Join a Learning and Action Community!
Overview
Prosperemos Juntos / Thriving Together currently engages coalitions in Bexar County, the Mid-Border, and the Tri-County.. For the 2026 cohort, we will target the Rio Grande Valley region. Each coalition will be supported as they:
- Engage in community transformation in a way that advances equitable processes and outcomes.
- Address the underlying vital conditions (social determinants of health) with communities most affected by poverty, racial, health and other inequities.
- Develop and implement a health equity strategy to address root causes of intergenerational poverty and exclusion.
Prosperemos Juntos | Thriving Together is a power-shifting, collaborative opportunity for communities in south and central Texas to substantially accelerate their equity journey. We believe communities hold the solutions to improve their health and well-being. The goal of the Learning Collaborative is to equip coalitions with skills and resources to strategically advance health equity, using the Pathways to Population Health Equity framework as a guide.
As part of Prosperemos Juntos | Thriving Together, we hold intentional space for faith communities from all religions and denominations called Community Faith Connections. All faith communities who are walking with communities experiencing inequities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Two Phases
Phase I
Phase I, the Learning Collaborative, lasts six months (from March – August). During this phase, Prosperemos Juntos | Thriving Together team shares various frameworks and tools with coalitions to support them in developing and implementing a health equity strategy.
Phase II
Phase II, after completing the Learning Collaborative, coalitions are invited to apply to Phase II, the Implementation Phase. The Implementation Phase lasts 3 years and includes funding as well as capacity-building resources. While coalitions focus their time working in community, they will also have opportunities to learn from and collaborate with other coalitions through convenings and other events. During this phase, coalitions are encouraged to continually recruit diverse members — particularly those with lived experience — and to adopt intentional strategies that shift power and decision-making to community members most impacted by inequities.
The Ideal Applicant
For the 2026 Learning Collaborative cohort, we are looking for coalitions with a shared or common agenda for improving health and wellbeing. An ideal applicant is a coalition that centers persons with recent lived experience of inequity and is made up of at least three organizations. The ideal coalition will:
- Create clear goals to help the community /coalition work better together
- Be experienced or excited to learn how to work collaboratively as a coalition
- Be devoted to meaningful engagement of persons with current lived experience of inequity
- Be motivated to advance approaches that address the root causes of community problems
- Be okay with making mistakes and bein honest about their learning journey
- Move beyond transactional relationships and practice deep listening
- Continuously brings I new members with lived experience to strengthen the coalition
- Be located in the Rio Grande Valley
- Advance health, well-being and equity
- Think about how different racial groups might be affected and aim for equity
- Work across organizational boundaries
- Collaborate with organizational partners and community members
- Create clear goals to help the community/coalition work better together
The Learning Collaborative
During the first phase of this effort, we will help coalitions build your team, partnerships, and strategy. We are not looking for “perfect coalitions.” This Learning Collaborative is designed to help supplement your community’s work– not replace it nor “reinvent the wheel”. We are looking for groups that are hungry to be effective and strategic in giving everyone a fair chance to have good health and a good life.
We will accept a maximum of 8 coalitions per cohort.
Join The Journey!
Creating a culture of health, well-being and equity will be challenging. It will require a new level of commitment from each and all of us. You don’t need to be “perfect,” but you do need to be ready to roll up your sleeves with your peers across this region and get to work. We are eager to support you in this journey, work with you to help create meaningful connections, and help ensure that your community health improvement efforts are successful!
For more information about Prosperemos Juntos / Thriving Together please contact: thrivingcommunities@mhm.org.
Important dates:
Application opens September 22, 2025
Application due October 30, 2025 by 11:45 PM
Decisions will be made by January 9, 2026
Meet the Team
Tim Barr
Communities of Solutions Director
What brings you joy?
Family dance parties. Planting in the garden. Food adventures. Being active outdoors.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
Seeing coalitions live into the model and begin to function in new ways. Witnessing power begin to shift to those who understand the challenges and strengths of the community best.
What’s your favorite dessert?
I can’t choose just one! I’m partial to Chocolate chess pie, baklava, and any kind of cobbler or crisp with fresh seasonal fruit.
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“Isaiah 58: 6-8 — This is the sort of worship that pleases me: remove the chains of injustice! Undo the ropes of the yoke! Let those who are oppressed go free, and break every yoke you encounter! Share your bread with those who are hungry, and shelter homeless poor people! Clothe those who are naked, and don’t hide from the needs of your own flesh and blood! Do this, and your light will shine like the dawn, and your healing will break forth like lightning!”
Iris Chavez
Communities of Solution Manager
What brings you joy?
My children bring me the most joy and are the greatest blessing God has provided me.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
I am inspired the most by the opportunity to work closely with persons currently experiencing the greatest disparities. Being able to witness their resilience is a blessing.
What’s your favorite dessert?
Cake, Cake, and more cake. All the cake!
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“My weapon has always been language, and I’ve always used it, but it has changed. Instead of shaping the words like knives now, I think they’re flowers or bridges.” — Sandra Cisneros
Cristina Ordoñez
Prosperemos Juntos Thriving Together Supervisor
What brings you joy?
I love being out in nature, hiking, bird-watching, and camping. Gardening also helps me feel grounded – I love seeing a new leaf unfurl.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/ Thriving Together inspires you the most?
I’m inspired by how people show up for their community through their work, stories, art, and dedication to creating a more equitable and just world.
What’s your favorite dessert?
All of the desserts at Luby’s! But if I have to choose one, definitely the carrot cake.
