December 2013 ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2014 participant Leslie Wingo, reflecting on the December class day on Austin's diversity and inclusion. Leslie is a partner with Sanders\Wingo Advertising.
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We define others and ourselves by how we see the world and how we see our place in it.  For as long as I can remember, I have always been "the only" one in the room. Often I feel as though I am the only female, the only African American or the only person who feels singled out. As I learned from our December ESSENTIAL class day, being the only one in the room is not a unique feeling. I learned that others seem to have the same feelings, and this shift in my perception is like jumping into Barton Springs on a hot Texas night—surprising and refreshing.

The day had a lot of great content and reflection. Some of the information was new and unexpected. And some of it was really hard to hear. In my mind, I have been the only one for so long, it was great to get a different perspective from others who where the only one in their demographic or culture.

We each seem to have our own boxes, which shape how we are perceived and how we see the world. Ms. Joyce James explained during our session that this begins at a very early age as we learn to socialize with others. Think back to the last time you filled out the required paperwork for the U.S. Census. The form asks very specific information about what box you see yourself and your household fitting into. Needless to say, I have spent a lifetime of having people (including myself), advertisers, and others putting me into some type of labeled box.

There are over 170 of these types of categories (culture codes), which shape our opinions and beliefs. Culture codes are not monolithic and cannot be applied or assumed to the only people in a particular group, economic background or zip code.

Perceptions and assumptions about groups of people can be changed; however, there are many challenges such as institutionalized thinking, lack of resources, and historical policies and procedures, which prevent change or make it difficult at best.

In order to make positive changes within our community, we need to have honest and difficult conversations regarding race, diversity and inclusion. Stepping out of our own comfort zones and taking the time to listen to others who are different. As the demographic makeup of Central Texas continues to change, diversity and inclusion must work together in creating a cultural competency.

The ESSENTIAL Class of 2014 is comprised of sixty amazing and diverse individuals, who want to continue to make Austin and Central Texas a great place for everyone to live, work and play.

I cannot wait to see what The Best Class Ever will do this year.

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NOTE: The opinions of Leadership Austin alumni, faculty members, and guest bloggers are their own, and do not represent an official position of the organization.

November 2013 ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2014 participant Mike Grable, reflecting on the November class day on Austin's natural environment. Mike is president at Lone Star Transmission, LLC.
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In preparing for our November session on the natural environment, we read about Robert Gifford's seven "Dragons of Inaction" that can hinder pro-environmental action. Dr. Gifford wrote of the Dragons in terms of climate issues, but with apologies to him I'd like to apply a few of them to the drought that continues to threaten Central Texas, and the ways in which our class discussions provided insights to tangible actions to protect Austin's water future.

1. It's not really affecting me here and now and it's really uncertain, so I'm not going to act.

Think of how much rain has fallen recently in Austin, as we've seen the final day of ACL Music Fest canceled due to "Zilker Lake" and then Halloween floods destroy low-lying neighborhoods. It can cause cognitive dissonance to see the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue underwater, and yet still understand that a lack of rain in the Highland Lakes watersheds means we are still very water-deficient. Andy Sansom of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State spoke of the fact that no new Texas reservoirs have been created in 25 years, a "drought" that hopefully will end with Proposition 6 and the funds it provides for the state water plan. The needs and the opportunities are both enormous when we look beyond the ends of our noses.

2. I'll take development over "environmentalism," please; why should we hinder economic growth when nature will do what it will do anyway?

A zero-sum choice between economic growth and water protection is often a false choice. Take a fact noted separately both by Andy Sansom and later by Laura Huffman of The Nature Conservancy: the average Texas municipal water system loses approximately thirty percent of the water due to aging pipes and poor system maintenance. Reinvesting in this infrastructure is both a development and a water benefit. Similarly, Andy pointed out that the $400 million that Prop 6 earmarks for conservation and reuse is an enormous opportunity for public-private partnerships and innovative financing: we can't finance conservation and reuse the way we do the construction of reservoirs (by selling the water), so entrepreneurial thinking is needed!

3. I don't use more resources than the average Austinite, so why should I change my behavior if the neighbors aren't?

This is a tough one, and requires a high degree of motivation and education to overcome basic human nature and feelings of fairness. In some commercial contexts, it can even be a competitive advantage: just ask Natasha Madison of Ecochic Floral, who is doing well by doing good: her focus on sustainable floral design includes the re-purposing of all gray water and enormous energy and water savings by using local plants. Others of us can look to the savings over time on our bills when we convert to dual-flush toilets and efficient shower heads (both standard in the W Hotel, as explained by General Manager Drew McQuade) or to a little less St. Augustine and a few more native plants.

4. I am not convinced that I should trust the "experts" who are telling me there is a problem.

This one is easy in the context of drought. Just go look at how the Sometimes Islands in Lake Travis have become the Permanent Peninsula. Andy Sansom also reminded us that the 1947-57 "Drought of Record"—which we are in the process of passing—included one 15-hour storm in 1952 during which Fredericksburg recorded 26 inches of rain. Lake Travis re-filled instantly. Think about what 1953-57 would have been like without that one freak storm, and then think about where Austin might be in 2014-18 if the drought continues and we don't get a similar lucky day upstream.

5. I've made a few changes, surely that's enough.

The final "Dragon" is one of the biggest challenges, and the education required to overcome it is one of our biggest civic leadership opportunities. This is also where I'd again emphasize that economics and the environment are not entirely at odds, a theme that ran through Laura Huffman’s remarks; for example, government and civic leaders outside of Texas use water concerns and the drought to warn businesses against investing in the Lone Star State. The good news is there is plenty of low-hanging fruit in the form of some of the initiatives described here, and I look forward to working with the Best Class Ever to help move them forward!

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NOTE: The opinions of Leadership Austin alumni, faculty members, and guest bloggers are their own, and do not represent an official position of the organization.

