BEGINNINGS

Inner City Development (ICD) was founded on November 18, 1968 by several community members who had become very involved in neighborhood organizing through the efforts of Ralph Ruiz who, at the time, was a priest with the Archdiocese of San Antonio. The original incorporators were Maxine Cadena, Robert Galvan, and Salvador Patlan. Ralph gave the group direction and started the incorporation paperwork.



Ralph had spent years with these people and other community members, under an organization supported by the Catholic Church called “Inner City Apostolate”. Father Ralph was eventually asked to become the first Executive secretary of PADRES, a national organization of Hispanic Priests. In leaving the community, he wanted to insure that the work of Inner City Apostolate could continue independently. That is why he started the incorporation. In his leaving, he asked the board to accept Rod Radle as the director. They did, and within a very brief amount of time, they accepted both Rod and Patti as co-directors. Rod enacted on the paper work begun by Ralph and the official incorporation was completed through the State of Texas. 


While the board had approved a salary for the new directors, they decided that they would work without a salary and Inner City developed the tradition of being an all-volunteer agency. In recent years there has been one exception to the all-volunteer staff. That is the position of part-time administrative assistant. 


The first programs of ICD were the assistance with emergency food and clothing and a softball league for elementary school children. 


The food and clothing service continues to this day. The sports programs for children have varied over the years, dependent on who has been available. There has been baseball, softball, soccer, flag football, and volleyball at different times. However, a basketball league for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders has been a regular program every year since 1971. A summer program has been a part of the regular activities of Inner City since 1970, and volunteers have done arts and crafts with children and teens since 1969.


One of the most important aspects of Inner City’s effectiveness within the community is the fact that, the programs are, for the most part, now run by former participants. Juan and Richard Diaz played in the first Inner City summer baseball league. They now head up a team of volunteers to run the basketball league. They often assist with the summer program as well. Even people who help run the emergency food pantry and clothing service are often people who at one time needed those services. One of the present board members was 8 years old when she first got involved with ICD.

 
Inner City is a very family based organization. The teen volunteers are often the children and grandchildren of adult volunteers. 


ICD has worked out of different facilities over the years. It was originally housed at a little house at 1122 Chihuahua St. In the mid 70s, the organization established itself at its current address, 1300 Chihuahua on land donated by the Archdiocese and a farm house donated by Clifford Morton. In 1990, with assistance from the city of San Antonio the building was expanded and updated.


With room expanding over the years, the center has become available for many community activities, including educational trainings, GED classes, wedding receptions, baby showers, funeral receptions, and many, many meetings. 


Looking to the future, Inner City is again looking to expand its facility to be able to provide more opportunities for community activities that will build on its goal: lifting the dignity within the individual. 
history_files/Inner%20City%20Slideshow.mov_NTSC_4000.m2v.par
Watch the 
Inner City
40th Anniversary
Slideshowvideo.html

An early article on Inner City Apostolate.

Board members of Inner City Dev. circa 1976.

Volunteer stocks the food pantry.

Patti & Rod Radle, Co-Exec. Directors

nonprofits.html

Click here to read about other nonprofits that got their start at Inner City Development:

  1. •First US Chapter of Habitat for Humanity

  2. •San Antonio Alternative Housing

  3. •San Anto Cultural Arts

Articles:

  1. •Pair’s Commitment Impresses Residents of Inner-City Area

  2. •Agency Raises Hunger Awareness

  3. •Spotlight on Patti Radle


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