AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” –Jane Goodall
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ON THE COVER
FEATURE
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CONTENTS | MARCH
40
50
58
20
COUNT US IN Women in Numbers
22
FROM THE DESK OF Jessica Coronado
24
GIVE BACK Team Brownsville
26
START THE CONVO Local Gen Z Activists
29
A CHAT WITH Jenifer Sarver
40
TEXAS TRIPPIN’ Gonzales, Texas
42
TRENDING Blank Slate
48
BEFORE & AFTER Master Bathroom Transformation
50
SEE HER WORK Street Artist Phoebe Joynt
64
RECIPE REVEAL Black Garlic Sourdough
68
HER ROUTINE Basketball Player Dominique Simmons
70
ON THE MONEY Saving on Property Taxes
74
ASK LUCY Combating Canine Allergies
76
I AM AUSTIN WOMAN Pat Gordon Brodnax
64 ATX WOMEN TO WATCH 36
74
12 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
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TOP CONCERNS FOR WOMEN DURING DIVORCE Divorce attorney Janet McCullar answers your questions. BY JANET MCCULLAR
During the 25 years I’ve been a divorce attorney, I’ve represented hundreds of women in divorce or custody cases. Below are some of the top concerns women have expressed to me through the years.
1. Will I lose custody of my kids?
Almost every woman I work with has heard of some story in which a mom lost custody of her children in a divorce, and they are scared it could happen to them. In my experience, moms don’t lose custody unless they are a threat to their child’s safety, such as if they have been arrested for driving drunk with the child in the car. Even in that scenario, there are precautionary measures that can be put in place, such as using a Breathalyzer. Some fathers, in an attempt to gain advantage in a property division, will threaten to go for custody. Don’t believe it. Consulting with a custody lawyer, like myself, often alleviates this concern. And if there is some merit to the threat, I can help my client minimize the risk.
5. My husband owns a business and says I won’t get any part of it. Is that true?
Most likely, that is true. The business will be given to the business owner, but it will also be valued by an expert. Don’t be fooled by tax returns or other statements of value provided to you by your husband. Valuation is much more complex than that, and often, the value is much higher than what most people would believe. I love nothing more than helping women free themselves of these sort of worries in my initial consultation. Remember, consulting with a divorce lawyer doesn’t necessarily mean you will get a divorce, and it could bring more peace of mind if you do need to divorce.
2. My husband is a really good liar.
I tell my female clients if I put a black hash mark on the wall in my conference room each time I heard this statement, my walls would be solid black. Most often, the husband is a bully who is used to intimidating his wife. Bullying tactics don’t work. If I’m asking your husband a question in court, he may try to not answer it, but as a seasoned professional, I will ask until the question is answered.
3. I don’t know how much money we have.
Some couples have assigned roles in their marriage, with one being the breadwinner and the other being the homemaker. Who wouldn’t trust her husband to take good care of the finances and invest their money properly? But I don’t need to know at the time of the initial consultation how much money you have. That is part of the divorce process. I help my clients identify what property they own, find out what it is worth and put it all in a spreadsheet for property-division purposes.
My answer: absolutely not. I want all my clients to make a well-informed decision, and that usually means talking with a lawyer about whether the offer is a good one. As lawyers, we often find what the spouse is really owed is more than what has been offered. Don’t take the chance. Seek professional advice before you make a deal.
Janet McCullar is a nationally respected trial attorney known for her skill and success in the courtroom. She has represented clients in hundreds of complex divorce and custody cases. Although she represents clients during trying times, her cases are routinely resolved amicably to save the client the time, cost and pain involved in litigation. McCullar is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was also selected as a fellow in the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, an organization that consists of the nation’s top divorce attorneys.
The Law Office of Janet McCullar, P.C. | 3200 Steck Ave Ste 300, Austin, TX 78757 | 512.355.1123 | jmccullarlaw.com
Photo by Caitlin Candelari.
4. My husband has offered me a lump sum of money and says I’ll get less if I fight him. Should I accept?
CONTRIBUTORS
This month, we asked our contributors: In one word, what is worth fighting for? A PUBLICATION OF AW MEDIA INC.
VOLUME 18, ISSUE 7
DAWN WESTON
Publisher
ANNIE RAY Cover photographer, “Evangelist for Change,” Page 52
NIKI JONES
• celebrated Valentine’s Day in Valentine, Texas
Creative Director
• shoots romance-novel covers at romance-novel conventions • met Courtney Love
COURTNEY RUNN
What is worth fighting for? love
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Writer, “A Tranquil Transformation,” Page 48 • won the 3rd grade vocabulary bee • has a side business as a florist • hopes to write a book about the ridiculous things people say to her about
LESLIE WILLIAMSON
Sales and Production Coordinator
being more than 6 feet tall What is worth fighting for? faith
CONTRIBUTORS
Editorial: Landry Allred, Kasee Bailey, Pat Brodnax, Brianna Caleri, Jenny Hoff, Hannah J. Phillips, Sierra Rozen, Courtney Runn, Gretchen M. Sanders, Kathryn Stouffer, Joanne Xu Art: Hakeen Adewumi, R udy Arocha, Alicia Beller, Madilyn Biscoe, Dahlia Dandashi, Brenda Ladd, Hannah J. Phillips, Taylor Prinsen, Annie Ray, Carrie Runn, Kristine Wang, Madison Weakley, Jessica Wetterer, Gertie Wilson
KRISTINE WANG Model, “Blank Slate,” Page 42 • has only been modeling for two years
INTERNS
• got an economics degree from the University of Texas at Austin
Landry Allred, Caroline Covert, Trinady Joslin, Haley Riley, Sierra Rozen, Joanne Xu
• l oves to travel and collab with photographers she meets for her Instagram @kristine_wang_ What is worth fighting for? dreams
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KASEE BAILEY Writer, “Leave It to Z,” Page 24 • speaks Portuguese as a second language
Austin Woman is a free monthly publication of AW Media Inc., and is available at more than 1,000 locations throughout Austin and in Lakeway, Cedar Park, Round Rock and Pflugerville. All rights reserved. To offer feedback, email feedback@awmediainc.com. For submission information, visit atxwoman.com/jobs. No part of the magazine may be reprinted or duplicated without permission. Visit us online at atxwoman.com. Email us at info@awmediainc.com. 512.328.2421 | 3921 Steck Ave., Suite A111, Austin, TX 78759
• has two sets of twins • once interviewed Melissa McCarthy What is worth fighting for? family
COVER NOTES Photo by Annie Ray, annieraycreative.com Makeup by Gertie Wilson, elevecosmetics.com Shot on location at Arrive Austin, arrivehotels.com/austin
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ATXWOMAN.COM | 15
