Las Mujeres of Westside San Antonio
Las Mujeres West
Overview
Mujeres West is a community-driven initiative focused on empowering women through health education, leadership development, and community engagement. Mujeres West has grown into a structured network of community health workers (CHWs), promotoras, and community members working collaboratively to address local needs and improve overall well-being.
Rooted in strong community connections, Mujeres West maintains longstanding relationships with local organizations, including Domésticas Unidas, the San Antonio chapter of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, with some members actively engaged in both groups.
Mujeres West centers its work on providing culturally responsive health education, strengthening leadership capacity, and fostering meaningful community engagement. Key areas of focus include health education (such as nutrition, mental health, and chronic disease prevention), community outreach, leadership development, and skill-building in areas like technology, facilitation, and public speaking. The group also plays a critical role in responding to emerging community needs, including access to care and immigration-related challenges.
Mission and Focus
Mujeres West centers its work around:
- Health education (nutrition, mental health, chronic disease prevention, and more)
- Community outreach and engagement
- Leadership development
- Responding to urgent community needs (e.g., immigration, access to care)
- Skill-building in technology, facilitation, and public speaking
Contact Information
Martha Castilla, CHW, CHWI, CHW Advocate
Health Educator-Senior
South Texas AHEC
Design Team Members
Promotora de Salud y colaboradora en Mujeres West
Veronica Y. Gonzalez
Since 2023, I have proudly served as a Community Health Worker—a path that has allowed me to connect deeply with the well-being of others. I firmly believe that health and personal growth should be free of barriers. One of the most significant projects of my career has been moderating focus groups. This experience proved to be a profound learning opportunity, as it opened the door for me to actively listen to the community, understand their true needs, and collaborate on solutions that positively impact their lives. Currently, I am a member of the Design Team at Mujeres West. In this role, I contribute my personal insights and professional expertise to the development of presentations—work that fills me with joy as I witness women learning something new and becoming increasingly empowered each day. At Mujeres West, our primary commitment is to ensure that every resource, workshop, and meeting reaches our Spanish-speaking community directly, guaranteeing that language never serves as a barrier.
Desde el año 2023, me desempeño con orgullo como promotora de salud, un camino que me ha permitido conectar profundamente con el bienestar de las personas. Creo firmemente que la salud y el crecimiento personal no deben tener barreras. Uno de los proyectos más significativos de mi trayectoria ha sido la moderación de grupos de enfoque. Esta experiencia se convirtió en una de mis grandes enseñanzas, ya que me abrió las puertas para escuchar de forma activa a la comunidad, comprender sus necesidades reales y trabajar juntos en soluciones que impacten positivamente sus vidas. Actualmente formo parte del equipo de Diseño de Mujeres West. En este espacio aporto mis vivencias y mi experiencia profesional para el desarrollo de presentaciones, una labor que me llena de alegría al ver cómo las mujeres aprenden algo nuevo y se empoderan cada día más. En Mujeres West, nuestro principal compromiso es asegurar que cada recurso, taller y reunión llegue directamente a nuestra comunidad hispanohablante, garantizando que el idioma nunca sea un obstáculo.
Piedad Cardenas Cifuentes
My name is Piedad Cardenas Cifuentes; I am 66 years old and live in San Antonio, Texas. I am a Community Health Worker. My personal and professional goal is to further enrich my wisdom through my career as a Community Health Worker and to continue helping the people in my community. I am a communicative and cheerful woman who is responsible regarding my tasks and obligations; I value punctuality and honesty with everyone, and my greatest strength is knowing how to listen. I have worked with the community for 20 years as a volunteer and an educator.