October 2013 ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2014 participant Blair Dancy, reflecting on the October 2013 class day on Greater Austin's demographics and growth. Blair is a partner with Van Osselaer & Buchanan and a trial lawyer in Austin.
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Common Interest; Uncommon Passion.
Personal family lore has it that Placida Cantu Villarreal encouraged her daughters to marry the palest of men. The story goes that, after the Civil War, the color of one's skin dictated quality of life in the Rio Grande valley. Placida wanted better for her daughters.

Placida's daughter Josephine—my great, great grandmother who never learned to speak English—relented, marrying an Irishman almost twice her age. He had immigrated to the U.S., changed his name, joined the Union Army, and after the fighting was done, stayed in New Orleans to run a bar. Something happened (perhaps a repeat of something in Ireland?), and he fled Louisiana, winding up in Hidalgo County, working another bar.

A real catch for a young, Spanish-speaking girl.

The price for non-whites to buy opportunity has changed considerably since the 1800s. But even today, with so many barriers removed, disparity remains.

At our first ESSENTIAL Class Day last Wednesday on demographics and growth, we heard Hispanics will soon be the majority in Austin. Yet, 46% of Hispanics under age five are in poverty in the city, 35% in the Austin MSA. Problems persist for the African-American population as well, with its own unique history. The city itself remains balkanized politically, economically, and racially, despite some level of integration.

One easy link to be made is between education and poverty. The high school dropout rate was 2.9% for whites; 7.9% for African-Americans; and 9.6% for Hispanics in AISD as of 2003-04. Poverty rates are also higher for African-Americans and Hispanics. But education is only the tip of the iceberg.

There is no single solution. It's been decades since AISD first put magnet programs in underperforming high and middle schools, but the degree to which those programs help alleviate disparity remains subject to debate. Next year, we will see a city council morph from at-large seats dominated by voters in central Austin to districts more representative of our diversity. Hopefully that step will help beyond the mere politics of city hall.

Then there are the individual stories. Our guest speaker, Geronimo Rodriguez (ESSENTIAL 2004) of Seton, persuaded his migrant-farmer parents to put down roots for four years so he could graduate high school, eventually becoming the lawyer he is today. Not a typical story; not a typical inspiration.

As for Josephine marrying an undesirable man for the paleness of his skin, I can only hope that is no more than a remnant of the 1800s. But one thing she and Geronimo have in common, separated by more than a hundred years, is the desire for a better life—for themselves and those around them.

There are sixty of us in this Leadership Austin class who share this same passion, and we benefit from our diverse backgrounds. What an impact sixty of us can have on a better Austin, for everyone. I'm looking forward to our remaining classes and our group project, to see what the Best Class Ever can do.

Until next time...

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NOTE: The opinions of Leadership Austin alumni, faculty members, and guest bloggers are their own, and do not represent an official position of the organization.

Another Big Fall Season for Leadership Austin

A message from 2013-14 Leadership Austin Board Chair Brian Dolezal (ESSENTIAL 2001).
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Outside, it’s finally beginning to feel like fall - well, Austin’s version of it - but inside Leadership Austin, the season is heating up. This is Leadership Austin’s busiest time of year and for good reason: we've kicked off all four of our programs in the past six weeks, and, as you might imagine, there is a lot of terrific, behind-the-scenes work that goes into them thanks to professional staff members and committed board members and volunteers. Here’s a brief update:

ESSENTIAL
The 60-member ESSENTIAL Class participated in a stellar opening retreat September 6-7 at T Bar M Resort in New Braunfels. Thanks to the leadership of Ashley Phillips, Christopher Kennedy (ESSENTIAL 1995), Sam Planta (ESSENTIAL 1991) and a number of CREW volunteers, the kick-off event to this in-depth, nine-month course on regional issues and leadership skills was spectacular, and their first class at Shoal Crossing was equally impressive. You can view the current class roster here. A big thanks, once again, to Seton Healthcare Family for underwriting the ESSENTIAL Class for the sixth consecutive year. Thanks also to H-E-B for their ongoing support of our Healthy Living for Leaders initiative throughout the season.

ENGAGE
Led by Julie Smith (EMERGE 2011), we've gathered a diverse group of community leaders who have been very active in the ENGAGE Breakfast Series to gain their insight on topics and speakers for this season's programs. The 2013-14 series began earlier this month at the Kodosky Lounge - thanks to our partnership with the Long Center for the Performing Arts - with a topic that’s on everyone’s mind: water. Once again, KXAN News is on board to help promote and facilitate our conversations. And, as you may have recently seen, the Austin Board of REALTORS® is our new presenting sponsor. Our next ENGAGE breakfast about the growing international community in Austin is Wednesday, November 6. Be sure to register now because they sell out fast.

EXPERIENCE AUSTIN
A new group of new Central Texans (or those who are newly re-engaging with Austin) are now gaining a crash course in the region’s issues through EXPERIENCE AUSTIN, which launched Friday, October 18. Presented by Bank of America, the program began with a daylong session to give participants a broad overview of our region’s key issues, and will continue with four weeks of deeper-dive conversations with experts on a variety of topics.

EMERGE
Our next class of 55 emerging leaders (check out the roster here) are now participating in the 7th annual EMERGE program. Thanks to underwriting from St. David’s Foundation, the six-week course at Jackson Walker is in full swing. We're so thrilled to welcome this and previous classes into our alumni network, now about 3,500 members strong… fitting since this is Leadership Austin’s 35th anniversary!

…and that’s just the programs. Additionally, we've begun the formal search process for Leadership Austin’s next CEO and for a new development director. Despite officially being down two positions, our team, facilitated by Seth Sather, is doing a phenomenal job raising the critical funds to keep our programs so essential, engaging, experienced and emerging for our community. There are still plenty of ways to lend your individual or organization’s financial support to Leadership Austin, so feel free to contact me or our interim CEO Christopher Kennedy to discuss the possibilities.

Furthermore, our active board is having some productive conversations on everything from celebrating our 35th anniversary to making our programs even more effective for all of our alumni. Thanks to Jeff Olmeda for keeping us moving forward at a critical time for the organization.

Last but not least, make sure you get these important milestones on your calendar now: our annual alumni holiday party is Tuesday, December 10 at Shoal Crossing (Mopac just north of Steck, where Harold’s Outlet Barn used to be) and the Best Party Ever - presented by H-E-B - is scheduled for Friday, May 9 (not the same weekend as the ROT Rally!) back at the W Hotel.

So yes, it’s a busy fall around here. And as you enjoy a crisp morning and mild afternoon, we hope you’ll take a moment to recall your experiences with Leadership Austin, and perhaps schedule a Walk and Talk with a fellow leader.

With much appreciation to everyone who helps lead this great community,

Brian Dolezal
Chair, Leadership Austin Board of Directors

Announcing the ESSENTIAL Class of 2014!

We are very pleased to announce the participants of the Leadership Austin ESSENTIAL Class of 2014! This year marks the 35th anniversary of Leadership Austin and our flagship ESSENTIAL program. Congratulations to the 60 individuals selected for their community involvement, service, and diversity.

See the complete list of ESSENTIAL Class of 2014 participants

See the complete list of ESSENTIAL Class of 2014 participants

During the year, the ESSENTIAL Class will meet monthly in various locations around Austin to discuss regional issues, enhance their community leadership skills, and develop strong relationships to encourage innovative, collaborative solutions to the challenges facing Central Texas. Stay tuned to the Leadership Austin blog as we have participants share some of their class experiences along the way.

For now, please join us in welcoming them into the Leadership Austin family. We look forward to helping them become the Best Class Ever!

Special thanks to our ESSENTIAL Class presenting sponsor, Seton Healthcare Family.

My EMERGE Experience: Katie Vitale

Guest post from EMERGE 2009 and ESSENTIAL 2013 alum Katie Vitale. Here, Katie shares her experiences learning about Leadership Austin and applying for the EMERGE program. 
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Having no expectations is a mindful and challenging practice, unless you pair that with having little to no experience of the situation you worked hard to thrust yourself into. I had no idea what to expect when I first walked into that downtown law firm conference room for my first Leadership Austin EMERGE class session. I had no idea who any of the faces around those tables belonged to. Of the dozens of people in the room, I knew not a one. I had no idea what sort of activities we would engage in to boost our leadership skills. In the midst of all these known unknowns was just where I needed to be.

The year before, one of my candidate clients at work gushed about the classmates she had in ESSENTIAL, and I became curious. When I saw these same classmates rally around her bid for office and offer the kind of support you would expect from life-long friends, my interest mounted. I can still remember attending my first ESSENTIAL recruiting reception. It seemed like everyone knew everyone else, and the conversations flowed freely echoing against the walls into the impassioned din of a pre-revolutionary salon. I was initially intimidated by it, and despite my extensive volunteer service, did not feel like I belonged in ESSENTIAL and decided to apply for EMERGE as further research - a way to determine if the further commitments and expense of ESSENTIAL were really what I wanted.

When I applied for EMERGE, it had been less than a year since I learned of Leadership Austin and its bevy of programs. I had thought of EMERGE as the junior ESSENTIAL program. Both are selective entry, both require not insignificant commitments of time, and both are enhanced by the synergy of the cohort’s composition. That was a cognitive shortcut I did not shake until my first EMERGE class.

It was that night - that first class - when I realized how two dimensional my understanding of Austin truly was. Even though I had been very active in the community, I knew zero of my classmates. At that moment I was sure that the novelty of the experience wouldn’t end there. I was really excited to see how dozens of strangers could become as close as that candidate and her classmates.

For months we met every other week, growing closer as we worked and reflected and reflected on our work. We spent the whole fall that way, sharing meals, happy hours and embarking on challenges together. Participating in the EMERGE program expanded my understanding of my city, my work, and myself. It also solidified my interest in ESSENTIAL. Today I am still in regular communication with many of those EMERGE classmates. Joining the Alumni Association fostered those bonds, but I can say that the curriculum, content, and camaraderie we generated those evenings that fall will stay with me for a long time. I expect that you will find what you are looking for in EMERGE, and it will stay with you too. Even if you have no expectations and no idea of what you will do.

In fact, in that case it’s easy, easy as walking into a conference room.

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Katie Vitale is Giving Manager and Webmaster at People's Community Clinic in Austin. Leadership Austin is currently accepting applications for the EMERGE 2013 program through Thursday, August 15.

January ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2013 participant Laura Donnelly Gonzalez. Laura is Chief Operations Officer at Latinitas, a nonprofit empowering young Latinas through media and technology.
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Geeking Out on Public Transportation and Utilities

I probably enjoyed the January class day on public transportation and utilities the most so far in our ESSENTIAL Class of 2013 program year. I felt like most of the presenters had a sensitive and realistic vision for the city and the needs of the people.  There was a balance of visionaries, history, culture and innovators.

Standout moments for me included:

• The city’s movement towards "strollable neighborhoods" and inhibiting car use downtown. I’m visiting New York City (my home town) as I write this, and I had forgotten how I lived here as if cars did not exist. I jettisoned city-wide by subway, bus and even a monorail in the air. In order to save itself from a traffic implosion, Austin is going to have to create an environment where public transportation is our #1 option. Bring back the Dillo. It can be our BART.
• I truly enjoyed the presentation by Capital Metro on where the city is going with bus service and possible trolleys. I'd like to be on the commission that kicks the city into gear to get it done faster.
• The presentation from Austin Community College about the Highland Campus had me at mini-city. I like the foresight ACC has and - in a city dominated by Mega U - it was cool to see the people’s educators not only creating a vision for accessibility to higher education, but in a space and environment that is suitable, green, and with greater purpose than just a building.
• Those who understand the high cost of free parking share my enthusiasm for a walk-able, festival-ridden, true urban center. Their presentation on the history of parking space design was quirky and interesting and shows that prioritizing free parking not only costs a lot for the city, it does not incentivize other means of transportation.  