FROM THE ASSISTANT EDITOR
In the past four years, women
CURRENTLY READING
across the aisle have championed causes, marched in protest and taken the first step in their own communities to fight for a better world. While we have covered politics in past issues of Austin Woman, this is the first year we’re including the theme of advocacy. From teenagers sparking global movements to locals volunteering, women are proving anyone can be an advocate and make a difference. Our cover woman, political analyst and social-justice advocate Jehmu Greene, has dedicated her career to ensuring women are equipped and confident in speaking out. As a founding board member of nonpartisan group VoteRunLead, Greene trains women to run for office and has worked on more than 20 campaigns at the local and national level. She exemplifies the power of speaking up and bringing women with you on your journey to the top. While Greene has dedicated her career to advocacy at a national level, this issue also features women making a difference locally: Pat Gordon Brodnax, who has fought on behalf of Barton Springs for three decades; the women behind The Rabble podcast that encourages women “to stop flipping out and start flipping seats;” Jessica Coronado, who chairs the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas; and many more Austin women who are committed to their city. Throughout these pages, we also explore larger national conversations through the eyes of Austinites, talking with Jenifer Sarver about obstacles conservative women face in the Republican party, and spotlighting the impressive advocacy work of Gen Z. As we enter an election year, our hope is that the women featured in this issue inspire you to take a stand for what you believe in, make your voice heard and vote. You have the power to make a difference.
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Brown Girls Food Club. After celebrating Ramadan alone in Austin for years, Ayesha Erkin was desperate for community. She knew if she felt isolated, other girls must feel the same way, so she teamed up with three friends to create the Brown Girls Food Club, a monthly meetup at different minority-owned restaurants in town. Five months in, the club continues to grow with each meeting. Daina Ramey Berry. University of Texas professor Daina Ramey Berry published her sixth novel, A Black Women’s History of the United States, last month. A well-versed scholar in African American studies, Berry’s previous works also recount raw truths on the intersection of gender and slavery in American history—the ones you won’t find in textbooks. Austin Woman caught up with Berry the day her passion project was published on Feb. 4. Texas Standard. Texas isn’t the only one celebrating a birthday on March 2; the Texas Standard is marking five years of journalism “from a Texas perspective.” Self-proclaimed the “national daily news show of Texas,” the show relies on its majority-female staff to produce meaningful, investigative stories from around the state.
WIN THIS! A ONE-NIGHT STAYCATION AT THE WAYBACK Nestled off Bee Caves Road, The Wayback is a hidden Hill Country oasis. From its farm-to-table menu to its rustic cottages, it’s the perfect staycation escape and two lucky Austin Woman readers will win a one-night stay! The winners will have the opportunity to book their stay between April 1 and May 31 and receive a complimentary craft cocktail upon check-in. To enter to win, follow us on Instagram @austinwoman and stay on the lookout for the giveaway announcement. A winner will be chosen by the end of the month.
18 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
DON’T MISS Austin Woman Launch Party March 4, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Central Machine Works, 4824 E. Cesar Chavez St. atxwoman.com/launch-parties
INTRODUCING In February, Austin Woman Founder Melinda Garvery announced plans to form a council of ethnically and culturally diverse women to broaden community connections and lend perspective to our editorial plans. We’re excited to introduce you to the first two women to join this council and we will continue to keep you updated on its growth.
TAM HAWKINS CEO and President of the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce Tam Hawkins is currently the president and CEO of the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce. Prior to this role, she served as the vice president of corporate engagement and membership. Her background includes a primary concentration in corporate sales and marketing for some of the nation’s most admired companies.
LYNN YELDELL Co-owner of Seventh Scout As the co-owner of Seventh Scout, Lynn Yeldell heads up business development and strategy for the Austin-based agency, developing websites, content and sales campaigns for St. David’s Foundation, American Cancer Society, Downtown Austin Alliance, S. Watts Group, Breed & Company and more.
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Brown Girls Food Club photo by Dahlia Dandashi. Daina Ramey Berry photo by Brenda Ladd. Texas Standard photo courtesy of Texas Standard. Wayback photo courtesy of Carley Summers Photography. Tam Hawkins photo by Hakeem Adewumi. Lynn Yeldell photo courtesy of Lynn Yeldell.
Can’t get enough of this issue? Check us out at atxwoman.com.
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COPENHAGEN’S DIRECTOR OF INTERIOR DESIGN MAURICE BRANTLEY SHARES FURNITURE TRENDS ON THEIR WAY OUT, WHAT PIECES ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT AND HOW TO TRANSFORM YOUR SPACE. What types of furniture are on their way out? As we have entered into a new decade, my belief is that we have a new appreciation for classic and clean contemporary design. Bulky and overstuffed leather/fabric two-toned sofas with nail heads and fringe-trimmed pillows have had their day. Rustic and oversized occasional tables in dark cherry and fussy ornate case goods were the prize back in the ’80s and ’90s.Today we find that the furniture seeker is looking for streamlined comfort in seating, many with adjustable headrests and push-button motorization that is inconspicuous and quietly transports us into an effortless transition of calm relaxation. What types of furniture are worth the investment? Comfortable and well-made seating that is crafted to endure is usually where my design clients want to start. Don’t skimp on quality materials and workmanship. We spend a lot of time in our sofas, loveseats and occasional chairs so that should be a paramount priority. Soft, durable leather lasts for years. Beautifully made dining tables that can easily extend to accommodate dinner guests paired with well-made dining chairs are also an important consideration. A well-made mattress made of quality materials is well worth the investment of ensuring a good night’s sleep. What’s an easy way to transform a room? Switching out those tired pillows on a sofa with something fresh and modern is an easy quick fix. Look at your dated accessories and lamps and opt for something with a new pop of color. A new light-transitioning LED lamp can be a quick perk. Consider a fresh coat of paint or take a risk with one vibrant hued accent wall to breathe new life into a tired old room.
