Ruben Arciniega is a doctoral student in Educational Leadership at the University of Texas San Antonio, focusing on displacement and gentrification related to university expansion in communities of color. He serves as the Director of Civic Engagement for Poderosa Rising, a female-led nonprofit offering counseling, free therapy, and other services in San Antonio’s West Side near downtown.
With a family history spanning over three hundred years in San Antonio, Ruben’s family owns and operates Bonita Landscaping, providing quality work since 1992. He is also a member of the Small Business Advisory Council for the City of San Antonio, collaborating monthly to enhance resources for the city’s small business ecosystem.
In his spare time, Ruben immerses himself in books and digital platforms focused on civic engagement, politics, and gentrification. He is committed to leveraging hard work and collaborative learning through the Change Collective to foster a fully equitable community for San Antonio’s dedicated stakeholders.