By Scott Prywitch, Marketing & Development Coordinator at Austin Coming Together
Originally published in 11/30/22 issues of Austin Weekly News and Wednesday Journal newspapers
Athena Williams, Executive Director of Oak Park Regional Housing Center, talks about the redevelopment of the Laramie State Bank building during an Austin community tour for The MacArthur Foundation.
With the progress and actions seen among several development projects, the Austin community has found itself at a pivotal moment.
The support from organizations and resource partners has moved the community forward, but their continued involvement and investment are beyond necessary to ensure the trajectory of the Austin renaissance.
CONTINUING THE MOMENTUM
Projects already in the works, such as the revamping of the Chicago Avenue and Central Avenue commercial corridors, have sparked the interest of some charitable foundations for further engagement and investment. For example, Austin Coming Together (ACT) hosted The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in August for an immersive tour of Austin highlighting a variety of development projects including BUILD THE FUTURE, the ASPIRE Center for Workforce Innovation, the Laramie State Bank redevelopment, and Austin POPCourts! Tour guests got the chance to see the many successes of these development projects and hear from representatives of the community-based organizations leading them.
BRINGING HOPE
The revitalization of Austin through these projects is not only important for its physical development and sustainability, but it’s also important for its lasting image and spirit. The change brought about by these projects will prove that hope for a thriving Austin is valid. With the power of the Austin renaissance, Austin residents will not bear the burden of accessing basic resources. They will reclaim the narrative of their community and be empowered to live happier healthier lives. With the power of the Austin renaissance, Austin residents will blaze a trail for future generations to flourish.
“Austin has defined its needs and is on the path to address them. But we need funders to continue to stay at the table and be responsive to those needs,” -Darnell Shields, Executive Director of Austin Coming Together (ACT).
ACT is excited about what these projects will bring to the Austin community and its residents. However, to advance along this path toward full transformation, individual and organizational efforts must be deeply connected and committed to Austin’s overall strategy, plans, and goals.
Not only does investing in Austin’s redevelopment mean progress on the community’s ‘Austin Forward. Together.’ quality-of-life plan will be amplified and accelerated, but sustained support assures that outcomes happen as intended: to create a brighter, more equitable future for Austin.
Keep reading for more information on the exciting work happening in our community:
- Turning the tide: Why capital investment is crucial to community-led development (published November 2022)
- A selection of the many development projects that are part of Austin’s revitalization (published November 2022)
- Celebrating the moment (published August 2022)
- Austin Eats: A Timeline (published August 2022)
- From a food desert to a food oasis (published August 2022)
- A look inside the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation (published June 2022)
- The Aspire Center: A timeline (published June 2022)
- The ASPIRE Initiative set of development projects near Madison and Central in Austin
- Catalyzing Collective Impact in Austin: How the community is tackling barriers to equity to create a healthy, prosperous future (from March 2022)
- 2021 Highlights from the ‘Austin Forward. Together.’ quality-of-life plan (published December 2021)
- Recentering equity (published December 2021)
- Rethinking resource distribution (published December 2021)
- Bringing Austin’s vision to life: How the community is leading its own change (published in October 2021)
- Two new developments will support youth goals of the ‘Austin Forward. Together.’ quality-of-life plan (published in October 2021)
- Austin’s path to revitalization (published in July 2021)
- Leading to this moment in Austin: A timeline (published in July 2021)
- Food apartheid: How Austin is recreating its food ecosystem through the Austin Eats Initiative (published in April 2021)
- An introduction to Austin’s quality-of-life plan called ‘Austin Forward. Together.’ (AFT)
