News
2022
Press Releases & Announcements
ALUMNI SUCCESS STORY
Virtual Exchange Sparks Internship Opportunity for San Antonio High-Schooler
11/30/2022
Joseph, a high school student at the Advanced Learning Academy in San Antonio Independent School District in Texas, was pleasantly surprised at the level of growth and opportunity that came as a result of his participation in Culturingua’s Global Social Entrepreneurship Journey. He was able to secure an internship that allows him to merge his interest in design with international relations.
Partners of Community of Welcome share their hearts by assisting refugees as they resettle into the rhythms of being San Antonians. Together, we build relationships and utilize local resource networks to help our new neighbors adjust to their new homes. Community of Welcome works as a partner group to welcome our new neighbors by providing a broad-based foundation.
Interested in getting involved? We welcome you to watch our Community of Welcome hour-long information session where you will learn more about our program.
2nd Annual Welcome Walk & Festival Press Release
11/08/2022
The City of San Antonio and Culturingua will host the second annual San Antonio Welcome Walk & Festival, which is a welcoming event to honor and celebrate the journey and cultural heritage of immigrants and refugees who have made San Antonio their new home. The event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rosemont at Denman Estate Park.
COVID Impact Grants
07/12/2022
The City of San Antonio COVID Impact Grants program provides financial aid to small businesses that continue to be impacted by the pandemic.
Culturingua is providing free support with application and required documentation in English, Arabic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, and Urdu.
World Refugee Day
06/25/2022
Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate World Refugee Day at The DoSeum on Saturday, June 25! Everyone enjoyed Afghan and Syrian cuisine, a fashion show of clothes made by Afghan women, and speeches from keynote speakers Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Mohammed Naeem, and Nathaniel Chaney.
World Refugee Day
06/20/2022
Come celebrate World Refugee Day at The DoSeum on Saturday, June 25! From 9:00 to 6:00, the DoSeum will be open for a family fun-filled day! Free admission for refugees with wic/ebt card!
From 5:30 to 8:30, enjoy a dinner and fashion show of clothes made by Afghan women, with speeches from keynote speakers Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Mohammed Naeem, and Nathaniel Chaney.
Global Social Entrepreneurship Journey-SA Entrepreneurship Week
06/07/2022
US and Libyan students from Culturingua’s Global Social Entrepreneurship Journey with San Antonio ISD and the Libyan National Board will present their experiences participating in a 2-month virtual exchange program where students work in groups to create a social enterprise idea to solve a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.
Thank you to The Stevens Initiative and San Antonio Area Foundation for sponsoring this program.
Register and use the Code: FREEFORYOU
Afghan-American Microentrepreneurship
06/07/2022
Join us June 13th at 12:00 pm at Launch SA inside the Central Library to listen Afghan-American experiences as they start and grow their businesses. Culturingua’s Microentrepreneurship Development Program enables immigrants and refugees who want to start or expand their businesses through legal setup, business plan and marketing support, and access to capital. Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to choose a training track, including Culturingua’s Nourish to Flourish program for culinary entrepreneurs and Culturingua’s Sewing for Success program for fiber arts entrepreneurs.
Register and use the code: FREEFORYOU
Thank you, Qatar Foundation International
05/25/2022
Nadia Mavrakis and Nader Mehdawi, CEO and COO of Culturingua, met with our partners, Qatar Foundation International, in DC. Our partners are leaders in supporting Arabic language and culture education throughout the United States and Europe. Their funding helps to ensure that we are able to reach students for our Summer Arabic Classes! Thank you, QFI, for all that you do!
Welcome America Conference
05/20/2022
Culturingua's leadership attended the Welcoming Interactive Annual Conference 2022 in Charlotte, NC! Our team learned many successful practices and heard inspiring stories about immigrant inclusion. We were also excited to meet Emily Yaffe, the new Language Access Projects Manager at the City of San Antonio and can't wait to work with her!
Thank you, Open Society Foundations!
05/11/2022
Culturingua is grateful to receive a new grant from the Open Society Foundations that will allow our organization to partner with the City of San Antonio - Municipal Government to help new Afghan refugees with economic opportunities through workforce development, entrepreneurship training programs, and partnering with multiple agencies and organizations across San Antonio! See press release here for more details.
Focus on South Texas- Helping Afghans feel Welcome
04/29/2022
Culturingua CEO Nadia Mavrakis and Interfaith San Antonio Alliance Executive Director Wendy Holbrook were featured on Focus on South Texas for their efforts in the Community of Welcome.
"Rev. Holbrook with the Interfaith San Antonio Alliance and Nadia Mavrakis with Culturingua have partnered together to provide a social network for the refugees with Communities of Welcome."
Click HERE to watch the interview!
04/26/2022
Culturingua is proud to announce that we are now members of the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders! Check us out in the NALCAB membership directory!
04/02/2022
Culturingua is now a member of Welcome America, a non-profit organization that works to help communities share new approaches to inclusion to create an environment where everyone can truly thrive.
#BeAWelcomer
San Antonio Community of Welcome Culture & Food Day
03/27/2022
We had a fun Culture & Food Day for the Afghans Community of Welcome for Afghans program on Saturday, March 26. Attendees browsed resource booths from various partners, shared potluck food dishes, obtained health screenings and COVID vaccines from UT Health Science Center, received food donations from Islamic Relief and the San Antonio Food Bank, and built bonds over sports and activities.
Impact Story: Students in San Antonio and Benghazi Solve Global Challenges
03/15/2022
Through Culturingua’s Global Social Entrepreneurship Journey, high school students created a social enterprise idea that addresses a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, developing critical 21st century skills including cross-cultural collaboration and innovation. Throughout the program, students built bonds of friendship through food, heritage, and language.
Spring 2022 Global Social Entrepreneurship Journey
03/02/2022
Culturingua, in partnership with the Stevens Initiative, has wrapped up another round of the Global Social Entrepreneurship Virtual Exchange Program. This semester students engaged in a 7-week virtual exchange between San Antonio Independent School District and the Libyan National Board for the Gifted and Talented!
San Antonio Community of Welcome Sports Day
02/27/2022
We had a fun Sports and Health Day on Saturday, February 26, 2:00-5:00 at Raymond Rimkus Park at Leon Valley for the Communities of Welcome for Afghans program! We played soccer, cricket, volleyball, basketball, tennis and more! Health services and screenings were also available! Save the date for the next community day on Saturday, March 26 from 10:00-2:00!
The Coalition for Northwest Bexar County Community Development Strategy
02/10/2022
Culturingua is the lead agency in the new Coalition for Northwest Bexar County Community Development Strategy with Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ Thriving Together Learning Collaborative. The other members of this coalition are: City of San Antonio Immigration Liaison; Adult Education & Literacy Alamo Consortium at ESC Region-20; Razakaar Foundation; CIELO Unity in Action Ministry at House of Prayer, and VIA Metropolitan Transportation. This focuses on developing a strategy to create a neighborhood where all are able to live prosperous lives and reach their full potential.