National Hispanic Institute at San Antonio

✨ Shop for a cause with NHI@SA! ✨

Join us May 23 from 2–4PM at The Shops at La Cantera or shop online May 23–24 using code GIVEBACK-MAKZM 💛

Mention NHI@SA at checkout and 20% of your purchase will support our Great Debate Team & young leaders!

Debaters arrived sharp, enjoyed warm welcomes, recapped last week, and focused on Healthy Body / Healthy Mind.
They powered through focused prep and intense scrimmage rounds. A special thanks to Isabella Nieto for coming to speak to our great debaters!
Shoutout to our supportive staff and every debater who showed up ready to grow. Another great day building future leaders! 👏

Our 2026 Community Panel was truly amazing! Our
2026 Great Debate Team had the opportunity to learn from three incredible women who shared their experiences, stories, and insights on this year's Theme & Topics. Thank you to Patricia Mejia from San Antonio Spurs & Spurs Way,Natalie J. Gamez from Gamez Law Firm, and Gonzalez from OCI Group for motivating our future leaders!

We are incredibly grateful and honored to have been recognized this past Friday on the court at the Spur vs. Mavericks game for receiving an NBA Foundation grant. This moment is a true testament to the generosity and commitment of the NBA to uplifting communities and investing in meaningful change.
For NHI @ SA, this recognition is more than an award—it’s a proud milestone that reflects our mission to empower and develop future leaders. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue making an impact and inspiring the next generation. Thank you San Antonio Spurs, Spurs Way and NBA Foundation!!

Meet the team for the 2026 Great Debate season!✨✨

Training 5 was one for the books ! From diving deeper into our categories to sharing a continental cuisine experience, our GDers got a taste of different Hispanic cultures and traditions—reminding us that learning goes far beyond the classroom. The energy, curiosity, and connection in the room continue to grow stronger each week as we get closer to the !

A huge thank you to Gamez Law Firm for generously opening their offices to us and providing a space for our familia to learn, grow, and connect. We appreciate your support in helping shape the next generation of leaders!

Right after the 2026 Community Impact Walk, the 2026 GDers didn’t waste a second—they got straight to work. After reflecting and debriefing on everything they experienced out in the community, they dove into their categories with purpose, ready to sharpen their skills and elevate their voices. The energy, focus, and commitment are already setting the tone for what’s to come. The journey to the is officially underway!

This Saturday, our freshman Great Debate students and volunteer staff experienced something powerful—a walking tour of San Antonio’s Historic Westside!

The day began at the impressive Museo del Westside (a project of Esperanza Peace & Justice Center), where students explored the stories and impact of this community. From there, they walked to the Guadalupe Latino Bookstore, where Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Executive Director Cristina Ballí shared the cultura, activism, and education that's happened within El Mero Weso - Westside Cultural Arts District. This visit also included stops at the iconic Guadalupe Theater and La Veladora of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and up-close views of the beautiful murals— all symbols of Westside culture and pride. Then, at the Mexican American Civil Rights Institute - MACRI, students connected history to present-day leadership and advocacy.

Along the way, students learned about Latino-owned businesses and nonprofits contributing to the Westside, like The Herrera Law Firm, Coffee at Warehouse 5, and , demonstrating community-rooted investment in action.

The tour continued at The Shop Workspaces, where they heard from living legend Secretary Henry Cisneros in the Cisneros Learning Library, then took a break at the OCI Group offices, followed by a visit to the beautifully restored home of Patricia Mejia in the heart of the Westside. Each of these locations exemplifies commercial and residential Community Equity Building (CEB) along the corridor—an core value!

The day concluded at OLLU - Our Lady of the Lake University, where students transitioned from learning to application during practice, so this experience can continue to inform their perspectives and critical thinking moving forward.

Thank you to ALL of our community partners who helped bring this opportunity to life. This is what the National Hispanic Institute is all about— developing leaders who are grounded in history, driven by purpose, and ready to shape what comes next.

Here’s what been going on at over the past two weeks!
In Meeting 3, students continued exploring their options through round robins in their top two categories learning and starting to figure out where they truly fit. You could see the confidence building with every round as they leaned into new challenges.

By Meeting 4, it was time to lock in! categories were officially assigned, and our GDers jumped straight into training for the Great Debate. With teams forming and connections growing, they’re already getting comfortable with their new NHI familia and finding their rhythm together.

Training 2 for NHI was one for the books 🔥
Our GDers jumped headfirst into every activity, fully exploring each category to really figure out what they connect with most. You could see them testing ideas, asking questions, and stepping outside their comfort zones to get a true feel for where they shine. The energy in the room was unmatched — focused and full of eagerness to learn. This group isn’t just showing up… they’re leaning in, growing, and setting the tone for an incredible season ahead. 2026 GDers, we see you 👏 Let’s keep building.