Nearly half of San Antonio residents live at or below the federal poverty level or fall into the ALICE category—families who work hard but struggle to afford essentials like quality childcare. The effects are long-lasting: children start school unprepared, fall behind academically, and later face barriers to workforce entry. Businesses feel the strain through a shrinking pool of skilled workers. This class day confronts the root causes of generational poverty and educational inequity, examining decades of historical redlining, the complexity of 17 school districts, and the impact of early education initiatives. Participants will explore efforts like Pre-K 4 SA, Early Matters, Ready to Work, and Alamo Promise to uncover what’s working and what must change to strengthen San Antonio’s future workforce.