News Stories

Raeme Bosquez-Greer

Raeme Bosquez-Greer is the CEO and Founder of Care Warriors, Inc. Raeme began her journey working with individuals with different needs when she was a teenager. She witnessed students with different needs being bullied and having to eat lunch later and separate from other students. This led her to become a volunteer and strong advocate and found her purpose in life.

Raeme began working and managing group homes with individuals who had a diagnosis of Autism and other differences. Her three homes had a stage 1, 2, 3 of different levels of needs. During college, Raeme did a 6-month internship in a state psychiatric hospital under a psychiatrist that took her under his wing.

After decades of working in a vocational setting by placing and training individuals in the real world of work, Raeme decided to open her own nonprofit organization that covers all her experiences under one umbrella. 

Care Warriors, Inc. has an ongoing contract with a state agency where referrals are received. We also accept stipends for services and offer the following: Pre-employment • Employment placement • Art therapy • Life skills • Coping skills • Time management skills. Care Warriors, Inc. has 25 seasoned and dedicated employees. All employees take required state training and pass a background check. If you have any questions, we offer a free, in person consultations with families. Call (210) 844-5988 or visit www.carewarriorsinc.org.

Hearts Need Art

In 2016, while volunteering at an adult oncology unit, Constanza Roeder noticed the lack of resources to help patients take their minds off their treatments. Drawing from her own childhood experience as a cancer patient, she remembered the comfort provided by the children's oncology unit, which included access to coloring books, journals, literature, and special visitors.

However, the adult oncology unit lacked such amenities, with bland walls and minimal engagement. Leveraging her talents as a pianist and singer, Constanza began performing for patients in hospitals, aiming to bring them moments of solace and distraction.

Today, a team of musicians, writers, and visual artists collaborates to bring creativity and comfort to patients at their bedside. Musicians skillfully strum guitars and play keyboards, serenading patients with their preferred tunes.

Creative writers inspire patients to express themselves through poetry, guiding them through writing exercises that weave words into meaningful collages of art. Sometimes, patients seek answers from creative art books, and the writers translate these queries into visual masterpieces using AI technology. Meanwhile, visual artists transform patients' windows into personalized canvases, painting scenes that hold significance for them, whether it's a cherished memory, a serene landscape, or a depiction of their hobbies. Utilizing mixed media, these artists bring patients' visions to life, allowing them to take home a tangible reminder of their creativity and resilience.

Patients are gifted a red tote bag filled with therapeutic tools, including a coloring book designed by Hearts Need Art, complete with Mad-libs, writing prompts, and uplifting stickers. Also included are a journal and an array of coloring materials, such as pencils, markers, or crayons, as well as a heartfelt crochet, canvas, or paper heart donated from various parts of the country.

Hearts Need Art witnesses firsthand the emotional challenges faced by patients in hospitals, from depression and loneliness to profound fear, especially among those grappling with terminal diagnoses or uncertain prognoses. Spending anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours with each patient, Hearts Need Art offers compassionate support and creative outlets. Surveys conducted after art engagement activities, involving 9,000 participants, revealed overwhelmingly positive outcomes: 89% reported a diversion from their pain, 87% experienced an uplifted mood, and 71% reported a reduction in feelings of isolation. To learn more, contribute or volunteer, visit www.heartsneedart.org.

The Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center (BCDRC) provides mediation service to the local courts, residents and businesses in Bexar County, at no cost. We provide this service with the assistance of over 80 volunteers who donate their time to complete the requirements of the state of Texas to become Mediators and donate their time for the cases they accept. 

The BCDRC processes Community-Based and Court-Referred Cases. Community-Based are cases which have no legal action initiated by either party and are voluntary. The BCDRC mediates child visitation, landlord/tenant, and workplace issues, consumer/merchant, real estate and business disputes to name a few. 

The process of requesting mediation can be done on BCDRC website using a Mediation Request form. An intake coordinator will conduct the initial interview and mediation is scheduled within 10 to 14 days. A letter is mailed to both parties. The mediation coordinators explain the benefits of mediation, answer questions and confirm if the respondent is willing to mediate. 

Court-Referred are cases in which someone has filed a civil lawsuit, and a Bexar County Judge orders the parties to mediation. These cases are referred by Justice of the Peace (JP) Courts, Civil District Courts, County Courts at Law and the Probate Courts. Typical cases include divorces, child custody & visitation, probate matters, breaches of contracts, personal injury and small claims. The Children’s Court also refer cases to mediation involving children who have been removed by Child Protective Services (CPS) from their homes for allegations of abuse or neglect by the parent(s). All court ordered; litigation cases are mediated by attorney mediators.