Difficult points for me:

• The conversation about what development means in a city overall leads to some good reflection about the need for higher density as we grow so we do not continue to displace people and raise a cost of living already unaffordable to many. I understand this idea and I get its value, but it seemed clear to me that a privileged few would benefit.
• Car sharing is a nice alternative for commuters, but it is clear that this alternative is not accessible to all - especially those who might really need it. At this time, the bottom line is: if you are "without papers," you're out of luck.
• There was a lot of information about developing transportation to and from Hutto, but we have people, here, central to the city, still unable to get proper public transportation to work. Let’s start there then hit the affluent burbs. My ex from Mexico always wonders why we don’t use "Chivas" - the shorter, quicker buses in Latin America. We could have more frequent service with smaller vehicles. Just saying.

The closing speaker - Capital Metro President and CEO Linda Watson - kind of understated her "kick-ass-ness." I appreciate innovators like her who change a whole system. This is sometimes an impossible feat in a city bureaucracy, and I appreciate Leadership Austin for letting me hear her story.

Overall, I am going to turn lights off when not using them, consider solar power, look forward to faster bus service that I would be excited to take, and even maybe dream a little about what a subway would be like in Austin. I also take these sessions as opportunities to impart what I learn to the audience in which I serve - young, Latina, some impoverished, some not, but overall still not entirely in the city-wide dialogue.

Making Time for What Matters

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2011 graduate Oliver Bernstein. This is the first in a series of posts related to our Healthy Living for Leaders initiative - powered by H-E-B. The program promotes the importance of health, wellness, life-balance, and resiliency to being an effective community leader.  
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When I became a working dad, I needed new ways to manage my time so that I could get everything done at the office without missing priceless time with my family and friends.

Time management is not just about doing more in less time; it's essential to our personal ecology. Personal ecology is a concept I love that the Rockwood Leadership Institute uses to describe the practice of maintaining balance, pacing and efficiency to sustain our energy over a lifetime of activism.

In other words, if we're spinning our wheels at the office then we are neglecting our employers. If we are glued to our phones in the evenings then we are neglecting our families. And if we get burned out because we have lost control of our schedules then we are neglecting ourselves.

Here are some tips that work for me:

• Work blocks - I learned these from The Management Center, and now I'm hooked. Schedule chunks of time on your calendar as if they were meetings, and then use those blocks to write, brainstorm and focus on the long term projects that are otherwise impossible amid the chaos of the average workday.
• Work blocks are sacred, so don't move them; they are just as important as any other meeting, just more productive.
• Start with one two-hour work block per week, and decide each week which project(s) to focus on in that valuable time.
• Let your colleagues know that you are unavailable except for emergencies, and offer to cover for them once per week in return so they can try a work block, too.
• Better lists - No matter what system you use for tracking tasks and projects, make sure it works for you. Here are some ideas:
• Break down projects into finite tasks on your list that you can cross off.
• Write "WF" next to any tasks where you are waiting for someone else to get you something that you need in order to proceed on a project.
• Go over your list in the last 10 minutes of each work day and prepare a fresh list that will be waiting for you in the morning. This is a liberating practice that gets tasks out of your brain and on to your list so you can leave the stress at work.
• Use technology wisely – There are thousands of apps and tools available that promise to make you more efficient and organized. Use whatever works for you, but try to find ways to prioritize your tasks, limit distractions and stay healthy.
• Some of my favorite free online tools are Pocket (which lets you save articles you really want to read later all in one place) and WorkFlowy (which tracks projects and to-do items).
• Unplug when it matters most. My daughter is only 18 months old, and I can already see how special each minute is with her. So put down the smart phone and pick up your child.

I fully recognize how fortunate I am to work for a supportive organization with inspiring colleagues, to have an amazing spouse (who also works full time) and to have other advantages that enhance my personal ecology. But whatever you are trying to balance in your life - work, family, friends, service, art - remember that it takes practice, commitment and support from your community.

What are some tools and practices that work for you?

Oliver Bernstein is a father, husband and the National Communications Strategist for the Sierra Club, the country's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Rockwood Leadership Institute's Art of Leadership.

December 2012 ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2013 participant David M. Williams, Ph.D. Dave is Founder and Improvement Advisor at TrueSimple Improvement.
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I moved to Austin in 1998. My sister lived here and made it easy to meet friends. We enjoyed sipping Mexican Martini’s at Cedar Door, watching live music at Liberty Lunch, and talking about our young lives as we were at the beginning of our careers. Everyone was young, educated (mostly UT), and the future was unknown, but bright. It was so Austin, or was it?

Among my friends, I was a little unusual. While they went off to work in non-profit offices, at the Capitol, or at young start ups, I hopped on an ambulance to serve as a paramedic in East Austin. My days and nights meant racing across city streets with lights and sirens, going from house to house, and transporting patients to the hospital. I saw the whole beautiful and sad spectrum of Austin, one person at a time. My experience of Austin was very much like the description a former democratic senator (not to be named) once described so eloquently as “Two Americas."

In September, our ESSENTIAL Class delved into U.S. Census data with City of Austin demographer Ryan Robinson and learned about the transformation of Austin as populations change and shift. It provided color to our own picture of Austin, which is sometimes only partially visible to us from where we live and work. December’s class day continued the discussion with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Here are a few of my impressions from the day.

Silent Beats Video
As part of a discussion led by Ashton Cumberbatch, Jr (ESSENTIAL 2002), VP of Advocacy and Community Relations for the Seton Healthcare Family, we were presented with the Princess Grace Award winning video “Silent Beats” - written and directed by John M. Chu and starring Antoine Grant. Watch the video below or on YouTube.

In this short, 5-minute video we watch a young black teen walking through a convenience store owned by a middle aged Asian man, and there is a white elderly woman customer present as well. As the young man walks through the store, images of stereotypes and biases pop up about the characters. None of which prove true in the end of the film.

For many, it was frustrating to feel or see these themes emerge. For example, the black youth as a person to fear. It also brought into focus how our biases or perspectives are rooted in our own experience, race, upbringing, etc., and how that may differ from the person sitting right next to you. The film and discussion that followed was a reminder of the journey and opportunity still ahead for change.

