Support Austin Voices on #GivingTuesday! 
Giving Tuesday is a worldwide movement to support community-based efforts like Austin Voices! After the busy rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it's time to give a little back to make a big impact on the future of Austin's youth.

Last year, over 13,000 students, teachers, parents and community members were part of Austin Voices efforts to support high-quality public schools in every community in Austin.

We're trying to raise $5,000 by year's end to support our eight campus-based Family Resource Centers that provide emergency housing, food and basic needs support to hundreds of Austin families each year. With many struggling with affordability in Austin, a small gift can make the difference for a family during the holidays.

Click here  to support the work of Austin Voices!
A Safety Net of Family Supports in North Austin
Since starting our first Family Resource Center in 2007 at Webb Middle School, AVEY has worked to support struggling families so that children are in school, every day, ready to learn. This is only possible when families have what they need to be stable stable and secure. FRC social workers, directors and staff help families with housing, access to healthcare, employment, counseling, utility assistance, food, clothing, adult education . . . whatever families need to move from crisis to stability. Over time, AVEY has started eight FRCs, six of them in north Austin. These six provide a safety net of support for approximately 1,800 AISD families every year. This year, through a grant from the Texas Education Agency, AVEY is partnering with AISD on the NACER project to expand its reach to eight additional elementary schools in North Austin. Click here to learn more.
Equity Virtual Town Hall Coming on December 12
Austin Voices is joining other community partners to sponsor a "Virtual Town Hall Meeting" around the theme "Equity is a Verb" from 7 to 9 pm on December 12. While many are talking about equity, actions and decisions tell the real story. Join our panel of local and national leaders on Facebook Live and submit your comments and questions. Special Guest: Jitu Brown, founder and director of Journey for Justice Alliance. Jitu was been at the forefront of the fight for educational justice in Chicago for decades. Click here for more information.

Webb Middle School Creates Alternative Plan
In September, AISD announced that, as part of its "School Changes" district-wide plan, Webb would be closing and consolidating with Dobie Middle School at the Dobie campus. No prior conversation about this possibility had been held with the Webb campus or community. As a school that has faced closure twice before, and one that has become a model of school turnaround, Webb is used to turning bad situations into opportunities for change. AVEY had already begun working with Webb on an updated community school plan in April, with parents, teachers, students and community working together through the summer. The plan was ready to go when AISD announced the proposed closure and consolidation. With a few additions, the innovative plan was sent to AISD Trustees and administration on October 29th.  Click here  to read the Webb plan, and learn how you can be part of the conversation about Webb's future.
Other News . . .
  • AVEY sponsored community school planning dinners before Thanksgiving at Navarro EHCS and Cook ES that drew over 600 attendees.
  • The Dobie MS Family Resource Center partnered with Celebration Church to provide Thanksgiving meals for 400 families across north Austin.
  • AVEY was proud to partner with the Texas AFL-CIO, Equal Justice Center,
    Univision and other groups to sponsor a citizenship forum at Navarro ECHS on November 23. 120+ permanent residents were assisted to apply for citizenship! 
  • AVEY presented three workshops at the recent national Promise Neighborhood/Full-Service Community School conference for federal grantees. AVEY also co-presented with AISD at the Council of the Great City Schools Conference in Louisville, KY.
  • HopeFest, AVEY's annual family resource festival at Northeast (Reagan) ECHS, drew over 3,500 attendees and 170 exhibitors on October 26. In its 14th year, HopeFest has become Austin's largest campus-based community event. Click here to read the full report.
  • AVEY is working this fall with two Dallas ISD schools to increase community partnerships and parent engagement, and is providing professional development for community schools in Houston ISD.
  • Mark you calendar for the 3rd annual Burnet MS Holiday Fair on Saturday, December 14 from 10 am to 2 pm. This event, co-sponsored by the Burnet Family Resource Center and Burnet MS, drew over 1,000 attendees last year for a day of fun and resources for families.
  • Over 300 attendees came out to Webb Middle School's 7th annual ENCORE College Readiness Conference on Saturday, November 9th. Co-sponsored by AVEY, this event provides seminars for parents and students on getting ready for high school, college and beyond. 50 volunteers from Covenant Presbyterian Church helped at ENCORE, as well as did beautification projects around the campus.
  • The Martin MS Family Resource Center held a community school planning
    dinner for all 6th grade parents in October, and has coordinated computer training for parents (with the Community Tech Network) as part of the Martin one-to-one laptop partnership with Verizon. 15 parents recently earned their own computers by completing training.
  • The four AVEY FRC Food Pantries partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank provided food for 630 families in November.
  • AVEY has partnered over the past year with River City Youth Foundation in Dove Springs. In its 33rd year, RCYF provides high-quality after school, summer and holiday programs for youth, as well as mentoring, family supports, and community events like its recent "Skill Saturdays" tech training for families and the upcoming "Merry Memories" celebration on December 14. We are honored to support this amazing organization! Click here to learn more about RCYF.
Austin Voices for Education and Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that creates community collaboration to strengthen families, support kids and improve schools. It has been a busy year, with AVEY working with 21 campuses in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. 
STAY CONNECTED: