Monthly Archives: April 2009

(Community Matters) Jaclyn Pryor has produced and performed in Floodlines six years. First performed after 9/11, the production was Jaclyn’s master thesis. Steven and I participated last year – did so again today.

Heather McClellan & Matthew Scheer

Will write more when get the chance

(Community Matters) pics from St. James’ Episcopal Palm Sunday services

(Community Matters) Headed to services at St. James Episopal. I’ve organized a short discussion session about the Texas Relays incidents after services. I’m especially interested in the feelings & conversations of our African American members. My goal is to listen and learn.

(Community Matters) On Saturday, we celebrated the ninth Austin Cup, organized annually by Lynne Skinner & Jeff Browning – sponsored by Austin Ventures, Ernst & Young, Vinson & Elkins & the Entrepreneurs Foundation, and most importantly, benefitting the Center for Child Protection. I suspect we busted the $500,000 mark in funds raised yesterday, though monies were still being counted when I left. Thirty six high-tech & sponsoring companies participated in yesterday’s event.

Austin Cup founder, Lynne Skinner & Sailpoint CEO Mark McClain (also an EF advisory board member)
Lynne was one of EF’s founders

360 Training’s team – the Nerds

Austin Ventures

What’s a party without a balloon guy – especially when participants are encouraged to bring their families. Ernst & Young sponsors the kids bowling lanes. You see kids 2 to 15 bowling and having fun, though admittedly the older kids mostly played pool, had their cards read, face painted and hung out.

BazaarVoice went all out

BazaarVoice

Grandecom – The Broadbandits

Epiphany read cards. I had two readings, one from a Cosmic Tribe tarot cards, another from the Goddess deck.

My first question – if I was going to implement a focus for my work, what should it be? Challenge card: Art. I should find the art thread underneath my work. My focus shouldn’t be on a cause, organization or topic but on what I bring to the activities/initiatives. Action card: Strength. clarity of vision. art & creativity at my core. need to start saying no. Overview card: 10 of Swords. sometimes stuck and don’t know how to exit. Need to build team that can leave in charge and move on.

My second question – how should I further engage young people. Challenge card: Six of Stave. create excitement or buzz. figure out how to excite. Action card: Eight of Pintacles about growing things. Plant seed & lay foundation. empower. Overview card: Wisdom card toot own horn a bit so kids can find me. Define what want to pass along & hang out my shingle.

Lifesize – Hi Def Rollers

Other companies which participated include: NewComLink, Zilliant, CSIdentity, FameCast, SiteStuff, Newgistics, Pervassive Softward, Surgient, HyPerformix, HomeAway, ReachForce, Pluck, Affiniscape, Dresser Wayne, Troux Technologies, Net Qos, Cisco, Augmentix, Tipping Point, Lombardi, Zarlink, AT&T, QuickArrow, 21st Century Technologies, Convio, LibreDigital and Open Labs.

Way fun and wayyyy great cause.

(Community Matters)

People enjoy you because you are real, so don’t worry about trying to hide your flaws.

(Community Matters) NOTHING beats the rubbed pork ribs from Kreuz’s. The German potato salad is to die for too. Brisket, sausage, pork tenderloin and pork chops good. No forks!

photo: Wyatt McSpadden

AAS story on McSpadden’s new photography book and Kreuz’s.

On Tuesday, someone served me beans supposedly from Kreuz’s. They must have run out and opened a can, swipped a bottle of bbq sauce from Smitty’s, poured it in and sold these to unsuspecting novices. Capital offense; never again!

(Community Matters) I’m informed that Simon Properties is NOT the manager of Highland Mall.

(Community Matters) I’ve delayed posting on this because I’m 1) dumbfounded and 2) trying to imagine any conceivable excuses for these actions.

No statistics of more than general rowdiness, public safety concerns or other extenuating circumstances were offered by the club and shopping mall owners. And, yes, it should take a damn good explanation (defendable, proveable) to decide to close on the weekend Austin is visited by more African Americans than any other time of the year.

There are laws governing public accommodations and discrimination. I hope there is a public outrage about this. I’m not likely to have attended the 6th Street clubs but I sure won’t ever again visit Highland Mall.

Read AAS story here.

(Community Matters) I’d been hearing about College Forward for a couple of years but had never been introduced to the organization or its founder, Lisa Fielder. They provide college preparatory services to motivated, economically-disadvantaged students, in order to facilitate their transition to college and make the process exciting and rewarding.

College Forward Manager Renato Ramaciotti giving a tour

Met many on the College Forward team at Lehman High School in Kyle, Tx yesterday. We were hosted by Principal Elsa Hinojosa.

They hire AmeriCorp members (young adults not too far from high school age) to mentor low and moderate income students toward college. We toured a class of juniors and a class of seniors, only one student’s parents had attended college. The mentors greatly increase the knowledge and perspectives of these overwhelmingly first-generation, prospective college applicants. They teach them about the ACT/SAT, providing practice sessions and even organizing test days. Provide counseling on colleges, majors and financial aid – extraordinary services, especially for kids coming from families ill-equipped to advise. I met seniors going to Stanford, Holyke, Texas State, UT and other campuses. Most received multiple offers.

I was struck by how helpful this kind of assistance would have been to me when I was growing up. I didn’t know not to go out partying (homecoming) the night before my SAT. Nor was I equipped to weigh college acceptance offers. It’s harder on first generation students than many suspect; we simply try to put on a good face. Too many of my contemporaries never even tried for college, never imagined it was even an option. College Forward has good track record working with this population. They even provide college retention support. I am impressed with what I saw of the organization.

(Community Matters) Congratulations to Elizabeth Davis who’s been named the new COO for the Miracle Foundation – one of my favorite women, one of my favorite nonprofit organizations. What a tremendous match – Elizabeth and Caroline Boudreaux.

(Community Matters) Wow – not your mom’s Partners in Education. I had no idea. Their mission now is: creating and fostering effective community and school partnerships that provide all AISD students preparation for college and career.

Had a site visit with APIE yesterday at Webb Middle School to observe their 8th grade Mentoring/Coaching program in math. Fortuitously, had read my packet prior to running into Seton’s Charles Barnett at Headliners over lunch. I had no idea Charles now chaired APIE. With a board that includes Charles, Pat Forgoine, Diana Resnik, Mark Curry, Charles Roeckle, Doyle Valdez and Drew Scheberle, you know something great is going on.

And there is – lots. APIE CEO, Katherin Brewer briefed me on their logic model and programs. Very metric and success driven. Leveraging the most precious resources, teacher time into small group learning experiences with trained volunteers. Have to say, I’m rather blown away with how far this organization has come.

a Webb middle school math classroom with students
organized in small groups, being led by volunteer coaches

APIE programs include Partners in Math, College Readiness, Reading/Companeros en Lectura, Literature and Technology. The KDK Harman Foundation is considering a grant request to help them take their Partner in Math program from 12 to 35 classrooms.

(Community Matters) Wednesday night, joined Michael & Rachel Feferman at the Long Center for the Leonard Cohen concert – extraodinary, really.

Ok, embarrassed to admit I didn’t recognize the name when Kevin Keim first mentioned his tour. Of course, I thought a Cohen must be related to John Cohen and Pete Seeger. Then I listened to his music and of course knew his work.

He’s, obviously, foremost a poet – his songs perfectly frame his poetry.

At least 3 encores, we had to leave after the 3, though could have stayed all night. (I believe I heard 5 yesterday). He has the stride of a much younger man. We can only wish for his gait at the age of 75. A once in a lifetime experience.