Building Trust
Sometimes the most powerful statements are those without words. Bobby Garcia (ESSENTIAL 1994), Director of Human Resources at the Seton Healthcare Family, facilitated an exercise that was new to many of us.

Bobby took us through an exercise where class members deeply and confidentially shared a series of their own life events that have shaped who they are as individuals, and that may have caused them to be discriminated against, or discriminate against others. We disclosed a great deal about ourselves, and it was powerful to see who shared your own experiences and who did not. Seeing very different people who shared common experiences - people you would have never imagined having been through such things - reminded us of our commonality. There were many emotional moments and big smiles throughout the exercise, and we sat down with a different perspective.

This is only a sample of the day’s activities. In each segment, participants broadened their learning about others, expanded their understanding of themselves, and realized common connections that were not readily apparent at breakfast.

As one man in my group said, “I feel like I know some of you better in this moment then I know some of my best friends.”

The day’s content and experience reminds us that we need to step out of ourselves, our norms, and our neighborhoods and discover all who are fellow Austinites. To realize that there are many differences worth understanding, but more in common worth embracing.

Thanks to the Leadership Austin team and the volunteer facilitators and coaches for a valuable day.

November 2012 ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2013 participant Marc Miller.
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Is water the new fuel for growth?

Oil has fueled the Texas economic growth for over 100 years. As the oil industry is going through a revival, it is now water that will determine whether the Texas economy can continue to grow.

Water is the skeleton of a healthy environment. Without water just about everything will shrivel and die. As Texas grows it is the availability of water that will determine whether the economy will continue to grow or... well, you know what I mean.

On Wednesday, November 14, our ESSENTIAL class got a glimpse into the future of water in Central Texas.

We were given a tour of the water and energy saving design of the AMD campus. The campus is a practical example of what can be done if conserving water and energy is incorporated into the design of a building from the very beginning. AMD has managed to save millions of gallons a year by:

• Capturing rainwater to be used in irrigation of the landscape
• Capturing condensation from air conditioning for irrigation of landscape
• Using low water fixtures in the building

AMD used no city water in the drought of 2011 to irrigate their property - a pretty impressive achievement. All of this was done with little additional cost in the design and construction of the facility. What this demonstrates is water conservation is cost effective when incorporated into the initial design.

Panelists discuss water issues in Central Texas

An impressive panel of experts on water was assembled to explain the current state of water in Texas and specifically Central Texas. The experts were:

• Robert Mace – Deputy Executive Administrator, Water Science & Conservation, Texas Water Development Board
• Matt Phillips – Government and Customer Relations Manager, Brazos River Authority
• Kirk Holland – COO and General Manager, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conversation District
• Jennifer Walker – Water Resources Coordinator, Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club

We have just survived one of the worst droughts in our time in 2011, but can it get worse? The answer is YES. We know from a variety of measurements we have had much worse droughts. Are we ready for the next drought? NO!

Do we have enough water for the foreseeable future? Well, it depends on whom you talk to and how far into the future you look. Williamson County has enough water to last until 2030. That assumes that growth is steady and water consumption grows at the current rate.

What can be done?

• Conserve. Reduce consumption through better water policies. This is both by reducing loss from leakage and simply reducing the amount we use both inside and outside of our structures.
• Find new water sources. Where the heck are we going to find new water?

Depending on where you are in the state, water comes from one of two sources:

• Surface water from lakes or reservoirs
• Underground water from aquifers

New water can be found by drilling more wells, but that comes with a problem. The landowners own the water. Hmm… do they want to give their water to someone else? Well maybe for the right price.

Water is cheap compared to other resources. In fact, the panel made it very clear it is very under-priced.

Are we prepared for the next drought? No, and it could become expensive.

Marc Miller is CEO at Career Pivot.

October 2012 ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2013 participant Kathy Green. Here Kathy reflects on the presentation on Austin's demographics by City Demographer Ryan Robinson, and the Economic Forecast for Central Texas provided by Jon Roberts of TIP Strategies, at the October 17 ESSENTIAL Class Day.
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On the screen in front of me - in bold colors and graphs - was a story I already knew. A story that gets replayed daily in our pantries and soup kitchen and the shelters we serve at the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB). On a daily basis, the population we see are mostly people of color and many families with children. And their numbers haven’t decreased since the Great Recession.

Hunger is the condition we treat at CAFB, and is a symptom of poverty - the chronic illness we face in Central Texas. In advocating for these neighbors, I often struggle with where our mission should lie at the food bank - are we here to simply feed the hungry, or are we here to end hunger? I would argue it is both.

As leaders in our community, our ESSENTIAL Class can affect both. The first is ensuring our neighbors have consistent access to healthy food - no matter in which color block on that map they live. Tackling the latter is much more challenging, but still doable.

Being a leader in Austin means doing what we can to ensure that families all across our city have the same opportunities, and their children have a positive future. Children have little choice in their family situation or environment, and the ramifications of growing up poor are grave. A low-income child is often a hungry child, a sick child, a truant child, and a delinquent child. The parents of these children love them as much as we love ours, but often have neither the time nor resources to change outcomes.

The human service agencies like ours across Austin do what we can to help change these outcomes, but we cannot do it alone. It will take the leadership of all of us - in resources (both financial and volunteer), in partnerships, and in political will - to make it happen. It means access to solid education and training so everyone can make a livable wage. It means quality healthcare, and yes, preventative healthcare measures such as safe and clean parks and soccer fields so our kids can run and play. It means a strong economy - all over the city. It means going outside our comfort zone to tackle the hard issues. It means recognizing that a city divided among income, race, and culture is destined to fail.

I am thrilled we have the opportunity.

Kathy Green is Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas.

Steve Benesh on his Leadership Austin Epiphany

Here's Bracewell & Giuliani LLP Partner and former Leadership Austin Board Chair Steve Benesh (ESSENTIAL 2004) recounting his experience at Education Day during his ESSENTIAL class year:

Alums and program participants... tell us about your Leadership Austin experiences! What memorable or inspirational moments stand out to you? Was it a particular speaker, topic, statistic, etc.? What connection, collaboration, or success came as a result of your participation in Leadership Austin?

