Empowering women one collective at a time ARTS

UTSA senior runs collective supporting local female-owned businesses

UTSA Businesses

By Genevieve Vega Distribution Manager

“Hello Gorgeous” illuminates the extraordinary store with a clear sign of support and empowerment for local female entrepreneurs.

Elysia Collective Co., located off of Wurzbach Rd., is a small storefront currently housing 16 unique, local, female-owned businesses. This admirable shop is owned by UTSA senior Emily Howell. Not only does this young entrepreneur own the Elysia Collective Co., but she also owns and operates Emily Grace Designs Co., selling products ranging from t-shirts and sweatshirts to jewelry and more.

Howell’s story begins when she was just in middle school and started her own photography business.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit,” Howell said.

She then worked as a project coordinator for Tuck and Bundle, a company that sells baby wrap carriers. These experiences, in a way, laid the foundation for Howell’s skills which she later applied to Emily Grace Designs Co., a business idea that came to fruition just after she graduated high school in 2020.

“It’s kind of like an accident business honestly… I got an iPad and then I got a Cricut, it was COVID[-19], so I was trying to find things to do,” Howell explained.

After support and encouragement from her friends, she started selling her homemade stickers on Etsy, “But when- ever I started putting shirts and sweatshirts on Etsy, it really took off.”

A year later, she started her first collection, leading to the need for a storefront. While searching for a storefront to house Emily Grace Designs Co., she ran into some prob lems. The spaces she came across were always either way too big or too small for her lik ing. So, in search of her perfect Goldilocks fit, she decided to create her own storefront. Since she did not need the entire space nesses and see how things go?

And honestly, it’s been great. It’s such a supportive community, and it’s been so fun,” she explained. With her determination, it took Howell only six months to make her dream a reality.

While both her business and the storefront are a dream come true, her success did not come without its fair share of struggles. Fresh out of high school and living in a small apartment, Howell came across her first is a really big thing, especially when you’re selling home, taking up some of her parents’ game room, but that duced custom, made-to-order products. Saving her sales profits, she was able to release her first collection. But the obstacles did not stop coming. While trying to open Elysia Collective Co., her plan to tear down a wall to provide an open-concept atmosphere was met with a heavy load of permit requirements. Even so, her headstrong attitude got her through, and she was still able to open up in time for the winter of 2022. to herself, she began to think of creative solutions. Having numerous friends who also own small local businesses, she came up with the Elysia Collective Co.

Of course, Howell’s story does not end here. This ambitious young entrepreneur has much more up her sleeve.

“I have a new idea like every week … I’m an idea girl,” Howell replied when asked about her future business ventures.

However, one of these ideas, in particular, stands out to her the most: an event venue.

“It’s kind of like a dream of all of ours to be in a storefront. So I was like, what if I just collaborate with other womenowned busi-

Tuesday, Jan. 31:

Learn about the symptoms of opioid overdose and how to administer the life-saving overdose-reversal medication Narcan at an “Opioid Overdose Prevention: Narcan Use Training” hosted by the Center for Collegiate Recovery. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Window Lounge of the Student Union (SU 1.02.00).

UTSA Student Activities and UTSA Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice will host a “Downtown Lantern Festival” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the UTSA Downtown Campus in the Bill Miller Plaza (501 W Cesar E Chavez Blvd.).

Andrew Brownell will perform a “Guest Recital” from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the UTSA Recital Hall.

Join UTSA PEACE Center and UTSA Wellbeing Services for an interactive workshop about stalking, “Stalking 101,” from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Student Union Willow Room (SU 2.02.12).

UTSA Wellbeing Services and Student Assistance Services will host a “Healing After Trauma” event to “discuss skills on how to heal and cope after experiencing a traumatic event” from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Buckeye Room (SU 2.01.31).

Wednesday, Feb. 1:

From 1 to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Magnolia Room (SU 2.01.30), UTSA Wellbeing Services will host an “Anxiety and Depression Toolkit” to provide “tips and skills on how to handle feelings of anxiety and depression.”

Join the English Language Center for “Coffee and Conversation,” where “international and domestic students gather and build intercultural connections” from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Student Union Mesquite Room (SU 2.01.24).

The Black Leadership Advisory Council and UTSA Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice will host a “BHM Kickoff” in honor of the beginning of Black History Month from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Union Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28).

Thursday, Feb. 2:

Meeting on the first and third Thursdays of the month is the Eating Recovery Group hosted by the Center for Collegiate Recovery. The event will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the John Peace Library Recover Center (JPL 4.02.08).

