Goodness Weekly 3.31.25
"Dare to dream big, then do something about it."
- Rebecca Yates
What’s Good
This past weekend, several of our staff shared a joyful evening together in celebration of our colleague Mae, who was honored at the For Her gala. For Her is a San Antonio-based nonprofit that walks alongside women facing vulnerable circumstances—offering holistic support, safe community, and access to vital resources. We’re proud to be connected to their mission through Mae’s incredible work and grateful for the chance to cheer her on as she was recognized for the impact she’s making in our San Antonio community.
DESERT DREAMS IN AN OASIS
Mae Czarnecki, Storytelling Manager, Sunset Ridge Collective
Last Friday, I stood in a room full of women whose lives are shaped by grit, vision, and community. Today, I celebrate my daughter’s 14th birthday from afar—holding both the ache and the awe that comes with watching our children grow. It feels like the perfect moment to reflect on what it means to move forward, together.
I am a mother of three light-bearing daughters. I am a writer and photographer, captivated by the way truth lives in the bodies and stories of women. I am a fierce friend with a heart full of compassion. And like so many of you, I’ve walked through seasons that tried to take me under. Times when I needed housing, healing, a job, a safe place to land. And like so many of you, I didn’t get here alone.
The systems meant to help us often fall short.
But women? Women have always known how to build the bridges anyway. We share our resources, our wisdom, our resumes, our rides. We offer each other witness and worth.
What saved me wasn’t just therapy or job leads or clothes for an interview. It was being seen—not as a victim, not just as a survivor—but as a whole person. A woman with something to give. And that shift changed everything.
It allowed me to rebuild with dignity. To step into stability and strength. To carry forward what I’ve always tried to do:
Make space, build connections, and celebrate the work and worth of others.
For many of us, community is the first thing to fall away when life gets hard. Between work, parenting, and the mental load of keeping healthy relationships, community can feel like a luxury we don’t have time for.
But it isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation.
We need one another not just to survive, but to thrive.
I’m not at the finish line, and I have yet to meet anyone who is.
There are still obstacles ahead that seem beyond our control and the daily choice to live into the kind of woman my daughters can trust to tell them the truth with love.
I am not living my dream—yet. But I’ve learned that the impossible becomes possible when we pursue our dreams together.
On the last day of women’s history month, Here’s to each woman building a life that reflects her worth.
Here’s to dreaming in the desert together.
A LOOK AT APRIL
April 12th Second Saturday
April 18th Office Closed for Good Friday
April 19th Soil Blocking and Seed Starting Workshop
April 20th Easter Celebration at Sunset Ridge Church, Cascarone Hunt in Charis Park
Daily
NYX Wellness Yoga & Fitness
Weekdays, 7 AM - 1 PM One Another Coffee
Weekdays, 9 AM - 5 PM Coworking
Wednesdays Mission Compost Pick Up
Thursday - Sunday Scott’s Pizza
Weekends, 8 AM - 1 PM One Another Coffee
Saturdays, 9 AM - 1 PM. Sunset Ridge Farmers Market
Sundays, 9 AM & 11 AM Worship at Sunset Ridge Church
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: When the path ahead looks blurry
Exhale: remind me that in community, anything is possible.
