The next stage: What lies ahead for the plan

By Scott Prywitch, Marketing & Development Specialist, Austin Coming Together

Those who are familiar with the Austin Forward. Together. (AFT) quality-of-life plan know that it is strategically outlined for five years between 2019 to 2024. In partnership with Local Initiatives

The annual AFT Community Summit allows for Austin residents to hear about the plan’s progress and how they can take part in it.

Support Corporation (LISC Chicago), recommendations for the plan were to approach it over a five-year span. Despite this, the impact of the AFT plan was never meant to remain within five years. The plan has always been a massively ambitious effort tapping into the collective power of a community with the shared goal of creating dynamic, positive change for generations to come. This sentiment was even mentioned in the plan itself, “The work we do in this plan is the spark for a renaissance that goes beyond all we outline in the pages.” The successes that this plan has yielded for the community in the past five years have been instrumental in fueling this “spark.” Yet now, just like in its name, the plan is looking to move forward in 2024.

As the community’s first quality-of-life plan, AFT was the product of tireless collaboration among dedicated community partners, organizations, and residents. The process from conception to publicizing the plan was not short and came into reality by way of distinct phases. In the hopes of carrying the plan into its next “stage,” it is important to recognize just how enormous the “process” was.

“The work we do in this plan is the spark for a renaissance that goes beyond all we outline in the pages” -from the Austin Forward. Together. (AFT) quality-of-life plan.

At this point in time, Austin Coming Together (ACT) and AFT leaders are beginning to assess the trajectory of the plan. This unique aspect of the process has many components that impact how the plan could evolve in years to come. During this assessment period, ACT and AFT leaders will work to thoroughly understand and review the plan’s full implementation landscape over five years. Narrative and research-based materials will help to provide further insights on the effectiveness of each part of the plan. Assessing the plan is not only essential for its future, but could also inform how ACT and AFT leaders can begin to engage the public and community stakeholders to gain even more understanding of its pending evolution.

Wherever the plan ends up, it is important to remember that it has already proven to be a catalyst for deep change in Austin. While the scope of five years was ambitious, we believe its progress has set us on the path toward real transformation for years to come. AFT is so much more than a plan to be executed – it is a vision made and shared by the community. A vision in which residents can reap the benefits of its impact. In the coming months, this assessment will become more clear and inform how the plan might evolve.

To learn more about the plan’s progression and future and stay in the loop for details on the next AFT Community Summit (happening in early 2024), follow us on social media or join our mailing list.

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