Today we’d like to introduce you to Calvin Baez.
Hi Calvin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My Name is Calvin Baez born and raised in San Antonio for most of my life. However, I have still had adventures and have been and lived in many different places like Navajo Nation (Arizona & New Mexico), California, Chicago, Colorado, Indiana, Portland, and even as far as Costa Rica. I drew inspiration and focused on how communities varied across cultures everywhere I went after going to these places and returning to my hometown of San Antonio. I revisited many community pillars in my area and across the city and saw that something needed to be added. While organizations were throughout the city, nothing catered to a conversation in Westside San Antonio and its vibrant community. The organizations and community were, but there are minimal bringing them all together, across the stages of life, to help each other and the community. The community educates and achieves more together. This education is not limited to anything; the main idea is if I have a skill or ability that starts the conversation about supporting communities throughout San Antonio. This approach will look at helping each other build and grow positively. Westside Initiative was founded in October 2022 and is growing each day. We have shirts for the community to get the conversation started for the Westside and community building. We plan on creating more merchandise and accessories that are cool, appealing, and fashionable for all people. Check out the Instagram page @westside_initiative for more details on merchandise and upcoming events, which will be forthcoming. Today, we continue to expand and get more in touch with the community and people living within the community to spread knowledge and information and help each other learn and progress!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
For a long journey, the path or road will vary. I went into creating the Westside Initiative with a mentality and mindset similar to the late Nipsey Hussle, which is the marathon concept. The Marathon metaphor is about endurance, preparing, and breaking mental barriers. It understands that if you want to achieve any success or greatness, it will come with a roller coaster ride and that it will be a marathon. A long journey, but staying true and focused has been a big key for me and thinking about my people and supporters. My community that’s who I’m doing this for. In the words of Nipsey Hussle, “you gotta go hard, you gotta believe in yourself, and you gotta have a sense of humor. Bullshit is going to happen. You can’t be too serious about it; you must stick to the script. You gotta believe and have overwhelming confidence about yourself and be your biggest fan.” I have had many ups and downs with creating this brand/organization; one of the biggest is finding that identity. I love my brain because in brainstorming how I wanted to approach its creation, I had several different brands and organizations in mind, but I knew I needed to be more hyper-focused on what I wanted to create. Starting, I knew I needed to create something to empower the youth and not only the Westside of San Antonio but something that anyone from anywhere can pull inspiration. They can see what I have done and say to themselves, “If he can follow his dreams and passions, why can’t I!” Motivation for the streets, for the Westside, and the world!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Westside Initiative?
As community members, we need to know that Westside Initiative is made by the people, for the people! Westside Initiative is a program that rejuvenates the Westside of San Antonio mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We specialize in creating community through dialogue, conversations, and interactions. What sets us apart from others is how we approach problems; if there is a will, there is a way. There is no problem so big or too small that we cannot try to help amend. Our initial focus is the youth because they are our communities’ future and will become our communities’ leaders. That being said, we also want to address the needs of the elderly and the homeless because these groups need attention and care. Too often, they are neglected. The thing I am most proud of brand-wise is having built the organization from the ground up, and we are still building! Proud of how far we have come as an organization, and I am excited to see us expand and grow soon. I want the reader to tap into us as an organization and community! Sign up for our newsletter at WestsideInitiative.com by clicking the contact us now! Check out our Instagram page at Westside Initiative, where we post about the community, community events, and possible volunteer opportunities. Also, check out our square website at https://westsideinitiative.square.site/ to get some merchandise to spread awareness and help fund the organization; you can also donate to the organization on this page! We are also looking for donors, partnerships, and sponsors with community members, brand owners, and organizations all over San Antonio.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I like best about our city is the unity and community that can be created! San Antonio is a well-connected circle! It takes about 34-45 minutes for someone to be anywhere in the city without traffic, lol! But this large city with millions of people is all close together and has the potential to all get behind something unified! This is possible because I lived it! For example, in 2013-2014, this was the time when the most outstanding basketball team of all time was assembled and went to the finals back-to-back, losing the first to have a brilliant comeback story in 2014! I love my Spurs, but I loved the unity it brought to the city even more! It was a beautiful moment from the local Valero gas station stops to the conversation daily of ‘how about them Spurs’! It was a beautiful display of not only basketball but also of community.
I do not like that the city hasn’t been together like that since then. I see signs of hope. I want to unite communities all over San Antonio to build, grow and prosper. The potential is here. I see it daily on the Westside of San Antonio and beyond. It only takes some initiative, the Westside Initiative!
Pricing:
- The following items can be found at our Square website at Home | Westside Initiative (square. site)
- Westside Initiative Limited Edition T-shirt $30
- Westside Initiative blue 4” Sticker $3
- Westside Initiative black 4” Sticker $3
- Initiative sticker bundle pack $5
Contact Info:
- Website: https://westsideinitiative.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westside_initiative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087374801870
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ7SfhK5Lp4YBkV5FY3vfjQ
- Other: https://westsideinitiative.square.site/
Image Credits
Photography by Xena Valdez @theoneanonlyxena_ on Instagram