If you’re starting a room makeover, what pieces should you start with? Believe it or not, you should start with the pieces and art that you know you are going to keep! We almost all have treasures that we will never part with. Identifying them first will help your designer suggest appropriate selections that will complement the things you already love. As mentioned before, comfortable seating usually tends to be where my design clients want to start. Integrated technology has become a new option that is very appealing to millennials. Exquisitely engineered media units are also desired and sought after as not just a means to conceal technology but a focus of something amazing and beautiful to look at. How do you decide a color palette for a space? We all respond to color differently and it is usually an emotional response. Neutral is always safe and sure but don’t be afraid to express yourself by living with colors that you love. I usually take my cues from existing art and plan colors around it. Environment is also a key factor. Natural light cascading through the room as it changes throughout the day. Are there big windows with views of mountains or rolling hills? All of these are questions to take into consideration when planning a harmonious interior.
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3
WOMEN IN NUMBERS
As of late February, Elizabeth Warren, Tulsi Gabbard and Amy Klobuchar are the three remaining women currently running in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Marianne Williamson also announced their campaigns, but have since dropped out of the race.
From securing the right to vote to fighting climate change, female activists are paving the way for future generations.
127
BY SIERRA ROZEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSICA WETTERER
2003 Gen Z climate-change activist Greta Thunberg was born in 2003 and celebrated her 17th birthday on Jan. 3. Thunberg first started advocating for political solutions to end climate change in 2018, when she staged weekly sit-ins at the Swedish Parliament. In her quest to save the planet, she’s made personal sacrifices, relying on ships instead of planes, and sparked a global movement of young people protesting against climate change. In 2019, Thunberg became the youngest person to be named Time magazine’s Person of the Year.
A record 127 women currently serve in Congress, making it a historic time for women in politics. This is the highest number of women, and the largest number of women of color, to ever serve in Congress.
2020 This year marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. The amendment granted women the right to vote after years of protests, where countless suffragettes put their lives at risk so future generations of women could have their voices heard. 2020 is also an election year, with Texas presidential primaries on March 3 and the presidential election on Nov. 3.
50,000 In 2017, an estimated 50,000 people attended the first Women’s March on Texas Capitol. Inspired by the Women’s March on Washington held in response to President Donald Trump’s election, women have protested in cities throughout the country each subsequent year. This year, it is estimated that more than 3,500 gathered at the Texas Capitol. 20 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
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OWN YOUR IDENTITY.
START FRESH DAILY.
“In my experience working with minority communities, we sometimes become self-conscious about our shortcomings and let them hold us back from chasing opportunity. There have been projects where I’ve been the only minority in a conference room. I’ve learned to be comfortable putting myself out there, but also stay open to failure. Take that risk. Put your own self-doubt aside.”
“I have to constantly remind myself that the obstacles of today won’t necessarily still stand tomorrow. So, when I’m feeling stuck or a project is lagging, put it aside and let yourself refresh. Even bouncing ideas off a colleague or homing in on another aspect of the project can inspire new perspectives.”
The Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas board chair recounts how she’s led by example throughout a career in public service.
REJECTION DOESN’T LAST FOREVER.
BY JOANNE XU
“With all the different agendas and projects that go into public service, it’s easy to tell when someone is truly engaged and passionate in their cause, versus someone that’s only doing something for their resume. The difference between the two really comes down to their work. Be straightforward in setting expectations, communicate honestly and put in the real work. Transparency is a big tell of someone’s sincerity.”
ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WEAKLEY
Five years ago, Jessica Coronado was raising a newborn daughter, working full time in Austin’s city-manager office and securing a degree in public administration—all while uncovering her passion for supporting Texas’ Latinx community and maintaining some semblance of a work-life balance. She knew full well she’d have to stretch every hour of the day just to barely finish her task lists. Ambitious women require ambitious challenges, and Coronado accomplished exactly what she set out to do. She’s since added volunteering as an active board member for the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (HWNT) to her busy schedule. The HWNT provides professional resources and careerbuilding opportunities to women exactly like Coronado: the multitaskers, the overachievers, the advocates. A life in public service and advocacy doesn’t come without a fair share of hard-learned lessons, but Coronado wants fellow minority women to know that it’s never too late in life for a career comeback; actually, it’s encouraged.
22 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
“In public service and advocacy, you can expect to get turned down a lot. There’s especially a lot of finessing that goes into the fundraising process, so you may get some noes at first. It’s just part of the business, but that doesn’t mean the door is permanently closed. Fine-tune your approach, go back and pitch again.”
WALK YOUR WALK.
LOVE YOURSELF FIRST. “Personally and professionally, avoid seeking validation through how many people like you or want to work on a project with you. Realizing your own worth first allows us to discover our own strengths and weaknesses, what we should work on versus what we should showcase. Before you know it, you’ll also understand that other people’s opinions are beneficial, but not the be-all and end-all.”
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GIVE BACK
Ann Finch serves as the founding president of Team Brownsville, a nonprofit serving asylum-seekers at the border. BY LANDRY ALLRED
Last year, Ann Finch’s 9-year-old grandson broke his left leg, resulting in a full-leg cast. Hundreds of miles away, a 10-year-old boy named Angel also broke his leg. Their two lives are marked by the universal experience of little boys breaking bones, but they live on separate sides of the border and in the case of health care, a line on a map can make all the difference. While Finch’s grandson continued attending school in Eanes ISD, a top Texas school district, Angel was unable to attend school in Mexico after breaking his leg because he lacked a wheelchair. The only form of transportation available was his mother’s back. While Finch’s grandson has already transitioned to a boot, Angel’s leg remains in a plaster cast. “I am so grateful that my grandchildren live where they live and have what they have,” Finch says. “My grandchildren's future is bright, and my grandson's leg will heal and [he] had the best medical care and the walking boot, and that little boy doesn't have that." Finch met Angel in a refugee camp on the border of Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico, and his story haunts her. She helped sneak a wheelchair over the border and after meeting the boy and his family, who traveled from Honduras to seek asylum, Finch can’t escape his plight. During Jill Biden’s border visit, the former second lady took a picture with Angel and Finch later saw an NPR article that featured a picture his family’s tent with his wheelchair outside. "There has to be a god, because why would I know this kid in Mexico that needed a wheelchair,” Finch asks. “What is all of that about? And why does this kid continue to appear in my life day after day after day?” After Finch’s husband died in 2014, she found renewed purpose in advocacy work upon learning about the separation of families at the border. In 2018, she became the founding president of Team Brownsville, a nonprofit in Brownsville serving asylum-seekers. “I don’t think anybody, without being there, understands the inhumanity we are imposing on these people,” Finch says. “Once you see it, it's hard to stop thinking about.” 24 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Photo courtesy of Ann Finch.
