About the Event
The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Center for Civic Engagement is hosting the 4th Annual Civic Engagement Summit to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019 in the HEB Student Union Ballroom at UTSA Main Campus from 9am to 4pm.
The theme for the 4th Annual Civic Engagement Summit is: “Transforming my Empowerment into Community Action”.
The summit is free and open to the public and includes a Civic Engagement Poster Contest, workshops, breakout sessions and a luncheon keynote speaker. Special Civic Engagement Exhibit by the UTSA Library in honor of UTSA’s 50th Anniversary. Parking available in the Ximenes garage $2 per hour (approximate cost for day $6).
The 2019 Center for Civic Engagement Summit strives to facilitate bringing the community and campus together to share and exchange ideas, resources and co-create collaborative community-campus partnerships based on the CCE’s mission of “empowering students, faculty and staff to serve society through community-engaged scholarship, enriching learning, and promoting civic literacy”.
Students come and meet your local civic leaders to expand your professional network and much more!
Opening Panel 9am-10am
How My Story Transforms into Community Action – Moderated by Kalia Glover, UTSA Honors College
San Antonio community and civic leaders will share their personal stories toward a journey of community leadership as they discuss key topics that are affecting our community today.




Breakout Sessions
Session 1 – 10:15am-11:15am
Bridge to Resilience: Personally Connecting to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to Better Support Our Communities
Jennifer Lopez Garza-Metro Health, Beth Tootill-San Antonio Housing Authority, and Joaquin Muerte-Metro Health
In this interactive workshop, a panel of community works will discuss the effects of childhood traumas and their lasting effect into adulthood. Audience members will gain a new perspective on community issues and learn how to utilize their new knowledge to help others.
How to Engage Without Disengaging – Rosalyn Falcon-Collier, CompassionNET San Antonio and The PeaceCenter
Coming to a civil understanding is never easy, regardless of topic. With the principles of the real meaning behind what it means to be compassionate, attendees will learn to navigate conversations and constructively listen to open new doors for positive communication and dialogue. Join in the 7 day Civility Pledge!
Engaging with Civic Tech – Dr. Alberto Gomez- CityFlag
Developed from the work of Dr. Gomez and his team, Cityflag developed the 311SA app to alert San Antonio City Departments of community needs by using digital technology. Alberto will detail his time and work with the project to help citizens stay engaged and report non-emergency issues to the City of San Antonio 311 center. Dr. Gomez will also be engaging approximately 10 students to participate in a focus group to gather feedback about the app and assess civic engagement. Bring your phone and be part of the focus group. Sign up here.
Conscious Leadership – Jeanette Honermann, JMH Collaborative
Curious about how real change occurs? Conscious leaders activate and align their thinking (wisdom), caring (love), and doing (courage) to create meaningful and lasting change. In this participatory workshop, we’ll explore why and how to your to organize and influence change in your community through self-knowledge, trust and authentic engagement.

From URL to IRL: Transforming Digital Engagement to Impactful Community Engagement
UTSA’s College of Public Policy Alumnus Drew Galloway ’14 and Honors College Alumnus Raven Douglas ’18, MOVE Texas
MOVE is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots organization building power in underrepresented youth communities through civic education, leadership development, and issue advocacy. MOVE mobilizes citizens to be civically engaged in registering people to vote, promoting voting participation and create a platform for dialogue on community identified policy issues. Drew and Raven will present of the impact MOVE Texas has had as well as share ways you can take action in the San Antonio community.
Session 2 – 11:30am-12:30pm
Making a Global Impact through Local Engagement
Members of the World Affairs Council
Trying to figure out how to increase the impact you are making in the world? What does it mean to be a responsible citizen? Join the World Affairs Council of San Antonio as a panel of community leaders discuss the importance of global competency and how you can engage locally in making a global impact
Supporting Undocumented Students During a Time of Uncertainty
Courtney Balderas-Jacob, UTSA DREAMers Center
Nearly a year ago, UTSA opened a DREAMers center for Undocumented and DACA students . Courtney will explain the challenges and successes she and her team have worked on with UTSA students to provide meaningful support for DREAMers.
Your Nonprofit Career: Using Your Story To Change The World
Catie White, Alyssa Gooch, and Brooke Kearney, Young Nonprofit Professional Network
Members of the Young Nonprofit Professional Network will provide insight on navigating the nonprofit sector. Panelist will share their own journey and passion for working with community providing insights on how to get involved and build your social network.
The Power of Civic Engagement in our Schools
Mayra Juárez-Denis, SA Rise
Audience will understand the importance of being an active participants in our community in order to have positive outcomes in our schools. Everything around our schools affect the education our children are receiving: their neighborhoods, the economy, their elected representatives. Come and explore how you can make a difference.
Speech for Nonprofit and Social Sectors
Jared Max Edman, UTSA Communication Graduate Student
In this session, attendees will learn the importance of oral history and community engagement as audience analysis tools. Mr Edman will also share techniques on how to deliver effective presentation skills as an employable asset in the Nonprofit Sector.
Luncheon & Keynote Speaker 12:45pm – 1:45pm
2019 Civic Engagement Summit Keynote Speaker Jordana Barton


Jordana supports the Federal Reserve System’s economic growth objectives by promoting community and economic development and fair and impartial access to credit. Her focus areas include the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), community development finance, digital inclusion, financial education, affordable housing, workforce development, and small business development. Jordana is lead author of “Las Colonias in the 21st Century: Progress Along the Texas-Mexico Border” (2015), and author of “Closing the Digital Divide: A Framework for Meeting CRA Obligations”(2016). 2018 publications include Preparing Workers for the Expanding Digital Economy, Telehealth: A Tool for Addressing Persistent Health Challenges on the Texas-Mexico Border, and Telehealth Initiatives Highlight the Need to Close the Digital Divide. Jordana serves on the Steering Committee for the Digital Inclusion Alliance San Antonio and the collective impact project, Digital Opportunity for the Rio Grande Valley. She is on the Board of Directors of SA2020 and on the Advisory Board of the Texas Health Improvement Network of the University of Texas System. In 2018 she received the “Federal Policy Champion Award” from the Coalition for Local Internet Choice and the “Community Broadband Hero of the Year Award” from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors.
Come and Enjoy a complementary lunch as Dr. Rogelio Saenz facilitates a conversation with Jordana Barton on
Finding Our Place in this Community Leadership Journey
Poster Contest – 1:50pm-2:20pm
UTSA makes an impact in our community in many ways. Students, Faculty and Staff will showcase posters of their programs, projects, and research initiatives in the galleria to highlight partnerships, engaged learning and community impact. Come and be inspired by the work your of peers and share in the exchange of ideas for building community.
All Summit attendees are encouraged to vote on their favorite poster!
1st place – MOVETexas
2nd place – The Sanders Hand
3rd place – Sarabia
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50 Years of Civic Engagement Exhibit
Honoring the civic engagement history of the UTSA and San Antonio Community, the UTSA Library is hosting an exhibit to share iconic civic moments of the past 50 years.
Student Panel – 2:30pm-3:30pm
Building the Next Generation of Community Leaders
UTSA student leaders will discuss their work in various UTSA programs, like VOICES, Rowdy Corps & more. This student panel will discuss their experiences in their associated programs and detail how UTSA is working with community! Learn how community engagement is beneficial for professional development and essential for community leadership
Moderated by Dr. Jill Hernandez, Associate Dean of University College
Associate Dean, University College
Professor of Philosophy



President, IGNITE National UTSA Chapter

MOVE Fellow, Student Leadership Center