We'd love to hear from you in the comments below, via our Facebook and Twitter pages, or any other place you'd like to share. Hey, we'll even bring a camera to you if necessary! Just let us know.

In this Contentious Political Season, I Miss Molly Ivins

Guest post by ESSENTIAL Class of 2006 alum Elaine Acker.
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I believe that ignorance is the root of all evil. And that no one knows the truth. -Molly Ivins

This political season would have been much more entertaining and thought-provoking if Ms. Molly Ivins were still among us to kick the proverbial anthill. No doubt, she would have dragged us kicking and screaming away from our tunnel-vision assumptions and shined a spotlight on the truth about this year’s issues and candidates.

And I would have appreciated that immensely, because this year - perhaps more than ever - we’re seeing extreme viewpoints, intolerance, and radical attack ads that make me want to mute the television and retire from Facebook until sometime well after Tuesday, November 6th.

It occurred to me today that the tone of this political season is almost the exact opposite of the things I value most from my experiences in Leadership Austin’s ESSENTIAL Class back in 2005-06. There, we learned that whatever our political views, we all had more in common than we first imagined. There, we learned that even the “privileged kids” battled personal demons and difficult childhoods. There, we learned to listen, understand, and work together.

That’s what I’m guessing everyone really wants: to be heard and understood.

Maybe - just maybe - we’ll discover common ground during the upcoming ENGAGE Breakfast Series. Maybe, when we gather at the Long Center, we’ll all come with an open mind. We’ll listen to the facts, and carefully consider each other's points of view. We’ll keep in mind that even when we have differing opinions about how to tackle any given issue – from healthcare, to education, to support for our veterans - the bottom line is that in our hearts, we all want what’s best for our community, our state, and our nation.

The ENGAGE series kicks off with a political bang on October 10. Not only will the featured speakers dive into the hottest political debates of the season, they’ll look at exactly what the national policies mean for life here in Austin.

These ENGAGE speakers are awesome, and I value their opinions. But still, I’d give anything if Molly Ivins were here to lighten the moment. I could use a laugh.

G. Elaine Acker is CEO of RealSparx, a marketing consulting firm that works with small businesses and nonprofits to create marketing solutions that work in the real world.

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All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual writers and do not represent the views of Leadership Austin.

Arts & Creativity: The February 2012 Essential Class Day

Guest blog post by Essential 2012 Class member Meredith Powell, following her participation in the February Essential Class session that focused on Arts and Creativity.

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Essential Arts and Creative Day Panel Speakers

According to a recent GOOD web site report, in a survey conducted by IBM last year, 1,500 CEOs identified creativity as the number one “competitive edge" of the future. And Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently wrote that dance, music, theater, and visual arts "are essential to preparing our nation's young people for a global economy fueled by innovation and creativity.”


In short, I look at it like this: art > creativity > innovation > progress. And, progress we must as a community, as a nation, as a world, as humanity.

The February Essential 2012 Arts and Creativity Day was jam-packed with information representing a myriad of passionate perspectives ranging from arts advocacy and education to established artists, producers, city leadership and our youth. Much like the day unfolded, the venue showcased our history, acknowledged our present and celebrated the possibilities of our future. And the Scottish Rite Theater was ripe for rediscovery.

Good news on the numbers front: Economic data is finally proving a correlation between arts, creativity and economic success. A few key resources compiled and analyzed by Texas Perspectives, Inc:

• City of Austin’s Creative Sector Impact

• State of Texas Economic Report via Texas Cultural Trust

Robert Faires, a tireless advocate and invaluable asset, asked us to think of art as live, as experience, as energy. I like that. I like that because when you start to look around, when you start to notice art and creativity is all around you, you begin to seek it. You begin to value the differences all around you.

It also resonates because for art and creativity to be sustainable and adaptable particularly as economic models shift, it is at least as equally important to have demand for the work being produced as it is to support the infrastructure that helps make the work possible. It is on this exchange we must equally focus our attention when articulating the value and necessity of nurturing art and creativity.

For me, the most inspired moments were the involvement of Graham Reynolds, observing the brilliance of Brent Hasty and hearing the raw truth from the youth perspective on art in Austin moderated by Emily Marks. Connecting directly with artists is critical to the conversation. In these moments, minds opened. And of course, I always enjoy spending time with peers and partners.

Leadership Austin usually provides a stimulating break from my every day, an opportunity to learn about the issues we’re facing as a whole and inspires my mind to envision how my work in the arts can affect the change we’re responsible for leading—particularly across the sectors of which I’m less familiar. I complete the class exhausted but energized, informed yet curious.

It is my hope that my classmates completed the day informed, yes, but more importantly, energized with a curiosity to seek out and nurture creativity in the every day. We are responsible for Austin’s progress, for strengthening our position as a leading city of the 21st century — and creativity is at the heart of solving the complex problems we face today. Socially and economically, creativity provides a mechanism for innovation. It’s so simple. Who knew our progress started with art?

Essential Class 2012 member Meredith Powell is the executive director of Art Alliance Austin. Each year, 55 people representing the diversity of Central Texas are selected to participate in the Leadership Austin Essential Class. The curriculum focuses on regional issues, leadership skills, and the building of strong networks to encourage innovative, collaborative solutions to the region's challenges.

Education in Central Texas: Complex, Changing, Crucial and Our Responsibility

Guest Post by Michele Walker-Moak

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February Essential Class at National Instruments

In February, the Leadership Austin Class of 2012 was treated to a day-long overview of our regional education issues. I know, I know. “A day you say? This could take years." But, the LA Class was confident and ready to learn. (In full disclosure, I’m married to an educator and have spent the majority of my community work in the education space.) 