DRAWING THE LINE
Finch first visited the border through an American Civil Liberties Union rally and after witnessing the lack of service in the city, she started consistently visiting to distribute food, water and clothes. In Austin, she hosted awareness events, educating others on the asylum situation. While some in her community supported her efforts, she also received opposition. “I got a lot of pushback of, ‘That’s the border,’” Finch remembers. “It’s our backyard. It’s 400 miles away. It’s not some foreign country. You can’t look away.” Since Finch first began her efforts, the situation at the border has become increasingly complex. According to the Migrant Protection Protocols initiated in 2018, asylum seekers must wait outside the U.S. for their immigration hearings, spiking the number of migrants waiting at the border. When Finch first visited the border two years ago, she remembers seeing around 40 people and now estimates seeing up to 2,500. “They are truly people without a home,” Finch says. “We need to shift from that immediate humanitarian crisis [of ] helping them live two to three weeks until they can cross to helping them create a life in Matamoros.” Today, Finch remains in Austin working in real estate but visits Brownsville once or twice a month through an Austin/Matamoros church partnership, staying up to five days at a time. Some days she passes out hot cocoa or shaved ice and on others, she cuts hair. During Finch’s most recent trip in February, she invited an activist musician to accompany her, and provided 100 tambourines and 100 maraca sets for kids to “create a space where it’s okay to be joyful and sing.” “Trust that little voice inside, whether it be going to the border or becoming involved in a political campaign or volunteering at school,” Finch says. “We can’t expect the system to change if we don’t step out and do it. We are the conscience of the world.”
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START THE CONVO
LEAVE IT TO Z
Generation Z is leading the charge for political advocacy. BY KASEE BAILEY
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orty-three percent of Texans are under the age of 30 and soon, young people will make up a third of eligible voters in Texas. Despite these noteworthy numbers, younger generations have often been shut out of the conversations where important decisions are made and policy is enacted. “It is one of the most frustrating narratives that we see, that young people are apathetic about voting,” says Charlie Bonner, communications director at MOVE Texas. “We don’t have an issue of apathy. We have an issue of access. We have not given young people the tools they need to be involved in civic life.” MOVE Texas is just one of many Texas organizations working to change this issue, empowering young people through youth-led movements with the training, tools and resources they need to develop politically active lives. “What we really need is a massive cultural shift around civic life,” Bonner says. Over the past several years, young adults have been on a mission to make their often-overlooked voices heard. From 2014 to 2018, youth voter turnout tripled in Texas, making it a battleground state in politics. “We need candidates to show up for young people,” Bonner says. “We have proven that we have an electoral power, and now it’s time for candidates to start making that investment.” Far from being apathetic, young people in Texas are manifesting their passion for pertinent issues by engaging in self-generated activism, working to raise their voices on relevant issues and create a governing body that more closely reflects its electorate. “I think that young people are extremely motivated on their own,” says Sydney Greene, digital coordinator of Austinbased nonprofit Deeds Not Words. “I think part of that has to do with the climate that we live in. I think it's very hard for young people right now to just sit back and not do anything. Right now, their future is at stake. And they start to see how time and time again decisions have been for them and about them without them having a seat at the table. I definitely think that motivates them to want to participate in the political process, specifically in advocacy.” 26 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Twenty-year-old Krissia Palomo, a college student and precinct chair for the Tarrant County Democratic Party, initially avoided engaging in activism after a high-school government teacher shut down her interest in politics. Witnessing rampant Beto stickers during the 2018 elections inspired her to get involved again. “I realized I couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore,” Palomo says. “It gave me a sense of urgency. Young people need to have a seat at the table, because a lot of the issues we’re fighting for right now, like climate change legislation, all of that is going to affect us in the long run.” And it’s not just talk. Young people across the country are effecting real change through their political advocacy. Youth-led Deeds Not Words is equipping young people with necessary skills and tools while also enacting change at the legislative level. Its powered-byGen-Z agenda helped pass 18 bills into law in the 208 Texas legislative session, with young people testifying more than 80 times on 30 bills. “As older generations are seeing that we’re putting in the work, they’re taking us a lot more seriously,” Greene says. Gen Zers aren’t stopping at capitol canvassing; they’re connecting political advocacy to their passions in their own individual communities. Teen sisters and bandmates Tori, Sophia and Tiffany Baltierra, known as The Tiarra Girls, use music to spread their message of empowerment and activism. “We started seeing the political atmosphere and wanted to use [our] platform for something that was bigger than ourselves,” Tiffany Baltierra says. “All we saw were adults talking about it to people our age, and we weren’t taking it seriously because it wasn’t coming from someone in our point of view. We knew that speaking our voice would get people to pay more attention and take action.” With the mission to pay attention and take action, Gen Zers are leading the country by example. “Young people’s needs aren’t being represented well, but their voices are really important,” says Rae Martinez, director at Texas Rising. “They are going to be our current and future leaders.”
HOW TO START THE CONVO Do your research and vote. Voting for the first time is often young people’s entry point into political activism, Rae Martinez says. Voting is a crucial step for seeing your needs reflected in legislation. “I think it’s really important that we see candidates that look like us,” Krissia Palomo says. Consume news. The news can feel overwhelming but if staying informed makes you mad, that’s good, Charlie Bonner says. This emotion will motivate you to make changes. With that passion, you can connect with local organizations that address issues important to you. Talk to your friends. Look around for issues affecting your unique environment, like your school or university. How are these issues affecting your friends? Join with them and talk about what you could do to enact important change. “People will listen to you in numbers,” Sydney Greene says. Get social. “Gen Z has access to a wealth of information,” Greene says. Get active on social media to take advantage of the rich resources offered to young people. Whether that’s info on latest news, political happenings or what advocacy resources are near you, social media can be a great tool for activism. And try not to worry if you don’t understand everything right away. “Keep educating yourself,” Tori Baltierra says. “Keep learning because in the long run, no one can take that from you.”
Mother's Day
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A CHAT WITH
JENIFER SARVER
Austin Woman talked to former congressional candidate and communications strategist Jenifer Sarver on the challenges facing Republican women running for office and the way forward.
Photo courtesy of Jenifer Sarver.
BY COURTNEY RUNN
ATXWOMAN.COM |  29
Jenifer Sarver has spent her career preparing to run for office. After graduating from the University of Texas, she moved to Washington to pursue a political career and went on to work in the Bush administration. While she worked for other politicians and started her own business, she bided time until her own run. When Congressman Lamar Smith announced his retirement in 2017, three months before the deadline to file as a candidate, Sarver was ready. She joined 17 other candidates in the 2018 primaries for a crowded race and while she didn’t win, she ended her campaign in fifth place. Today, Sarver continues to run Sarver Strategies and serves on the board of the Women’s Public Leadership Network and upcoming LBJ Women’s Campaign School. She looks forward to running again when the time is right and in the meantime is championing women running for office and fighting for civility. We talked to Sarver about her experience running as a Republican woman and the way forward for the party.
“”
I can’t wait for the day when it’s not newsworthy that there’s a young woman running for office.
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Austin Woman: What was your experience like running for office? Jenifer Sarver: One of the challenges for the Republican party right now is that we have bad messengers and we’re off message and until we get those things course corrected, we’re not going to see new generations coming into the tent. We keep shrinking the tent instead of expanding the tent. That’s a problem, because I saw over the course of my campaign that every time I would have an event, I would look out to the room and I would see an aging population and not a very diverse population, and that’s not reflective of Texas. So, if the party’s going to be effective in the future, it has to reach to out to more diverse communities, it has to bring a message that is more welcoming and open. It doesn’t mean you have to abandon your core set of values; you just need to communicate those values in a way that is welcoming to people. I knew that my campaign was going to be tough; I knew I was going to have a very steep uphill climb. I had been public about my lack of support for the current president and I knew that was going to be a challenge in the primary. But I thought if you stand for something and believed in something, you should go out and run and articulate your message. If you articulate a positive, hopeful message and you bring people alongside you and you run a good, smart campaign, there’s only upside and that’s been what I found. Even in the defeat [I was] able to find victory in many ways. You know, the fact that I came in fifth of 18 [candidates] would suggest that there were plenty of people who were more interested in a centrist message and so that gives me hope. AW: What campaigning obstacles did you face as a woman? JS: There used to be this time when being a female candidate was a net negative. I think it’s a net positive now. I think there are people who recognize that women make up more than half the population [and] if our representation isn’t relatively equal then we’re not using all of our brain. That’s how I look at it. We’re not fully leveraging all of our resources that we have and so I would never want someone to say, ‘I’m going to vote for her because she’s a woman,’ but if we have two qualified candidates and one’s a man and one’s a woman and we need more women, I would like you to think about that candidate because she’s going to bring a different perspective and a different viewpoint…Research shows that diverse groups make better and smarter decisions. I think we need more people participating not just in our electoral politics and running for office but voting and participating… So, we’re coming up on our next primary election and in the primary of 2018, 2.5 million people voted in Texas out of 16 million registered voters. And the vast majority of races are decided in the primary and so if you’re not participating in the primary, you’re letting other people make choices for you.
AW: Why do you think Republican women don’t run for office in the same numbers as their Democratic peers? JS: I think that women have been the backbone in the Republican party in Texas. … [But] they haven’t been on the ballot. I think part of it is cultural. I think part of it is a lot of conservative women don’t see themselves as candidates, but they see themselves as very politically involved, and they are politically involved. So we have to make a switch in the way we see political involvement and we need elected officers to encourage and call on women to run, not just be involved, because there are plenty of elected officials—our senators, our governor—who rely on Republican women in Texas to get elected. I want them to actively tell women, ‘Work on my campaign but I also want you to run for office.’ Research shows us that women need to be asked seven times to run for something. So, every time I’m in front of a group of women, I say, ‘I’m asking all of you to run.’…I can’t wait for the day when it’s not newsworthy that there’s a young woman running for office. I can’t wait for the day when Republicans aren’t surprised to see women on the ballot. I find that they’re just not used it, so I think the more women running the more it normalizes it and then it won’t be a conversation. It’d be great if there’s not a news cycle about the fact that women are running for office because it shouldn’t be news anymore, but it is, particularly on the right.
“”
If you’re not participating in the primary, you’re letting other people make choices for you.
AW: What would you say to conservative women struggling with the tension of this year’s election? JS: I think it’s a very tough moment for a lot of people. I think my biggest piece of advice is to look at the long term. We have a bad habit of only looking for the next two years or next three years. What does the Republican party look like in five years? If Trump wins, if Trump doesn’t win, what does the party look like in five years and what do we stand for? And that's why it always has to come back to what are your core values and you as an individual need to have a clear picture of what you value and what you think is important. I think you always have to vote [with] your conscience; I’m not someone who says you have to always vote the party line. I don’t want to vote for someone just because they have an R next to their name. I want to vote for somebody who I think is credible and competent and has a vision for our country that I share.
Photo courtesy of Jenifer Sarver
AW: What are you looking forward to in this upcoming election year? JS: I do think it’s a privilege to be a Texan, that we are a little bit different than everyone else. I do think there is support for women and conservative women running. I think we’ve been in the background too long. We’ve lifted up and propped up the party in Texas and it’s time for us to take a step from behind the curtain and be center stage and the more women do that, the more beneficial it will be for everyone. Read the rest of AW’s chat with Jenifer Sarver at atxwoman.com.
