Daily Archives: 05/26/2008

(Community Matters) The article in this morning’s AAS about the Condo Deal to aid East Austin here identified me as a governor on the board of the Austin Community Foundation. This is true, though I clarified that I was speaking as one of three advisors to the ACF fund. UT’s Rudy Green, Winstead partner Mike Cook and I are jointly tasked with recommending grants from the fund created by Tom & Lynn Meredith’s generous contribution of land to ACF, as well as Terry Mitchell’s and David Mahn’s contribution of profits. Tom invited me to participate in the Featherlite project in its beginning; I continue to do so today in my role as CEO of the Entrepreneurs Foundation, which was otherwise represented at the table from the project’s earliest days. Will Meredith now leads the project.

(Community Matters) So, if we wanted special influence with a Texas House member, how many Texans think it ok to give him/her $40k – not his campaign but a contribution to his/her personal checking account? No difference from what Lubbock State Rep. Carl Isett (Republican) is doing, albeit into his wife’s business checking account. here

(Community Matters) Two important pieces on education today: Economist: “Red Ties and Boys’ Pride,” about the Urban Prep Charter Academy and Chicago’s Ren 10, $44 million raised by Chicago community leaders to welcome education entrepreneurs. here

And, Thomas Friedman’s column in today’s NYTimes about the lottery for slots in the SEED School of Maryland, where 300 students competed for 80 slots. The limited slots are considered literal life savers to parents & counselors of inner-city children here