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“Do work that matters. Vale la pena”
― Gloria E. Anzaldúa
Yvonne Pacheco
Community Connector Supervisor
What brings you joy?
My daughter brings the most joy to my life. Cheering her on during her basketball, softball, soccer and volleyball games. A quick getaway to the beach brings me peace.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/ Thriving Together inspires you the most?
Witnessing the passion and solidarity from coalitions. The drive to positively impact their communities by creating change side by side with people with lived experiences. It has been inspiring and amazing to see the work that is being done.
What’s your favorite dessert?
I love chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies & chocoflan, anything with chocolate!
Favorite quote or words you live by?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Stephanie Dane
Mid-Border Community Connector
What brings you joy?
Laughing uncontrollably with my boys.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/ Thriving Together inspires you the most?
I am inspired and driven by the understanding that the people who live in their communities are the ones who have the expertise and strengths to make the most impactful transformations in their communities.
What’s your favorite dessert?
Cotton Candy Ice Cream
Favorite quote or words you live by?
Don’t let your idea of the revolution stop you from doing evolutionary things. -Pancho Argüelles
Alondra Morales
Coordinadore de comunidades de soluciones
What brings you joy?
Trying new coee shops, hiking and thrifting
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
The coalitions that are on a mission to transform their communities, and improve health and wellbeing. It has been inspiring to see the drive and resilience towards obtaining equity in their communities.
What is your favorite dessert?
Cookies, specifically chocolate chip, sugar and snickerdoodles.
Favorite quote or words to live by?
“So many things are possible just as long as you don’t know they’re impossible.” — Norton Juster, “The Phantom Tollbooth”
Antonio Martinez
Communities of Solutions Coordinator
What brings you joy?
Being with family and friends, around good food, and watching cartoons from my childhood
What about Prosperemos Juntos/ Thriving Together inspires you the most?
After years of experience in the healthcare sector, I’m inspired by the Vital Conditions framework and approach. Being able to walk with communities to not just address shortcomings but to proactively work towards a “thriving” community is exciting and hopeful.
What’s your favorite dessert?
Red Velvet, Carrot, or Italian Wedding … but I also might just really like Cream Cheese frosting
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“Trust in the slow work of God” -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Christina Alvear
Coordinadore de comunidades de soluciones
What brings you joy?
Laughing with friends, walking, writing, playing video games, and listening to people’s stories.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
I look forward to learning from and supporting coalitions who are passionate about what they do.
What’s your favorite dessert?
If it’s a pastry, I like ube buns. If it’s ice cream, Persian ice cream is my go to.
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“The only thing worse than starting something and failing … is not starting something.” – Seth Godin
Elsa Huesca
Coordinadore de comunidades de soluciones
What brings you joy?
Hanging out with my dog, Rizzo, and eating a tamarindo mangonada.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
Addressing systemic issues helps prevent problems from arising, fostering a healthier environment.
What’s your favorite dessert?
Anything tamarindo from tamarindo raspadas con chamoy, tamarindo mangonadas, tarugos, to Mexican candy.
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
Keila Bullock
Community of Solutions Coordinator
What brings you joy?
The joy of having my son Gray in this world with me and being a part of my family, his joy of life is so positive and brings me hope. Also, coffee shops with my family, thrifting and antique shopping, taking vacation to the Pacific Northwest.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
I am grateful to be on the team that is fueled by passion to advocate, guide and help make a change in communities that at times are overlooked. Seeing the change in communities for their future is also inspiring to be a part of.
What’s your favorite dessert?
My favorite currently is apple pie, well it always has been or tiramisu.
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“The worst that someone can say to you is no, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep going forward” – My Mother
Andres Temblador
Coordinadore de PJTT Learning & Implementation
What brings you joy? Watching scary movies with my wife.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
The ability to empower and assist community organizations and members to build capacity and become future leaders that serve.
What’s your favorite dessert?
Pumpkin pie
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“Never do for others what they can do for themselves.”
Monica Navarro Jimenez
Coordinadore de PJTT Learning & Implementation
What brings you joy? Family storytelling, live music, spoken-word poetry, and a nice cup of hojicha
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
The opportunity to accompany community-driven work and to witness the unique and transforming ways in which communities come together to take care of another
What’s your favorite dessert?
Tres Leches cake has always been my favorite – it has been my birthday cake more times than I can count. Although one would not think it, the vegan version also does not miss!
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“To deny the full humanity of others is to deny it within ourselves” – Clint Smith
Argenis Santamaria
Community of Solutions Coordinator
What brings you joy?
My children, long nights star gazing, skateboarding, and travel an open road with no destination.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
I am inspired by the opportunity to grow alongside communities and their leaders in accessing spaces of decision-making to change the narrative of our community as Native People.
What’s your favorite dessert?
Rellenitos de Leche/ Frijol, Arroz con Leche, Flan
Favorite quote or words you live by?
“Focus the light that made you, just like the heavens and the stars, reclaim us…to further along the space ways, languages of dances they blast” – Shabazz Palaces
Community Connector
What brings you joy?
My 3 children and my grandson. Being thankful for and mindful of the daily blessings such as waking up, having a home, going out in nature and practicing yoga.
What about Prosperemos Juntos/Thriving Together inspires you the most?
The fact that PJTT help people help themselves and value what people with lived experience bring to the table. PJTT helps them find their voice.
What’s your favorite dessert?
Key lime pie.
Favorite quote or words you live by?
Happiness is a choice and love is an action.