ATXWOMAN.COM | 31
Join Us! 2020
Celebrate AUST I N BUSI N ES S WO M E N The Woman’s Way Business Awards are Austin’s only business awards for woman-owned and woman-led businesses. Awards are presented in 10 categories. Award recipients span numerous industries and are chosen by a selection committee of successful local female business and community leaders.
ENJOY A NIGHT THAT INCLUDES: • Networking happy hour with Austin’s leading women, photobooth, giveaways and more • Dinner and award ceremony featuring keynote speaker Erin Condren • Endless girl power and inspiration
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ATX
WOMAN to WATCH
POOJA SETHI L AW Y ER
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hroughout her career, Pooja Sethi has advocated and spoken out for others. She brings a voice of equity, innovative thinking and passion to the Austin community. She is the proud daughter of South Asian immigrants and grew up hearing her father say, “No matter what, hard work pays off.” As a mother, attorney, local business owner and a nonprofit founder fighting for survivors of abuse and assault and their children, she exemplifies these values every day. At the end of 2016, Sethi was selected to be on an Austin City Council commission where she advocated for better transportation for seniors, organized town halls to hear the issues community members faced and pushed for increased safety for women and children. Sethi currently serves on a variety of city committees and task forces to champion the rights of first responders, advocate for education for all and support environmental initiatives because she strongly believes in an Austin that is safe, healthy and green for everyone. sethilawoffices.com
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WOMAN WOMEN to WATCH
TARA JAMES, LAURIE CANEPA, MICHELE STRAIN, JENNIFER JENKINS L E A D E R S H I P T E A M AT A C C O U N TA B I L I T Y R E S O U R C E S
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or more than 15 years, Accountability Resources has been a market leader in placing accounting and finance professionals in advancing careers in Austin. This female-founded and -owned firm has differentiated itself due to its ability to partner with each of its clients and accounting professionals to understand their needs, deliver a result that exceeds those expectations and create long-term, lasting relationships. Accountability Resources is comprised of the best financial recruiting professionals in the Austin area, who have extensive experience working within public accounting, corporate accounting and corporate finance. The firm’s extensive network and time-proven results in placing accounting and finance professionals have created its earned market reputation, which includes sponsoring Austin Business Journal’s Best CEO Awards, being named a Best Places to Work Award winner and a Fast 50 company. Accountability Resources takes great pride in its philanthropic endeavors, such as its nonprofit organization Ignite A Dream, which was created utilizing proceeds from the firm. accountabilityresources.com
SPECIAL PROMOTION | ATXWOMAN.COM |
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WOMAN to WATCH
D R. M A L E N A A M AT O
F O U N D E R O F E Y E L I D & FAC I A L PL A ST I C S U R G E RY A S S O C I AT ES
r. Malena Amato, featured center, founded Eyelid & Facial Plastic Surgery Associates in Austin with a mission to treat all patients and staff the way she would treat her own family. While her prestigious medical training at Georgetown University and Stanford University enabled her to achieve excellence as a surgeon in her field, having her own family gave her a new perspective on the importance of compassionate care. She believes this begins with building a team who shares her mission while supporting and empowering each other. Behind Amato stands a friendly team of hard-working moms, wives and daughters that successfully balances family and work, further enhancing the patient experience. Amato is board-certified and completed a two-year fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. She is adjunct faculty at Dell Medical School and has been in practice for 18 years. malenaamatomd.com
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Photo by Taylor Prinsen.
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ATX
WOMAN to WATCH
T I WA N N A “ T K” K E N N E Y
FOUNDER OF ASTOUNDING AUCTIONS AND FUNDR AISING STR ATEGIES
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iWanna “TK” Kenney is the fearless hero we've all cheered on. After courageously serving our country, she decided to swap her combat boots for heels and change lives in our community, one person at a time. Kenney is the founder of Astounding Auctions and Fundraising Strategies, where she and her team lead fundraising for nonprofits across the country. Leveraging her passions for storytelling and helping others, she consults organizations to increase their fundraising results. Kenney is charismatic and witty and uses those skills, along with her silky smooth voice, to inspire donors to give with wild abandon. This multitalented mom does it all: bid calling, teaching future auctioneers, hosting fundraising master classes, speaking to fundraising organizations, championing diversity for the auction industry and serving the Texas Auctioneers Association and the National Auctioneers Association. Kenney is inspired by the power we all have to make the world a better place. astoundingauctions.com
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TEXAS TRIPPIN'
COME AND SEE IT
Celebrate Texas Independence Day in Gonzales, Texas STORY AND PHOTOS BY HANNAH J. PHILLIPS
Due to a loophole in my school’s ever-changing curriculum, I took Texas history three times before I turned 18. As such, I was entirely unprepared for the recent revelation of a former roommate from North Carolina, who disclosed that she had not taken even one state-history course throughout her childhood. Shocking! And yet, despite my early indoctrination, my most tangible experiences of Texas history were mostly confined to the Alamo and the Texas Capitol building. Three years ago, this all changed with a day trip to Gonzales, Texas. Looking back, I have no idea why I picked Gonzales that day. Along with Goliad and San Jacinto, I certainly knew the town’s name as one of the battle sites from the Texas Revolution—and not just any battle, either. Gonzales is where the first shots of the Texas Revolution were fired on Oct. 2, 1835, exactly five months before 59 delegates signed the Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, and 156 days before the fall of the Alamo. The battle started when 18 townsmen refused to return a small cannon they had received from the Mexican government. Four years earlier, the people of Gonzales had requested armament for defense on the frontier, which arrived in the form of a bronze cannon; when Mexican forces demanded it back, the settlers signaled their refusal by fashioning the now famous “Come and Take It Flag” from the wedding dress of a local woman. When the people of Gonzales successfully resisted the Mexican forces in the skirmish, both the flag and the cannon became symbols of the fight for independence.
Today, you can still view the cannon at the Gonzales Memorial Museum, an art-deco monument just beyond the town’s main square. Mirrored by the reflecting pool as you approach, the limestone complex seems unassuming at first glance—other items in the exhibition include a fairly normal sampling of small-town relics and archival photographs—but it houses a rare glimpse into one of the more pivotal moments from the Texas Revolution. Barely longer than the average human forearm, the bronze cannon hardly looks like it could cause much damage; symbolically, it marks the first stand for independence by the Texas settlers. There remains some debate about whether the cannon on display is the actual cannon that fired the first shots. Some historians claim that the original went to San Antonio to defend the Alamo, while the one on display is actually a smaller cannon from the battle, called an esmeril, which was lost for exactly 100 years until a major flood uncovered it in 1936. Regardless, the cannon remains an icon of our unique state history, and Gonzales celebrates with a Come and Take It festival every October. After browsing the rest of the exhibit, head back into town for local barbecue at Gonzales Food Market before diving into more history at the Gonzales County Jail Museum. Designed in 1887 to house 200 prisoners under riot conditions, the brick building still has its original concrete and steel cells for violent and non-violent inmates, as well as an eerie solitary confinement chamber. Today, it doubles as the Chamber of Commerce, so you can pick up a walking or driving tour pamphlet to trace a route through the town’s other significant spots. My favorite detour is about 10 miles outside of town on U.S. Highway
BEYOND TEXAS HISTORY Once you’ve had your fill of Texas history, if that’s possible, head back to the town’s main square to browse antique shops or catch a movie in the historic Lynn Theater. At around $7 a ticket, I often consider the drive just for the cheap admission price. These days, however, I mostly pass through Gonzales en route to Palmetto State Park, an unexpected jungle oasis hidden right in the heart of Texas with beautiful shaded trails along the San Marcos River.
Gonzales' main square
40 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
90A, where a historic marker at County Road 361 leads to the McClureBraches house at Cinco J Ranch. Here, you can stand beneath the outstretched branches of the Sam Houston Oak, where the general of the fledgling Texas army gathered his first troops. Receiving news that the Alamo had fallen, Sam Houston mapped out his strategy beneath this towering tree, initiating a month-long “series of strategic retreats” —my favorite description for running away from your problems. Known as the Runaway Scrape, these retreats culminated in a surprise attack at the
battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, during which Houston’s troops shouted the famous battle cry “Remember the Alamo” as they defeated General Santa Anna and sealed Texas’ independence as a new republic. Between lively reenactments at Washington-on-the-Brazos and a 13-day commemoration of the Siege of the Alamo in San Antonio, there are many Texas Independence festivities to choose from this month. Wherever you choose to celebrate, just remember: It all started in Gonzales.
Sam Houston Oak
Come and Take It cannon
Gonzales County Jail Museum
ATXWOMAN.COM | 41
TRENDING
BLANK SLATE
The focus is on the details when the canvas is clean. PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ALICIA BELLER STYLED BY NIKI JONES MODELED BY KRISTINE WANG
SHOT ON LOCATION AT CENTRAL MACHINE WORKS
Topshop drawstring-sleeve midi dress, $68; Jeffrey Campbell Top Peak 2 platform sneakers, $130, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Earrings, stylist's own.
42 |  AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
CENTRAL MACHINE WORKS Formerly a machine shop in East Austin, Central Machine Works has preserved the historical building and transformed it into an Austin neighborhood and family-friendly beer hall. Central Machine Works’ approachable and nostalgic vibe evokes the timehonored tradition of enjoying a classic beer amongst family and friends. The lively beer hall also features a tap room with full bar, outdoor beer garden, food trucks, live music and backyard games. Central Machine Works is located at 4824 E. Cesar Chavez St. Learn more at cmwbrewery.com and at @central.machine.works on Instagram.
St. John Collection Emma stretch micro ottoman cropped pants, $395; Topshop sheer organza top, $55; Free People Brami skinny-strap crop top, $20. SEA SEA Tabitha Ruffle Balloon Sleeve Stretch Cotton Blouse, $295; Eileen Fisher stretch denim leggings, $178; Topshop drawstring-sleeve midi dress, $68; Jeffrey Campbell Top Peak 2 platform sneakers, $130. Topshop chiffon-sleeve tea blouse, $48; Sam Edelman Hazel Pointy Toe Pump, $130 Isabel Marant Étoile jumpsuit,
Topshop chiffon-sleeve tea blouse, $48; Eileen $555 Fisher stretch denim leggings, $178, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Earrings, stylist's own.
ATXWOMAN.COM | 43
St. John Collection Emma stretch micro ottoman cropped pants, $395; Topshop sheer organza top, $55; Free People Brami skinny-strap crop top, $20, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Earrings, stylist's own.
44 |  AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Sea Tabitha Ruffle Balloon Sleeve Stretch Cotton Blouse, $295, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com.
ATXWOMAN.COM |  45
Isabel Marant Étoile jumpsuit, $555, Sam Edelman Hazel pumps, $130, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com.
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ATXWOMAN.COM |  47
BEFORE AND AFTER
A TRANQUIL TRANSFORMATION
Catherine Wilkes creates an in-home spa experience. BY KATHRYN STOUFFER
For smaller bathroom updates on a tighter DIY budget, Wilkes recommends the following changes. • Paint cabinets for a relatively low-effort, high-impact change.
As part of an entire master-suite remodel, local builder Catherine Wilkes and designer Mark Cravotta teamed up to transform a bachelor’s dark and dated bathroom into a spa-inspired escape. In order to achieve the warm and relaxing aura of a spa, Wilkes first addressed the flow of the space, rearranging key features to maximize square footage. She removed an underutilized and oddly placed kitchenette located in between the bedroom and bathroom and swapped the tub and shower locations to open up the flow. From there, she focused on the visual appeal, installing walnut and teak elements, custom frosted glass, soft lighting, and like all high-end spas, a towel warmer, among many other updates. With any remodel, bigger picture structural changes must be made to accommodate certain preferences. With this project, Wilkes and her team reframed the shower and recessed the floor to allow for a curb-free shower, in addition to dealing with the installation of the weighty artisan privacy glass, which runs 200 pounds per piece. Wilkes shares more details from this masterbath remodel as well as her tips on tackling bathroom updates yourself.
