EquiThink — Policy & Research Hub
A community-driven policy lab advancing economic mobility and cultural equity in Texas.
Research that moves policy — from San Antonio to the Texas Capitol
We connect community insight with rigorous analysis to deliver practical reforms. Everything below is ready to cite, share, and implement.
San Antonio ➜ Texas ➜ National
Economy
Civic
Culture
Safety
What We Do
Five core functions, one mission: equitable growth.
Business & Economic Equity
Open capital, contracts, and corridors of growth for Black, Latino, and underserved entrepreneurs.
Open capital, contracts, and corridors of growth for Black, Latino, and underserved entrepreneurs.
Democracy & Access
Protect the vote, modernize access, and streamline civic services.
Protect the vote, modernize access, and streamline civic services.
Culture & Place
Preserve heritage, prevent displacement, and fund cultural infrastructure.
Preserve heritage, prevent displacement, and fund cultural infrastructure.
Public Safety & Trust
Data-led strategies that reduce harm, build trust, and deliver accountability.
Data-led strategies that reduce harm, build trust, and deliver accountability.
Built for policymakers, media, and community partners.
Featured
Minority Business Funding Playbook (San Antonio)
Policy Brief • 09/01/2025
A practical toolkit to unlock city contracts, CDFI partnerships, and vendor readiness for underserved firms.
CapitalProcurementSBO
Featured
Voter Access Disparities in Texas
White Paper • 07/12/2025
A county-level analysis of access gaps with a 5-point modernization agenda tied to measurable outcomes.
DemocracyTurnoutID
Featured
Cultural Equity Fund: San Antonio East Side
Proposal • 05/30/2025
Seed funding model for preservation, youth leadership, and creative economy microgrants.
ArtsHeritageAnti-Displacement
Policy Agenda
Evidence + Recommendation: concise reforms ready to file, fund, or pilot.
Business & Economic Equity
10% City Spend to Local Underserved Firms by 2027
- Adopt a citywide inclusive procurement target with quarterly dashboards.
- Create a Prime-Ready Accelerator (bonding, insurance, payroll tools).
- Launch a revolving micro-contracts program ($10–50k) for new vendors.
More contracts wonHigher firm survivalJobs on South/West/East Sides
Democracy & Access
Faster, Fairer Voting Access in Bexar County
- Expand hours/locations with transit-aligned sites and multi-lingual staffing.
- Universal cure process for ballot defects; transparent wait-time reporting.
- Civic UX audit of voter information across county and city portals.
Shorter linesReduced provisional ballotsHigher first-time turnout
Culture & Place
Neighborhood Heritage Zones & Anti-Displacement Toolkit
- Designate cultural corridors with small-business rent stabilization pilots.
- Create a cultural land trust for legacy venues and studios.
- 1% for Culture in public capital projects — local artists first.
Fewer closuresYouth arts pathwaysTourism that benefits locals
Public Safety & Trust
Co-Response & Data Transparency
- Scale mental health co-response and diversion to services.
- Publish stop, use-of-force, and complaint dashboards with equity cuts.
- Fund credible messenger programs targeting youth violence hotspots.
Reduced harmHigher clearance ratesTrust with communities
Research Library
Data Report
San Antonio Inclusive Procurement: Baseline & Benchmarks
Business & Economic Equity • 03/15/2025
Vendor diversity baseline, gap analysis vs. peer cities, and a quarterly reporting model.
Program Design
Youth Cultural Leadership Pipeline
Culture & Place • 04/10/2025
A paid fellowship model with school partners, culminating in community showcases.
Audit & Recommendations
Voting Access UX Review (Bexar County)
Democracy & Access • 08/22/2025
Plain-language, mobile-first voter info and a shared calendar for city/county elections.
Media & Messaging
Quotable lines and ready-to-use assets for press, podcasts, and partners.
Press Release Template
Drop-in release with quotes + metrics.
Op-Ed Draft: Equity Reforms, Texas-Wide
700–900 words, Tribune-ready.
Community One-Pager
Plain-language flyer with icons.
Pull Quotes (media-ready)
- “Equity isn’t a slogan; it’s a supply chain. Open the contracts, and you open the city.”
- “Democracy should be as easy as a bus ride — and on the same schedule.”
- “Cultural preservation is economic development. Pay the storytellers who built this city.”
Talking Points (90 seconds)
- San Antonio’s growth must lift the neighborhoods that built it — our agenda makes that measurable.
- We pair data with doable reforms: procurement targets, voter UX, cultural funds, safety dashboards.
- We can pilot locally, scale in Texas, and model reforms nationally through transparent results.