July 2019

AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | JULY 2019

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” —Anne Frank

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IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO DIVERSIFY AUSTIN’S TECH FORCE

Sporting dark-purple T-shirts emblazoned with the Latinitas logo, young girls of color interviewed East Austin business owners about the impact of gentrification on their community. The area east of I-35 was once home to a vibrant community of mom-and-pop shops owned by Latinos and African Americans.

Skyrocketing rents and a swarm of trendy condos, boutiques and urban eateries have changed that dynamic, but a few remaining East Austin staples were brought to life in an innovative way with the use of new technology as part of Latinx Culture in East Austin. It’s a virtual-reality documentary that aims to preserve East Austin and highlight the impact of gentrification in the neighborhood.

Girls as young as 10 took full ownership of the project, including production and direction, and made such an impact in the Austin community, it is still a source of conLike Latinitas, Google Fiber’s staff also champions fair access to all versation one year later. in the realms of information and technology. Beginning in 2018, Google Thirteen-year-old Latinitas member IsaFiber staff helped Latinitas explore the use of web virtual reality for its bella Cruz never imagined she would help after-school programs. They are supporting the fourth iteration of the shape the direction of such an important Code Chica certification program, a new and free initiative that teaches endeavor. high-school girls basic JavaScript fundamentals and higher-order functions “I’ve learned about how it changed the for basic website building. Participants work with on-site instructors and lives of many people who live in East Austin guest speakers in STEM. and their family-owned small business“Code Chica recognizes that women, and especially Latina women, are es,” she says. “It’s really cool that I had an incredibly underrepresented in science and technology due to societal opportunity to learn about how to make a barriers, not necessarily a lack of interest or VR video and how to creativity,” says Daniel Ryne Lucio, govern“CODE CHICA RECOGNIZES THAT use a VR camera to ment and community affairs manager at WOMEN, AND ESPECIALLY LATINA film the whole process.

Google Fiber.

WOMEN, ARE INCREDIBLY UNDERIt was a fun way to film Partners like Austin Coding Academy have REPRESENTED IN SCIENCE the whole experience stepped up to ensure the program’s success.

AND TECHNOLOGY.” because the viewer “If we can help shape the mindsets of gets to experience young children before they’re older and everything all around us in a real way.” before they’ve been told by the system this isn’t for them, then we can She is one of about 33,000 girls who equip them with the mentality that technology is a career option for them completed groundbreaking projects in and that they have every right to work in tech, just like anybody else,” media, technology, culture and identity narsays Austin Coding Academy CEO Chris Lofton. ratives as members of Latinitas during the Latinitas member Daniela Lira appreciates the challenging learning course of 17 years. environment she’s joined.

The nonprofit empowers young girls of “It makes me really happy to know Latinitas exists,” Lira says, “because color through media and technology, and there’s not a whole lot of women or people of color in technology right now.” its strategic partnerships with companies and initiatives like Google Fiber equip it Latinitas Code Chica certification is supported by Google Fiber. with the resources and tools needed to For more information, visit latinitasmagazine.org. make this possible.

Photo by Josie Hughes.

BY CHRISTINE BOLAÑOS

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HOW TO PLAN A SUSTAINABLE

GREEN WEDDING Weddings are exciting and romantic. But did you know they’re also notoriously wasteful? The average nuptial produces 400 to 600 pounds of waste. In the U.S., with roughly 2 million weddings every year, that creates 800 million to 1.2 billion pounds of waste from weddings annually.

Going green for a wedding requires a set amount of balance.

Practical things a couple needs to provide their guests (food/ snacks, napkins) have to work with the expected details of a modern wedding (flowers, décor, party favors), not to mention everything needs to meet the budget.

There’s a ton of information on the internet about how to make eco-friendly choices for your wedding. But consider a few ways to consider all the details for your big day. By shifting your approach to decision-making for your event, you’ll find there are plenty of opportunities to substantially cut down the waste produced at your wedding.

Here are three simple ways to plan an environmentally friendly wedding:

1. Work with sustainable vendors whose values align with your own. Only work with vendors who prioritize sustainable practices. These vendors have tons of creative and practical solutions for reducing waste, and you’ll find partnering with like-minded companies often makes it easier to meet the vision you have for your wedding. With any vendor, there will be many opportunities to make sustainable choices. When choosing a venue, for example, consider locations that are beautiful and interesting on their own, whether it’s in nature or designed architecture. The more beautiful a venue, the less you have to provide (or pay for) decorations that typically get tossed after the event. Many venues that take sustainability seriously have integrated that into every aspect of the facility, from lighting to AC. Directories like the LEED Project Database can help identify which buildings take on these initiatives. Many catering companies have also made concerted efforts toward reducing waste, such as composting food scraps and recycling. And decorators or florists may compost flowers after use or employ recyclable materials for décor. Making sure to only hire

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companies that act responsibly gives you one less thing to worry about. Plus, it feels good to work with companies that champion the same causes you do.

2. Consider what can be upcycled or reused for your wedding.

For many weddings, all the items are used only once. This is especially true for decorations and table settings. Instead of purchasing all your items new, visit local thrift stores, vintage shops, even your own cupboards for creative ways to decorate your venue. Upcycle glass bottles for an eclectic assortment of vases. Ask your vendor if people hosting an event prior to yours would be willing to donate any decorations, table numbers or flowers. Shop vintage for your wedding dress. Paint an old mirror with chalkboard paint and write table assignments on it rather than paper cards. Use vintage frames to display pictures of your family and engagement photos. Decorate with potted plants that can be replanted after the wedding rather than tossed.

3. Recycle, donate or sell as much as possible. No matter how environmentally conscious you are, a large event like a wedding is going to mean things are left over after your big day. Aside from the food and paper waste, which will be disposed of properly by choosing the right vendors, decorations, flowers and miscellaneous items need to be considered. If you have a friend or family member getting married shortly after you, donate your leftover candles, table numbers, vases, tablecloths, etc. For cut flowers, consider donating them to a hospital, another event or a cemetery.

Most houses of worship are willing to use cut flowers as décor for worship services as well. Encourage your wedding party to sell their day-of wardrobe if they don’t think they’ll wear their attire again. Better yet, look into rental options for your wedding party.

Regardless of the wedding style, size or budget, there are many small steps you can take to significantly reduce the amount of waste produced. By shifting how you think about the vendors you work with or where you source decorations, you’ll ultimately end up with a wedding that is much more representative of who you are as individuals and as a couple.

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46

ON THE COVER

WRITING A NEW CHAPTER

BY JENNY HOFF

54

FEATURE

THE GOLD STANDARD Photo by Rudy Arocha.

BY BRIANNA CALERI

CONTENTS

Photo by Niki Jones.

JULY

39 SAVVY WOMEN

DISCOVER

18 C OUNT US IN

39 ADVENTURE GIRL

20 GIVE BACK

Women in Numbers

Loving Libbie Memorial Foundation

22 F ROM THE DESK OF

Arielle Olfers

24 S TART THE CONVO

The Obstacles Female Veterans Face

STYLE + HOME 42 S EE HER WORK 44 M AKE ROOM

GOURMET

28 A NNA SULLIVAN 29 KIM RODRIGUEZ 30 MELINDA REESE 31 J ENNIFER GREGORY AND REBEKAH

64 R ECIPE REVEAL

8 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

66 FOOD NEWS

Jess Williams, aka Will Crochet

Green Up Your Yard

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KOEHLY GREGORY 32 KRISTEN NICHOLSON 33 KIMBERLY OLSON 34 AMY SWEET 35 ELIZABETH CHRISTIAN 36 LINDSAY REDWINE 37 SANDY STEWART 38 ANN-CHRISTINE LANGSELIUS

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WELLNESS 68 W AITING ROOM 70 H ER ROUTINE

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POINT OF VIEW 72 O N THE MONEY

Make Money While Doing Good

74 ASK LUCY Local Therapy-dog Programs 76 I AM AUSTIN WOMAN Courtney Manuel

ON THE COVER Photo by Rudy Arocha rudyarochaphotography.com Hair and makeup by Carin Gonzales elevecosmetics.com Shot on location at Austin Central Library library.austintexas.gov/central-library

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VOLUME 17, ISSUE 11

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Editorial: Harshita Avirneni, Jordan Burnham, Brianna Caleri, Jenny Hoff, Niki Jones, Sabrina LeBoeuf, Lindsey Logan, Courtney Manuel, Lucy J. Phillips, Chantal Rice, Courtney Runn, Gretchen M. Sanders Art: Ed Arnold, Rudy Arocha, Jordan Burnham, Delaine Carr, Carin Gonzales, Kara E. Henderson, Korey Howell, Niki Jones, Romina Olson, Hannah J. Phillips, Taylor Prinsen, Courtney Runn, Kayla Snell, Edward Verosky, Madison Weakley, Jessica Wetterer INTERNS

Harshita Avirneni, Jordan Burnham, Marlen Iruegas, Lindsey Logan, Isabel Rosenstein, Bailey Whelton

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Publication of Austin Woman would not be possible without the support of our monthly advertisers and sponsors, who believe in the impact we are making in the Austin community. The following businesses have stepped up their support of our efforts beyond traditional advertising and we are proud to recognize them as our partners. The team at Austin Woman is grateful for these businesses that have shown their commitment to the advancement of women in Austin and hopes you, as readers, recognize their efforts and support these businesses and all our regular advertisers.

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ne of my favorite characteristics of Austin is that it is such a giving town. In my 19 years living here, I have witnessed countless acts of genuine kindness and caring, both on an individual level, as well as at the highest echelons of corporate and nonprofit giving. Generosity and altruism abound in our beloved city, and Austin Woman has long included local stories of philanthropy in every issue. But it is here, in our Social Good issue, that we are able to dive deeper to share with our readers many more beautifully rousing tales of compassion and humanitarianism.

Our cover woman, the highly regarded and magnanimous Maya Smart, is the physical embodiment of social giving.

From a young age, she was exposed to literature and philanthropy in equal doses, amounting to a giving philosophy that keeps her busy volunteering with a variety of local literacy-focused nonprofits, all with the goal of sharing books—and their most notable homes, public libraries—with the masses, particularly children from low-income families, so all may relish in the wonder, enlightenment and imagination books and public libraries can foster.

The young women highlighted in our feature story this issue also exhibit a remarkable capacity for giving back. Four local Girl Scouts share the stories of their Gold Award projects, undertakings brought on by major problems they aimed to remedy in some way, projects that have truly impacted both individuals and entire communities in long-standing ways. The Girl Scouts is an organization close to my own heart, as I spent a decade of my youth committed to helping my troop better my local community and beyond. Though I never ventured as far as the young women we feature in this issue, I did earn my Silver Award after sitting on the steering committee and aiding in the planning of a Special Olympics event in my region, an enterprise I remain incredibly proud of.

These days, my personal philanthropic endeavors often center on animals, one of my big loves in life. Indeed, after my boyfriend and I lost our precious Kitty Kitty a year and a half ago, we devoted ourselves to helping financially support other Austin pets in need by creating and regularly donating to a memorial fund in Kitty Kitty’s name at our veterinarian’s clinic, Brodie Animal Hospital, where the wonderful doctors, technicians and office staff ensure only the best care (and lots of love) for their furry patients.

While I rejoice in my ability to give back, even in the smallest measure, to a population I cherish—animals—I have also learned much about philanthropy from the women highlighted in these pages, including that having a philanthropic spirit doesn’t always mean giving money; sometimes giving your time or companionship is even more powerful for someone in need.

I hope you find as much inspiration in the stories in this issue as I did, and I encourage you to turn that inspiration into action. Give an hour a week to reading to kids at your local library.

Volunteer at your kids’ school or with the Girl Scouts or at an animal shelter. Write a check to your favorite local charity—or start your own. Whatever form your giving mission takes, we at Austin Woman appreciate your goodwill and wish you much success.

Cheers!

CHANTAL RICE

Managing Editor A FEW OF CHANTAL’S FAVORITE THINGS

Join the conversation @AustinWoman #TheSocialGoodIssue

12 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

Kitty Kitty, the inspiration for the Kitty Kitty Memorial Fund

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CONTRIBUTORS This month, we asked our contributors: What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

TAYLOR PRINSEN

PHOTOGRAPHER, “THE GOLD STANDARD,” PAGE 54 Taylor Prinsen is a full-time freelance photographer based in her hometown of Austin. She specializes in shooting lifestyle content for brands and businesses, and is inspired by natural light, unique stories and capturing honest emotions. She loves CrossFit as much as she loves margaritas and is an avid concertgoer, solo traveler and dog mom.

“I grew up volunteering, going on mission trips and then professionally fundraising for nonprofits. I’ve seen what works best is asking the community what it needs and how I can help. That might mean providing tampons to homeless women, fundraising $1 million for the Center for Child Protection or lending an ear to someone in need. For me, it’s about connecting, equipping and empowering.”

BRIANNA CALERI

WRITER, “THE GOLD STANDARD,” PAGE 54 Brianna Caleri is a musicobsessed freelance writer who is semi-new to Austin and has been excited about it every day for six months. An aspiring jill-of-all-writing-trades, Brianna loves profiles, reviews, ghostwriting, building websites and over-hyphenating.

“Everyone needs empathy. I try to give back by giving my time to listen, understanding people who are thriving, struggling or figuring out how to understand themselves. Having someone in their corner is the boost many people need to start living better, and the ripple effect from a little encouragement can be monumental.”

SABRINA LEBOEUF

WRITER, “SAVING FACE,” PAGE 68 Sabrina LeBoeuf is a third-year University of Texas student studying journalism and radio-television-film.

She’s been in the journalism world since high school, and since then, she has written for the Lone Star Gridiron, the Texas Ledger and Austin Woman magazine. Currently, she is interning with Texas Connect, UT’s new staff and faculty magazine.

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“As a college student, I don’t always have enough time to commit to a set amount of volunteer hours, and I can’t afford to donate money or gifts on a regular basis. Instead, I like to give back to my community with small acts of kindness, whether it’s sharing my food with someone who is hungry or giving up my seat on the bus. Plus, these actions usually start a positive feedback loop, so it’s a way to give back that keeps on giving back.”

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Carin Gonzales is a freelance makeup artist and skin-care specialist for Elevé Cosmetics. During the course of her six-year career as a makeup artist, she has also studied aesthetics, and her passion for skin care shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. When she’s not working with her clients, she’s usually brushing up on the latest fashion trends and spending time with her family. She and her son, Michael, age 8, are fortunate enough to call Austin home.

“Getting to meet new people every day and to live my passion for making my clients look and feel their best is the greatest feeling.”

Ashley Alaniz-Moyer, ’14 Ashley knew she wanted to earn her MBA and Concordia was the right fit. She learned to fine-tune her management skills and was given realworld experience, such as a capstone project with Student Loan Genius. Now, she is serving as the Executive Director of the Hispanic Scholarship Consortium.

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CONNECT WITH US! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT… Check us out at atxwoman.com. the Pacific. While many of us are basking in the sun poolside this season, 10 ➥ Pedal college-age women from throughout the country, including several from Austin, will spend their summer biking 1,700 miles down the Pacific coast from Seattle to San Diego with Pedal the Pacific. It’s all in an effort to raise funds for The Refuge, an Austin organization that provides a community and services for girls who have been exploited, and to raise awareness about sex trafficking.

➥ Giving Austin Labor Support. Local nonprofit organization GALS, or Giving Austin

Labor Support, has a simple goal: ensure no woman gives birth alone. By providing emotional and physical support to women and families during the birth experience, GALS’ dedicated volunteers hope to improve maternal outcomes, as well as empower women throughout their pregnancies, from the prenatal period to birth to the postpartum stage. a local salon that encourages kids’ self-esteem, cultivates self-care early in kids’ lives and provides a go-to place for “hair therapy” for black and multiethnic families in East Austin. With the goal of modeling to each young salon client the value in a diverse community, Corbin also opens her heart, often discussing difficult life subjects while always providing a safe place for “curly haired girls” and their parents to learn about their hair and how to maintain it.

WIN THIS!

TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL SWAG BAGS If you’re already ready to book it to this year’s Texas Book Festival, scheduled to take place Oct. 26 and 27, then you definitely don’t want to miss out on our giveaway this month. In honor of our cover woman, literacy advocate and TBF board member Maya Smart, and in anticipation of this year’s big event, Texas Book Festival is gifting one Austin Woman reader a pair of exclusive TBF swag bags (a $90 value). The package includes two brand-new printed canvas tote bags, each packed with a Texas Book Festival Hydro Flask water bottle, a hardcover copy of Spineless by Austin author and scientist Juli Berwald, a TBF Save the Date magnet and a TBF bookmark.

To enter to win, follow us on Instagram @austinwoman and stay on the lookout for the giveaway announcement. A winner will be chosen and notified by the end of the month.

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Win This photo courtesy of Texas Book Festival. Pedal the Pacific photo courtesy of Pedal the Pacific. SC4Kids photo by Kara E. Henderson.

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WOMEN IN NUMBERS

Though charity may begin at home, women are making a substantial impact through philanthropy across the globe.

BY HARSHITA AVIRNENI, ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSICA WETTERER

1,358 Nonprofits As of 2015, women headed six of the 25 largest nonprofits in Austin as CEOs. Assuming this ratio continued, of the roughly 5,660 nonprofits in Austin, approximately 1,358 nonprofits are led by women. This means Austin’s gender gap, in terms of women leading charitable organizations, is 6 percent lower than the average, as 24 percent of the nonprofits in Austin are led by women, compared with the national average of 18 percent.

Catalist, originally known as the Women’s Collective Giving Grantmakers Network, currently has more than 16,000 women as part of its 60 independent philanthropic organizations in 28 U.S. states and Australia.

The founding leadership team included 11 women, one of whom was Austin’s own Rebecca Powers, the founder of Impact Austin, an organization that works to “cultivate the collective wisdom and strength of women” to transform members’ lives and communities through philanthropy.

27.8 Percent On average, American women volunteer 6 percent more than American men, at a rate of 27.8 percent versus 21.8 percent, according to Nonprofit Source, which aims to improve nonprofits’ digital-marketing strategies so they can more effectively engage with the communities they serve. In terms of charitable giving, statistics show 69 percent of the U.S. population donates to a charitable cause, with women responsible for making 64 percent of these donations.

18 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

16,000 Women

$6.5 Million Impact Austin, one of the largest womenfocused philanthropy groups in the United States, has awarded more than $6.5 million in grants to Central Texas nonprofits in the past 16 years. Additionally, the organization has emboldened 1,951 women and more than 330 girls to become philanthropists. One of the group’s goals is to be able to fully support its philanthropic mission by building a $1 million annual budget by 2021.

$569.5 Billion

Nonprofit organization Women Moving Millions recently released a study noting that by 2030, women are expected to control $33.5 trillion in North America, and their charitable giving is estimated to reach $569.5 billion annually. Since 2007, Women Moving Millions members have pledged more than $650 million to organizations that work to advance the lives of women and girls throughout the world.

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FEEDING THE SOUL

An Austin mom turns her heartbreak into comfort for children with cancer.

BY JENNY HOFF

Like most things in Nichols’ life, it’s both a tribute to her daughter, who died of leukemia 15 years ago, and a symbol of her philosophy of finding and creating beauty with whatever she has—even if the task seems impossible.

“My nickname is Broken Becky,” Nichols says. “I take things that maybe nobody else would want to deal with and try to make something beautiful with it.”

It’s that kind of determination that has kept Nichols going, even after experiencing the worst tragedy a parent can imagine. Losing her spunky, beautiful daughter at only 5 1/2 years old after years of hospital visits, drugs, therapies and operations, Nichols coped with her grief by doing what she does best: building something new with the broken pieces of her heart. She created the Loving Libbie Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing delicious and heartwarming food to children fighting cancer.

“I was just trying to stay alive,” Nichols says, tearing up, the pain of those days still fresh in her mind. “I didn’t realize at the time it would do so much for them too.”

She’s referring to the thousands of children who have dug into her homemade Loving Libbie Famous Mac & Cheese or visited her Libbie’s Funtime Foodtruck for a taste of home cooking, a warm hug and a momentary escape from the burdens of real life.

“This is a comfort food that can calm an upset tummy and put a smile on the face of the parent that forgot to bring lunch,” says Mary Frasher, the community outreach coordinator for the Children’s Blood and

Libbie

20 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

Cancer Center in Austin, who also knew Libbie. “Loving Libbie Mac & Cheese is what separates us from any other clinic, at least that’s what the kids think.”

In the 13 years since its inception, the Loving Libbie Memorial Foundation has grown to serve meals to clinics and hospitals throughout Texas, from Dallas to the Rio Grande Valley. Every year, the foundation serves more than 4,100 portions of mac and cheese, dozens of specialty celebration cakes and food for Thanksgiving meals. The organization also offers cooking classes and special events for children in hospitals.

And Nichols is just getting started. As a finalist in the 2018 H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition, she’ll now get to sell her Loving Libbie Famous Mac & Cheese in the frozen-food section at H-E-B stores throughout the state. All proceeds will go right back to her nonprofit foundation so more kids can get access to her meals and she can get her comfort food into more grocery stores throughout the country. She plans to go on a road trip with her husband this summer to personally introduce customers to her food.

“I was scared at first,” she says. “I get these ideas and think, ‘How am I going to make it happen?’ But then I do. ‘Impossible’ is not a part of my vocabulary.”

Jody Hall, H-E-B’s director of global sourcing, remembers Nichols’ enthusiasm from the very first information session about the contest, when Nichols sat in the front row, notebook in hand.

“If winning is defined as helping others in need, Becky was eager and determined to win because her mission was to feed as many kids fighting cancer as she possibly could,” Hall says.

While she may have reached a pinnacle by securing shelf space in Texas’ beloved grocery-store chain, Nichols says she is set up with locally owned Night Hawk Frozen Foods to conquer America and give some Southern comfort to children fighting cancer throughout the country.

“I’m only 53,” she says with a determined smile, surrounded by memories in her tiny-house office as she plots out her future. “I still have half of my life and 49 states left.”

Libbie Nichols photo courtesy of Becky Nichols. Becky Nichols photo by Romina Olson.

Becky Nichols’ backyard office is the dream playhouse her daughter Libbie would have loved. Built with leftover plywood and painstakingly stenciled and decorated with bright pinks, reds and blues, it’s a tiny home that boasts a playful garden chandelier and pictures painted by the small hands of unfathomably strong children.

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AVVY WOMEN

FROM THE DESK OF

ARIELLE OLFERS

The brand expert at The Southern Influence shares how businesses can incorporate social impact into their business strategy.

BY LINDSEY LOGAN, ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WEAKLEY

After testing the waters in advertising, Arielle Olfers found her true passion in public relations and visual content creation. Originally started as a creative outlet for Olfers, The Southern Influence, her marketing and PR company, began as a personal blog inspired by the hospitality and pace of the South.

Travel and interior-design content drove the blog, which has since morphed into a creative boutique focused on brand management and visual marketing.

When consulting with clients, Olfers stresses the importance of social impact as part of the company’s business strategy. Though many small-business owners may be drawn to helping build up the local community by giving back, sometimes it can be difficult to know where to begin. Olfers shares some of her top tips for how to make giving back a successful component of a for-profit business.

KNOW COMPASSION IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. “Embedding social and community impact into your brand and strategy is simply good for business. The more you give back and engage in your community, the more profit comes in later [when] working with bigger businesses.”

FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO GIVE BACK. “If you are a small business with little cash flow, what things can you do to give back that aren’t the most obvious? [Consider providing] a discounted pizza night for kids or discounted rates to your neighbors. Could you give a certain number of hours per week to a community garden, or could you source your vegetables for your restaurant from the local farmers market?

Can you find a way to switch out buying things from a major corporation to buy locally? There are a lot of different ways to give back and there are so many ways to pull a tiny portion of your proceeds.”

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY BALANCE. “It’s important to keep a healthy ratio between how much social-impact work you’re doing versus how much for-profit work you’re doing. Make sure it doesn’t hurt your business. Give as much as you can without impacting the amount you need to pay your people and keep the company afloat.”

TAP INTO YOUR TEAM’S PASSION. “Find what your team is passionate about as a whole.

Take a poll of your staff to find something you know your team is going to be interested in because at the end of the day, it’s not just about writing a check and saying, ‘Oh, we did our job.’ It’s about everyone’s responsibility to give back, not just financially, but to give time and volunteer.”

22 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

ALIGN WITH THE RIGHT NONPROFIT. “There’s a lot of great resources out there. Austin Gives, InLieu and Amplify Austin all have a lot of great resources. Search for the nonprofits near your area and learn about which one aligns best with what it is your company is trying to give back to.”

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START THE CONVO

MISSING AFTER ACTION

During service and in civilian life, women veterans can be overlooked and underserved.

BY COURTNEY RUNN VA released data tracking veteran suicide rates, and women veterans are almost twice as likely to die by suicide as their civilian counterparts.

Gretchen Johnson Rees, a counselor and director of clinical services at the Austin branch of the Samaritan Center, works with veterans and sees a wide array of military-related trauma. From helping others with unhealthy coping mechanisms and addictions (she says addiction to caffeine is a common struggle after relying on energy drinks during service) to processing military sexual trauma, Rees works with individuals, Pearson joined the military at 17 in 2005, but after a superior sexually couples and families transitioning to civilian life. assaulted her, her military career quickly deteriorated. Her assaulter “It’s such a small subset of the population that have served in the made her life miserable, constantly looking for ways to get her in trouble wars,” she says. “That is a very unique experience that you really become and silence her. She eventually left on a medical discharge after three and like brothers and sisters with those that you served with, and to come a half years of service, for the sake of her mental health. She didn’t tell back with people who don’t share that experience, it can be isolating.” anyone what happened to her.

The Samaritan Center promotes After taking a sabbatical to heal and a holistic approach to healing and performing volunteer medical work in the Austin branch offers counselHaiti, she opened a salon and launched HOW TO START THE CONVO ing, tai chi, Pilates and acupunca cosmetic line in 2010. But the trauma ture to both veterans and nonVolunteer. If you’re a licensed counselor, you can volunlingered. She went to a variety of veterans in the community. The teer for the Samaritan Center’s Friday walk-in clinic for Department of Veterans Affairs health center provides six free counseling veterans. centers near Austin to seek help for her sessions to veterans and their increasingly debilitating mental health families and served 1,400 veterans Hire veterans. Anna Baker works with employers and but felt like just a number. She kept and their families last year. veterans to destigmatize fears surrounding veterans in looking, though, advocating for herself the workplace. She reminds employers that anyone in for the sake of her daughter. At her I AM NOT INVISIBLE the population can struggle with trauma or PTSD, plus lowest point, when she considered suiAnna Baker served in the Air Force veterans bring a lot of valuable skills and qualities to a cide, she found Dr. Tasha Wellington at as a linguist for four years but workplace, from loyalty to hard work and adaptability. the VA’s center in Cedar Park, Texas. would downplay her time in the “That woman, I can honestly say— Use your resources. From taking advantage of VA remilitary if anyone asked. It wasn’t and she knows this very well—[is] sources to using services like Dress for Success that can until a friend asked her, “Why are a huge reason why I’m here today,” help with prep for job interviews, Baker encourages all you demeaning your service?” that Pearson says. “She would not let me veterans to be aware of what’s available and to tell other her perspective shifted. After more quit on myself and that’s the best thing veterans. than 16 years working for Dell, she could have done for me.”

Baker joined the Texas VeterListen. Listen to the veterans in your life. While many veterDuring six months of intensive ans Commission as the Women ans do return from service with PTSD, counselor Gretchen counseling, Pearson faced her assault Veterans Program manager. Today, Johnson Rees warns against making that assumption. for the first time and began to see her she’s the manager of the Veterans story differently. With the help of Entrepreneur Program.

Wellington, she faced the MoPac ramp Her time at the TVC opened she’d been avoiding. her eyes to the realities of women service members. Beyond the common “She’s like, ‘It’s not your story anymore,’ ” Pearson says. “ ‘And you can issues that plague men and women veterans alike, Baker encountered drive that ramp with confidence, knowing that it did not beat you.’ ” women like herself who minimized their service and were misidentified as She now sees the road that could have ended her life as a metaphor for the wives, daughters or sisters of veterans instead of veterans themselves. her new life, full of opportunity and hope. She still runs her cosmetics line, Women have served in every major U.S. war since the American ViviCouture, which includes a bright-purple lipstick called Courage. A Revolution but were not officially integrated into the military until 1948, percentage of the lipstick’s sales goes to supporting mental-health orgawhen President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services nizations. Pearson also powerlifts competitively and runs a training and Integration Act. Each decade since has seen advancements in women’s meal-prep company for women, both tools she’s used to combat stress. ability to serve and empowered women to seek out resources. In her role, “Definitely seek help, especially if you’re a veteran with PTSD. It’s Baker sees how the generational gap affects each era of women veterans. cliché, but it’s imperative,” she says.

World War II and Cold War veterans are less likely to proudly talk about their service and seek help, and Baker has met Vietnam veterans who WOMEN IN THE MILITARY are just now receiving counseling and processing their experiences. Post Pearson’s military experience is not uncommon, but not everyone has a 9/11 female veterans are more open about their service, benefiting from happy ending or seeks help. According to the Pentagon’s 2018 report on increasingly destigmatized conversation surrounding mental health and sexual assault in the military, 24.2 percent of active-duty female veterans PTSD, but are still less vocal than their male counterparts. Regardless of are sexually harassed and only about one in three report it. In 2016, the the era, Baker often meets women who don’t fully identify as veterans.

As Vivianne Pearson’s car accelerated and concrete gave way to rusty steel railings and sky, she fantasized about stepping on the pedal to hasten her death. In seconds, memories of sexual assault and PTSD would disappear. She told herself it would be quick, but one thought stopped her foot and guided her hands as she continued up the MoPac Expressway ramp: her 3-year-old daughter.

24 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

In March, Baker launched the Texas branch of a national campaign highlighting all generations of women veterans. Called I Am Not Invisible, the campaign featured 30 black-and-white portraits of Texan women veterans with accompanying bios detailing their service.

“There is a whole population out there of women veterans that have fallen through the cracks, that don’t take advantage of their benefits, that don’t know they have benefits,” Baker says. “The whole purpose of the women veterans program and Women Veterans Day and the I Am Not Invisible campaign is to create awareness to the public, to veterans, male and female, old and young.”

In this spirit, Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, helped pass legislation in 2018 to designate June 12 as Women Veterans Day. This legislative session, she supported a bill aimed at reducing veteran suicide rates.

“Losing even one veteran is one too many,” Neave says.

Texas has the biggest population of veterans in the country and more than 180,000 women veterans, but for the many women—and men— championing women veterans, there is much work to be done in the state of Texas to ensure every woman veteran has the resources and help she needs to successfully transition to civilian life.

“Look, it doesn’t matter where you served. It doesn’t matter when you served,” Baker says. “It doesn’t matter if you sat in an office and did military payroll or if you were on the front lines. You provided a service and it matters.”

If you are in immediate crisis, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1.800.273.8255 and press 1, or text 838255 to the same number. You can also chat online at veteranscrisisline.net/chat. If you’ve experienced military sexual trauma, anonymous help is available by calling 877.995.5247 or visiting safehelpline.org.

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FEMALE VETERANS BY THE NUMBERS

1948 June 12, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, which permitted women to be full-service members of the military.

24.2 PERCENT

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According to the Pentagon’s 2018 report on sexual assault in the military, 24.2 percent of active-duty female veterans are sexually harassed and only about one in three report it.

180,000+ Texas has the highest female veteran population in the country, with more than 180,000 women veterans.

1.8 According to a 2016 VA study, the suicide rate for women veterans is almost twice as high—1.8 times more—as the suicide rate for civilian women, and the suicide rate for women veterans increased from 2005 to 2016, as did the overall population of women veterans.

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A N N A S U L L I VA N

CEO AND FOUNDER OF REAL FOOD BAR

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nna Sullivan is the CEO and founder of Real Food Bar, a plant-based nutrition-bar brand. Two years ago, she and her husband found themselves eating snack bars all the time, whether as breakfast on busy mornings or as fuel on hiking adventures. But none of the bars had a complete nutrient profile. What began as a personal project in the kitchen became Real Food Bars, nutritious high-protein bars made with fruit, nuts, vegetables and no artificial ingredients. The brand launched in January 2019 and, as of July 1, is available in 90 H-E-B grocery locations. Each flavored bar has a picture on it taken by Sullivan or her husband while on one of their hikes throughout the world. Sullivan lives in Austin, where when she isn’t helping busy people eat healthy, she enjoys biking or running the trail at Lady Bird Lake. realfoodbar.com

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KIM RODRIGUEZ

P R E S I D E N T, C E O A N D C O - F O U N D E R O F A C E S S A H E A LT H I N C .

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im Rodriguez is the president, CEO and co-founder of Acessa Health Inc., an Austin-based medical-device company focused on women’s health. Rodriguez is passionate about building a company that empowers women to take control of their health and live their best lives. Through her leadership of Acessa Health, the Acessa procedure has helped thousands of women who have fibroids, benign growths in the uterus. Fibroids can cause heavy periods, bloating and other issues. The Acessa procedure is minimally invasive and, in many cases, allows women to get back to work or their daily activities in days versus weeks, compared with the more invasive standards of care: hysterectomy and myomectomy. The Acessa procedure is offered by OB-GYNs throughout Texas and the U.S. Find a physician and learn more about Fibroid Awareness Month in July by visiting the Acessa website. acessaprocedure.com

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MELINDA REESE

C O - F O U N D E R O F H U C K L E B E R R Y H O S P I TA L I T Y

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elinda Reese is an event producer who delivers extraordinary events so her clients can raise a glass with no stress.

After spending more than a decade working in events, sales and marketing for nationally recognized brands and startups, Reese co-founded Huckleberry Hospitality, catering events in Austin and specializing in bringing a South Texas coastal element to open-fire cooking. Reese attributes her success to her passion for the experience and love of the details. Her creativity enables her to conceptualize and craft an experience that brings to life the client’s purpose, theme and vision.

She truly enjoys the little things, paying meticulous attention to program planning and on-site execution of event activities, partnering closely with clients each step of the way. Her diverse experience is extensive and includes international music festivals, nonprofit fundraising, galas, athletic competitions and multiday installations. When Reese is not busy planning fabulous events throughout the city, she can be found engaging with her community at the Central Texas Veterans Affair Center, Silver Santa, Austin Symphony BATS and managing Austin’s Rhodesian Ridgeback group. huckleberrytx.com

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WOMAN WOMEN to WATCH

JENNIFER GREGORY AND REBEKAH KOEHLY GREGORY E X O T I C G A M E R A N C H M A N A G E R S AT T E X A S D I S P O S A L S Y S T E M S

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ebekah Koehly Gregory and Jennifer Gregory, daughters of Bob and Jim Gregory, the co-founders of Texas Disposal Systems, play a key role in upholding the company’s more than 40-year commitment to environmental preservation. Located in Creedmoor, Texas, TDS is a fully integrated facility that incorporates solid-waste disposal, compost production and recycling operations. Koehly Gregory and Gregory run the unique TDS Exotic Game Ranch, a private facility that has helped raise more than $26 million for more than 2,400 nonprofits and guests of the company at no charge to the organizations. The ranch is living proof of conservation efforts and how properly run landfill operations with strong environmental stewardship can coexist. Whether Koehly Gregory is helping with the more than 100 animal species on the ranch or Gregory is coordinating a fundraising event for a nonprofit, these environmental stewards are dedicated to working in the best interest of their neighbors, employees and the communities TDS serves. texasdisposal.com

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KRISTEN NICHOLSON

V I C E P R E S I D E N T O F S A L E S AT N A D A M O O !

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risten Nicholson is a native Texan raised among a family of physicians, teachers and entrepreneurs.

After graduating from the University of Texas, Nicholson worked for Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Austin’s MeTV before landing a role at dairy-free-ice-cream company NadaMoo! as vice president of sales. Nicholson has led sales for the brand and helped grow it from a regional brand to being in 7,800 stores. Nicholson’s goal is to feed the world through sustainable and thoughtful practice by providing the most creamy and delicious dairy-free ice-cream flavors and products. Nicholson stays balanced with yoga, cooking and entertaining at home with friends and her husband, Daniel, who is the brand president and CEO. She also enjoys writing creatively and running. In November, she’ll complete the New York City Marathon for the second time. She also mentors other consumer packaged goods startups in an independent consulting role. nadamoo.com

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K I M B E R LY O L S O N

FOUNDER OF THE GOAL DIGGER GIRL

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ationally renowned social-media expert Kimberly Olson created a multidimensional brand that serves female entrepreneurs through small-group coaching, focused workshops and a whole lot of training for how to build successfully on social media. She walked away from corporate America when she realized she wasn’t able to build the type of life she wanted for herself and her family, and she hasn’t looked back since. Olson launched her brand, The Goal Digger Girl, in early 2018 because she wanted to find a way to build her business online in a genuine and authentic way. She went from zero followers on social media to almost 100,000 in about a year. She is the author of The Goal Digger, which reached No. 1 on Amazon’s bestsellers list in three different categories, and hosts a weekly podcast called The Goal Digger Girl. You can find her on social media @TheGoalDiggerGirl. thegoaldiggergirl.com

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AMY SWEET

FO UND ER A ND CEO O F H A LCYO N H O ME

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ounder and CEO of Halcyon Home, Amy Sweet is a physician assistant who has grown Halcyon Home from its inception to the current staff of more than 450 employees, providing exceptional care to thousands of Central Texas patients each year.

Sweet and her staff can provide a continuum of care, from nonmedical in-home care for clients needing driving, cooking, fall prevention and dementia care 24 hours a day, to medical home health as needed and finally, hospice end-of-life care. “What I love about our company is that we can be with a person from the first time they need help as they age to the last, developing relationships that are priceless,” Sweet says. She credits much of the success of her company to the focus she places on employee satisfaction. Through servant leadership, she provides support and growth in the workplace to her employees, 85 percent of whom are women. She strongly believes aging in place with the right social and medical structure will revolutionize the way health care is provided. Halcyon Home won Best Home Health Company from Senior Resource Guide three years in a row, and Sweet is the 2019 winner of Austin Woman magazine’s Woman’s Way Business Award in health and wellness. myhalcyonhome.com

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ELIZABETH CHRISTIAN

F O U N D E R O F E L I Z A B E T H C H R I ST I A N P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S

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eep roots in Texas, 45 years of experience in both journalism and public relations, and a lifelong commitment to empowering women are hallmarks of Elizabeth Christian’s career. A fourth-generation Austinite, Christian has built a publicrelations agency with a statewide reputation, representing clients that include St. David’s HealthCare, Texas Mutual Insurance Co. and Google/Google Fiber, among many others. Christian is particularly proud of the work ECPR has done to bring Major League Soccer to Austin and will be wearing the green-and-black scarf of Austin FC as its season opens in 2021. Christian attributes ECPR’s success to a team with a can-do attitude, an extraordinary work ethic and superlative strategic thinking. echristianpr.com

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L I N D S AY R E D W I N E

CEO AND FOUNDER OF RENTERS CLUB

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indsay Redwine is proud to lead an exceptional team, successfully achieving an elevated, select collection of properties for short-term rental. Organically originated from local demand, Renters Club combines a purposeful knowledge of skills, including real estate, original interior design, technological advancement through internal creation of software and operations. Redwine especially enjoys the gratification of serving a variety of clients, both homeowners and guests to our attractive city. Redwine has long been an original to Austin, a front-runner in recognizing a changing demand within the area. She now directs that same focus and strategy to the expansion of the vacation-rental culture into new locales. Redwine enjoys time with her husband and three children. She is also honored to serve as a board member for the Austin division of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. renters-club.com

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SA N DY S T E WA R T

FOUNDER OF THINK BIG! PROGRAM

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andy Stewart is a native Texan and the founder of two online academies, Think Big! Program for smallbusiness owners and tākoff for startups. She is also the co-founder and CEO of Swiss Avenue Partners, helping privately held companies benchmark and grow their value. Since 2015, she has served as board president of local nonprofit Tapestry Dance Company, a resident performing company of The Long Center and the world’s only full-time professional repertory tap-dance multiform dance company. Stewart gives back by serving as a board member since 2011 for the University of Texas Austin chapter of AIESEC, or Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, the world’s largest student-run nonprofit focused on youth-leadership development. Through her work to help Tapestry relocate, she has become an advocate for the Austin arts community to drive support for its growing space needs. Stewart enjoys learning to tap dance, is heavily involved in the local music scene and can be found holding planning sessions at Barton Springs. thinkbigprogram.com

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ANN-CHRISTINE LANGSELIUS FOUNDER OF MIR ACULUM

miraculumfire.com

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Photo by Magnus Ragnvid.

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nn-Christine Langselius has a long history of breaking barriers and exceeding expectations, first by becoming one of the first female officers in the Swedish Air Force, then by working in top defense and security positions within the Swedish government and by assisting many companies through her own innovative business program to reach their potential. So, when Langselius launched Miraculum with her mission to help protect people, buildings, materials and forests from fire damage using her sustainable products, it was no surprise she was able to turn this vision into a reality. She founded Miraculum in 2015 out of her Austin garage and now has a large production facility for her team.

Miraculum’s patented products offer a sustainable solution for assisting in preventing and extinguishing fires. The possibilities for the Miraculum products are truly endless.

Photo by Ed Arnold/Capturing Life Photography.

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Experience firsthand one of the world’s most dangerous sports at rodeo school.

BY NIKI JONES ATXWOMAN.COM | 39

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ADVENTURE GIRL

lesson was a breakdown of each item, how it worked and why quality gear is so important from a functionality and safety standpoint.

Once we had a handle on our gear, we started on drills. The first involved sitting high atop the Il Toro, a manually operated bucking-bull simulator that rotates 360 degrees. This is where we learned correct body position, how to engage our inner thigh muscles, where to place our nonI’ve always been enamored of rodeo culture, specifically bull riding, riding hand and where to look (straight down at the center of the bull’s and had watched more than my share of televised Professional Bull shoulders at all times). We also worked on dismounts, which is imperative Riders events and gone to many local rodeos. When I learned there if you make it to the 8-second whistle. A correct dismount can help save was a highly regarded traveling rodeo school headed back to you from getting trampled or hooked by the bull’s horns.

Texas, I signed up. I promptly arranged to borrow a brand-new Throughout the day, we learned some more specifics of riding, most Chevy Silverado (You can’t show up at rodeo school in a sedan!), importantly riding in the position of “home base”: feet up, spurs in front packed my three pairs of cowboy boots, hoping one of them would of the bull rope, knees pressed in, groin muscles engaged, up over the rope, be right for the course, and grabbed my stretchiest pair of jeans. up off your rear end, chest bowed out, shoulders square, weight evenly Sankey Rodeo School was founded in 1975 by Lyle Sankey, one of only divided along the center line, non-riding arm parallel and in peripheral four men to ever qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in bare back, vision at all times, chin down, focusing on the area in front of saddle bronc and bull riding. This is clearly someone who the rope the whole time. It was a lot to take in but all knows his stuff, so that was promising. Other than crucial to understand. One wrong move can get you “You get to choose: that, I had no clue what to expect. bucked off and seriously injured.

My class consisted of 22 bull riders, four junior You’re either motivated The primary focus on everything at Sankey bull riders and four steer riders (kids as young as 6 Rodeo School is safety, right down to the high quality years old), and all were male except for me and one or intimidated when you of the bull rope. Riders’ spurs have to have a specific 22-year-old returning student (who didn’t end up get in that chute.” amount of space above the top of our boot heels. Our riding this time around). But these are no weekend helmets have to be nearly skull-crushingly snug. Our – Cody Goodwin warriors; the majority of the students at Sankey Rodeo vests have to cover our kidneys. As confident as I was the School have aspirations of becoming professional rodeo instructors at Sankey Rodeo School are among the best in the biz, as the athletes, and this was their first step. day went on, my anxiety escalated and my apprehension grew by the minute.

The bulk of that first steamy morning was spent on gear. Each student To try to keep my mind off the fear, I focused on doing drills. Late was to have and take care of his or her own set of gear (I borrowed mine in the afternoon, it was time to head to the chutes for some riding. For from the school), which consisted of a bull rope, rosin, glove, spurs, boot the most part, it was returning students who opted to ride that first day, straps, steel bells, helmet, mouthpiece and protective vest. Our first while we newbies thought it wise to watch and learn.

Getting on the Il Toro was the first step in learning correct body position.

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These guys pretend they’re cool till they’re in the chute.

Photos courtesy of Niki Jones.

There are no timeouts in bull riding. That’s the first thing my instructor, Cody Goodwin, told us on day one of Sankey Rodeo School. I understood the sentiment, but I was still too fresh and excited about what awaited me in the following two days to fully grasp the gravity of it.

Photos courtesy of Niki Jones.

With my apprehension mounting to never-before-experienced levels, I realized 1.) these bulls are the real deal, no different from the bulls I’ve seen at bull-riding events, and 2.) when it comes time to buck, each and every one of them is as aggressive as the last. As I watched student after student fly through the air and hit the ground, I wondered how I was going to be able to get in the bucking chute the next morning.

The 12-hour day ended, and I found myself uncharacteristically psyching myself out—hard. As I drove back to the hotel, I sure looked like a cowgirl in the driver’s seat of a lifted Chevy pickup, boots dusty and mud from the arena caked on my jeans, but I sure didn’t feel like one. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to ride a bull. My goal for that night was to get a solid sleep so I’d be sharp and focused in the morning. We were scheduled to arrive at the school at 8 a.m. and start riding by 9 a.m. I got to bed early but wasn’t prepared for the terror that built as the minutes ticked closer to what was quickly becoming one of the most dreaded events of my life. In that dark hotel room, I could feel the sheets rising and falling with my fast-beating heart, and I tossed and turned for hours, worrying about getting in that chute.

As the sun came up and I exhaustedly rolled out of bed, I decided then and there I was going to do it. I needed to replace the fear with the goal. I remembered something Cody told us the day before: “Focus on what you know, not what you feel,” so I mentally went through my notes and visualized the skills we had learned.

As I drove to the school that second morning, I kept going with the positive affirmations: I can do this. I will do this! For an extra dose of positivity, once I arrived, I had a long chat with one of the bronc-rider instructors, Noel Bosco, about overcoming my fear. He imparted a great deal of wisdom and advice that will undoubtedly be useful for the rest of my life. One trait all the instructors at Sankey Rodeo School display is the ability to help students maintain a positive mindset and overcome obstacles.

9 a.m. came fast. One rider after another went hurtling out of the chutes.

Then it was my turn. It all happened in a flash. My bull, like the majority of them, was agitated in the bucking chute, and when I lowered myself on his back, he painfully smashed my leg against the metal wall. I bucked up (pun intended) and shook it off. Someone had already attached his flank strap, which causes the bull to buck, and as I got situated, Cody pulled my bull rope tight. I rubbed rosin on the rope to warm it up and make it sticky for maximum grip. I positioned my hand in the leather handle of the bull rope, wrapped my hand with the tail end of the rope, which is designed and ready to release completely as soon as I let go. Finally, with the help of Cody, I positioned myself to home base, took a deep breath and gave a nod.

The bucking-chute door flew open and we were off, my bull bucking immediately. I tried to keep my sight down between the bull’s shoulders, but that’s about all I remember. It went that quickly before I was bucked off. As I hit the dirt, I urgently crawled/ran to the safest exit while the bullfighters distracted the bull, directing him back to the chutes. I did it. I did it!

After the requisite adrenaline dump, I was on an emotional high and felt like I was floating on air. During the video review of my ride, I decided I was going to get back on, this time with the goal of being more aware of my position, specifically holding my non-riding hand up since I had completely forgotten to do so the first time. On that second ride, I did just that—before I was bucked off in about two seconds flat.

One bruised tailbone later, with aching muscles I wasn’t even aware I had, a touch of whiplash and a mess of dirt-caked hair, I was exhausted physically but even more so mentally. I had never been so afraid of anything before, nor had I psychologically worked through anything like that in all my life. I was prouder than I’ve ever been and beyond thankful to the great staff of Sankey Rodeo School that helped get me there.

The second-most nerve-wracking place to be is behind the chutes, waiting to get in.

Lesson Notes (for bull riding and for life) Ride to the whistle

It’s going to hurt

You’ve got to get tough

Fight for your life

Bring your A game

Match the bull’s intensity

I’ve yet to live through a scarier moment in my life than this one.

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S

TYLE

SEE HER WORK

CRAFTIVISM ON THE STREETS

A project manager by day and a street artist and craftivist by night, Jess Williams brings attention to social issues through her crochet art.

BY COURTNEY RUNN, PHOTOS BY KARA E. HENDERSON

Masquerading under the alias Will Crochet and the cover of night, Jess Williams and her yarn crew crochet granny squares for social good. From rainbow hearts she hopes will “delight whoever sees them” to messages encouraging political participation, the colorful installations are scattered along South Lamar Boulevard and throughout Austin.

Ten years ago, Williams turned to crocheting in the emotional aftermath of divorce. After the 2016 election, she again found solace in yarn as she channeled her political anger and anxiety into art and joined the craftivist movement.

For Williams, crocheting is both therapy and a platform. Alongside her yarn crew, dubbed The Fuzz, Williams plans large-scale street activations, like a 4-foot-tall crocheted sign spelling “Vote” ahead of the 2018 local election. The group meets the third Sunday of every month at Rio Rita to collaborate with anyone who wants

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to crochet. Williams sells individual pieces at Stardust Vintage but specializes in nontraditional street art, attaching her work to stop-sign poles and walls throughout Austin.

“More what I’m interested in is testing the boundaries of crochet because it is such a traditional art and craft, and I really am kind of straddling…more than one world, I’ll say, but really that fine line of art and crafts,” Williams says.

Besides encouraging Austinites to vote, she’s passionate about using her art to support environmental issues. She shops exclusively at female-owned and -run Austin Creative Reuse, a secondhand art-supply store, and only uses recycled yarn in her projects. She also crochets on her daily bus commute, one of the ways she supports environmental conservation.

Follow her commuter crocheting on Instagram at #capmetrocrochet and keep up with this craftivist and see more of her work @willcrochet.

“The street-art community here in Austin is so awesome, and I am a nontraditional street artist. I don’t do stickers or web paste or spray paint, so just to have that group be so welcoming to me and my crew is wonderful.”

– Jess Williams, aka Will Crochet

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H

OME

MAKE ROOM

KEEPING AUSTIN GREEN

Nationally acclaimed landscape architect Christy Ten Eyck shares her tips for transforming your home’s yard into a green haven.

BY COURTNEY RUNN

When Christy Ten Eyck moved to Austin 13 years ago, she thought she had discovered heaven on earth. With its expansive parks, natural springs and endless trees, Austin was the ideal playground for the landscape architect.

CHOOSE NATIVE PLANTS.

The founding principal at Ten Eyck Landscape Architects, Ten Eyck is responsible for a handful of Austin projects, in addition to her statewide work, including South Congress Hotel, Pfluger Circle at Lady Bird Lake, Lone Star Court and the ongoing Pease Park renovation.

She’s received national recognition for her environmentally conscious work and is fighting to keep Austin green.

“We are losing our tree canopy and that’s what makes Austin so special and what sets it apart from so many cities,” Ten Eyck says.

Along with a shrinking tree population, Ten Eyck is concerned about the growing traffic and expanding downtown infrastructure leading to an urban-heat-island effect.

But locals can help offset Austin’s growing environmental concerns.

Ten Eyck shares her best tips for homeowners wanting to build and renovate environmentally friendly homes to do their part to keep our city green.

HARVEST RAINWATER.

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“A lot of people think you need to have a great big tank. … The way I do it in my own yard is what I would call passive rainwater harvesting and that is simply making a place for the water that comes off your roof and falls on your property, making a place for it to go, [and] creating slight depressions where water can hit and soak in versus just running straight off into the street. … If you were to dig a slight depression, it only needs to be 4 to 6 inches deep. We’re not talking a major pit. … If you can’t do that, you can build check dams.”

DON’T CREATE TOO MUCH HARDSCAPE.

“I’m sort of anti circular driveways because, to me, circular driveways take up the entire yard. … I always encourage people to have the smallest footprint for the car as possible and don’t go overboard with tons and tons of hard surface. Certainly, use what you need to use for your outdoor spaces

Photos courtesy of Ten Eyck Landscape Architects.

Pfluger Circle at Lady Bird Lake, landscaped by Christy Ten Eyck

“We really need to be picking plants that can take both drought and water, and luckily, there’s a bunch of Austin-native plants that do great here and can take both.”

but don’t go overboard where you’re covering your whole entire property with hard, impermeable surface. And that’s part of also letting the rainwater soak in. We want as much permeability as possible.”

HILL COUNTRY NATIVE TREES

DON’T OVERWATER.

Pecan

“I see all the time people overwatering plants, so I think having an efficient irrigation system [is best].

And if you do use native plants, remember that they don’t need very much water once they’re established. … Trees like deep waterings but infrequent waterings. They don’t like to be watered every other day; they want to be watered once every two weeks.”

Bigtooth maple Arizona cypress Texas ash Mexican walnut Walnut Eastern red cedar

CREATE SHADE.

Mexican sycamore

“If you have shade on the west sides and south sides, it really helps with the energy bill, not to mention shady, wonderful outdoor spaces. I think trees are the biggest and best investment anybody could make in their homes.”

Sycamore

USE LEAVES AS MULCH.

Chinquapin oak

“[Don’t blow] all the leaves up out of your garden beds. … Let those leaves stay. They make the best mulch ever. People have turned into total neat freaks. … I can understand; even I blow them off my patios and things or rake them off, but I let the leaves stay in my garden beds and it’s a wonderful mulch and helps build soil. It’s the No. 1 thing people can do. … Use the leaves that naturally fall. … Those native shrubs love the leaves.”

Escarpment live oak Lacey oak Bur oak Shumard oak Texas red oak Live oak Bald cypress Cedar elm Honey mesquite

CHRISTY TEN EYCK’S FAVORITE AUSTIN NURSERIES

Headshot courtesy of Christy Ten Eyck.

Belo Center for New Media’s landscaped courtyard

Barton Springs Nursery

The Natural Gardener

Sledd Nursery

Shoal Creek Nursery

A communal area at Texas French Bread landscaped by Christy Ten Eyck

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WRITING A NEW CHAPTER: MAYA SMART IS TACKLING INEQUALITY ONE BOOK AT A TIME The first lady of UT basketball fights to bridge the literacy gap outside the 40 Acres.

BY JENNY HOFF PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA HAIR AND MAKEUP BY CARIN GONZALES SHOT ON LOCATION AT AUSTIN CENTRAL LIBRARY

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T

his story begins with a curious little girl named after a legendary author, an only child growing up in Akron, Ohio, who treasured a lyrical book about a man who brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain in Kenya.

It was this book, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain, checked out continuously during the course of her childhood, that marked the beginning of Maya Smart’s love affair with libraries.

“I liked the rhythm, the way it flowed.

And the illustrations mirrored this image I was growing up with,” she says, pointing to a pastel drawing hanging on the entry wall of her light-filled Tarrytown neighborhood home. The picture depicts two men in traditional Ghanaian clothing blowing cow horns. “My mom brought this back when she was studying abroad in Sierra Leone, and it was always on our wall.”

The picture Smart proudly displays in her home is more than just a souvenir from a college kid’s journey to another country; it’s part of a greater story, one involving another little girl, another only child, who grew up in the segregated South of the 1950s and ’60s, whose first time on a plane involved a visit to Africa while attending her first mixed-race school as the first person in her family to go to college.

Smart’s mom, Margaret Payne, says even with segregated libraries and limited access to books, it was the written word that showed her what was possible, what her future could look like.

“My dad only finished eighth grade, but he was a big reader,” Payne recalls. “He had a friend who worked as a janitor at a white school. When books were discarded there, he would bring them to us and my dad would read with me. That was when I developed my passion for reading.”

Payne credits her successful career in higher education in no small part to that passion. She firmly believes when a person can read confidently, he or she can achieve anything.

It’s a love she passed on to her daughter.

“As a little girl, Maya wasn’t interested in dolls or games,” Payne says, laughing. “She just loved books.”

Smart’s story—and the story of her mother and grandmothers, one of whom was the daughter of sharecroppers and didn’t learn to read until she was an adult—set the scene for the woman Smart is today: a passionate literacy advocate, a tireless volunteer who currently works with nine nonprofits, including sitting on three boards, and a loving mother to a little girl named after an African American author who made history, Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God. “Hearing those stories growing up about access to books and information shaped who I’ve become and my interest in reading,” Smart says. “I think a lot of people take their advantages for granted, not realizing their success is due largely on where they were born and the kind of access they had.”

As the first lady of University of Texas basketball (her husband, Shaka Smart, has been head coach since 2015), Maya Smart uses part of her time and influence to make books available to children throughout the state and help libraries diversify their collections so all children can see themselves in the stories they’re reading. Inquiring about opportunities to get involved before even setting a foot in Texas, she hit the ground running when she arrived, participating in Leadership Austin’s Experience Austin program to better understand the issues shaping the community, and immediately became actively involved with the Texas Book Festival, for which she now acts as vice-chair on the board of directors and chair of community outreach.

“She has such a passion for literacy and literature, especially for low-income kids and getting books into their hands,” says Sarah Queen, the current chair of the Texas Book Festival, who had already heard about Maya Smart’s community involvement in Richmond, Va., before the Smarts moved to Austin. “She really listens and asks probing questions, the kinds of questions everybody should learn the answers to.”

While Maya Smart prefers researching and strategizing for the multiple organizations she supports (the softspoken advocate describes herself as 1,000 percent introverted), some of her most joyful experiences come when she interacts with the children she is trying to help.

“Through the Reading Rock Stars program, we bring authors to Title I schools and give each child an autographed copy of their book,” she says. “You should see their smiles when they hold it in their hands. For many, it’s the first book they’ve ever owned.”

As she recalls those moments, Maya Smart’s own face lights up with a smile.

“That’s the part that’s really moving, to see a child get their first book and clutch it to their chest,” she says.

While books can help transport a child to a new world and open up his or her imagination, Maya Smart says what makes the program most impactful is the opportunity for children to meet the authors, ask them questions and see someone they can relate to in their efforts to conquer their own dreams.

“It’s their first time meeting someone who has published something,” she says. “It becomes real and more personal.

They see the possibility.”

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It’s a possibility her own mother wanted to ingrain in her by naming her after celebrated author Maya Angelou, a woman known not only for her talent, but also for her strength.

“She was a resilient woman,” Payne says. “I named her that because I also wanted her to be resilient. No matter what happened in life, being an only child, she would be strong and be able to move forward.”

Living up to her namesake, Maya Smart is always on the go and ready to roll up her sleeves to tackle a problem. Earning top grades in high school, she attended Harvard University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in social studies.

Driven by her love of the written word, she then went on to Northwestern University to earn a master’s degree in journalism. Right before moving to Chicago for grad school, a friend set her up on a date with a man who was then the assistant basketball coach for the University of Akron, Shaka Smart.

“I thought, ‘This is someone with a terrific heart, intelligence and great character,’ ” Shaka Smart says, describing his first meeting with his wife of 13 years. “She definitely thinks of others more than herself.”

Shaka Smart says he and Maya Smart once read the book The Four Tendencies, and notes he would describe her as an obliger, one who has no problem meeting the expectations of others and will go above and beyond when working within a group to take on the bulk of the work. However, according to the book, an obliger will also forsake some of his or her personal goals.

“I have been working on my own book for more than two years,” Maya Smart admits. “My volunteering definitely competes. It has a more immediate impact.”

Marrying Shaka Smart shortly after graduating from Northwestern, Maya Smart opted for a freelance journalism career that would allow her to move around as her husband’s career advanced. She’s since written hundreds of business articles, taught classes to budding journalists, interviewed numerous bestselling authors for Austin-based Kirkus Reviews and maintains a blog, mayasmart.com, where she aims to deliver “life-changing reads to world-changing women.”

Though the couple has lived in five different cities together in 13 years, in every community, Maya Smart has also found ways to get deeply involved and make an impact wherever she can. She encourages all people who can to do the same.

“I think it’s important for people who do have a lot of advantages in terms of income, education and employment to see the needs of people in other areas,” she explains. “It’s mostly just listening and asking questions and going in with that openness to really just try to learn rather than just swooping in to say, ‘I’m here to save the day.’ ” Despite Austin’s boomtown success, Maya Smart says through her involvement, she’s seen a great disparity in the capital city, especially in terms of where children grow up and the kind of access they have to resources. In short, the zip code they live in plays a large role in the trajectory their lives will take. It’s a problem she is trying to help rectify through multiple projects with varied organizations, including the Texas Book Festival, which she says is more than just a fun weekend in October when readers can meet their favorite authors, noting it’s a year-round organization dedicated to opening up the world of literature to more children and adults throughout the state.

“We granted more than $100,000 to 41 public libraries across 36 Texas counties this year,” Maya Smart says. “Those dollars will be used to expand collections to better serve the needs and interests of local patrons, such as increasing the numbers of Spanish titles, books by multicultural authors and books with large print for visually impaired readers.”

One of the libraries Maya Smart was actively involved in helping bring to fruition through her former role as treasurer with the Austin Public Library Friends Foundation is the world-famous new Austin Central Library, which opened in 2017 and was voted a finalist for the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ Public Library of the Year prize.

“I’m most passionate about public libraries because they are the only place where everyone is totally welcome to walk in,” she says. “You don’t have to have any special credential or qualification to go into a public library and read books, sit down, have a cup of water or do whatever you need to do.”

Maya Smart also dedicates her time to multiple other organizations, including the UT Libraries advisory council, Girl Scouts of Central Texas, Junior League of Austin, Links Incorporated, which her mom has also been a member of for 30 years, and St. David’s Foundation, through which she’s worked to address maternal-mortality rates in Texas.

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“I’m most passionate about public libraries because they are the only place where everyone is totally welcome to walk in.”

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Cover: Beachgold skirt, $147; Lady Grey red lucite bangle, $144; Elizabeth Cole red flower earrings, $60.

All clothing available at Estilo, 2727 Exposition Blvd., estiloboutique.com.

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“I really love to be a caretaker and I love to be of service to other people. That’s what makes me happy.”

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“She cares deeply about equity,” says William Buster, executive vice president of community investments with St. David’s Foundation. “She is very measured and precise when she asks questions. She doesn’t discuss an issue in general terms. She wants to know who is disproportionately affected. She’s helped lead us to be more intentional in what we are ultimately trying to achieve.”

For Maya Smart, helping her community has never been a question of if but rather of how. It was a responsibility she was taught to take on since childhood.

“My mom has influenced me the most in giving back,” she says. “Witnessing her consistent commitment to volunteerism for a lifetime left an impression. I try to help someone in need in some way every day.”

If Maya Smart’s story were written as a saga, we, as readers, would meet three generations of women, all emboldened by the written word to move their family and communities forward, women who first earned their success through education and hard work and then used their positions to help lift others up and show them what’s possible. It’s a real-life saga Maya Smart is continuing to write.

“My daughter, Zora, also influences my giving,” she says. “I know she is watching and we make sure to find kid-friendly volunteer opportunities to allow her to participate as well. She’s already won a Super Service award from her school each year for her volunteer hours.”

In Maya Smart’s position as part of a highly successful family leading the University of Texas basketball team to victory and earning the love of diehard Longhorns, she could take it easy and spend more time on personal projects and self-care while just writing a few checks to philanthropic organizations.

Instead, she works full time to better the community she’s adopted, to give a voice to the underserved and carry on her family’s legacy of always giving back.

“It’s not about position. I think it’s about intent,” she says. “Instead of trying to do everything, just focus on what you’re passionate about, where you think you can help the most.”

Of course, with a famous author as her namesake and another author as the inspiration for her daughter’s name, Maya Smart does plan to eventually finish her own book, not as a vanity project, rather as another way to help others. Her topic is the role parents should play in reading with their children.

It’s a subject close to her heart, one that changed her mother’s life and the story of her own.

“Parents are incredibly influential in the lives of their children,” she says. “Children see everything we’re doing, and when you make an effort to increase their access to books, they soak all of that up. They know our priorities by what we do.”

MAYA SMART’S TIPS FOR READING, VOLUNTEERING AND PROMOTING LITERACY AT HOME CURRENT BOOKS ON HER READING LIST The Power of Attention: Awaken to Love and Its Unlimited Potential With Meditation by Sarah McLean, “a how-to guide for people interested in training their attention so they can live with greater purpose and power.”

If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie, which “shows how grounding oneself in the stories of ancestors and in the local landscape makes us better stewards of our lives, communities and the planet.”

We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood

by Dani McClain, which “explores how to raise black children to live with dignity and joy in an unjust, often hostile world.”

Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom by Keisha N. Blain, which “profiles influential but little-known early 20th century black women who agitated for the rights and dignity of people of African descent.”

ONE OF HER FAVORITE LOCAL AUTHORS “Natalia Sylvester, author of Everyone Knows You Go Home, is a fresh voice in fiction who is just as dynamic off the page.

Her writing gives elegant witness to the full lives, loves and struggles of marginalized people by grounding dramatic, occasionally supernatural events in everyday, ordinary, human detail. And her work to foster conversation, forge community and create supportive spaces for women writers of color in Austin is just as necessary and influential. She’s a quiet leader in a gathering storm of rising women’s voices.”

THE ONE THING PARENTS CAN DO TO INCREASE THEIR CHILDREN’S LITERACY “Read. Parents need to get smart about when and how reading skills develop. Kids don’t learn by osmosis, so religiously reading to them, though wonderful for countless reasons, doesn’t cut it. I recommend that parents read books about early cognitive development and the science of reading to get a feel for the repertoire of skills that go into reading and the range of ways parents can foster them through conversation, home rituals and direct instruction.”

THE BEST WAY TO START SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY “I Live Here I Give Here is a great local resource for people interested in deepening their community involvement. It offers numerous programs that can help Austinites discover, connect with and support causes they care about. It raises awareness of community needs and the organizations addressing them and trains and mentors volunteers to serve with intention and impact.”

HOW TO TAKE BETTER ADVANTAGE OF AUSTIN’S LITERARY OFFERINGS “Bookmark the BookPeople, Austin Public Library and Texas Book Festival sites to stay up to date on author and reading events. Book talks, signings and clubs are great ways to connect with other lit lovers and get strong recommendations for your next great read.”

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THE GOLD STANDARD Four Austin Girl Scouts receive Gold Awards for their community service, making an impact locally and beyond.

BY BRIANNA CALERI | PHOTOS BY TAYLOR PRINSEN

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When visionary Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts in 1912, women in the United States hadn’t even yet won the right to vote. But Low knew so much more was possible for women if, in their youth, they were given the opportunity and tools to “meet their world with courage, confidence and character.” From the beginning, she aimed to ensure the organization was inclusive of all girls, a creed that remains a principle component of the nonprofit. And though other organizations have attempted to usurp the strength of the Girl Scouts organization, the truth is this: In a world riddled with boys’ clubs, the Girl Scouts offers young women the chance to develop strong leadership skills in an all-female environment that enables them to build the kind of resiliency required to make a real difference in the world.

Members of the Girl Scouts of the USA shine in their communities, rising to the challenge of the leadership opportunities made available as part of a world-famous organization of young women.

At the peak of her career, a Girl Scout can earn her Gold Award for a project that takes at least 80 service hours and highlights a local, national or worldwide issue, with the goal of educating and inspiring others and setting up sustainable success after completion. Four local young women followed their passions to their Gold Award projects and beyond, creating lasting changes in Austin and persevering as change-makers wherever their journeys take them next.

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ELLIE ROSE MATTOON Ellie Rose Mattoon is an excellent person to talk to when you’re feeling stressed. She is unimposing but chooses her words confidently and with so much precision that talking to her feels like talking to a friendly advisor. Last year, before she departed her public high school for boarding school, she left her classmates with a little bit of that stress-management magic.

Mattoon’s Gold Award project was a response to the stress she witnessed daily as a high-school student and the lack of resources the school had to address it. To help change the atmosphere, Mattoon reached out to club sponsors and athletic coaches, people she knew had close connections to the students. In response, 10 organizations joined the cause, including the Model U.N., in which Mattoon participates, which held a debate about stress-relief tactics, and the English teacher who coaches the cheer squad, who helped address test anxiety. With donations from the clubs, Mattoon created a “harbor” in the school library, a safe space that included “stress balls, stuffed animals, happy music and beanbags.” She also created a website for students who want to learn more, offering supplemental information about stress and how to effectively manage it.

Mattoon is happy to see the space being enjoyed. The school touts it as an asset to incoming students, and when Mattoon visited, she says “all the chairs in the library just naturally formed this big circle around the area.”

At her new school, where the students live together after hours, Mattoon says stress is harder to escape. Now she’s addressing the frequent all-nighters many students attempt, and raising awareness about the health consequences of caffeine and the benefits of sleeping versus test cramming.

She suggests developing patient attitudes. Time addressing stress is time well spent, and thoughts should be logically parsed out instead of pushed aside, she says. She also advocates a healthy body as a pathway to a healthy mind. Adults can help by adjusting their perspective and remembering teens now may have much more complicated expectations regarding their college educations and future economic prospects. “[Many teens] cease to prioritize their socialemotional education and their social-emotional health and just their general happiness in life,” Mattoon says. “If you prioritize your happiness, your success will follow.”

“If you prioritize your happiness, your success will follow.”

Austin Woman: How does stress affect teens?

Ellie Rose Mattoon: There’s some statistics… about my high school that says there’s something like [31] percent [of students] showed symptoms of clinical depression… [and] 17 percent had attempted or thought about suicide.

AW: Who do you lean on for help and support?

ERM: I grew up with a working mother…who had to balance both her personal life and also managing others. I looked to her a lot when I was managing my volunteers.

AW: How can people ask for and offer more help?

ERM: I started out this project very scared to ask for help. [Girls and women] think we have to do it all by ourselves. I just realized that a lot of people in the world want to help you; you just have to ask.

SENIOR AT TEXAS ACADEMY OF MATH AND SCIENCE

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AGE: 16

GOLD AWARD PROJECT: MANAGING STRESS FOR SECONDARY-SCHOOL STUDENTS

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HALEY BETRON One of the best paths to making a difference involves recognizing your natural talents and sharing them with the world. A self-assured and gentle composer with years of volunteering experience, Haley Betron merged her love of music with her ease with children, earning her Gold Award by developing her own system of music therapy to encourage younger kids to be their best selves.

Betron joined the Girl Scouts in kindergarten, and like many, continued for the social opportunities. But when she started work on her Bronze Award, painting game spaces on the blacktop courts outside the elementary school, she felt a fulfillment that changed her relationship with the organization. She describes herself as “service-oriented,” a trait developed through experiences volunteering with her family at soup kitchens.

Beginning to hone in on helping others with her musical talents, Betron earned her Silver Award by playing guitar and singing during Tuesday tea at a nursing home. She started thinking more about using music to help others, and already knew from babysitting that she connected easily with children. She began researching music therapy and became inspired to use music to foster values in kids such as kindness, gratitude, self-esteem and positivity.

Betron started in summer schools, teaching lessons during music classes once or twice a week. She continued for the whole summer, developing a series from lesson plans she’d already made and creating new ones based on character traits and themes chosen with teachers. To supplement the lessons, she found books at the library or bought them with donations and composed and recorded songs to sing with the kids. When summer was over, she started bringing the lessons to local elementary schools and teaching during her free periods.

The kids love the music. In every lesson, Betron leaves some room for improvisation, asking questions and incorporating the kids’ answers for a confidence boost. They’re also asked to share the good deeds they’re encouraged to do for others throughout the series. While teaching kindness, she also learned to embrace it more in herself.

“It made me more empathetic towards others and really think about other people,” Betron says. “It made me think about others—always—first.”

Music is proven to help with healing a wide variety of physical and emotional ailments, and Betron hopes to continue helping people after high school by pursuing public health and using music as a tool to unlock people’s greatest potential.

SENIOR AT WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

|

GOLD AWARD PROJECT: MINDFUL MUSIC

“Just be the best version of you.”

HALEY BETRON’S TOP THREE TIPS FOR STRENGTHENING YOUR CREATIVE IDENTITY 1. Embrace yourself. “Grow your own self. Don’t feel like you have to be someone else. Just be the best version of you.”

2. Help others. “You feel good about yourself when you’re being kind or you’re giving someone a compliment.

I think the best way to…be the best version of you is actually to reach out through others.”

3. Set goals. “[Setting goals] grew my confidence and my abilities. Even if [the steps] are small, the small ones can build up to something really big.”

AGE: 16

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VICTORIA SAUCEDO They say it takes a village to raise a child, but for her Gold Award, Victoria Saucedo aimed to raise a whole village. The bilingual Spanish and English speaker worked with a program in a rural area in Mexico that focuses on preparing grade-school students for better career opportunities and professional development.

Saucedo, a third-generation Girl Scout, is one of a dozen girls throughout the country chosen by Girl Scouts of the USA to represent the organization at the United Nations. The advocacy liaisons attended the Commission on the Status of Women, taking part in sessions and meeting international ambassadors. Each Girl Scout chose a topic, and Saucedo dedicated her advocacy to the need for more educational programs in rural areas.

The young and ambitious delegate says being bilingual allows her to understand issues, political or otherwise, through a variety of perspectives. Her cultural empathy, professional networking skills and family ties in Mexico led her to Hogar Infantil, a home for girls and boys, and an idea to prepare the students of one rural school in Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, Mexico, for career success and a better chance at breaking the cycle of poverty.

Saucedo already had some experience teaching English for two weeks in Ghana. For this project, she went several steps further, working with a team of 31 volunteers to draw up a curriculum. The program is divided into four units—job interviews, phone calls, emails, and business presentations and meetings—and compiled in a textbook. There are advice sections, vocabulary lessons and role-playing activities, and at the end of each unit, opportunities to practice and test new vocabulary. Focusing on professional settings and scenarios prepares the students with the type of experience that makes recent high-school graduates demonstrably more valuable to a company.

“Whatever you say, that’s eventually what turns into your character and how you act,” Saucedo says.

“I think words are the starting point for whatever you’re wanting to do or accomplish in life.”

Students have sent Facebook messages after graduating the program, thanking Saucedo for the curriculum. Some of them share books with their friends outside the school, and Saucedo hopes she can extend the curriculum to other countries and languages.

“It helped me remind myself to keep my eyes open,” Saucedo says, “no matter where I go.”

“Words are the starting point for whatever you’re wanting to do or accomplish in life.”

AW: Why did you choose to focus on Chiapas, Mexico?

Victoria Saucedo: Chiapas is the poorest Mexican state. They have the highest poverty rate…at 74.7 percent. The extreme poverty rate is about 46.7 percent.

AW: Who do you lean on for help and support?

VS: I’m an only child and [my parents] literally put their lives on hold for 18 years for me. They don’t necessarily know everything but they’re always there by my side to support me.

AW: How can people ask for and offer more help?

VS: I think the most important thing is networking and really building a reputation for yourself if you’re wanting to do a project like this, or start something on your own.

FRESHMAN AT TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

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AGE: 18

GOLD AWARD PROJECT: EL PODER DE LAS PALABRAS (THE POWER OF WORDS)

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ISABELLE GALKO Girl Scouts of the USA is a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Isabelle Galko, a passionate environmentalist, has been both a Girl Scout and a Girl Guide, during her years in Australia, where she fell in love with ocean life and the Great Barrier Reef. When Galko returned to the Girl Scouts and the U.S., she started thinking about ecologically impactful projects. She took note of news articles that stated huge portions of the Great Barrier Reef were dead.

When coral is stressed, beneficial algae abandons the reef, leaving it starved and vulnerable to disease, a process called coral bleaching. This phenomenon is killing reefs and stressing the ocean life that inhabits them. The main reason for coral bleaching is rising ocean temperatures, an issue much beyond the scope of influence of one Girl Scout, but Galko noticed one area lacking in research: harmful chemicals in sunscreen.

“Everybody makes their own choice when it comes to sunscreen…whether to buy a commercial sunscreen or a sunscreen that’s more ocean- and coral-friendly,” she says.

Hoping to educate Austinites, who tend to be environmentally conscious and open to healthy change, Galko decided to focus her Gold Award project on a short documentary about the effects of sunscreen on coral bleaching. With planning help from Austin nonprofit Families in Nature and a scholarship from a connection at the University of Texas to go diving in the Florida Keys, Galko set out to capture the natural beauty of the reefs that would be destroyed by Hurricane Harvey just months later.

While there, Galko linked up with a group called the Coral Restoration Foundation, which creates coral “outplantings,” to help collect data about the coral. In addition to obtaining footage of the coral, she conducted interviews with dive experts about their research findings and boat captains who noticed that after touching fish without gloves, the fish developed cancers. Her film, titled Sunburnt Reef and available to view on YouTube, premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin. And last year, she took her project to the Our Ocean conference in Bali, showing that starting small is the first step to making sweeping worldwide changes.

“The big changes, I think, all come down to the local changes,” Galko says. “Every individual who makes a change will be impacting the future.”

“Every individual who makes a change will be impacting the future.”

ISABELLE GALKO’S TOP THREE TIPS FOR ENJOYING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BEACH DAY 1. Read the ingredients. “Make sure [your sunscreen] has titanium oxide or zinc oxide in it or it’s plantbased…instead of bad chemicals like oxybenzone, avobenzone [and] homosalates.”

2. Try alternative sun protection. “A lot of people don’t realize how simple it is to just put on a rash guard…instead of a swimsuit. You can put a shirt on top of it, or [wear] a hat or sunglasses.”

3. Be aware of your environment. “When you’re swimming…it’s very easy to walk around and maybe you’re stepping on stuff…or maybe you see a shell in the sand…that’s super important to an organism that’s living there.”

SOPHOMORE AT SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | AGE: 19 GOLD AWARD PROJECT: SUNSCREEN AND CORAL REEFS

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G

OURMET

RECIPE REVEAL

KEEP CALM AND CARROT ON

Have your carrot cake and eat your cheesecake too— all in one bite.

Michelle Arcilla Hall has been playing with her food for years. And that’s precisely what makes the renowned pastry chef’s creations so distinctive and tantalizingly peculiar.

After earning a degree in the culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu, she continued honing her culinary expertise while working at an impressive assemblage of eateries in California, including several Michelin-starred restaurants, before moving to Austin in 2012 and landing at Congress, working for the esteemed Chef David Bull.

But Chef Hall’s passion for culinary expression began much earlier: in a seventh-grade home-economics class. Perhaps that’s

64 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

why her playful yet meticulously prepared desserts evoke an air of nostalgia. Now, as the executive pastry chef at Second Bar + Kitchen, she’s influenced by seasonal ingredients and her natural inclination toward the lavish, displaying an exceptional talent for reinventing classic desserts into whimsical creations.

From strawberry tapioca pudding and creamsicle tarts to caramel ice-cream bars with sour apple, gingersnap whoopie pies and peach cobbler fruit bars, Chef Hall’s sweet treats tug at taste buds’ wistful memories of childhood favorites.

Here, she shares her recipe for a truly divine mashup: carrot cake cheesecake with cream-cheese frosting.

Photos courtesy of Second Bar + Kitchen.

BY CHANTAL RICE

“I love this recipe because it is the best of both worlds: carrot cake and cheesecake. …

This is a dessert that everyone is familiar with, but it has my very own twist of combining two classic flavors, so you don’t have to pick between cheesecake or cake.”

– Executive Pastry Chef Michelle Arcilla Hall

CARROT CAKE CHEESECAKE WITH CREAM-CHEESE FROSTING Ingredients for the Carrot Cake 2 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 3/4 cup oil 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon cardamom powder 3/4 teaspoon ginger powder 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon powder 2 cups carrots, grated

Directions for the Cheesecake

Ingredients for the Cheesecake 1 pound 8 ounces cream cheese, super soft 1 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 eggs 3 ounces sour cream

4. F old in the sour cream just to combine, making sure to not overmix.

Ingredients for the Cream-cheese Frosting 12 ounces cream cheese, super soft 5 ounces butter, room temperature 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 pound powdered sugar Directions for the Carrot Cake 1. Sift the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cardamom powder, ginger powder and cinnamon powder, then set the mixture aside.

2. G rate the carrots on the smallest round option of a box grater and set aside.

1. Whisk the eggs in a bowl and set aside.

2. C ream half the cream cheese with the salt and sugar in a mixer with a paddle until there are no lumps and the mixture is very smooth. Using a spatula, scrape down the sides and the bottom of the mixer.

3. A dd in the remaining cream cheese in small amounts and scrape down the sides often, then add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides after each egg is added to ensure a smooth texture.

5. Save 1/4 cup of the batter in a bowl and color it with orange food coloring, then place it into a piping bag and set aside.

6. P our the plain batter on top of the cooled carrot cake and spread smooth.

7. P ipe the 1/4 cup of orange-colored cheesecake batter in lines an 1/8 inch apart on top of the plain batter.

8. W ith a toothpick, make circular motions to decorate the batter to your liking.

9. B ake the cake at 275 degrees for 15 minutes then turn it every 15 minutes for another 30 to 45 minutes. (Chef’s note: The cake should jiggle a little when you shake it but it should look set.)

3. W hisk the eggs in a bowl.

10. Cool the cake at room temperature then remove the extender. (Chef’s note: The cake is best cut frozen.)

4. W hisk the sugar and vanilla in with the eggs.

11. Decorate the cake with the creamcheese frosting.

5. Whisk the oil into the egg mixture.

6. W hisk in the sifted dry ingredients.

7. F old in the grated carrots with a rubber spatula.

8. P our the carrot-cake batter into a quarter sheet pan sprayed and lined with parchment paper.

9. Bake the cake at 300 degrees for 12 minutes, then turn the pan and bake it for another 12 minutes or until the cake is golden brown and the batter is set.

10. Cool the cake before transferring it onto a new sheet pan with an extender and adding the cheesecake batter.

Directions for the Cream-cheese Frosting 1. Cream the cream cheese, butter and salt in a mixer with a paddle until there are no lumps and it is very smooth.

Using a spatula, scrape down the sides and the bottom of the mixer.

2. A dd the powdered sugar in small amounts and scrape down the sides until the mixture is smooth.

3. P lace the mixture in piping bags and use different piping tips to decorate the top of the carrot cake cheesecake.

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G

OURMET

FOOD NEWS

SEED TO TABLE

Nixta Taqueria brings a splash of color to East Austin with its freshly ground tortillas and tostadas made from vibrantly hued heirloom corn.

BY JORDAN BURNHAM

One needs only walk into the new Nixta Taqueria, named after the nixtamal process, to encounter the Aztec god of corn, Centeotl— in mural form anyway. While Nixta’s inspiration comes partly from Mexican traditions, the simple menu will boast a balance of Mexican, West Coast and Austin flavors, creating a truly Mexican American take on tacos and tostadas. Because Austin prides itself on being a taco town, co-owner Sara Mardanbigi and her partner, Edgar Rico, aim to bring unique tacos and tostadas made with locally sourced heirloom corn to the scene.

Nixta will source its corn from Barton Springs Mill, a local company that planted seeds originally from Mexico in Texas.

Heirloom corn differs from the genetically modified yellow corn found in most supermarkets and boasts a rainbow of colors that are quintessential for the vibrant environment of Nixta.

“The thing that makes Nixta different from others is that we will be using heirloom corn and grinding it every day in-house,” Mardanbigi says.

Nixta is set to open this month at 2512 E. 12th St. and will feature an atmosphere analogous to “Abuelita’s house meets a vibey house party.” Mardanbigi, whose parents moved to the United States during the Iranian Revolution, has long been involved in the restaurant industry, working in human resources for Torchy’s Tacos and managing events for The Peached Tortilla.

At Nixta, Mardanbigi will handle operations, while Rico will employ his experience as a chef on the West Coast and in New York and Austin, allowing the duo to bring Nixta’s food and atmosphere to life.

“It was kind of love at first sight for us, and we’ve continued that on in the restaurant space. And we’re just really excited to kind of give back to our community,” Mardanbigi says. “More than anything, [we’re] excited to share something with our hood, with the East side.”

Nixta’s offerings will remain simple while bringing a fun twist to traditional taqueria menus, and will include such specialties as a smoked crab tostada, a crispy duck carnitas taco, an enchilada Potosina and a beet tartare tostada, along with rotating seasonal tacos and a regular taco of the day.

Mardanbigi says the enchilada Potosina “sounds like it’s going to be an actual enchilada, but it’s from where [Rico’s] hometown is and it’s just the same thing on a taco. … It has a potato-and-chorizo puree that’s on there, a little bit of shredded cabbage, a black-bean puree and queso añejo.”

The duo chose many meatless options because of a journey Rico took through Mexico in which he kept a daily taco diary.

“I think so often, we associate Mexican food with just one type of idea of what it can be,” Mardanbigi says. “But when you’re traveling all throughout…the coast and interior and South, you’re encountering all these things.”

Mardanbigi says Nixta’s homemade aguas frescas and paletas will complement Rico’s original taco and tostada creations. Patrons will see freshly ground heirloom corn when they order, along with a molino and a tortilla maker, bringing an educational experience to the table alongside dinner.

“So, as you’re standing, waiting to order, you’ll get to watch that emotion and kind of see the process unfold in front of you,” Mardanbigi says.

Mardanbigi, who has called Austin home for the past decade, hopes she can give back to the city that continually surprises her.

“And for us, it’s just about spreading the love,” she says. “It’s not a competitive thing.”

Co-owner Sara Mardanbigi in front of the vibrant mural that marks the exterior of Nixta Taqueria Taqueria Cream the cream cheese, butter and salt

66 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

Left photo by Jordan Burnham. Right photo by Kayla Snell.

Nixtamalization, which dates back to the Aztec era, is the process of soaking corn overnight in lime powder in order to extract natural flavors and colors from variegated heirloom corn. After soaking the corn, a volcanic-stone molino is used to grind the kernels into a masa. For the Aztecs, corn was more than simple sustenance; it was king; it was god. Though cooking styles have evolved, corn remains a foundational tenet of Mexican cuisine.

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ELLNESS

WAITING ROOM

SAVING FACE

Local aestheticians explain the importance of facials for every skin type.

BY SABRINA LEBOEUF

“Basically, a facial is a great way to get caught up to date,” says aesthetician Barbara Hochmann with Viva Day Spa. “It’s almost like going to a dental hygienist and getting your teeth updated, although there is a lot more relaxation, it smells really good and there aren’t the [drilling] noises.”

Your skin type determines how often you need to catch up with your aesthetician. According to Woodhouse Day Spa aesthetician Kelsey Fields, women with dry skin should get a facial every six weeks. On the other hand, those with oily skin should make a visit every four weeks.

At these regular visits, women with dry skin and oily skin should lean toward facials that focus on hydration and gentle exfoliation. For aging skin, women should go for facials that provide hydration and vitamin C. Anyone with sensitive skin should refrain from treatments involving microdermabrasion.

While these are general parameters for different skin types, the aesthetician can customize the products used during the facial based on her expert analysis of your skin type, according to Fields and Hochmann. In other words, it’s hard to choose a facial that’s inherently not good for you.

“The beginning of any facial treatment starts with a consultation check-in to clarify the service and to talk about what’s involved in that service and seeing if that is supporting that person’s goals that day,” Hochmann says. “So, the aesthetician can definitely give some advice and some suggestions based on the clarification process.”

During this process, it’s helpful to tell your aesthetician what types of products are part of your skin-care routine.

Knowing whether you’re using a foaming or creamy cleanser before your facial appointment can help the aesthetician better treat your skin. You can also prepare for your facials by hydrating and drinking lots of water. Additionally, Hochmann and Fields say not to shave the day of your treatment and to pause athome treatments a few days before your appointment.

“Don’t pre-extract the 68 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

skin,” Hochmann says. “Let the aesthetician do that. Be excited, happy and ready to relax and be taken care of. There are very rare moments sometimes for people to get some care and attention.”

Once you’re out of the spa post-facial, refrain from getting direct sunlight and touching your face. After a facial, Hochmann says it’s normal for the skin to experience breakouts, rosiness and a little inflammation. These are the usual reactions to purging the skin.

“If someone has a bad reaction to a facial, I recommend highly to contact [the spa] and talk with either the aesthetician or a highly knowledgeable front-desk staff [member]. And we are 100 percent on board with talking someone through what would help alleviate whatever the [circumstance is],” Hochmann says.

Also, according to Fields, the most important part of skin care begins after the facial is complete.

“In school, we learned skin care is 80 percent at home and 20 percent at the spa. So, the numbers kind of shocked me out of my comfort zone, you know,” Fields says. “I [was] just thinking using a cleanser every day was enough. It’s really not.”

To determine whether a skin-care line is working for your skin type, Fields recommends using the same product line for a minimum of six weeks. Just like a facial, breakouts are not an abnormal reaction since the products are purging the skin of impurities.

Once you’ve gotten yourself on an appropriate facial schedule and regularly use the best skin-care products for your type of skin, you can rest assured you’re always putting your best face forward.

Photo courtesy of VIva Day Spa.

A dental hygienist and an aesthetician are rarely part of the same conversation, but they should be. That’s because the common misconception about facials is that they are a luxury. In reality, they’re a necessary aspect of a personal health regimen.

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ELLNESS

HER ROUTINE

MARATHON BOUND

Kayleigh Williamson is running the good race. Never mind that she has Down syndrome. She’s just warming up.

Photo by Delaine Carr.

BY GRETCHEN M. SANDERS

70 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

Kayleigh Williamson wants to finish the 2021 Austin Marathon in less than eight hours. If she succeeds, she will become the first person with Down syndrome to post an official marathon time.

THE A.M.:

Put your money on her. This 29-year-old has run five half-marathons since she first tackled the distance at the Austin Half Marathon in February 2017. She finished that race—the first person with Down syndrome to ever complete it—in six hours and 22 minutes.

Her current time hovers just above four hours. To hit her marathon goal, she’ll train for the next 19 months with Kim Davis at RunLab. Williamson, who lives in South Austin with her mother, started running six years ago to get healthy after her grandmother had a stroke. Before she started training, Williamson was prediabetic and had sleep apnea and Graves’ disease. Today, she’s 60 pounds lighter and diabetes-free, she sleeps better and her Graves’ disease is in remission.

Running has rerouted Williamson’s life. In 2017, Women’s Running Magazine named her one of the nation’s most influential runners.

Kayleigh’s Club, a local nonprofit that encourages people with disabilities and their families to stay active, was formed because of her physical accomplishments.

When she’s not pounding pavement—or dancing to pop music— Williamson swims, shoots hoops and participates in enrichment programs for people with disabilities at the McBeth Recreation Center in Zilker Park. Recently, she accepted a job at Patagonia on Congress Avenue.

In May, Williamson also became an author. Her book, It’s Cool to Be Me, describes her experiences being bullied in school.

“Don’t let what other people say define you,” she says.

Here’s how this Britney Spears-loving distance runner has become a national role model.

THE WORKOUT:

“I wake up at 6 a.m. and kiss my mom on the check before she goes to work. Then I take Capital MetroAccess to McBeth. I have two High Brew Coffee drinks every morning, Fage Greek Yogurt and one banana.”

“I run with my mom. We do 3 miles in our neighborhood during the week and 6 miles [plus hill repeats] on Saturdays. My favorite place to run is Town Lake. I also lift weights [at 24 Hour Fitness on William Cannon Drive] and I love to dance.” (Her runs get longer as she approaches race days.)

THE DIET:

“My favorite food is chicken noodle soup. I always eat soup for lunch with cheese and crackers. My mom cooks supper—healthy meals only.

We go to the farmers market on Saturdays to buy organic fruits and veggies. We don’t eat processed foods, and no soda. I love kombucha.”

THE GEAR:

“I wear New Balance running shoes, compression socks and a RunLab sports bra. I have purple running shorts and purple hair [for Alzheimer’s awareness]. I listen to music with headphones when I run, and I wear a RunLab hat and [Hemp360] sunblock.” (She wears a National Down Syndrome Society Ambassador hat when she races outside of Texas.)

THE MOTIVATION:

“I run in honor of my grandmother. She has Alzheimer’s. I love her very much.”

THE MINDSET:

“No crying. Don’t stop. Keep going. It’s not hard. Just push it.”

THE P.M.:

“I grab my baby girl Maggie May, my puppy. She likes to lie down next to me. I tell her, ‘Mama is putting you to bed.’ Then I go to bed at 1 a.m.”

P

OINT OF VIEW

ON THE MONEY

KEEP THE CHANGE AS A CHANGE-MAKER

Do good and make money too.

BY JENNY HOFF

While giving money and volunteering time to causes are great ways to be a part of your community and help others who are less fortunate, they’re not the only ways you can be a change-maker. Doing good isn’t just for those who can afford to write big checks and it doesn’t have to mean adding extra unpaid hours to your already hectic schedule. There are many people who have found ways to make a change and a profit at the same time. In fact, the extra incentive of income can make your impact bigger and keep you dedicated to the cause in times of financial strain. Here are some ways you can earn money while giving back.

1. OFFER A SERVICE THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

Education and motivation are two things that can help people drastically change their lives and the lives of their families and friends. Rachel Campbell, owner of Fit4Mom Sunset Valley, dreamed of changing the trajectory of what postpartum issues look and feel like for moms through fitness and food coaching, and she wanted to create a space for women to share their honest journeys through motherhood. “Starting a business was a nonnegotiable,” she says. “I was going through a divorce and needed to support my son. To be able to do that while creating an amazing community of moms who support each other makes me feel very fortunate.” If you are passionate about nutrition, mental health or myriad other causes, consider selling coaching services, hosting a conference or creating online programs to reach the people who are looking for the change and support you can offer.

2. CREATE A PRODUCT WITH A MESSAGE.

When Shannon Wolfson decided to leave the anchor desk at KXAN-TV to spend more time with her husband, she knew her next career move would have to align with her belief in spreading more kindness in the world. With that mission in mind, she created Olive & Auger, a clothing and accessories business. Every Olive & Auger product is stamped with Wolfson’s message to be a good human. “It was born out of my feeling helpless to stop the meanness in our society today, the divisive nature of things,” she says. “Starting a business that puts a little good into the world and being able to control my time is really a dream come true.” Whether you care about animal rights, literacy or any cause you feel needs more attention, you can find ways to spread your message with products people will love.

3. SOLVE A PROBLEM.

There are countless stories of people who invented things to help populations that weren’t being served, like the mom in Michigan who couldn’t find a coat for her daughter in a wheelchair, so she created one. Now other families with the same need have a great coat option. It doesn’t have to be complicated to be impactful. There may be a problem you can solve too.

Companies often have budgets allotted for speakers to inspire and educate their organizations. Create an outline of topics you can talk about that need more attention and reach out to businesses, governmental institutions and other organizations to offer your services. If you’re more of a writer, create a pitch for magazines or websites to write about a topic you care about. Publications and websites are always looking for new content, and you just may have an angle that could benefit them, you and the people you want to help.

Don’t make a lack of money or time a reason to not rally for a cause you care about. There are hundreds of ways you can help change your community—and change your life.

72 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

Headshot by Edward Verosky.

4. G ET PAID TO SPEAK OR WRITE ABOUT THE CAUSE.

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TEN TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SURVIVING THE SUMMER HEAT IN YOUR CAR

BY CHELSEA BANCROFT

Texas Summers can be brutally hot. Try these tips and tricks for keeping cool in your car this season.

Park in the shade when you can and crack the windows.

Parking in the shade may be obvious, but it makes a huge difference, especially if your car has a dark exterior. Keeping the windows cracked, even just the slightest bit, will help the circulation in your car. Just be sure the crack is not large enough that a hand or arm could fit inside.

Try this hack for the fastest way to cool down your car.

The quickest way to cool down your car is to roll down the front passenger window, then open and close the driver’s-side door five to six times. It sounds crazy, but it really works.

Consider window tint.

Tinted windows have been proven to make a huge difference when it comes to keeping your car’s interior cooler in the summer.

Turn the steering wheel 180 degrees when you park.

When parking your car, turn the wheel 180 degrees. That way, the side you touch to drive won’t be been in direct sunlight and the steering wheel won’t burn your hands.

Use your car’s sunshade.

I’ll be the first to admit I never used to use one, but they can really help keep the interior of your car cool, not to mention the dash and steering wheel.

You can also get some that stick to the windows.

Use a fine-mist spray bottle.

Cool down hot metal seatbelts or plastic by using a fine-mist spray bottle. Evaporation will quickly cool down the surface. You could also use a damp cloth.

Protect your kids’ car seats.

Photo by RJ Gilliam.

Prevent kiddos from burning themselves on hot car seats by getting a reflective sunshade that fits right over the car seat. Just search “car-seat sunshade” on Amazon and you’ll find tons of options, and most cost less than $10!

Chelsea Bancroft is the strategic-partnerships and social-media manager at Roger Beasley Mazda and a blogger at onechelofanadventure.com.

Remove kids’ items.

Always check what your kids may have brought into the car and, more importantly, what they left behind.

Hot Texas summers and a box of crayons are not a good mix. Trust me on this one. Food will also spoil faster, so check for leftover milk cartons, snacks, etc., to prevent nasty, unwanted smells.

Buy cooling seat covers.

Did you know you can actually buy cooling car-seat covers that plug into your car’s cigarette lighter? Many cars already have this feature built in, but if yours doesn’t, you can purchase one for less than $50 on Amazon.

Prepare your car for the heat.

Last and certainly not least, make sure your vehicle’s maintenance is up to date and that it’s prepared for the heat. That includes checking the AC, tire pressure (you don’t want tires too full), oil and fluid levels, battery status (heat takes a toll), brakes, etc.

I hope these hacks help you to stay cool this summer. From all of us at Roger Beasley, please remember to never leave children or pets unattended in the car, even if it’s just for a minute. It can have deadly consequences.

P

OINT OF VIEW

ASK LUCY

HELPING PAWS

Share the love—and wet noses—by volunteering with your pups through local therapy-dog programs.

The Floof Crew, left to right: Mr. Belvedere, Bibi Marie, Thomas, Theodore

Dear Lucy,

Dear Mr. Belvedere,

My name is Mr. Belvedere, and I am the head of The Floof Crew, a family of three rescued Great Pyrenees and one goofy akbash. One of our favorite things to do as a pack is to visit nursing homes on the holidays in case some humans are lonely or missing their loved ones. While we love all the extra pets and hugs, it also feels great to see the big smiles on the faces of the people who meet us. We’ve heard of a few of the programs in Austin through which dogs like us can give back to the community, but would you be able to share any others you know of so we can bark out that info to our friends at the dog park?

Thank you for writing in with such a great question! We are lucky to live in a city that is not only dog-friendly, but that also provides so many opportunities to give back to our community. Studies have shown dogs are a calming influence in stressful environments because we create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Apart from providing licks and snuggles, our presence in schools can have a beneficial effect on the behavioral processes that lead to improved reading performance. One 2017 study by American Humane even showed that “regular visits from a therapy dog can provide significant psychosocial benefits to families of children undergoing treatment for cancer.” Who wouldn’t wag his or her tail for great causes like that?

Sincerely, Bel 74 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

If you’re itching to get out there, I dug up a few organizations that are doing great work in Austin and beyond. I’ll start with one that hits close to home since I am a rescue too. My human will tell you that I was not the easiest puppy, but once I grew out of some of my anxieties, thanks to special care and training, she knew she couldn’t

Top photo by Niki Jones. Bottom photo by Hannah J. Phillips.

BY LUCY J. PHILLIPS

keep my love all to herself. That’s when we started training with the team at Love-A-Bull, a nonprofit that promotes breed advocacy and education through programs like the Pit Crew. After some rigorous training, I earned my spot on the Pit Crew and started volunteering as a therapy dog in educational programs like the Andy Roddick Foundation Summer Learning Program. I get lots of pets and treats for keeping the kids calm while they practice reading. It’s fun for everyone!

In addition to hospitals, hospice-care facilities and crisis centers, Love-A-Bull also sends the Pit Crew to visit with students at University of Texas libraries during final-exam periods. Since Love-A-Bull specifically caters to pit bulls as an advocacy group for our often-misrepresented breed, I sniffed out three other nonprofits that aren’t breed-specific.

I first heard about therapy-dog programs through my friend, Dolly the golden retriever, who volunteered with her human, Nora, at Divine Canines. (She is now happily retired.) Founded

by Tori Ott Keith and trainer Lee Mannix, Divine Canines has more than 100 active dog-handler teams that visit more than 120 facilities throughout Austin. They provide free therapy-dog services to everyone from children struggling with dyslexia, abuse and disabilities to adults living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

If you are looking for training in Cedar Park, Texas, The Dog Alliance provides service dogs for veterans and therapy dogs at more than 300 spots in Central Texas. The dogs reduce stress in the workplace, at the airport and in courtrooms, schools, nursing homes and hospitals.

Let’s not leave out our feline friends! In addition to therapy dogs, Therapy Pet Pals of Texas trains and equips therapy cats. Founded in 1984, Therapy Pet Pals of Texas specifically focuses on enhancing the quality of life for the elderly, the mentally and physically challenged and the terminally ill. With locations in both Austin and Houston, the group currently serves about 90 different health-care facilities and institutions.

Each of these incredible organizations provides extensive information online about how your human can determine whether you are well-suited to the task based on your temperament, health and socialization level. They also outline the specific training you will need in order to join the team since each organization has different requirements. And if training sounds daunting, I can tell you it was actually the best part. Learning obedience alongside your human is a great bonding experience, and even though it’s a lot of hard work, nothing beats the reward of getting to volunteer with your best friend for a great cause.

A single parent who escaped a violent relationship received the shelter she needed. She also received counseling and parenting support. Today, she is creating a loving family for her kids.

Love and slobbery kisses,

Lucy

The Floof Crew and their humans are very active in dog rescue through Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue (txpyrs.org). Sadly, as this issue goes to press, Mr. Belvedere and Bibi passed away suddenly, Bel due to cancer and Bibi due to old age. Follow The Floof Crew on Instagram @thefloofcrew.

If you have a dog-related question for Lucy, reach out and follow her on Instagram @asklucydog.

If you have a dog-related question for Lucy, reach out and follow her on Instagram @asklucydog.

You can help SAFE provide safety, stability, and healing for anyone who has experienced violence and abuse.

Learn more at safeaustin.org.

P

OINT OF VIEW

I AM AUSTIN WOMAN

THE POWER OF GIVING BACK

I recently entered a new decade in life and with that came reflection and introspection: What can I do to truly make a difference in my community?

Am I the best role model I can be? How do I enable change for good?

Will I leave this world better than I found it?

For the most part, I was grateful for my answers. But through all this soul-searching, I continued to feel discontent.

I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly, but I knew it was time to take a leap, leave my comfort zone, try something new and make an even larger mark in the city I love, Austin.

And then came the job of a lifetime—executive director for I Live Here I Give Here—and the opportunity to be a resource for more than 750 nonprofits and to inspire giving back locally to the community I care about so much.

In January, when I started this new position, the organization was moving into its second decade of service and had just completed a new strategic plan. It was also just one month before I Live Here I Give Here’s flagship program, Amplify Austin Day. This year’s Amplify Austin Day goal was to raise a whopping $11 million in 24 hours.

As a novice spokesperson with more live interviews than I could count, I took the leap I was looking for, and to my relief, it was a huge success, with $11.2 million raised this year, adding to the more than $57 million raised in seven past Amplify Austin Days. I was just four weeks on the job, but this was the type of impact I was looking for. It was exhilarating—and exhausting!

I Live Here I Give Here’s vision is simple yet transformational: help Austin become the most philanthropic city in the country. Making that

happen is not quite as simple.

It will likely take years, but the accolades from Amplify Austin Day are what continue to build our community’s giving-local movement. Last month, we received national attention and praise from The Chronicle for Philanthropy, which featured the success of our giving-day initiative as its May 2019 cover story.

But as I mentioned earlier, Amplify Austin Day is just one piece of the I Live Here I Give Here portfolio. As the new executive director, I am responsible for taking the organization into our next decade with a new strategic plan and a renewed vision. That sounds easy, right?

I can’t solve this giving problem alone. For Austin to become more philanthropic and prosperous for all, everyone must participate. But it is my job to inspire, convene, educate and celebrate everyone in Austin who shares in this vision. I Live Here I Give Here is your resource to find meaningful and unique ways to give back, working with the goal of providing you the tools needed to be successful in your philanthropic journey.

While I have many ideas for new programs to support this work, I Live Here I Give Here will continue to evolve and transform the programs that have already become a launching platform for emerging philanthropists. Programs such as See Jane Give and Give Back Jack, as well as our annual Austin Involved Board Internship Program, help serve hundreds of young givers while educating them about how giving local can become a key component to both their personal and professional lives.

But this is just the start. I’m excited about what the future holds for me and this team. And now I have a new question: Are you ready to join me and our giving movement to build a better city for all, Austin?

For Austin to become more philanthropic and prosperous for all, everyone must participate.

76 | AUSTIN WOMAN | JULY 2019

Photo by Courtney Runn.

I Live Here I Give Here’s new executive director, Courtney Manuel, reflects on the success of this year’s Amplify Austin Day and meaningful ways to give back as she works to make Austin the most philanthropic city in the country.

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