Mi nombre es Piedad Cardenas Cifuentes, tengo 66 años, vivo en la Ciudad de San Antonio Tx, Soy PROMOTORA DE SALUD. Mi objetivo planeado en lo personal y profesional es lograr que mi carrera como Promotora en Salud me llene más en Sabiduría y seguir ayudando a las Personas de mi Comunidad. Soy una Mujer que es Comunicativa, alegre, responsable con mis tareas y obligaciones, me gusta ser puntual y honesta con todas las personas, y mi mayor característica es que se escuchar. E trabajado con la Comunidad desde hace 20 años, Voluntaria, y Educadora.
Alma Silva
My name is Alma Silva, and I am a Community Health Worker. I reside in the city of San Antonio, Texas. I enjoy working with the community; I am responsible, cheerful, and communicative. I foster an environment of trust that encourages people to share their needs, and in doing so, I seek out resources to support their well-being. I have worked on various health-related projects. Additionally, I have served as a volunteer with different community groups throughout the city for the past ten years.
Mi nombre es Alma Silva, soy Promotora de Salud. Recido en la ciudad de San Antonio, Tx. Disfruto trabajar con la comunidad, soy responsable, alegre y comunicativa. Doy confianza para que las personas compartan sus necesidades y de esa manera busco los recursos para su bienestar. He trabajado en proyectos de salud. Como voluntaria, he participado con diferentes grupos de la ciudad, desde hace 10 años.
Olga L. Ramírez Morales
My name is Olga L. Ramírez Morales; I am Colombian and have been living in San Antonio for 10 years. I am an industrial engineer; I lived in Puerto Rico for 18 years, where I studied Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources Development. I have a deep passion for serving the community, and I previously volunteered with an organization for children with diabetes in Puerto Rico. In San Antonio, I volunteered at the YWCA, where I learned about the profession of “Health Promoter”—a role dedicated to serving the community. I took classes to further my education in this field, enabling me to achieve new goals through community service. I joined *Mujeres West*, an organization where we provide support to women across a wide range of areas—including small business ventures, family matters, personal issues, self-esteem, and more. I have witnessed firsthand the positive changes in the women we serve; it is incredibly gratifying to know that we can make a difference and help bring about change.
Mi nombre es Olga L. Ramírez Morales; soy colombiana y llevo viviendo en San Antonio 10 años. Soy ingeniero industrial, viví en Puerto Rico 18 años, allí estudié administración de empresas con desarrollo recursos humanos. Me gusta mucho servir a la comunidad y fui voluntaria en una organización para niños con diabetes en Puerto Rico. En San Antonio estuve como voluntaria en YWCA aprendí que hay una profesión es promotora de salud para servir a la comunidad, tomé clases para instruirme y así lograr nuevas metas con servicio comunitario. Me uní a Mujeres West, donde prestamos apoyo a las mujeres en todos los temas, pequeños emprendimientos, familiares, personales, auto estima y otros. He visto los cambios en aquellas mujeres a quien servimos, eso es muy grato saber que podemos ayudar y hacer el cambio.
Eliza Cruz
My name is Eliza Cruz, and I am a Community Health Worker. I am passionate about serving my community and supporting families on their journey toward a better quality of life by providing guidance, support, and access to valuable resources. Being part of Mujeres West has allowed me to contribute to the empowerment and growth of women by helping create spaces for learning, connection, and personal development. I am committed to serving with empathy, respect, and dedication, believing that every person has the potential to transform their life and make a positive impact in their community.
Mi nombre es Eliza Cruz y soy promotora de salud comunitaria. Me apasiona servir a mi comunidad y acompañar a las familias en su camino hacia una mejor calidad de vida, brindando orientación, apoyo y acceso a recursos valiosos. Formar parte de Mujeres West me ha permitido contribuir al fortalecimiento y empoderamiento de las mujeres, creando espacios de aprendizaje, apoyo y crecimiento. Mi compromiso es seguir sirviendo con empatía, respeto y dedicación, convencida de que cada persona tiene el potencial de transformar su vida y su comunidad.