Mediation resolves disputes without having to go to court. If you would like for a representative from the BCDRC to give a presentation about our services to a group, please call the Center to schedule. If you have any questions regarding mediation services, please contact the BCDRC at 210-335-2128 or www.bexar.org/drc.

Alamo Head Injury Association [AHIA]

Deb Harper is the current president of Alamo Head Injury Association [AHIA]. AHIA was started in 1983 by family caregivers whose loved ones had suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke. These caregivers joined forces to support one another as they recognized the increasing need for such an association in San Antonio and Bexar County. In 2016, Deb Harper’s husband was in an automobile accident that dramatically changed their lives.

As a new caregiver, Deb was desperate to find such a community as AHIA offers. Alamo Head Injury gathers once a month for support where survivors are offered education, entertainment, and an opportunity to share their experiences with other survivors.

Caregivers are given the option to meet with a certified neuro-psych counselor or someone with years of experience in supporting families dealing with acquired brain injury issues. At first, Deb’s husband was hesitant to participate with Alamo Head Injury, but for the last two years, he has served on the board of directors as a brain injury survivor representative. New members to the group see her husband’s progress and find hope.

AHIA receives money through foundations, grants, and private donations. AHIA’s Grants committee offers monetary grants to help acquired brain injury survivors and their families. These grants help with education, medical equipment, and other qualifying medical expenses. In one case, they helped an individual who was in a motorcycle accident and sustained catastrophic injuries. In order to return home from the hospital, he needed a specialized chair to properly hold his head, arms and legs. AHIA collaborated with CollectAbility and TBI Warrior Foundation to cover the total cost of the chair. He was able to go home safely.

AHIA’s other committees are fundraising, outreach & education, programs & support groups, and symposiums/conferences. March of 2024, they hosted their 23rd annual brain injury symposium for medical professionals of many disciplines. For more information contact: 210-614-4323 or www.alamoheadinjury.org.

Maria Benavidez

Maria Benavidez is the President & CEO of SA Youth. In 1984, Brother Danna Gauthreaux noticed there were many kids hanging out on the streets of downtown San Antonio. So, he organized activities and offered a snack and homework help in the basement of St. Mary's Church. In 1986, the program became known as The Downtown Youth Drop In Center and officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The need became so great that the group soon outgrew the basement of the church and moved into a building donated by the Toudouze family, where it remained for many years. Today, Brother Dana’s vision continues as SA Youth and his mission continues. Through two signature programs, SOAR! and Academic Achievers, SA Youth continues to serve the youth of San Antonio. Academic Achievers provides after school care for the elementary and middle school students of South San ISD. SOAR, which stands for See Our Achievements Rise, offers accredited high school diplomas for students ages 16-24 who left their high schools before graduating.

While earning their diploma, the students also earn up to 128 hours of workforce development, leadership skills and life skills through enhanced programming offered by partners such as Bank of America, Venture Lab and Healthy Futures. A Student Engagement Specialist helps the students complete such tasks as applying for college, completing financial aid applications, connecting with community resources and accomplishing goals each student sets upon enrolling in SOAR. Mental health services are also available for all SOAR! students. For more information contact: (210) 223-3131 or www.sanantonioyouth.org.

Chloe Galvan

Chloe Galvan is the Marketing & Communications Manager for the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, which serves children & young adults ages 3-24. The center was started in 1997 by Martha Adkins, who started by serving 19 families out of the trunk of her car. Her idea has grown to serve 3,000 unduplicated clients annually for children and caregivers. 

Chloe stated they have a satellite location in Uvalde, Texas, and are in five San Antonio school districts, serving children during the school day. Grief support services are provided by licensed clinicians and supported by several volunteers. At the Center, they provide peer support groups, individual counseling, and therapeutic camps for children. They have two days camps onsite and two overnight camps offsite. Clinicians in the school districts perform grief therapy throughout the day as part of the Center’s school-based program.

This allows for minimal disruption to the student’s school day. This program started with two school-based counselors and has grown to a team of nine. The hope is to continue to expand this program to reach more children. Chloe also shared their onsite camps take place during Spring Break or Thanksgiving to better align with school holidays. Their overnight camps are hosted at Morgan’s Wonderland, and the other camp – Camp Cardinal - is in partnership with Camp Mystic, which has allowed them to use their facility at no cost. Other than being referred by school personnel, families can directly call the center or use the “Start the Healing Process” form on their website. For more information contact: (210) 736-4847 or www.cbcst.org.