From Classrooms to Council Chambers, San Antonio’s Women Are Rewriting the Future.
In reflecting on the results of our recent municipal elections, we must not overlook the significance of women serving on the City Council, as well as the historic election of Gina Ortiz Jones—the third woman to serve as mayor, following in the footsteps of former mayors Lila Cockrell and Ivy Taylor.
Women have always had a significant influence, in society, which has been seen as profound and multi-faceted, including contributions to the economy, to social progress and cultural development which is just the top of the iceberg. Women, essentially, are drivers of change, challenging norms and advocating for equality, across various spheres. Historically, the measure of the impact, of women in this society, has its own story and more.
We, now, want to begin presenting a series of stories, on some of those unique women, from San Antonio’s scene.
We posed two questions:
How were you able to navigate your journey?
What message would you want others to take from your story?
From Grief to Guidance: Margaret Richardson Taylor’s Journey of Healing, Service, and Community Strength
Our first participant is Ms. Margaret Richardson Taylor, an Adjunct Professor, at St. Philip’s College and colleague with the Power of One. Margaret related that two recent events “changed my perspective on how I live my life”, with those being the sudden loss of a niece and the loss of her mother, six months apart. She also indicated that “besides the feeling of grief, in missing them, I was angry.” Ms. Richardson also related that her niece had inspired her, as she had been making plans for the future. With her mother preparing to go home, “I argued with her, trying to provoke her to argue back, which didn’t work. She was on a journey that I couldn’t take – realizing this, only after she closed her eyes. My mother was the wind beneath my wings! How could I live without her?”
Ms. Richardson Taylor further related that she “learned a valuable lesson, even in the midst of all of the upheaval of the last few months – this is my journey and it’s going to be made by living my life, without apology and in the fullest terms possible.”
Her takeaway message centers on that people “Must be careful with who you allow to be a part of your village. Keep it small and make sure that everyone who says that they are for you..really are! Your village can help to sustain and support you, in good days and bad.” As a result, she is now more possessive of her time and conscious of what she does with it and who she chooses to give it to. She also indicated that she’s “learned that saying no is not the end of the world – it’s not being selfish – it is my preservation at a time when I need it most.”
A Lifetime of Advocacy: Shelley Potter’s Fight for Equity in Education
In the scope of community service, plus education and the impact some women have always had, I have had pleasure of meeting and communicating with Ms Shelley Potter, a staunch supporter of kids, teachers and public education, who began her career as an elementary school teacher, at J.T. Brackenridge, in the San Antonio Independent School District, on San Antonio’s Westside back in the early seventies.
Ms. Potter has been through six superintendents, the merger of three unions, and the advent of charter schools, and has remained a force in SAISD, for over thirty years. She has also been doing important work with the American Federation of Teachers, remaining a visible force on behalf of those she represented- teachers and staff members who worked in SAISD.
When she found that 75 of 92 of SAISD schools did not have air conditioning, she marshaled supporters, lobbied others and eventually the district had its Cool Schools Bond election, voters approved, with 80% of the vote, that led to the correction of a huge problem students had faced.
In posing our questions, Ms. Potter indicated that she had a motivation of “always wanted to help children”, eventually becoming a school teacher, something her father had also done.
Ultimately, she got involved with the Union, and that gave her an opportunity to help develop a good professional learning environment, with positive impact on effective classroom management and for educator’s professional development.
What Shelley preferred for readers to take away, from her story is: “the reward of seeing people learn and grow” and witnessing people use what they have learned, especially to further union work and putting things into practice. One of the highlights of her work has been “to be inspiring to others which has a rippling effect – passing the knowledge on to others.”
Presently, we are looking ahead, in anticipation of bringing more stories of women – entrepreneurs, educators, medical professionals, scholars, writers and as many as we are able to engage.
An old adage: Keep your head up, so you can see where you’re going and you’ll recognize it, once you get there.
If you would like to submit a woman in the community for their hard work, dedication and contributions you may do so here.
