Austin Area Mental Health Consumers
AAMHC supports and advocates for a consumer’s right to achieve mental wellness, self-empowerment and self-sufficiency with a vision to have a society where people with mental health challenges are active, included, empowered, and supported by each other and the community to live strong, successful lives.
Austin Asian Community Health Initiative
AACHI improves the health & well-being of Asians in Central Texas through advocacy, education, and support. They fulfill their mission through language-specific education, advocacy, and healthcare navigation services. Our own Community Council’s Reshmi Chowdhury serves on their Board of Directors.
Sickle Cell Association of Texas Marc Thomas Foundation
SCATMTF envisions a world in which all people affected by sickle cell disease and trait are provided holistic care throughout their lifespan. This is enacted through caring for the person, family, and community.
Texas Appleseed
Texas Appleseed promotes social and economic justice for all Texans by leveraging the skills and resources of volunteer lawyers and other professionals to identify practical solutions to difficult, systemic problems. Hip Hop Hooray alum Chris Harris serves as the director of their Criminal Justice Project.
Todos Juntos
Todos Juntos improves the future of Central Texas by opening the door to academic and economic success for low-income families through education by using a three-pronged approach to combat intergenerational poverty among Austin’s low-income, Spanish-speaking residents: Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction; Culturally appropriate parenting and life skills education; High quality early childhood education (ECE).
Austin Empty Bowl Project
Undercover Greg is a big fan of the Austin Empty Bowl Project for many reasons. It is a fun event and there are beautifully crafted pottery from local celebrities, artist and unknowns from our community. You can fill those bowls that you buy with wonderful soup from famous Austin Chefs before you take them home. Their t-shirts are always commented on whenever I wear them.
More importantly, like so many other events or organizations, AEBP helps those who help others. In AEBP’s case, they help those who feed the hungry in Central Texas. This year we have seen that number double as a result of the pandemic where one in four Texas children suffers from food anxiety. Their year long effort for this once a year event provides funds to Meals on Wheels and the Central Texas Food Bank who then provide much more than just sustenance to our less fortunate neighbors.
The concept for “Empty Bowls” started in the early 90’s with Bloomfield Hills, Michigan high school students and their art teacher, John Hartom. In an effort to help out with the local food drive they threw, decorated and fired 120 bowls. The school’s staff was invited to the cafeteria to select a bowl and enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread. John and his wife, Lisa Blackburn, talked to the staff about hunger in their community, thanked them for their cash donations and then asked them to take their bowls home with them as a reminder of those with empty bowls. There are now “Empty Bowls” projects all over the world.
The Austin Empty Bowl Project (AEBP) was the first of its kind in Texas, founded in 1997 by Kit Adams, the owner of ClayWays Pottery Studio & Gallery. Each year, AEBP has grown in participation by both donors and attendees and, with the help of our generous community, we have raised more than $1,220,000.
Listen to In Touch Interviews feature on AEBP below: