Introducing The Community Leaders Of Color Mental Health Fund
Presented by Future Front Texas in partnership with Colors of Austin Counseling, The Community Leaders of Color Mental Health Fund is an ongoing therapy fund for Black, Indigenous and non-white leaders of color pursuing racial justice in creative, community, business and work settings.
Presented by Future Front Texas in partnership with Colors of Austin Counseling, The Community Leaders of Color Mental Health Fund is an ongoing therapy fund for Black, Indigenous and non-white leaders of color pursuing racial justice in creative, community, business and work settings.
Through this program, you can apply for up to five pro-bono therapy sessions.
*Nota Importante: Haga click para encontrar una traducción en Español.
☺ We know that BIPOC leaders show up for show communities in times of crisis—often while managing their own trauma and sense of safety.
✰ We also know that BIPOC folks step up to represent their communities in big ways—and that act of collective-care can be overwhelming.
AND That’s where the community leaders of color mental health fund comes in.
Through this fund, we will seasonally grant 15 community leaders of color up to five sessions each of culturally-appropriate crisis therapy with a therapist at Colors of Austin Counseling.
Because we envision a world where mental health is normalized.
We envision a world where our communities are fiercely cared for—and racial justice work is followed by restoration. We envision a world where BIPOC leaders in many community settings—from small business owners to entrepreneurs to organizers to nonprofit directors—receive the support they deserve.
HOW TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR SUPPORT:
2.) Submit your request with our form.
This resource has been brought forward due to the organizing work of Colors of Austin’s Director of Equity Sandra Olarte-Hayes (she/her/ella)—a bilingual LCSW, therapist, and circle keeper in Austin, Texas—in collaboration with fellow Black, Indigenous and POC colleagues and therapists from the Colors of Austin Counseling staff.
Once you apply for a session, you will be considered for placement with an available therapist in their network. Your request is entirely confidential. (Responses to your request may take five to seven business days.)
1.) Ensure you are eligible to apply.
You must be based in Austin, Texas.
You must identify as Black, Indigenous or a person of color.
You must identify as a woman, trans, gender-non-conforming or LGBTQ+.
You must be leading or a part of a creative project, community project, work project or business that furthers racial justice.
You must submit your support request by August 15, 2021 at 11:59 PM CT.
BEHIND THE FUND
Throughout August and September 2020, we partnered with activist Sandra Olarte-Hayes and 8 BIPOC therapists to provide 100+ pro bono therapy sessions in Austin, Texas through a program we called BIPOC Therapy Support. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Sandra, our staff and the therapists that stepped up, more than 25 community leaders were connected to vital mental health support and received at least two to five sessions of pro bono help as they work to actualize racial and social justice for our world.
The Community Leaders of Color Mental Health Fund has emerged from that initial volunteer vision. In its current iteration, the fund has been redesigned through a partnership with Colors of Austin Counseling, to properly compensate therapists for their time, as well as ensure that every applicant is appropriately supported. Thanks to underwriting support from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the fund was reintroduced in July 2021 and will continue to offer therapy options as more resources and donations become available.
Meet the fund’s founders:
Sandra Olarte-Hayes (she/her/ella) is a bilingual LCSW, therapist, and circle keeper in Austin, Texas.
Her healing work has focused on working with formerly and currently incarcerated individuals, young organizers, immigrant youth and families, and individuals on both sides of domestic violence. She also works with clients undergoing family conflict, depression, personal and intergenerational trauma, and racial and cultural issues. Sandra's work is grounded in anti-oppresive, feminist frameworks and she dedicates much of her energy to healing justice initiatives which bridge the gap between healing work and social change movements. She is deeply passionate about restorative justice and bringing healing to individuals on both sides of violence and strongly believes all change, both systemic and personal, are grounded in relationships, connection, and community.
Colors of Austin Counseling is an intentionally diverse multidisciplinary group practice that provides counseling services in-person and online within the state of Texas.
We are social justice oriented in our practice and inclusive in our work within the community. Our goal is to reduce the barriers that exist when it comes to mental health support and to provide high quality clinical services to all regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability and/or socioeconomic status.
Future Front Texas is a 501c3 nonprofit, homegrown in Austin 🌍
We started as a grassroots meet-up series called Boss Babes ATX (bbatx) in 2015. We are run by a four-person staff and a network of amazing volunteers, each committed to cultivating the spaces we want to see in the world.
Alongside our members, collaborators and partners, we nurture creativity, community-building and professional resilience in Texas. We make spaces where women and queer creatives, founders and leaders can grow together.
Currently, we produce an annual festival and market, a year-round learning club, as well as multiple community funds and initiatives.
Meet the fund’s underwriter:
Want to stay involved with Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
On Nurturing Young Women of Color: The R.O.S.E. Project
Nina Bailey of The R.O.S.E. Project chats about her vision behind the nonprofit's new scholarships, the value of a daily mantra and why Texas should mind its own business.
This summer, in light of our own rebirth, we’re catching up with Future Front Texas members and friends to explore vision.
Today, we’re chatting with one of our sponsored community projects, The R.O.S.E. Project. In May 2021, we supported their new scholarship program for girls pursuing STEAM education, The Rosebud Scholarship, by donating tote bags and $20 gift cards to all of the applicants.
We caught up with founder Nina Bailey to learn more about the nonprofit’s new scholarship program, the value of a daily mantra and why Texas should mind its own business.
Photo courtesy of Nina Bailey
ABOUT NINA AND THE R.O.S.E. PROJECT:
I’ve been in Austin for 7 years, and I’m originally from Detroit, Michigan. My background is mainly working with youth and family, as I’ve worked in parole, childcare, and counseling within residential facilities. I started The R.O.S.E. Project because I’ve recognized a lot of gaps within educational systems, where young children of color, specifically Black girls, have almost no representation, nor emotional or mental wellness.
I tried to change this by working within systems, but I’ve realized that we are dealing with systems that are doing what they were created for. I decided to focus on preventative measures so young women don’t have to deal with these things as they grow up. I teach them better communication and guide them through daily issues from something as simple as homework to talking about family, dating and personal challenges.
What compelled you to launch THE ROSE BUD scholarship, and how have you seen it make a difference?
I launched the scholarship to focus on girls pursuing STEAM, trades and entrepreneurship because we often don’t get funding in these areas for girls of color. A lot of the time, parents are busy working and don’t have time to look into scholarships, either. Even if families are actively looking, it’s hard to navigate finding money for your child.
I don’t think girls should struggle through the process of getting funding to go to school. To have that entrepreneurial mindset of doing things, such as making and selling keychains or making your own products, is amazing to me. Who am I not to assist?
The girls who received this year’s scholarships were really appreciative and talked about the things they wanted to do with their money. They’re very talented, and I know it boosted their self-esteem.
We also use the program to show the girls that there are people out there who can help them and that there are women in Austin who would open their arms to them. I want to help the girls start a network at a young age and learn all the things I learned as an adult.
Photo courtesy of Nina Bailey (Gift bags sponsored by us!)
Photo courtesy of Nina Bailey
What’s your day-to-day mantra?
I am worthy. Life happens for me naturally. For a long time, I had been in a victim mentality when things didn't go my way. I now tell myself that whatever happens leads me to wherever I need to be.
You want the future of Texas to look like…
Safe. Texas needs to mind its own business when it’s come to women’s bodies, education systems and mental health. I want Texas to stay in its lane, so we can take care of OUR business and OUR people.
Best advice you’ve been given?
Stop talking. When you’re doing things that feel good, you naturally want to share your ideas and dreams. But that can unfortunately be our own downfall and sometimes a barrier to reaching our goals.
What was your childhood dream job?
Gynecologist. I loved babies and was always fascinated by women’s bodies and the things that we’re able to do. I had the same gynecologist from age 13 until I moved away from Detroit. She guided me through my body changes, and I learned a lot from her.
Then, I wanted to be a chef on the side. I almost went through with it. I went to school for a year majoring in biology, but everything changed when we had to dissect a body. I couldn't stand that.
What does a day in the life of Nina consist of?
I get up, do some stretching, work out depending on how my body is feeling (recently, I’ve been jump roping), do my meditation, make a smoothie and set my intentions for the day.
Then, I work my full-time job. After work, I work on my own business project which usually involves writing, recording, or planning out what I need to do.
I am doing better at balancing my daily living between work and a semi-social life.
The thing you most wish for in the world is…
To do what I love to do, which is working for myself and pouring out into the community. I want to be in a financial position where I can give back to everyone. Money isn’t everything, but money helps. Finances are a huge part of what keeps communities from prospering the way they should be able to.
Photo courtesy of Nina Bailey
Photo courtesy of Nina Bailey
What’s next for The R.O.S.E Project?
Currently, I’m thinking of turning The R.O.S.E Project into a yearly scholarship program or bringing back our school event where we gave out backpacks and supplies, and provided educational panels.
I’m also starting my own business in meditation and healing. I want to provide the tools that young girls may need, and I don’t want it to come out of their pockets, so we also need to do a lot more fundraising.
What are the best ways to get involved and support your work?
We’re always taking donations and collecting supplies such as yoga mats, journals and water bottles, and/or gift cards. If community members would like to donate they can use our link for the scholarship Rose Bud Scholarship or our non-profit link The R.O.S.E. Project.
Want to stay involved with Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
How To Volunteer With Future Front Texas At Austin FC
It’s officially soccer season in Austin, Texas—and we’re one of this summer’s proud nonprofit partners at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium. ❤️
It’s officially soccer season in Austin, Texas—and we’re one of this summer’s proud nonprofit partners at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium. ❤️
We’re looking for volunteers who can work four Austin FC games with us between July and September 2021.
Here’s how you can become an Austin FC x FFTX Fundraising volunteer:
HOW THE PARTNERSHIP WORKS:
The Q2 Stadium is donating 10% of sales from the 512 BBQ stand at all Austin FC games this season to FFTX.
As a beneficiary, we send volunteers to help run the stand at each game and let people know about what we’re doing to support creative and small business communities in Texas. Every cent we make will go directly toward our programs and community initiatives.
AS A VOLUNTEER, YOU WILL:
Commit to four games (six to seven hour shifts) once per month
Complete your TABC and food-handlers training prior to your first game (we reimburse you!)
Sling sandwiches with two other FFTX volunteers and staff members
Work behind a COVID-19 protective screen in the open-air, outdoors Q2 stadium
Receive water breaks, a meal and snacks throughout the game
AS A VOLUNTEER, YOU WILL RECEIVE:
A complimentary Austin FC hat and Q2 Stadium tee, which will double as your volunteer uniform
A one-year free membership to FFTX to enjoy all of the beautiful programs your hard work will fund <3
A pretty spectacular view of the game from our little barbecue stand (which we have lovely renamed internally as The Krusty Krab)
WANT TO VOLUNTEER IN OTHER WAYS?
Click here to learn more about our year-round volunteer program.
On Pride And Community-Care In Texas: Black Trans Leadership of Austin
The organizers of Black Trans Leadership of Austin share their goals, what supporting QTBIPOC communities in Texas looks like and the year-round energy of PRIDE Month.
This summer, in light of our own rebirth, we’re catching up with Future Front Texas members and friends to explore vision.
Today, we’re chatting with one of our grantees for June 2021, Black Trans Leadership of Austin. BTLA will receive $1000 from proceeds collected at this summer’s Swim Sessions.
Keep reading to learn about their goals, what supporting QTBIPOC communities in Texas looks like and the year-round energy of PRIDE Month.
Photo courtesy of BTLA
ABOUT BTLA:
Black Trans Leadership of Austin exists to create better outcomes for Black Trans and Gender Diverse people in Austin. The organization was founded July 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic, by members of the Black queer and trans community.
BTLA has identified systemic and economic issues affecting QTBIPOC communities across central Texas and works to give care, reparations, and support to our community through direct aid and community connection.
Tell us a little bit about BTLA and the work that you do.
Our mission is to create better outcomes for the lives of Black Trans people in Austin and Central Texas. Together, we are pushing for community centers, where we can connect and be in fellowship, actual affordable housing, safety in the cities we live in and the luxury of leisure—to celebrate our talents, skills, and culture.
In just the past few months, BTLA has already been able to host community cookouts and food drives to get our people fed, release $1,000 grants to over 20 community members in crisis with funds that were directly reallocated from Austin Police Department through Reimagining Public Safety initiatives.
We’ve also created the ‘Black Trans Leadership Austin Community Questionnaire for the Advancement of QTBIPOC in Central Texas,’ a survey that will help us collect data concerning our communities needs, so that we can build a more accurate snapshot of where the system has failed Black Trans people, and get our needs met—because we believe data should not be a barrier.
What's your vision for the Black queer and trans community in Austin?
We want to build a closer knit community. Trans people are usually forced to lean on each other, just to make it through hardship, but imagine what we could do if we had easier access to the resources we needed to thrive—our movement would be expansive and radical.
BTLA wants to not only bring more Black trans leaders to the surface in our city but also support Black trans in having the freedom to thrive as ourselves. We visualize not only safer spaces that we can live and succeed in, but also places that we aren't expected to be in. We want to shake up the image and idea of what leadership is expected to look and act like to something a lot more colorful and diverse.
What does PRIDE mean to you in 2021?
Pride, for us, means supporting Black trans and queer folks voices. It also means remembering our past and not letting our trans ancestors and their work be forgotten.
Pride is more like an annual call-out and protest to a system that purposefully forgets us.
While this can be a time to celebrate our unique identities, it should also be said that this is a time for us to really continue to be vocal and advocate for our needs to the cis-straight community.
How can we continue to support BTLA (and the QTBIPOC community at large)?
By recognizing that you can contribute by investing your time and skills to those who are regularly marginalized. Take whatever it is you are good at and offer it to organizations like BTLA. We are big believers in mutual aid and resource-sharing to achieve true equity. The steps can also be as small as using more trans inclusive language at home and work, normalizing and correcting anti-trans sentiments in your personal network.
Being in a state that almost passed an unprecedented amount of violent anti-trans legislation and where Black folks continue to be mistreated, we encourage everyone to actively dispelling anti-Black and anti-trans behavior and language in your personal networks and beyond.
What's next for BTLA? How do you hope to grow your programs?
We definitely look forward to participating in more in-person events and gatherings. Being able to see one another and bringing more Black trans people into the fold is such an important part of our vision for the future. Our primary focus is direct assistance to Black trans folks.
From basic needs assistance in the realms of access to everyday essentials, jobs, housing and healthcare to a shoulder to lean on and someone to encourage them to keep going, we want to be there with them every step of the way. We are always working to build the capacity for our small, overworked team to do so.
Honestly, we need the support of the entire community to keep doing the work we are doing. Donations do go a long way—we are able to redistribute that into our community, but we also want to imagine beyond simply throwing money at a really huge issue. Donated time and skill, community collaboration and true allyship will help build programs that will continue to help our community.
Want to stay involved with Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
On Sustainability And The Art Of Dinner: Krystal Frame
Krystal talks her favorite dishes, the environmental impact of the service and fashion industries and manifesting her own conscious lifestyle brand.
This summer, in light of our own rebirth, we’re catching up with Future Front Texas members and friends to explore vision.
Today, we’re chatting with one of our resident small business owners, creative and Sustain Frame founder, Krystal Frame. Krystal talks her favorite dishes, the environmental impact of the service and fashion industries and manifesting her own conscious lifestyle brand.
Photo of Krystal Frame by Jinni J for Future Front Texas
ABOUT KRYSTAL AND SUSTAIN FRAME:
Meet Krystal Frame! Originally from Hobbs, New Mexico, where she spent some of her childhood, Krystal has relocated to various cities over the years, such as Odessa, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, New York City, and finally landed here in Austin in 2018. Her career background is split between working in the fashion industry and multiple service positions which has ultimately led her to create Sustain Frame. Before moving to Austin, she lived in Brooklyn, New York and ran the grind in Manhattan, where she worked for multiple fashion companies like Creatures of Comfort, Anthom, and Maryam Nassir Zadeh. Moving to NYC was a pivotal moment in her career, so that she could better provide herself with the tools to launch her own clothing line. To her surprise, while living in New York, she received news that she would be expecting her first child. Taking some time and consideration for her decision, she landed on the idea of moving to Austin, Texas to make a new home for her little one.
Currently, she is now building and developing her own company, Sustain Frame, and on the side, she works full time for a non-profit, Tankproof, where they provide zero-cost swimming lessons to underprivileged youth. Of course in her spare time, she enjoys taking time for her little one to make the most of the time they have together.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and Sustain Frame.
My background is predominately in the fashion and service industry. Working in both of these industries, I found myself constantly looking for ways to do better. Ever since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to find a way to support people. I believe that seeing the good in people and believing in them is the most intentional way of living, and to say that way of thinking fed into my work life is an understatement. I’ve always been the person fighting ideas of consistency, so once I started to focus my attention on environmental issues, I felt like life went full-speed. Some issues were being left unnoticed.
So, Sustain Frame is almost like my alter-ego superhero character—here’s me going into the phone booth as Clark Kent and coming out as Superman “Sustain Frame.” SF is basically everything I’ve done in my life, as far as work goes, and leveling it up to be a company that focuses solely on environmental and racial justice issues through events, workshops and product assortments.
*Editor’s Note: Sustain Frame is a conscious lifestyle brand, built to sustain and support community through goods and services. They’re currently our resident studio-mate, which means that for one month, they get to use our space free-of-charge to host events, experiment with retail and start conversations around their work.
Photo by Riley Banks of Woke Beauty
Photo by Hannah Lasure
What inspired you to start Sustain Frame?
A moment I’ll always recall is closing a bar I previously worked at and noticing I had tossed 10 empty bottles of liquor in the trash. From that point on, I started noticing more and more how much waste I was throwing away during my shift, and I was so surprised we didn’t have recycling. Then, I began to notice the accumulation of food waste the restaurant had been taking out every night. It started to become surreal that no one was noticing the environmental impacts that the hospitality industry was having on the world. Of course, let's not forget my life in fashion—I could write essays about the number of problems I would see in my day-to-day.
With this weighing on my shoulders, I couldn’t stand by any longer. About five years ago, I started plotting the idea of creating my own retail/restaurant space that could be a template for a sustainable company that was more thoughtful. I wanted to create something that would think about the big picture, what a business does for its customer, its employees and the environment, while taking it one step further by acknowledging the domino effect of what a company can actually do for people and the planet.
Although I am currently not ready to launch a physical space, I realized when I was furloughed last year that I finally had the time to focus on developing a game plan for how I was going to get to that physical space. That was when I thought of a dinner series that would be a locally sourced three-course meal for two, centered on a theme, with a playlist, florals, movie recommendations and sometimes highlight local small business vendors. All created by me! Now fast-forward to one year in, and we are finally able to do in-person events!
How would you describe Sustain Frame in three words?
Storytelling. Community. Perspective.
What’s your favorite dish?
Hm, tricky question for me. I find my taste buds change with the season. Currently, I really enjoy a robust salad. For the hot days, I choose refreshing and light options to make it easier to manage the Texas sun. I also really enjoy the seasonal produce Texas agriculture has to offer; such as tomatoes, fresh herbs and radishes.
What do you want people to feel when they attend a Sustain Frame experience?
I always want people to take away what they connected with most at my events. I’ve never wanted Sustain Frame’s offerings to feel like a forced experience. Even if I choose to create something that is strictly educational, I don’t want to bore someone so much so that they completely forget the experience ever happened. I feel like it’s important to create an immersive experience that can connect with all of your senses, so you can feel a personal connection or a sort of fondness towards the time you spent with us.
With most of my events I want to do three things: support, educate, and explore.
I support by choosing to work with partners who I believe in or feel strongly about.
We live in a world where topics and people have either been left unsaid or unheard. So, I believe we need to educate ourselves on topics of the earth and people to foster new growth and development that will ultimately be a win for us all.
Lastly, I focus on creating a beautiful event that gives you a safe space to explore your thoughts or feelings.
Photo by Hannah Lasure
Photo by Riley Banks of Woke Beauty
What do you want the future of Texas to look like?
Texas is such a beautiful landscape; I lived here when I was younger, and for some reason, it has always felt like home. Currently, with the changes happening here in Austin, I haven’t felt as connected to the land. So, my hope is that we can all come together as a community and support our connection to the land and not forget where we came from.
What’s coming up next for you?
Coming up next for Sustain Frame is a program possibly centered around memberships, so that we can grow in a constructive way, focus on one topic at a time and really dive into what they mean. Also, we hope to create a resource hub of information and tools.
*Editor’s Note: Sustain Frame is also hosting a pop-up dinner, Guelaguetza—a three course meal featuring two traditional Oaxacan courses and one course honoring the Juneteenth celebration and the Afro-hispanic community—at the FFTX HQ on Saturday, June 19. You can learn more and RSVP here.
Photo courtesy of Sustain Frame.
Photo of Krystal Frame by Jinni J for Future Front Texas
Photo of Krystal Frame by Jinni J for Future Front Texas
Want to stay involved with creators like Krystal through Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
We Are Reopening With A New Name: Future Front Texas
Join us for our first-ever flagship market and festival on August 21 and 22.
On August 21 and 22, we will be coming back with our first-ever flagship market and festival, using a new name.
say hello to future front texas.
We recognize this is big news. You know us as Boss Babes, bbatx or even just “the babes.”
When we started using “Boss Babes ATX” in 2014, being a “boss babe” meant unapologetically stepping into your power. And while it still holds that definition for us today, the term now has a nuanced identity of its own.
We will always have a deep appreciation for what “boss babe” means to us—and for all of the people like us who claim it to reclaim themselves.
We are at a point where it’s time to reintroduce ourselves. And after this past year, we couldn't come back any other way. Allow us to explain our new name, Future Front Texas, in four parts.
꩜ Part One: We grew a lot.
We just turned six years old (yay), so let’s take it back to where we started. For those who have been there since day one (hello ride-or-dies), you know our journey began with a meet-up series in 2015, without so much as a plan or a dime in our bank account.
We started as a blog and a hashtag, originating from a study our founder Jane Hervey started at UT Austin during the fall of 2014. She was frustrated by the lack of space for women in creative industries to connect, share resources and support one another. And she found out in the study that everyone else was, too. So, she decided to invite all of the women she interviewed together at a meet-up called #bossbabesatx.
That little event obviously turned into something bigger than expected. In the last six years, our team has grown to a staff of four and a volunteer leadership group of 15.
We’ve hosted more than 100,000 people at our meet-ups, markets, festivals, workshops and conferences—with many of you coming from all over Texas.
We’ve used those events to amplify and connect thousands of women and non-binary creatives, professionals, founders and community leaders.
We’ve also used those programs to distribute more than $100,000 in grants, commissions and grassroots funds.
Our work started within a wave of larger, cultural social justice movements, too. We’ve been honored to collaborate with a super lineup of other orgs, nonprofits and organizers to advocate for gender equity, racial equity and autonomy in the city and state we call home.
꩜ Part Two: We went through two years of research to get here.
Our new name is the culmination of survival and re-growth.
When we first began considering a name change in 2019, we were all a bit burnt out, trying to make sense of our relationships and responsibility to the org’s accelerated visibility and development.
Most of us joined between 2015 and 2017. At that time, we were new, new, new—how we defined ourselves and our programs were constantly changing.
Everything we tried was always a learning curve, and with the exception of a few paid contractors, we were also all volunteers. We were struggling to measure up our own individual experiences and lack of resources (like money, space, time, expertise and labor) against public perceptions and expectations of the org.
Despite that, we were still enamored with the work itself. (The people you meet through bbatx are literally the best.) We loved what we were learning and the communities we were belonging to. We just didn’t know how to reconcile that joy and impact with the narratives we were bumping into online and in our heads.
So, we decided to do what we’ve always done when a problem’s on the table. Gather, connect, share and try to listen.
From March 2019 to March 2021, we surveyed 1,000+ people in our programs and conducted five community focus groups. We also faced harsh financial realities throughout the pandemic that called for a slew of emergency (and delightfully existential) meetings on a regular basis.
From those discussions and data sets, we solidified that our vision, our values and our mission are still the same. We are clear as ever.
We learned that many of us were initially drawn to Boss Babes ATX, because we were searching for the spaces we needed in the world—spaces that amplify a spectrum of identities, spaces where we could see ourselves reflected.
We were looking for mentors, collaborators, resources and opportunities that were designed to meet our needs.
We wanted to hear each other’s stories. We wanted to find time to be creative. We wanted to make new friends.
We wanted to surround ourselves with people who want to see more women and femmes, nonbinary folks, LGBTQ+ folks, people of color, Black folks, Indigenous folks, folks of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and communities at the front.
Perhaps that’s how you found us, too. Thankfully, none of that is changing.
꩜ Part Three: We picked a name we can call our own, Future Front Texas.
We step into our power when we imagine the future for ourselves and our communities.
When we get curious about how things might change, we embrace a realm of possibility. We take decisions into our own hands, lay claim to our beliefs and nurture what we want to see in the world.
That’s how big, beautiful movements start.
That’s how small businesses go from backyards to big markets to brick-and-mortars.
That’s how tiny, creative ideas turn into collectives.
That’s how new skills turn into lifetime vocations.
That’s how a neighborhood block party turns into a community tradition.
That’s how experimentation and failure turn into experience and expertise.
That’s how this organization started, too.
We envision a Texas that wants to see new voices at the front. we’re here for a world that values curiosity, creative leadership, community-building and homegrown ideas.
In this state, we are learning in public what intersectionality, inclusivity, feminism, community, anti-racism and our values mean in practice. We are also still navigating ideologies, practices, cultures and spaces that don’t align with our values.
We want to shout loudly for the spaces that do.
We need spaces that support a future in Texas where a spectrum of creatives, artists, small business owners, professionals and community leaders are celebrated. We need spaces that want to see us thrive and help us grow.
And we still need each other’s stories, support and attention. Our collective experiences during the pandemic (and every other disaster of 2020 and 2021) has made this abundantly evident.
So, while our name is different, our work remains the same.
✰ We will continue to offer workshops, conferences and meet-ups where you can nurture your own creativity, community-building and professional resilience.
✰ We will continue to platform—as well as connect you to—creatives and small businesses at our markets, festivals and meet-ups.
✰ We will continue to tell your stories—the kind that encourage us to be brave, step into our power and love the parts of us that are still learning.
✰ We will continue to make educational spaces and funds for bold entrepreneurs, grassroots orgs, creative projects and ideas.
✰ We will continue to imagine what putting ourselves and our communities at the front looks like.
✰ We will continue to hold it down for Texas from our tiny headquarters in Austin. We hope you will, too.
꩜ Part Four: We are ready to reopen and hang out with y’all now.
Yep. we are officially reopening. (!!!) On August 21 and 22, You are invited to join us at our new flagship market and festival, THE FRONT.
The Front Market and Festival has emerged from two of our most popular programs before COVID-19, BABES FEST and craftHER Market. These spaces were designed around sustaining communities that care about gender equity and supporting homegrown businesses, creatives and organizations. Active from 2016 to 2020, BABES FEST and craftHER Market saw more than 30,000 guests and supported more than 2000 creatives and business owners.
Now, after a year of shutdowns, pivots and existential realness, The Front Market and Festival will carry that work into the future.
Open-air, outdoors and free to all, we’ll be taking over the Fair Market warehouse for a weekend of pop-up shops and performances, centering emerging creatives, artists, designers and small businesses homegrown in Texas. As always, the weekend will be all about nurturing your creative community and, of course, supporting a spectrum of women, non-binary and queer creators. :)
Vendor applications, RSVP details, membership info, as well as a million other ways to get involved are listed now at futurefronttexas.org.
The founding board and staff of Future Front Texas (2021). Photo by Jinni J
And last but not least, thank you. Your donations and attention throughout 2020 helped us get to this very moment.
For the first time, we had the capacity to restructure our board and staff in pursuit of more reasonable, healthier roles, as well as more inclusive decision-making styles.
We now offer our team fully covered healthcare and equitable salaries. We were able to dedicate our time to this deep visioning work for four whole months—which is a divine privilege.
The road to recovery from COVID-19’s shutdown will be long for us and for many in our community, but we are on the right track with your support. <3
Thank you for taking care of yourself while we’ve been digital.
Your commitment to showing up—in our Zoom rooms, for this community and for your values—enabled many others in Texas to survive this past year. Between now and our reopening, celebrating that will be most important. Stay tuned for summer celebration announcements very soon.
In the meantime, for questions, concerns and notes of encouragement, please email hello@futurefronttexas.org.
You can always learn more about the org, attending this summer’s festival and how to get involved at futurefronttexas.org.
You can donate to our work or become a member at futurefronttexas.org, too.
See you in the wild,
The founding team behind Future Front Texas (in alphabetical order)
Alex Perez-Puelles, Board Culture Officer (2019 to 2021), Committee Member (2017 to 2019)
Cynthia Muñoz, Board Treasurer (2020 to 2021), Committee Member (2018 to 2019)
Hali Martin, Board Secretary (2021), Committee Member (2020)
Jane Hervey, Executive Director (2020 to 2021), Board President (2017 to 2019),
Jasmine Brooks, Rebrand Director (2019 to 2021), Board Secretary (2017 to 2020)
Jonnyka Bormann, Board Vice President of Development (2021)
Jp Rivera-Felizardo, Production Coordinator (2019 to 2021)
Kaia Adams, Development Coordinator (2019 to 2021), Committee Member (2018)
Sydney Greene, Board Culture Officer (2020 to 2021), Committee Member (2019)
Xochi Solis, Board President (2020 to 2021), Board Vice President (2019), Committee Member (2017 to 2018)
We send our thanks to the community members, former staff members and advisors who also participated in focus groups and provided commentary from 2019 to 2021: A’nysha Aileen, Aisha Lewis, Amanda K Vaughn, Cheyenne Doerr, Coelina Edwards, Conner Smith, Deeksha Srinath, Divina Ceniceros-Dominguez, Eunice Bao, Ilyse Kennedy, Jen Rachid, Jen Rodriguez, Jimena Gamboa, Kristina Gonzales, Liz Whitington, Margeaux Labat, Maya Coplin, Mireydi, Natalie Davis, Rachael Garbowski, Sabrina Sha, Sarah Colby, Stephanie Page and Vittoria Criss.
We are forever grateful to one of our 2019 resident artists, designer and animator Alie Jackson, for Future Front Texas’ look and feel.
This project would not have been possible without our Board President Xochi Solis, who stepped into her role to actualize our collective vision, as well as our founding Executive Director Jane Hervey and our former Board Secretary Jasmine Brooks, who nurtured this rebranding process from start to finish.
And last but not least, shouts to you, our sponsors, donors, members, attendees, supporters, community partners, family, collaborators, Internet friends, BFFs, relatives, lovers, pets, children and nemeses. As the wise and inimitable adrienne maree brown once said, what we pay attention to grows.
PS: Changing our name is a risk. But it’s part of embracing change and owning who we are. You have permission to do that, too.
ABOUT US:
Future Front Texas is a 501c3 nonprofit, homegrown in Austin, Texas. We started as a grassroots meet-up series called Boss Babes ATX (bbatx) in 2015. We are run by a four-person staff and a network of amazing volunteers, each committed to cultivating the spaces we want to see in the world.
Alongside our members, collaborators and partners, we nurture creativity, community-building and professional resilience in Texas. We make spaces where women and queer creatives, founders and leaders can grow together.
Currently, we produce The Front Market and Festival, a year-round learning club, as well as multiple community funds and initiatives.
You’re invited to join us, of course. You can learn more about how it all works, our team and what we do here: futurefronttexas.org
21 Questions On Kawaii Dessert, Ice Cream And Inspiration With Sarah Lim
Read our recent interview with the founder of OMG Squee, Sarah Lim, about vision—in life and in business.
What’s your vision for work? For life? For your community?
This spring, we're touching base with our members and friends about the meaning of vision. ✰ ꩜
And today creative, reformed photographer and baker Sarah Lim shares the story behind OMG Squee, her macaron shop in Austin, Texas.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Lim.
ABOUT SARAH LIM AND OMG SQUEE
Sarah Lim is the co-owner, founder, and lead arthritic hands of OMG Squee, a gluten free, Asian inspired dessert shop in East Austin. Burnt out by 10+ years as a freelance photographer, she decided she needed a new career. Commercial agencies often found her work too “quirky” to sell to their clients.
So instead of trying to convince them, she created a vision for her own brand, took a self-taught crash course in baking, and started OMG Squee out of her tiny home kitchen in 2017.
While the business has evolved in a short time, her work at OMG Squee still echos the same fun, quirky, and colorful sentiment as her work as a photographer, while also paying homage to her Asian-American culture.
21 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM SARAH LIM:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
To get shit done. Everyday is a big hustle.
2. Sarah Lim in 3 words?
Creative, hardworking and a little crazy. But, I think a little crazy can be good. You have to be a little crazy to wake up every morning and have the audacity to spend your days doing something that no one's asking or expecting you to do.
3. What is your vision for OMG Squee?
Building on my photography career. I've had a vision for this business, since before I started it.
I’m also heavily influenced by my experiences as a mixed-race Asian American and third-culture kid. 90’s animes and PBS cooking shows flooded my Saturday mornings before my family visited our local Hong Kong Supermarket, where I'd stare at both the snack aisle and cute stationery vendor until it was time to leave. Food, pop culture, and art have always had a big influence on me.
4. The thing you most wish for your world is…
Immediately—a day off. 😅 Over time, I want to get back to running the business and developing new ideas. I enjoy the creative, problem-solving aspects of growing the business most.
5. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
I’d just love to see MORE small businesses, in general. Small businesses tend to put more money back into local communities than big businesses, who tend to take money away from local communities.
I also think there's a lot more space for variety and creativity with smaller scale businesses versus larger corporate entities. It's easier to move a smaller ship.
The strong support from the Austin local community in favor of small business makes it possible for small businesses like mine to thrive. But I hope that doesn't change with how rapidly Austin is changing.
6. Favorite macaron design that you’ve made?
Even though they're finicky, time consuming, and give me arthritis, I generally enjoy making pop culture, portrait macarons. It's really satisfying to see people get to enjoy their treats with both their eyes and tastebuds. I’ve done quite a few over the years, including: Janelle Monae, The Fab 5 and The Obama's (to name a few).
7. Why is collaboration important to OMG Squee?
Nothing happens in a vacuum, and collaboration generally makes ideas better. But finding the right collaborators can be really difficult. It's good to have people to bounce ideas off of, who both challenge and inspire you. By the end, hopefully everyone will have a million million-dollar ideas.
8. No. 1 muse?
I’m always reading or watching videos, so I'm constantly learning new things and gaining inspiration from a variety of sources.
9. You can never leave your house without…
A shirt, since I forget a lot of things, like keys, phone, wallet, water….
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
I'm starting to let go of a lot of physical things I don't need anymore. It's forced me to evaluate what I want my life to look like from here forward. My life is different than it was even a year ago and VERY different than where I was 5 years ago.
Marie Condo-ing all that extra stuff is helping me look forward and focus on the path my life is currently headed and where I want it to go from here, instead of holding me back in the past of where I thought I was going.
11. You want the future of Texas to look…
More diverse.
12. What’s one thing you learned about yourself recently?
I’m endlessly surprised by how much I handle. Sometimes I think I’m taking on too much. Sometimes I manage to get things done. But I've definitely reached a few personal thresholds in the last years, and I'm learning to listen to the voice inside me that says, "OK, you've had enough for now."
13. Something you treasure?
My friendships and relationships with people. It’s special to find people you can trust and admire.
14. CURRENTLY READING…
5 different cookbooks, including one Hong Kong cookbook, two by pastry chef Dominique Ansel and a book about eggs.
15. How do you stay inspired?
I’m constantly reading, learning, talking to people. I get inspiration from all over the place and love fresh ideas.
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
My creative process is an organized mess consisting of little piles of things in my brain (and often my desk), that don’t make sense to anyone else, except me. If people stick with me to the end, though, I think I eventually make sense to outside people.
But when it comes to production or doing the work, especially with baking, the process is all very particular and technical, so it all requires lots of planning and working clean.
I'm constantly running two programs between organization and chaos, so the two combat each other a lot.
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
There's sort of two things that work together that I think of often:
One photography professor said, “If you’re still doing this in five years, there’s no way you can’t keep doing it if you want to.” It inspired me to do photography work for at least five years. And then I gave another five.
Another piece of advice that has carried me throughout the years is from an acting workshop I was shooting, hosted by Arrested Development’s Jeffrey Tambor, who said: “Don’t let people fuck with your confidence. If something fucks with your confidence, cut it out of your life or address it." I remember I stopped shooting the workshop and started listening instead. So, I’ve just been plugging away at work over the years, as confidently as I can.
17. What does a day-in-the-life of Sarah consist of?
Lots of stuff. The early part of the week consists of planning, prepping and all the logistics. By the end of the week, we start full production to open for the weekend.
I generally work about 12-15 hours a day, at least 6 days a week right now.
19. Proudest milestone?
I just finished paying off our buyout of the coffee shop business that was here before us.
20. What are you most excited about in life right now?
I’m excited to get our shop fully operational and have more people working here. Right now, there are just three of us. We've been slowly renovating our space all last year part time, so we're excited to finally get that work done this month.
I’ll be happy to start moving forward—professionally and personally—after a hard year in pandemic survival mode.
21. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
I just want people to be very happy and feel excited about what the dessert looks like and how it tastes. We named our business “OMG Squee” partly because we had an old dog named “Squeegee” aka "Squee." But also, because “SQUEE” is an onomatopoeia for the sound you make when you’re very delighted.
We always say we're going to "double rainbow happiness." There’s an older viral video of the double rainbow guy, who's screaming tears of joy about a beautiful double rainbow. We want our customers to feel like that guy.
Want to stay involved with creators like Sarah Lim through Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
21 Questions On Business, Collaboration And Making Things With Chantal Strasburger
Read our recent interview with the founder of Chantal Ceramics and Read Receipts, Chantal Strasburger.
What’s your vision for work? For life? For your community?
This season, we're touching base with our members and friends about the meaning of vision. ✰ ꩜
So, we’ve invited former craftHER vendor Chantal Strasburger, who runs Chantal Ceramics and Read Receipts, to share the collaborative vision behind her two businesses, her favorite collaborations, proudest milestones and vision for the future of Texas.
Photo courtesy of Chantal Strasburger.
ABOUT CHANTAL STRASBURGER, chantal ceramics and read receipts
Chantal Strasburger is a native Austinite, multi-media artist and proud craftHER Market vendor! While her professional background is in editorial writing (working previously for Teen Vogue, Nylon Magazine, and Snapchat) she’s returned to her first love—art—and now splits her time between her businesses, which include Chantal Ceramics (@chantal_ceramics) and Read Receipts (@read_receipts).
Chantal Ceramics produces a mix of functional and sculptural handmade, small-batch pieces in her home studio. Recent highlights include having a special-edition ring dish in Boss Babes’ first CraftHer Box, a collaboration with fellow vendor New Origin Shop to make mugs for Sweetgreen’s Austin launch, and branded mugs for Austin-based Siete Foods.
Read Receipts, her embroidery business, has grown from custom messages between friends to capturing the latest internet memes and political trends. She’s also created capsule collections for labels such as Club Monaco, designed merch for companies including Netflix, and collaborated on designs for brands like Phenomenal. Through Read Receipts, Chantal has been able to donate thousands of dollars for voting rights and social justice organizations that speak to her products’ messaging.
She has a few other projects up her sleeve—so follow along on Instagram @chantagold to stay tuned!
21 ANSWERS ABOUT CHANTAL:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
My work allows me to live the life I love.
2. Chantal Strasburger in 3 emojis?
🤠🧋✨
3. What is your vision for your work? Your life?
For work, I want to continue making pieces that are beautiful and have purpose.
For life, I want to travel the world and create things that bring me joy.
4. The thing you most wish for your world is…
A beautiful studio space with a lot of natural light, plants, and more shelves than I could even dream of filling.
5. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
I would love to see more meet-ups where we can share knowledge and swap ideas. It takes so much to run a business, and we’re all learning as we grow—but we don’t have to reinvent the wheel!
6. Who are your style icons?
My mother, who finds some of the most fascinating and outrageous statement pieces from all over the world. I’m also constantly inspired by my three sisters. We all share clothes and send each other fashion inspiration and learn from each other.
7. Why is collaboration important to your businesses?
Collaboration opens my eyes to new ideas and opens my brand to new audiences. It’s a way for me to rethink how I'm doing something and learn from other makers’ experiences. My favorite part is seeing how our voices and visions come together to create something new.
Photo courtesy of Chantal Strasburger.
Photo courtesy of Chantal Strasburger.
8. First thing you think about in the morning?
“Do I have any computer work to do today, so that I have an excuse to sit outside and enjoy the glorious weather?” Pretty much the only reason I’m ever excited to read my emails.
9. Craziest thing on your bucket list?
I’d really love to get a grant to study ceramic traditions in a country like Japan or Indonesia or India. Completely immersing myself in the local arts and culture (and food!) while learning another language and new techniques sounds like an incredibly challenging but fulfilling adventure.
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
I’ve given up worrying that I'm not doing enough. With everyone seemingly learning new skills in the pandemic like baking bread and writing novels, I was stressed that I wasn’t being “productive” enough—but now I simply remind myself that I’m doing plenty.
11. You want the future of Texas to look like...
BLUE. I want fellow Texans to work on educating themselves about issues like social justice and climate change. I’m tired of Texas having the reputation of being ignorant and backwards. It’s time for a change.
12. What’s one thing you learned about yourself recently?
When it comes to being social, I’ve realized how happy I am with just staying at home. I now know the full extent of my introverted-ness and how little I miss going out to parties and bars.
13. Something new you’re trying?
Audiobooks! I stopped having time to read books when my sales picked up and so I’m now exploring the magical world of listening to books while I'm working. Life-changing.
14. CURRENTLY READING…
Zillow. Everyday I browse listings to day dream about potential future studio spaces and think about where I might go next.
Photo courtesy of Chantal Strasburger.
Photo courtesy of Chantal Strasburger.
15. Currently listening to..
I watch a lot of Tik Tok (specifically #booktok), which convinced my sisters and me to get deep into the Fantasy Fiction genre. It’s not exactly highbrow...but I’ve been listening to the audiobooks for the series A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. Very smutty, very addicting.
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
My process involves a lot of flipping through magazines and perusing Pinterest for inspiration. I love being in beautiful spaces and interiors and seeing what speaks to me. For ceramics, I’m constantly looking for new colors for glazes, and for Read Receipts, I scroll through Twitter to see what people are talking about and what meme my next design might riff off.
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
To make sure you take breaks when you need them! I’m someone who can get very wrapped up in fulfilling orders or planning the next Big Idea and work forever. My boyfriend Ian is always like, “You need to take a break or you’ll get burned out!” So definitely prioritizing myself and my well-being.
18. What does a day-in-the-life of Chantal consist of?
Wake up and work out (I’ve recently started jump-roping every morning), have my coffee and work on my book of logic puzzles, go through my emails and Instagram DMs and spend the rest of the work day making and packing orders.
The evening ends with a trail run with my boyfriend, dinner, and, ideally, a movie or a game of Bananagrams or Settlers of Catan.
19. Proudest milestone?
One of my proudest milestones so far is making mugs for Sweetgreen in collaboration with New Origin Shop (another one of our craftHER Market vendors). Sweetgreen was my favorite place to splurge on salads when I lived in Brooklyn, so them asking me to make mugs for their opening in Austin and having it come full circle was just an extremely cool moment.
20. What are you most excited about in life right now?
I am fully vaccinated, so I’m excited to start seeing family and traveling again. I’m heading over to England next week to see my grandmother for the first time in well over a year and I can’t wait. We’ll have to quarantine for 10 days when we get there since the pandemic isn’t over yet, but fingers crossed the end is near!
21. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
With my ceramics, I want my pieces to add a sense of calm or delight to their everyday lives—when they drink out of my mug or use my soap dish. As for Read receipts, my shirts and designs hold messages that are important to me, and I hope other people feel empowered when they wear them, too.
Want to stay involved with bbatx?
Keep up with what we’re up to at bbatx—from virtual events to membership—here.
On Visioning Anti-Racism: Behind Austin's Stop Asian Hate Rally
Meet the six organizers behind STOP ASIAN HATE—a rally in Austin, Texas to denounce racism again AAPI communities, while supporting organizations building change.
On April 17, 2021, our team joined the rally to #StopAsianHate in Austin, Texas.
Alongside 1,000 community members, partners and friends, we stood on the lawns of Huston-Tillotson University to hear from leaders across Central Texas on their vision for anti-racist communities—each calling on us individually and collectively to work toward a culture that actively condemns anti-Asian hate and racism of all kinds.
Leading up to the rally, we took a minute to touch base with some of the organizers (many of which are bbatx friends and collaborators!) about their goals, what supporting the AAPI community can look like and the vision they have for our collective future.
꩜ Here’s what the organizers had to say about the purpose of the rally—and what we can all do next.
Photo via Spectrum News
1. What's your vision for anti-racist culture in our communities?
Anti-racist culture should look like everyone realizing they have a stake in this fight. Anti-racism begins when we can recognize that white supremacy relies on the divisions between communities of color to remain in power. It's up to us co-laboring, co-agitating and collectively dismantling racism.
2. How can we continue to support the AAPI community post-rally?
You can continue to support the AAPI community in these four ways:
Contribute to mutual aid/ support groups for Asian seniors.
If you speak another language, training to be VDRs and have voter registration drives in your local AAPI community.
Digital literacy training with new immigrants or older Asians so they can access city systems.
Supporting AAPI makers and businesses.
3. What do you want the future of Texas to look like?
There are a lot of elected officials and activists who want to just show up and look like they're doing the work, we'd like to see a future where our leaders and elected officials DO the work and actually support our communities. It's about caring after the rally even after it leaves your timeline.
Say hello to the organizers behind the rally, too. ✰
Meet Ashley Cheng, Lily Trieu, Pooja Sethi, Rio Renaud, Saatvik Ahluwalia and Sabrina Sha.
who: ASHLEY CHENG
Ashley Cheng grew up in Austin, on the floor of her parents’ Chinese restaurants. Currently, she’s the co-founder of Rouser, a creative civic engagement company, named a 2019 Organization of the Year by the Travis County Democratic Party. In 2020, she was their Anne McAfee Rising Star and a Tribeza Magazine Person of the Year.
In addition to working as a communications strategist and marketer for the movement, she co-hosts The Rabble (@TheRabbleTX), a Texas politics podcast leaving a trail of cupcake crumbs to the pearly gates of civic engagement. While completing her master's in social work at the University of Texas at Austin, she volunteers with Hospice Austin, Asian Family Support Service of Austin, Asian Pacific Islander Public Affairs, and the performance art organization Fusebox.
She also serves as a National Committeewoman of the Democratic National Committee and beloved dog mom to Eleanor Roooosevelt.
who: LILY TRIEU
Descendents of Vietnamese refugees, Lily Trieu grew up in the diverse community of Houston, TX and has been an Austin resident for over four years—not including her stint as a student at UT Austin. After spending nearly ten years in the private sector, she has rededicated her career and work in the space of K-12 education, nonprofits, and civic engagement.
Lily currently works as the Director of Public Affairs at a national education nonprofit, working to support education policy that will enhance equity and opportunity for all Texas students. She currently serves on the City of Austin’s Library Commission and is an active volunteer for youth and arts organizations across Austin. Lily also serves on the board of New Leaders Council, Asian Democrats of Central Texas, and the Ballet Austin Guild.
who: POOJA SETHI
As the daughter of immigrants, Pooja Sethi learned the importance of hard work early on. In 2012, Pooja founded the non-profit South Asian Austin Moms (SAAM) because she wanted to help women who faced discrimination at work. Pooja also started an immigration law firm in Austin where she did extensive pro bono work for immigrant women who experienced family violence and domestic assault. In 2018, the Syracuse College of Law awarded her the Frank Morris Racial Justice, Civil & Human Rights Award and in 2020 Lone Star Victims Advocacy Project gave her an award for her work on immigration issues and family separation.
She has served on the Mayor’s Task Force on Racism and Systemic Inequities, Office of Police Oversight Task Force, and the City of Austin Climate Plan Steering Committee. Pooja also currently sits on the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission (AAQOL). She was part of the planning committee for the 2020 Austin Women’s March. The community recognizes her unwavering voice for change. In 2019, she was the first Asian woman to receive the YWCA Great Austin Woman of Color Leading Change Award. She was also recognized as 2019 Activist of the Year by both the Travis County Democratic Party and the Capitol Area Democratic Women, and a nominee for DivInc Community Changemaker award in 2020. In 2021, Pooja was nominated for Activist of the Year by the Austin Chronicle and awarded Champion Attorney Serving Minority Communities by the Travis County Women Lawyers Association. Finally, Pooja serves on the Institute of Diversity and Civic Life Board, the Texas Gun Sense Board, and has been featured on Fox News, PBS, and KXAN speaking about immigration and women’s rights. In her spare time, Pooja enjoys baking cookies with her son Jai and her husband Vivek.
who: RIO RENAUD
Rio Renaud is a visual designer specializing in graphic design, typography, direct mail development, and social media content creation. Rio grew up an army brat, moving from state to state throughout the U.S. When her family was stationed in Ft. Hood, she took her first ever high school trip to Texas’s Capitol and was captivated by Austin’s vibe.
She earned her BFA in Design at the University of Texas at Austin, and has been working in the creative and political scene in central Texas ever since. She loves branding, beaches, and boba. When outside the office, you can catch her trying to maintain her DuoLingo streak.
who: SAATVIK AHLUWALIA
Saatvik Ahluwalia is an award-winning digital marketer who is the Digital Strategist at Progress Texas and Austin Asian Communities Civic Coalition. Saatvik is also on the executive boards of Asian Democrats Central Texas, New Leaders Council Austin, Indian American Coalition of Central Texas, and the Community Advancement Network's Community Council.
Saatvik was born and raised near Boston, Massachusetts, and moved to Austin for his wife's pediatric residency program. They might be having their first child as you read this! He has won a Platinum MarCom Award, received public-speaking awards through Toastmasters International, competed in multiple Bollywood dance championships, and you can read about his work in the Boston Globe, Austin American-Statesman, and other publications. He was also profiled in the book "Those Immigrants!: Indians in America: A Psychological Exploration of Achievement" by journalist Scott Haas.
who: SABRINA SHA
Sabrina Sha is the daughter to Taiwanese immigrants. She’s a Houston transplant who’s lived in Austin since 2018. A former public auditor and anthropologist,Sabrina’s professional and personal objective is to help those who don't have a seat at the table get one, by helping them build the resources they need to amplify their voice to tell their story.
She is presently a political fundraiser having previously worked for almost every race up and down the ballot. She is the president of Asian Democrats of Central Texas, the precinct chair for Cherrywood neighborhood, current Finance/ Fundraising Co-Chair for the Travis County Democratic Party and a former bbatx Committee member. In her spare time, find her scheming with her familiar, Binx.
LOOKING FOR MORE RESOURCES?
The APAPA (Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs) is a grassroots organization that serves Austin through civic engagements and community services. You can learn about and support them here.
You can also read our resource guide on personal and professional next steps for anti-racism work here.
21 Questions With Kirti Kana And Conscious Culture
Read our recent interview with Kirti Kana about starting a sustainable coffee community.
As part of our ongoing craftHER Market, we recently launched 21 Questions—a series of short and fun questions designed to spotlight the stories, missions and personalities of our featured vendors.
In conversation with bbatx Communication Design Intern Eunice Bao, Kirti Kana, founder of Conscious Culture, chats about creative flow, cultivating community and her favorite coffee roast.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
ABOUT KIRTI KANA AND CONSCIOUS CULTURE
At the heart of her design, Kirti Kana is a visionary. She unites entrepreneurs, change-makers, and thought leaders to champion a positive movement, for the purpose of fostering community and sustaining Earth.
This vision is spoken through her online intentional community, Conscious Culture, which is two-fold. The first aims to bring awareness to different sectors of one’s life, through a variety of assessments, themes, workshops, learning experiences, and themes. The second is an ethically sourced coffee project that introduces new flavor profiles from around the world which rotate monthly.
Ultimately, Kirti envisions sustainable autonomous beta-cities of the future, with the structure, ethos, and integrity of Conscious Culture weaving its way into this movement for the people and planet.
HERE ARE KIRTI’S 21 ANSWERS:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
Momentum—this simple word reminds me of the simplest action that motivates me and pulls me forward no matter what mental state I am in.
2. CONSCIOUS CULTURE in 3 WORDS?
Community, wellness, coffee
3. Why did you start conscious culture?
Conscious Culture stems from a project I’ve founded, Itopia Project, which involved regenerative autonomous beta cities of the future. Before the pandemic, I was living in LA close to sealing a deal for our first beta city outside of Santa Barbara, CA. Then, life happened.
The pandemic hit right when I was at home in Texas visiting family. I decided to stay and take a new and different approach in being able to transform people's lives without having the physical transformative environment. That is when I decided I’d start an online community centered around empowering individuals who are on the self-healing journey or the journey of transforming our world into a better place.
Coffee has just always been a part of my life, and it’s my way of giving back to farmers around the world that are doing it right. We’re planting the seeds of our larger products with coffee beans.
4. Craziest thing on your bucket list?
Motorcycle trip from Mexico to the tip of South America
5. The thing you most wish for the world is…
For people to have the option of living fully, authentically and happily with all of their basic essential needs met
6. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
Since we’ve just started (and I haven’t run any ads), I’d love to see more gals who are excited to change their social media diet and be a part of a community that is here to support their dreams and health and wellness goals.
7. No. 1 Muse?
Tulsi Gabbard, because this woman in politics makes me excited for our future.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
8. First thing you think about in the morning?
Well, I don’t really think… I reach for my morning pages journal and write down my vivid dreams. From there, I do a whole page of lucid writing of whatever comes to me or through me.
This way, I’m able to see where my mind is and guide it consciously through the first moments of being aware of where my energy is, where my thoughts are and how to self-coach myself through the good and bad.
9. Best compliment you’ve ever received?
“You’re 25 and and got funded to build a beta city? No way that’s true.”
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
I’ve let go of the part of me that had been craving social connection and feeling depleted. Instead of pouting around, I put myself out there (safely) and am now growing a community here in Austin that fills my cup every single week.
11. You want the future of Texas to look like...
Less diesel and more eco ;)
12. What’s one thing you learned about yourself recently?
I only noticed this while I was sitting at a traffic light yesterday… my mind constantly wanders thinking of innovations, re-creations and visions of the future of humanity and our planet.
13. Something new you’re trying?
If I don’t complete my goals and tasks of the month, my best friends have my Netflix and Prime account password where they’re allowed to lock me out until it gets done.
14. Favorite coffee roast?
Recently our Sidama, Ethiopia hits so good in the soul early in the AM.
I love to french press this one, add around ¼ of oat milk (Planet Oat because I don’t support Oatly’s connection to deforestation in the Amazon). I don’t even froth it. I stir it with a spoon—and voila. It’s my own version of a perfect cup of coffee early in the morning.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
15. Currently listening to..
Anjunadeep 12 and KIDS album by Noga Erez (a Tiktok find that is GOLD)
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
There’s this beautiful thing called “flow states” from Steven Kotler. I have triggers around my flow state creativity and rules. I don’t wake up every morning full of desire to create sometimes or even have the desire to output client work or my own work for my company.
My happy triggers are five minutes of momentum into the project or task (undivided attention even if I don’t want to do it), and I get into it with the understanding that I don’t have to complete the creative process. I just have to get it started.
Anjunadeep Youtube Set is always playing. I’ve got an essential oil diffuser to awaken or relax me, and I set a timer to break for the next project or task.
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
The biggest projects take the longest to be fully created.
18. What does a day-in-the-life of Kirti consist of?
Morning routines, booked out daily Google calendar, 1.5 hr gym sessions, nature time when I have the time, and work sessions into the late PM hours. I always reward myself with one episode of a show to unwind. I’m currently watching The Expanse (Holy bananas is it good!).
19. Proudest career milestone?
My biggest failures. Without them, I wouldn’t be pushing to my biggest dreams.
20. What are you most excited about in life right now?
The ability to finally be able to make friends in Austin, create community and share my smile with strangers in passing
21. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
The true essence of ethically sourced coffee, where someone can connect to the culture of where the coffee is coming from and actually appreciate it for its true form.
CONSCIOUS CULTURE is part of craftHER Market—our creative community marketplace nurturing homegrown artists, small business owners and designers in Texas.
Want to know more about our vendors? Our digital catalogue, crafthermarket.com, is open through April 30. You can browse 120+ vendors there online 24/7.
Some of Kirti’s favorites on the lineup are:
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