UTSA College of Education and Health Development will host a “COEHD Student Success: Anxiety and Stress Management Workshop” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. online. RSVP on RowdyLink.

Join the Terry Scholars Student Organization and UTSA Honors College to “learn how to prepare yourself to become a successful professional” with “Professional Week” from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Graduate School and Research Building (GSR 1.204F).

The American Medical Student Association will host an “MCAT Study Session” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Student Union Oak Room (SU 2.01.20).

Friday, Feb. 3:

“Let’s Taco ‘Bout Your Technical Skills, presented by Core4ce,” hosted by UTSA Carlos Alvarez College of Business, will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Alvarez Student Success Center (BB 2.01.08). Learn “how to effectively communicate your technical knowledge in a simplified way during career fairs, networking events, interviews and more.”

What is your “Alcohol IQ?” The Center for Collegiate Recovery will host “an interactive group experience [where attendees can] learn how to recognize and pour a ‘standard drink,’ measure alcohol and how to drink responsibly” from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union Ash Room (SU 2.03.06).

Monday, Feb. 6:

The Bold Scholars Program will host “Money Management” to “learn the best ways to budget and save our money” from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Guadalupe Hall MultiPurpose Room.

“Food of the Gods: Culture, Chemistry and Desire Chocolate Tasting for FYE Students” hosted by UTSA University College and UTSA Honors College will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Student Union Oak Room (SU 2.01.20).

Tuesday, Feb. 7: enough. She had tion suitable for a higher capacity, eventually leading her to the Elysia Collective Co.

Join UTSA Campus Recreation for their “Early Bird Competition” from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Recreation Wellness Center. The challenger is a “circuit-like” set of exercises that must be completed in succession.

UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) will host “COLFA Taco Tuesday” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the COLFA Student Success Center (MH 376).

The Biomedical Engineering Society and Makerspace Innovators present a “Slicer and 3D Printing Workshop” that will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Science and Engineering Building Makerspace (1.150).

UTSA Campus Recreation will host their “Night Owl Competition” from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Recreation Wellness Center. The challenger is also a “circuit-like” set of exercises that must be completed in succession.

Howell valiantly overcame was funding. Due to this, she primarily pro-

This dream of hers would allow her to host a variety of events ranging from business meetings to weddings. She also has big plans for the future of her current businesses, hoping to someday expand to locations throughout San Antonio and eventually branch out to other areas in Texas, such as Austin and Houston.

Until then, make sure to check out her new self-care collection dropping February 3rd at the Elysia Collective Co. (11858 Wurzbach Rd.) and find her businesses on Instagram @ elysiacollectiveco and @emilygracedesignsco.

Both ethical and econonomical

SA Gems

By Lauren Hernandez Contributor

Hash Vegan Eats serves as a striking contrast to much of San Antonio. When I arrived on a Friday afternoon there was a rowdy event going on across the street that was typical of most South Texas gatherings. Beer was being poured, BBQ was being served and streets were lined with people waiting for their fix. But Hash Vegan Eats, a vegan restaurant and non-alcoholic bar on the Southside of San Antonio, stands out as a truly unique restaurant and experience, especially against the backdrop of festivals like these. Roger Sanchez, co-owner of the restaurant, explained that Hash is built upon the foundation of “being both ethical and economical.” This concept is shown in every detail of Hash Vegan Eats, from the reusable straw in my water cup to the group of teenagers playing Mario Kart on couches in the back of the restaurant.

Hash Vegan Eats was supposed to have its grand opening in March 2020 but pushed it to October because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When discussing opening up his own vegan restaurant, Sanchez explained that “it’s just a natural thing, you know? That’s just how we wanted to run a business.”

Because Sanchez and his brother had managed several restaurants and bars in the past, they took notice of and disagreed with many of the practices in the restaurant community. They did not want to be a business that told people to “get out of here!” Just because they were homeless or struggling. Sanchez’s goal with Hash was to create a safe space for everyone in San Antonio, and he explained that as a recovering addict himself, if he had access to a place such as Hash Vegan Eats in his early years of recovery, getting help would have been much easier.

Although Hash Vegan Eats has a no-alcohol policy, their non-alcoholic cocktails truly legitimize Hash Vegan Eats as a bar. Because of this, Sanchez believes it is essential to host events as any bar would. During nights like the Venus Twins show, where a hundred kids are standing outside moshing to the music and another twenty are inside warming up, drinking tea and mocktails, it is evident that

See Hash on Page 2

UTSA Businesses

By Naydine De La Fuente Contributor