Goodness Weekly 1.20.25
“Communities and countries and ultimately the world are only as strong as the health of their women.”
—Michelle Obama
What’s Good
Sunset Ridge Collective has linked arms with Terrell Heights Neighborhood Association to become a Neighborhood POD in San Antonio’s Climate Ready Neighborhoods Network. What does this mean? Creating physical spaces that prioritize both what is good for the environment and good for the community. Operating as a hub for shared resources in moments of extreme weather and the everyday “blue skies". Joining with and supporting creative, community-led projects. And supporting one another, neighbor to neighbor.
This week, we are expecting extreme cold temperatures so we wanted to share the following resources. In addition to using these resources for yourself, we encourage you to be on the lookout for one or two neighbors who might need extra support this week and check-in on them. Building this community resilience is at the heart of flourishing.
Full guide to winter weather preparedness in San Antonio
Winter preparedness tips to protect yourself, others and where you live, work and play.
Residents in need of a place to stay warm during the day can visit City libraries and senior and community centers during normal operating hours. To find the nearest place to stay warm, call 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000.
Community Connections Hotline: Assistance with shelter and transportation for unhoused neighbors in need. 210-207-1799.
Neighborhood Healthcare with Betty’s Co.
Leslie Chasnoff, Director of Partnership & Growth, Betty’s Co.
Betty’s Co Mobile Women’s Health Clinic is one of our community partners that gives patients access to the gynecology, mental health + wellness care they need and options to receive care where they want. Learn more about their services, find out when they’ll be on campus, and how to book your appointment here.
When I first heard our founder Jennifer pitch the idea of Betty’s Co. in 2020, my first thought was, “I wish Betty’s had existed for me when I was younger.” I’ve been a part of the team helping to grow Betty’s for a year now, and am so grateful to be part of a company that is bettering the lives of young women+ every day.
For girls, getting our periods for the first time is like flipping an “on” switch to an entirely new part of our body’s operating system that changes our physical and mental health, upends our self-care routines, and brings up a lot of new questions and concerns about our wellbeing. It’s also an important health and cultural milestone in our adolescence.
The majority of us get a brief overview of the female reproductive system in grade school or middle school. If we’re lucky, we have parents, sisters, or friends that spend extra time talking through puberty, periods, pregnancy, and sexual health. If we’re super lucky, our pediatricians and parents help us book our first appointments with a gynecologist in our teenage years to establish a healthy relationship with our bodies and routine female-specific care. (I was super lucky.)
Women’s health is often a taboo subject. There are financial and physical barriers to getting care. The recommended age to have a first gynecology visit is 13-15 years, but the majority of young females don’t seek care until pregnancy or a chronic condition is interrupting their quality of life.
When you combine a lack of accessibility with stigma, misinformation, and little to no education on the full breadth of women’s health, it adds up to a massive care gap that primarily affects women in their formative years.
Our mission at Betty’s Co. is to normalize women’s healthcare for young women+ by providing a remarkable experience. We strive to make every interaction one that makes you feel welcome, comfortable, empowered, and supported in your unique healthcare journey. Ultimately, we want to close the existing care gap for women across the country.
Our boutique mobile clinic is outfitted with two comfortable patient visit rooms and an adjoining restroom, complete with lovely scents, calming music, and other small touches to put Betties at ease. I like to say that visiting Betty’s Co. feels more like treating yourself to a spa or salon trip than going to a gyn!
Our standard gynecology appointments are 40-minutes long, and you are greeted by your provider right when you walk in–no waiting room or extra folks in the mix.
At your appointment, we have an in-depth conversation with you about your reproductive health, mental health, and wellness (think stress management, sleep, and exercise) to give a full picture of your wellbeing before diving into any physical exams.
Many of our visits may not even entail a physical exam, which is why we also offer telehealth appointments to chat through symptoms, answer questions, and make follow-up visits easy.
Mental health is a pillar of our integrated care experience, so we have licensed counselors in-house for you to book talk therapy and medication management appointments with. We even offer First Period Consults for parents to book with their pre-teens to cover anatomy and menstruation basics.
A critical component to delivering our quality care is creating a trusted and safe space for our Betties to visit with us. I was thrilled to connect with Sunset Ridge Collective to serve as a location for our clinic, especially as I live near the neighborhood and make frequent trips to the campus for compost drop-off, One Another Coffee, and now the beautiful Charis Park!
The values of the Sunset Ridge Collective align with our values of harmony, kindheartedness, empathy, community, and humility. Your community support helps us amplify our care and impact.
We’d love to care for you or a Betty in your life, and are always happy to chat and answer questions while we’re in the clinic!
This Week…
CLOSED Jan 20th & 21st - In observance of the MLK Jr Holiday and weather advisories, our offices are closed, along with One Another Coffee.
Thursday, Jan 23rd - Dream Week: Neighboring Our Way to Flourishing, 6pm-8pm, Chapel
Sunset Ridge Farmers Market - Every Saturday, 9 AM - 1 PM
Coming Up…
Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? We are currently booking for 2025–please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org
Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness, Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, Community First Food Pantry, and Betty’s Co.
Inhale:
May I live fully
Exhale:
In the care of my community