I wasn’t sure what new information I would garner from the session, but found that I was pleasantly surprised to come away from the day inspired and reinvigorated to don my superhero cape and take on the enduring battle of “fixing” the system for our children. The truth is, we all need to dust off the superhero costumes and find our superpowers to ensure that we create a system that bests prepares kids for the future.

Susan Dawson, E3 Alliance, was clear in making her case for “changing the system.” If we all work to close achievement gaps and increase graduation rates, Texas could see an increase of cumulative output of $1.897 trillion by 2030 and one million new jobs. (Susan will be one of the featured speaker at the Leadership Austin fastforward Issues Forum on March 27th. fastforward takes aim at what we can do to improve our education system. If you care about education, you won't want to miss it. Learn more about fastforward and watch a video with Susan in this blog post.)

Our take away: “We cannot afford to ignore this issue.”

Fortunately, some hope and help is on the horizon. Several innovative public school options were showcased to the class: Manor New Tech High School, IDEA Schools, KIPP Austin, Ann Richards School For Girls and American Youth Works High School. These schools are pushing the limits of our definition of “school.” 

They are challenging the norms to create thoughtful students, equipped with 21st Century Skills, who are ready to meet our future workforce needs. It’s a paradigm shift for many— rethinking, re-engineering and reconstructing the classroom of the mind. (Check out Sir Ken Robinson’s TED Talk “Changing Education Paradigms”.)

We also heard from teachers, students and superintendents from Pflugerville ISD and Round Rock ISD. Everyone provided insight into needs facing educators and students.

The thoughts were churning in the 2012 Essential Class room. “What can we, as Central Texas leaders, do to help?”

One loud response: “Engage!”

Essential Class of 2012: “But how?”

Here are a few ways to engage, straight from the mouths of superintendents, teachers and the students: 

• Vote in school board elections 
• Run for school board 
• Allow internships at your place of employment 
• Mentor 
• Write Op Eds in local papers 
• Support great educations leaders 
• Lift up teachers
• Have a voice with legislators 

There you have it. Brush off your capes!

Michele Walker-Moak is a member of the 2012 Essential Class. She is a program manager at AMD in Austin where she manages community affairs and outreach.

January 2012 Essential Class - Transportation and Housing

Guest post from Essential Class of 2012 participant Amber Vasquez Bode. The January 2012 class day theme was "Transportation, Land Use, and Housing." 
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Austin City Council Member Chris Riley

Our housing and transportation day started off with a bang via Chris Riley. I came into his presentation curious because I live in Allandale, where the battle with Walmart went down a few years ago and he was a key player. His presentation advocated form based codes over traditional zoning, and he put forward a strong case by unveiling plans for a revamped Airport Blvd. corridor as well as a new Highland Mall area corridor. Of course, my classmates and I wanted to know about plans for other areas of town, since it seemed like the East side has been getting all of the love these days.

It sounded like there was a lot of unanimous community support in the areas that were currently on the radar, especially since the two mentioned in the presentation had nowhere to go but up. It makes sense, but is still a little disheartening for the rest of the run down corridors in need of makeovers in other areas.

Mike Clark-Madison followed with more discussion on land use and housing, examples of amazing results from form-based codes were shown and made me start wondering what was the opposition? It seemed to make so much sense- why not?

Lucy Galbraith tied it all together with an in-depth discussion on transportation planning. It was exciting to hear potential solutions to our chronic mobility crisis, but the challenge became clear to me, at least through discussion at my table. As we discussed bonds to pay for all of the new plans and allotting the extra tax revenue to pay for them, Lisa Fielder made the point that she has no interest in paying for projects on the other side of town from where she lived and already paid a fortune in taxes. We all felt the heat of high taxes, and the struggle with how our city gets from here to there came into focus. The transportation plans seemed awesome and ambitious, but still left me wanting even more solutions for the price tag.

The stakeholder engagement exercise we did after lunch was pretty enlightening, and certainly challenged a lot of assumptions I came in with as to who had the power and who was important in community debates. The following panel discussion highlighted some intriguing innovations from car sharing to building mini houses in peoples back yards. I couldn't help myself from asking the same question (again- I know) about why housing in central Austin seems to overlook larger families. The answer from Laurie Loew and Lisa Garcia was that large families need to stop thinking bigger is better and learn to live together in small spaces again, as they did with their respective huge families growing up. Fair enough.  Monica Williams at my table had a strong argument for packing it up and moving out of central Austin if I wanted more space. However, Lisa Fielder held her ground and made it clear that she had no intention of sharing space just because she lived central and felt no obligation to do so to allow more people to be central. All valid perspectives, I felt lucky to be around such informed people.

Amber Vasquez Bode is a Criminal Law Attorney with the Vasquez Law Firm in Austin, Texas.

December 2011 Essential Class - A Day for Diversity and Inclusion

Guest post from Essential Class of 2012 participant Ruth Gardner-Loew. The December 2011 class day theme was "Diversity and Inclusion."
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December 14 was the third time since September that the Leadership Austin Essential Class of 2012 met for our monthly, all-day class. Each session had been inspiring and uplifting, but as I sat there and listened and learned and marveled at what was presented throughout the day, I felt deep gratitude and joy to be a part of it.

We were just a few weeks past Thanksgiving, and still a few weeks away from Christmas and the New Year - the perfect time for introspection and “next step” planning. This “Diversity and Inclusion” class day offered lessons that obliged each of us to take serious, personal stock of the meaning of those ideas. Ultimately, we saw that no matter how liberal and open minded we are, we still form stereotypes about people – especially those different from ourselves – and we observed how we interact with those who are “different” than us and our friends. The goal was to structure what we observed and learned into strengths that help us become better leaders.

Dr. Jean Latting and Stephanie Foy of Leading Consciously lead a workshop that helped us reflect on our personal leadership style and its effectiveness (or lack thereof), and gave concrete examples of how to bridge communication gaps. They helped us recognize how Dominance Dynamics work in society, and personalized it by separating the class into Dominants and Non-Dominants based on obvious characteristics like race, gender and religion. The differences between the experiences of Dominants and Non-Dominants becomes pretty obvious when you own being a part of a particular group, and when you own how you operate as a leader depending on whether your decisions are based on Dominate or Non-Dominate experiences. To be clear, most of us belong to many different groups and experience both roles, depending on the situation.

