$362K in expenses

Arts and Culture: Documented cultural significance of Silk Road Cultural Heritage District, which was formally recognized by City of San Antonio in Dec. 2024. Documented oral histories of 2 Silk Road businesses for San Antonio Legacy Business Program. Gave Silk Road tours, lectures, and talks, including panel hosted by Texas Public Radio and City of San Antonio World Heritage Office to highlight Silk Road culinary contributions. Hosted poetry night attended by 50 people with local poets celebrating civic engagement. In Cultural Exchange, increased cross-cultural collaboration and cultural competencies of 343 high school students in San Antonio and Libya. Taught Arab culture and Arabic language to 209 students during a youth summer camp. Led culturally-responsive peer support including expressive art activities to support integration and wellbeing of 300 refugee youth.

$174K in expenses

Art-Based Small Business: Support art-based entrepreneurs and small business owners in and around the Silk Road Cultural Heritage District. Supported 168 individuals to either start art-based businesses or improve employment skills at art-based businesses in the cultural textile and culinary industries. 4 individuals legally incorporated their business. Culturingua provided 1:1 technical assistance to 2 established culinary cultural businesses in the Silk Road for access to capital, tailored training programs, and access to other resources to support small business growth. As a result, Culturingua enabled these businesses to obtain $35,000 in combined grants to grow their small businesses.

$58K in expenses

Silk Road Community Land Trust (CLT): Worked with community to develop strategy for the CLT to enable artists and low-income residents to achieve affordable homeownership in and around the Silk Road Cultural Heritage District. Visited and learned from existing, mature CLTs nationally. Provided input to City of San Antonio for development of CLT Designation Policy, which was approved by San Antonio City Council in Oct. 2024. Served 43 individuals in financial education courses. Impact: 6 individuals checked their credit score, 2 achieving an increase in their credit score by an average of 20 points. 1 individual who previously had no credit established credit. 11 individuals created a savings plan. 6 individuals created full budget. 6 individuals increased savings. 1 individual established and maintained a savings habit for at least 3 consecutive months.