The formal founding of UCSA was in 1954, with the first dinner honoring now deceased J.D. Oppenheimer, A.C. Toudouze and H.B. Tuttle. Appointed Director, Charles Malloy, a Protestant Minister, provided leadership for local and area activities.
United Communities of San Antonio (UCSA) was established in 1954 as The National Conference of Christians and Jews. The work of UCSA was well known in San Antonio as early as the 1920's, as it responded to the schisms and fears evoked by the expression of bigotry and hatred present in those years.
The establishment of a National Brotherhood Day Observance, that later become a week-long observance, was endorsed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and stirred the interest of Hasting Harrision, a Protestant Minister in San Antonio of energy and considerable talent. He organized teams of three members each; a Catholic, a Protestant, and a Jewish representative who spoke briefly, frequently with humor, of the ideals of religious tolerance and understanding.
From interfaith to a community-issues emphasis, this office now places high priority on youth-oriented programs, as it responds to the concerns of all communities of this city (i.e., government, education, law enforcement, medical, etc.).
UCSA has developed a rich, distinguished history of service working to enhance inclusivity, respect and justice in our community with an emphasis on developing and empowering current and emerging youth, educators and community leaders. UCSA is dedicated to laying the foundation for a truly inclusive community.
It is the intent of UCSA to make available a means to help the dialogue that is indispensable to the multi-cultural learning process, to reach out, understand and respect the different cultural styles of our increasingly diverse community. Each program/workshop is tailored to meet the specific needs and goals of the participants and sponsoring organizations.
Diversity is more than just race and gender; it is also culture, relgion, socio-economic, age, physical ability -- the spectrum of human differences. Our programs address these issues using techniques, which draw on the experiences and perspectives of particpants.