2020 Highlights from the Austin Forward. Together plan

Originally published in 12/16/20 issues of Austin Weekly News and Wednesday Journal newspapers

Austin’s quality-of-life plan, called Austin Forward. Together (AFT), is a set of goals created by and for the community designed to address 23 strategies with 84 total actions across 7 Issue Areas between 2019 and 2023: Community Narrative, Education, Housing, Youth Empowerment, Economic Development, Public Safety, and Civic Engagement.

Today, there are more than 40 dedicated volunteer members across seven Task Forces, one for each Issue Area. In partnership with ACT, these Task Forces have signed on over 40 unique organizations as Implementation Partners and together have initiated more than 30% of the plan’s total actions so far!

Although this year has caused many organizations involved to pivot or slow their work, below describes some efforts that have been able to move forward.

COMMUNITY NARRATIVE

The goal of the Community Narrative Task Force is to revitalize the image and spirit of Austin by promoting assets such as our historic housing, creating a healthy community and building a more robust environment for local arts and culture.

Strategy 3: Create environments that foster health and wellness in the community.

Action 2: Promote healthier food choices across Austin.

Working together to feed Austin 

Existing food insecurity has worsened recently. Fortunately, there has been a paradigm shift in the way Austin’s broken food ecosystem is being revitalized. Numerous partners formed a large planning group to create Austin Eats, a strategy to support: 

      • emergency food
      • grocery access and culinary entrepreneurship
      • food education
      • gardens and farms

Getting together such a dynamic group to work as collaborators, instead of competitors, does not happen often.

Austin Eats will begin immediately and include both short and long-term projects.

Quick Facts on Austin Eats:

      • A $250k grant was awarded to support this effort to improve Austin’s food ecosystem
      • As of May 2021, there are 22 partners involved
      • Click here for more information

Strategy 2: Increase the number of authentic images and stories portraying the Austin community

Racial Reconciliation Symposium makes space for important issues

On November 5, 2020, the Austin Renaissance Council hosted the Racial Reconciliation Symposium at the Kehrein Center for the Arts, the new state-of-the-art theatre inside Catalyst School in Austin.

The agenda focused on youth empowerment and community narrative, including a youth panel, adult panel, several artist performances, and an interview with State Representative La Shawn Ford.  

The event was created to discuss how to work towards restoring years of devastation created by a racist system, while also combating the damaging stereotypes Austin still faces today.

In order to repair decades of mistrust and mistreatment, we need to learn, adapt, and take action. Everyone must play their part in solving such a large, complex problem. And that solution can only be identified through open, honest conversations like the ones had at this symposium.

To reconcile is not only to restore connection but create it anew.” — Hannah Bonecutter, Hip Hop/Spoken Word Artist and performer at the 2020 Racial Reconciliation Symposium

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The goal of the Economic Development Task Force is to create economic revitalization in Austin and by Austin. We will support new and existing local businesses, entrepreneurs, and the workforce; improve our commercial corridors; and attract new investment to build a stronger, more dynamic local economy.

Strategy 3: Build the local economy and small businesses to improve community wealth and self-sufficiency.

Action 2: Attract major commercial anchors

New event space coming to Chicago Avenue and Lockwood

By creating a dedicated space for private events as well as public use along the Chicago Avenue corridor, a formerly unused lot will help the area become a main shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Efforts to encourage local small businesses to use the space, as well as for physical improvements like adding elements to the streetscape, are now underway. 

This colorful space will offer events like pop-up markets complete with musical performances and create excitement for residents nearby. The groundbreaking took place on Saturday, October 24, 2020.

 

EDUCATION

The goal of the Education Task Force is for our local educational system and partners to provide the services, opportunities and support to help all our students stay on track, enrich their education and serve their needs, from early childhood through high school, to job and career readiness.

Strategy 1: Improve and expand access to quality early childhood programs.

Action 2: Partner with CPS to align curriculum for a seamless transition to kindergarten.

Setting up support for kindergarten transition

Austin Childcare Providers’ Network (ACPN) is a collection of the area’s early childhood educators and an ACT Core Member. The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development and A Better Chicago will fund ACPN to help improve the framework for Chicago Public School (CPS) students to transition from pre-k to kindergarten. 

ACPN is leading the efforts in planning the Austin Kindergarten Transition Initiative Pilot which will include childcare providers and kindergarten teachers who have been trained on a shared curriculum and assessment companion, working together to prepare Austin children for kindergarten. Research shows there must be more alignment, coordination, and continuity of learning and practice among childcare owners, state pre-k teachers, and kindergarten teachers.

Offering a consistent and effective experience for Austin youth, no matter where they receive their early education, will build a strong foundation for a bright future.

Read more about the positive work happening in Austin: