ICYMI: The Best of Ensemble Texas 2024
As we close out this year, I want to highlight some of the stories and projects that captured the work of Ensemble Texas in 2024.
2024 will always be a special year for us—it was our first! We officially launched in the summer of 2024 and published our very first newsletter in September. Since then, we’ve worked to bring you unique stories and insights that define San Antonio’s environmental, economic, and cultural resilience.
And just before the end of the year, we crossed an exciting milestone: over 1,000 subscribers to this newsletter!
To each of you, thank you for being part of this journey. Your support and engagement make this all possible.
Here are some of the standout moments from our first year—In Case You Missed It.
💧 Cleaning San Antonio’s Waterways: River Aid’s Fight for a Pristine Future
River Aid San Antonio is tackling waterway pollution through grassroots efforts and long-term solutions like litter booms. Learn how this nonprofit has mobilized over 52,000 volunteers to remove nearly 350,000 pounds of trash and reimagine the future of the San Antonio River.
🌳 Arboretum San Antonio: Planting Roots for a Greener Future
San Antonio’s first arboretum is redefining what green space can do for our city. With a mission to combat urban heat islands and promote equitable access to nature, the Arboretum is planting seeds for a cooler, more connected community.
🥗 The San Antonio Food Bank: Feeding Over 100,000 Every Week
The San Antonio Food Bank’s dual mission of hunger relief and systemic change addresses poverty and food insecurity in our city. Discover how this lifeline is building a stronger, more resilient community.
🚧 Beyond Demolition: San Antonio’s Deconstruction Revolution
The city’s groundbreaking deconstruction ordinance can transform urban growth by salvaging materials and creating jobs. See how San Antonio is working to build a circular economy with initiatives like the Materials Innovation Center and Living Heritage Trades Academy.
🎸 From Armadillo World Headquarters to Music Lane
In this editorial, we looked at how Austin’s iconic culture transitioned from live music history to modern luxury. What can San Antonio learn about balancing growth while protecting its character?
🏠 A Lesson from Houston: Solving Homelessness Through Connection
Houston reduced homelessness by 60% in a decade with its Housing First strategy. Our feature explored not just the policies but the personal connections that made this success possible. It’s a powerful reminder of what communities can achieve when they come together.
🌱 Texas Nature Journal: A Growing Success
This year, we embarked on an exciting project with the Texas Nature Journal series, producing nearly 20 videos to promote native plants and sustainable landscaping.
These efforts were generously supported by a grant from the Sustainability Office of the City of San Antonio to help educate the community and get more native plants in the ground.
With significant viewership and engagement—over 55,000 views and thousands of hours of watch time—we’re thrilled with how this series has taken off.
Dive into the full playlist for in-depth guides on plants like Chile Pequin, Turk’s Cap, and Flame Acanthus.
🎉 Happy New Year! On to 2025
Thank you for being part of the Ensemble Texas community in 2024. Whether you’ve shared feedback, subscribed to our newsletters, or tuned into a podcast episode, your support makes this work possible.
Here’s to an inspiring and impactful 2025.
Together, let’s continue to learn about, celebrate, and protect all that makes San Antonio, San Antonio.
-Cory