Andera Osorio
A 52-year-old Mexican woman, happily married for 23 years, a mother of four, and a grandmother. Her volunteer work began when she was a teenager; she started at her church and became a parent volunteer when her eldest daughter entered kindergarten. Over the years, she served as secretary, treasurer, vice president, and president of parent organizations at her children’s various schools. In 2015, she became acquainted with non-profit organizations dedicated to community service. Since then, she has been involved with several groups supporting the community in areas such as health, politics, women’s care, education, and women’s empowerment, including MUJERES WEST. She joined Mujeres West seven years ago and, with the help of a scholarship, obtained her certification as a Community Health Worker. As a Community Health Worker, she has worked on various projects with the UTSA Department of Public Health. She has served as a facilitator, but what she enjoys most is acting as a bridge connecting people with the resources they need.
Mujer mexicana de 52 años. Felizmente casada desde hace 23 años. Madre de 4 hijos y abuela. Su trabajo de servicio voluntario empezó desde que era
adolescente. Empezó en la iglesia y cuando su primera hija empezó a ir al Kinder, allí empezó a ser madre voluntaria; con los años fue secretaria, tesorera, vicepresidente y presidente de las organizaciones de padres de las diferentes escuelas de sus hijos.En el 2015 conoció las organizaciones sin fines de lucro y que ayudaban a la comunidad. Desde ese año pertenece a varias organizaciones que ayudan a la comunidad en salud, política, cuidado a la mujer, educación y empoderamiento de las mujeres, como lo hace MUJERES WEST. Así, llego a Mujeres West desde hace 7 años y así, con el apoyo de una beca logro obtener su licencia de Promotora de Salud.Como Promotora de Salud ha trabajado en diferentes proyectos con el departamento de Salud Pública de UTSA. Ha sido facilitadora, pero lo que más le gusta es ser ese puente entre los recursos y las personas que los necesitan.
Claudia Rivera
I am a 53-year-old Mexican woman, a mother of four, a Community Health Worker, and a volunteer. I am passionate about serving the community and acting as a bridge between free health resources and the families who need them most. I have dedicated my work to supporting Latino families, working closely with various communities and organizations—including Mujeres West. My commitment, vocation for service, and empathy have made me a valuable ally for many families. My primary mission is to connect the community with available resources within the county, providing information, guidance, and support to improve the quality of life for those around me. Through my work, I seek to empower individuals to access opportunities that promote their well-being, health, and development. My passion for helping others reflects my firm conviction that an informed and supported community is a stronger community.
Soy una mujer mexicana de 53 años, madre de cuatro hijos, promotora de salud y voluntaria, apasionada por servir a la comunidad y por ser el puente entre los recursos gratuitos de salud y las familias que más los necesitan. He dedicado la labor a apoyar a las familias latinas, trabajando de cerca con diversas comunidades y organizaciones, entre ellas Mujeres West. Su compromiso, vocación de servicio y empatía la han convertido en una valiosa aliada para muchas familias. Mi principal misión es conectar a la comunidad con los recursos disponibles en el condado, brindando información, orientación y apoyo para mejorar la calidad de vida de quienes la rodean. A través de su trabajo, busca empoderar a las personas para que tengan acceso a oportunidades que promuevan su bienestar, salud y desarrollo. Mi pasión por ayudar a los demás refleja su firme convicción de que una comunidad informada y apoyada es una comunidad más fuerte.
Community Impact
Mujeres West has consistently engaged 20–35 women per session, often including children and families. The group has:
- Supported the hiring and development of Community Health Workers
- Delivered culturally relevant health education to the community
- Created safe spaces for women to share experiences and testimonies
- Responded to community crises
- Built leadership and facilitation capacity among participants
Mujeres West was further strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when partners had the opportunity to better understand the experiences of women living on the West Side of San Antonio. Originally meeting in person for trainings, workshops, and health-related presentations, the group quickly adapted to a virtual format during the pandemic. This transition allowed Mujeres West to continue providing support, maintaining connections, and responding to emerging community needs during a critical time. Click on the link to the right to read the published article.