Katie Best-Richmond grew up in San Antonio and left the city for college with no plans of ever returning. But as life would have it, she found herself back in San Antonio in 2019 asking questions she didn’t have the words to ask as a child. With new eyes, Katie came back home asking why the city existed as it did. This time around, she sought out people and organizations that were doing the important job of educating and bringing people together. The issues that once made Katie want to leave San Antonio started to inspire her to stay and get more involved in the community.
With experience in the nonprofit sector, communications, and the service industry, Katie brings professional and personal experience to the work of community transformation. She hopes to help others find the right words to ask the big questions and aims at creating inclusive spaces where discussion and progress can flourish.
Elizabeth Le’anani Coffee has lived in San Antonio her whole life and loves it like a sibling. She often says: “my story is wrapped up in its story.” While her formal training is in advertising and public relations, her work experience reflects a decade working alongside religious non-profits and leaders through community engagement predominately in San Antonio and South Texas. She holds a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies from Indiana University through the Lilly School of Philanthropy. She previously worked as a research associate for the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving engaging with American patterns of giving and gathering for religious causes. She also serves on the Advisory Council of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School and as the Vice Chair of the board of The Impact Guild.
Patton Dodd has lived all over the country, but he and his family finally found home in San Antonio a few years ago—and if he has it his way, San Antonio will be home for good.
Patton’s background is a mix of journalism and academia. After completing a doctorate in religion and literature at Boston University, Patton transitioned into a journalism career, covering a range of topics from sports to movies to politics to church movements to poverty and economics. What tied it all together was a passion for stories about change: how people and places, ideas and institutions shift and develop—and how they can change for the good.
Patton loves listening and learning, especially to and from his fellow San Antonians.
Erica grew up in San Antonio and its neighborhoods run through her veins. She has fond memories of riding her bike through Beacon Hill, swimming at San Pedro Pool, and being “pushed” over the ghost tracks in a friend’s car on the Southside.
Her love for San Antonio and its people led to her attending the University of Texas at San Antonio to complete her Bachelors Degree in Sociology. Erica has worked in public service, non-profits, and faith-based organizations. From office administration to fundraising to volunteer coordination and project management, her desire has always been the same – to be a part of positive change in the community that built her. She believes that understanding and change can come from listening to one another with grace and humility. And she looks forward to creating the spaces and opportunities for these conversations to happen.