The exercise that intrigued me the most was “Perceptions of Power & Privilege.” Think about it:

• Dominants are presumed to be competent – Non-Dominants have to prove themselves again and again
• Dominants are more likely to find doors open to them – Non-Dominants are denied regular access to the opportunities Dominants take for granted
• Dominants assume their opinions and perspectives will be treated as normal, general and universally true – Non-Dominants have their opinions and perspectives labeled as “special interest

Even more intriguing was that Dominants are typically unaware of Dominance Dynamics, while Non-Dominants are acutely aware of Dominance Dynamics. Leading consciously, facilitating good communication between vastly different groups, and getting us out of our comfort zones to become stronger leaders was high on the agenda.

Classes are structured to provide food for the brain and for the body, and a day of learning wouldn’t be complete without healthy living guidelines. Paul Carrozza of RunTex gave us his tried-and-proven-successful approach to healthy living balanced with exercise and diet. Before offering expert advice on how to prepare for marathons, he equipped us for training for the Statesman Capitol 10K by offering each class member a pair of custom fitted jogging shoes and a 2012 Leadership Austin team, t-shirt. I love exercising, but I’ve never been a jogger, and Paul’s advice for first time runners or walkers to start out very gradually was welcome news.

H-E-B Dietician Kylie Bentley

Lunch was fun, because not only did H-E-B dietician Kylie Bentley plan the healthy, tasty menu that was presented, she also showed us how to prepare delicious, health-supporting holiday snacks like Tamale Sliders, Dark Chocolate Mint Covered Pretzels, and Berry Cheesecake Bites. Yummmm... now all I need to do is find time to cook!

Finally, communications specialist Barbara Miller showed us how to speak from the heart, and introduced a session in which Essential Class alumni guided small groups on an introspective journey designed to make us aware of how events that took place early in our lives marked us and helped shape who we are today. We were all surprised by how deeply we’ve been influenced by seemingly small, sometimes long forgotten incidents. Well done, and a very fitting close to a day that allowed us to look into the mirror and study ourselves with honesty and impunity, and to continue towards our goal of becoming stronger leaders who know how to bridge communication barriers.

Ruth Gardner-Loew is Executive Director at Atticus Circle and a Certified Feng Shui Consultant with Healthy Homes and Workplaces.

October 2011 Essential Class - A Crash Course in Austin's Plan

Guest post from Essential Class of 2012 participant Monica M. Williams. The October 2011 class day theme was "Demographics and Growth: Creating a Baseline."
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Our first Essential Class day hit me in the middle of the busiest week of the year for the Austin Community Foundation, where I'm Communications Director. But considering the content of that day, maybe the fact that I was already running at a breakneck pace was for the best.

Because in a way I probably was more prepared for PowerPoint presentations that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Who knew +40 page slide shows could be so riveting? And yet the presentations from Ryan Robinson and Jon Roberts were just that.

Robinson, the City of Austin's demographer, also happens to be a born-and-raised Austinite. His presentation of the top-ten demographic trends in Austin showed that he loves the city and he loves his work. Roberts, an economist, used his expertise to help us connect the dots, too. His presentation about the future of Austin's economy was no less than thrilling - and I hated economics in college. Together, it was a one-two punch of some pretty heavy stuff.

So first we got the city's data, then we got the city's plan.

In the afternoon, we heard from Imagine Austin about the city's comprehensive plan. There were some disconnects and lots of questions. Overall the effect of the day's presentations was a little like Charlie's tour of the chocolate factory.

Based on the information I have now, I have come to a few conclusions that are probably premature, uninformed and way too simple. (Maybe I'm taking this too personally?) Here they are:

1. The way we talk about racial inequality in Austin needs to change. In the nonprofit sector, where I work, we talk about diversity. Clearly, according to Robinson's presentation, we are a diverse city.
   
   It's time for us to talk about integration.
   
   Now I for one hate both of those words. They sound archaic and forced, corporate and nebulous. In my gut it feels like we're all at the eighth-grade dance and no one wants to be the first to make a move.
   
   But I'm a Mexican-American who's used to being one of the few - if not the only - Hispanic at every job I've ever had. Trust me, it's only as scary as we make it. In about 15 years, we're all going to have Hispanics in our family (by marriage) anyway, so it will be less of an issue. In the meantime, let's dance!
   
   
2. What's good for the Austin economy ignores the population that's growing the fastest in Austin: poor Hispanics.
   
   Roberts described a steep decline in manufacturing jobs across the country and how Austin's economic growth has been tied to its ability to create an "ecosystem for innovation." He concluded that Austin's growth opportunities for the next decade include international tourism, a medical school and more corporate headquarters.
   
   But Robinson had just told us that the gap between the have and have-nots was increasing. That the fastest-growing population is mostly poor and undereducated Hispanics. Is it the destiny of the city to become a bunch of janitors at hotels catering to F-1 fans and SXSW geeks? (Sorry. I can get overly dramatic.)
   
   
3. Sustainability is the "central policy direction" of the Imagine Austin plan, but I wish that word hadn't been co-opted by environmentalists. Because it's a fitting word, but it implies that we should focus our efforts on the planet over people.
   
   My impression from the day's information is that most of our policy direction should be in growing Austin's middle class, particularly by providing mentoring, education and training ladders for our growing, young Hispanic population.
   
   This could resolve many of our current issues, including the racial divide, the economic gaps, and public-education shortcomings. And it's less about "helping the less fortunate" than it is about investing in one of our natural resources - people.

Robinson talked about the new, growing barrios in Austin and how they can either be a toehold for Hispanics to step into middle class or a trap. We already have them in a trap. Are we going to let that happen again?

Monica M. Williams is Communications Director at the Austin Community Foundation and Editor-in-Chief at GivingCity Austin Magazine.