came along and said ‘We have this plan and we’d like to see if you’re interested,’ of course I’m interested! The city is taking a person who doesn’t have a job and matching them with an employer who needs someone like them. As a young high school kid, I couldn’t find a job. It didn’t change in college, I had difficulty. Even when I graduated from college it was difficult finding a job. And the problem was matching, connecting the dots. Friends and acquaintances made recommendations. What the city is doing is phenomenal, connecting the dots for folks. 

Over the course of your career, can you describe a story or anecdote that deals with workforce?

When I look back, particularly after I graduated from law school, which you figure a young lawyer would have an easy time finding a job, but it’s not as easy as people think, I remember the tremendous concern that I had that I would not be able to contribute to society but more importantly not be able to put food on the table for my family. I think what I remember the most is how difficult it was and how I felt that it was a challenge to find the right job for me. What the city is doing with this program is outstanding. I had a lot of advantages. I was already a college grad, and I still had difficulty. Think about the folks who have not had that advantage just yet. That’s the message I wanted to deliver.

You talked about the employees that are your best resource. Some have gone on to be promoted. Can you talk about what a boost that is that RTW has given them and us in terms of creating future leadership?

It’s a tremendous career ladder in healthcare. You can become a supervisor. There are a lot of career paths. It pays exceptionally well. We create not only jobs, but high-paying jobs and a career ladder as they mature. We have about 11,000 employees at University Health of all kinds. Not everyone is a doctor. We have a little bit over 1,000 doctors. We have a little bit over 2,000 nurses. There are a lot of other positions we need. To fill those positions with people who are interested in healthcare, it’s a wonderful opportunity, it’s a wonderful opportunity for their families. It’s meaningful for me to provide the best healthcare to this community.

Ready to Work Snapshot - In the Community

Ready to Work is Ready to Fiesta!

Have you seen our Ready to Work Street Teams and Partner Agencies at any Fiesta events yet? 

San Antonio’s Fiesta is so unique and special, not only because it offers so many opportunities to party and celebrate our city’s wonderful heritage, but also offers wonderful resource fairs and family events where San Antonio’s many nonprofits and social service agencies can network with residents and spread the word about community services available to them. We are honored to be a part of that network of services!

Be sure to come say hi (and pick up a paleta) if you see Ready to Work out and about. Have a fun and safe Fiesta 2024!

Upcoming Events

If you are interested in having Ready to Work be a part of one of your events, please contact rtw.help@sanantonio.gov.