The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story.
I live in a community that embraces the culture and traditions of my upbringing and embraces me as if I had been born and raised here. The Kingsborough Ridge neighborhood, part of Harlandale Independent School District on San Antonio’s South Side, is where my family and I have made our home for almost 24 years.
Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, I remember traveling to San Antonio for our annual family summer vacation. I got to know the city and grew comfortable navigating it. Then I moved here to pursue a college education in 1992 and never left.
The community I proudly call home is rich in culture, delectable cuisine and deep-rooted traditions. Within this dynamic tapestry lies the Harlandale Independent School District (HISD), playing a pivotal role in shaping the future success of my children’s education. It is where I learned to become a parent of school-aged children, where I learned to advocate for my children and those of my community, and where I learned that we all come together in an instant when any one of us is in need of help or comfort. It is with this community that I love basking in the Friday night lights, attending school carnivals, and watching the Cultural Arts Parade.
Living in this community means knowing that no matter where I go, I will surely see someone I know — or someone who somehow is connected to someone I know. It is where we quickly learn the names of each other’s children as together we become watchful parents, taking care of each other’s families.
Here on the South Side, preserving and celebrating our cultural wealth and recognizing the importance of imparting cultural awareness matters to the people who live here. Through specialized programs, such as bilingual education and culturally relevant curricula, HISD cultivates an environment that values each student’s heritage, fostering a sense of pride and identity. By incorporating cultural experiences into the curriculum and promoting community involvement, HISD nurtures well-rounded individuals who are not only academically prepared but also deeply connected to their roots.
My husband and I raised our son and daughter in this community and both attended HISD schools. They are now traveling on their individual college journeys, making us and their community proud.
We love that we live in a community where late-night snacks are the norm. My family and I venture out, more times than we want to admit, to locally owned restaurants, food trucks and markets. Imallears Elote roasted corn food truck, owned by a neighbor and HISD alumnus, has become one of my family’s favorites. Imallears serves our community Friday-Sunday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the parking lot of Pep Boys on Military Road. My daughter and I stop by almost every other weekend to pick up a tasty late-night snack.
Another of our favorite snack spots is also owned by HISD alumni who live on the South Side. El Chango Loco by Harlandale High School serves up snacks to satisfy each of the different palates in my family, from ice cream sundaes to mangonadas, nachos, crema con fresas, or my favorite, candy apple with tamarindo and tajin covered with liquid chamoy. Stopping by after a late-night craving kicks in, we’re certain to bump into a friend, family member, neighbor or sometimes all three!
And, of course, I can’t forget how fortunate my family and I are to reside and travel each day of our daily commutes by one of the most sacred and beautiful treasures of San Antonio’s South Side. The San Antonio Missions, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in all of Texas, are not only beautiful but also serve as reminders of our region’s history. Mission San José is where the children of Harlandale first attended school in 1888.
This community continues to cherish its deep-rooted traditions and works to make sure we pass them on to future generations. Together we create an environment where all families living here can explore and embrace their cultural identities and feel a sense of belonging and unity.
Where I live epitomizes the harmonious blending of culture, cuisine, tradition and education, while constantly helping to nurture young minds and instilling in them values, knowledge and a love for where they live and call home.