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• Swap out bathroom hardware. Opting for sleeker cabinet handles, towel bars, toilet-paper holder and robe hooks will eliminate unnecessary visual clutter and distraction. • Switch light fixtures and plumbing fixtures for more modern designs. • If your budget permits, changing tile, countertop surfaces and shower doors can breathe new life into a space. Are you prepared to tackle a full bathroom remodel? Wilkes first tip is to, “move out or into another area of the house.” From there, Wilkes advises the following. • Take the opportunity to rethink the space. She encourages clients to think outside the confines of the space: “Would the bathtub or shower work better in another location? Do you have enough natural light?” • Consult a designer to help you differentiate between trends and timeless updates. Avoid installing trendy or bold colors for countertops or tile as these are more costly to change than paint. • Enlist the help of a professional to ensure a high level of finish and fine craftsmanship. Contractors and designers can also help with city permits and code requirements. Recreate this look with these key elements in your own space. • New Ravenna glass tile in Tortoise Shell—featured on shower wall, and extending throughout the space • Kohler bathtub • Architerra tile
BEFORE
AFTER
“” Avoid installing trendy or bold
Photos courtesy of David Wilkes Builders.
colors for countertops or tile as these are more costly to change than paint.
ATXWOMAN.COM | 49
SEE HER WORK
ON THE STREET
Phoebe Joynt translates her love of street art to the walls of Austin. BY COURTNEY RUNN
A wall in Austin is never vacant for long. The
to her canvas, working off a grid system or projecting her renderings before picking up a spray can. Except for enlisting the help of friends to buff walls for larger murals, it’s a one-woman show. Her biggest private commission—4 by 5 feet— took about a week and a half’s worth of work while her SXSW mural included a week of 10-hour days. “I traded in a 9-to-5 for a 12-hour work day working for myself but it almost doesn’t drain me as much as the 9-to-5 did because I think I’m super involved and passionate about everything I’m working on…sometimes [I] forget it’s even work,” she says. To celebrate her one-year anniversary of pursuing art full-time, Joynt is marking another milestone: her first solo exhibit. This March, she’s opening “Hello My Name is Phoebe,” featuring more than 35 original pieces at Austin Art Garage. A fitting capstone to a year of work, the show has truly been a lifetime in the making: “It’s great to be able to know what you want to do when you were little and [to] be able to say you’re doing it now is so cool.”
Photos courtesy of Phoebe Joynt.
hashtag #austinmurals currently boasts more than 14,000 Instagram posts, showcasing the best of the city’s murals, from the famous (“You’re My Butter Half” and “I Love You So Much”) to the more obscure. They make for great selfie backdrops but, for the artists, they can provide a crucial chance for exposure and revenue. New York native Phoebe Joynt moved to Austin in 2017, and in 2019, left behind her graphic-design job to become a full-time artist. Inspired by the snowboarding shops and skating rinks of her childhood, Joynt gravitates toward the bold colors and bright graphics of modern street art. Her tallest mural to date was a 20-foot tall project for Facebook during South By Southwest; her widest was 40 feet along Cesar Chavez Street and I-35.
“I think of New York City in the ’80s where [graffiti] was totally seen as an illegal crime,” Joynt says. “If you were out tagging, you could get arrested, go to jail and I think now more cities are not seeing it as a criminal activity. More people are seeing it as an expression of art which is what I think it always was.” When she first moved to Austin, Joynt started painting at the original HOPE Outdoor Gallery, meeting other local artists and people from around the state. Without a marketing budget, she’s relied on those organic connections and social media to be able to pursue art full time. “A lot of people tag the artists of the art they take photos in front of and I think that opens up the artist to have an even bigger network and more eyes on their work…We get to see murals luckily everywhere because it’s totally opened up the art community and allowed more opportunities for people like to me to become full-time artists, because of this need now for businesses and consumers who want to engage with artwork,” she says. “I think it’s awesome.” Joynt begins her murals and canvases the same way: sketching digital renderings on her computer. Next, she translates it
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“” I think the Austin
Photos courtesy of Phoebe Joynt.
art community is super special, in that, at the end of the day we all want what’s best for each other, and I think that’s super rare in a lot of industries.
ATXWOMAN.COM | 51
EVANGELIST FOR
CHANGE
Political analyst and social-justice advocate Jehmu Greene is on a relentless mission to empower women and fight for change. BY HANNAH J. PHILLIPS PHOTOS BY ANNIE RAY MAKEUP BY GERTIE WILSON STYLED BY NIKI JONES SHOT ON LOCATION AT ARRIVE AUSTIN
J
ehmu Greene has never doubted that a woman’s place is in the house—and the Senate. Born in Washington, the vivid imagery of the White House and national monuments instilled in her a strong desire to participate in politics while she was still in preschool. Moving to Texas at the age of 5, Greene recalls the impact of local female political leaders like Mayor Carole Keeton, Barbara Jordan and Wilhelmina Delco on her childhood. “It was embedded within my understanding at an early age that women were political leaders,” she says. Greene’s parents emigrated from Liberia on student visas to pursue degrees in political science, but when political unrest unfolded in Liberia, they remained in America once their visas expired. Since her other family members were involved in politics (her grandfather had served as postmaster general and her dad’s cousin was vice president), several of them escaped to America to join her parents. Growing up as the daughter of undocumented immigrants not only impacted Greene’s political values later in life, but also gave her the confidence she traces through her entire childhood and career. Returning to Washington after a brief stint at the University of Texas, she built an impressive resume as the director of women’s outreach at the Democratic National Committee (DNC), president of Rock the Vote and national director of Project Vote. Greene has worked on more than 20 political campaigns—including Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign—and served as president of the Women’s Media Center. Her driving force has always been a strong desire to empower the disenfranchised and engage the marginalized, which she currently channels through her work empowering women to run for office at VoteRunLead. 52 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Outlining the milestones that have shaped her political activism, Greene remembers the pivotal moments that made her an evangelist for change. Some of her earliest memories are listening to her parents discuss the 1980 Carter/Reagan election with their friends and fellow academics. “If you’ve spent a lot of time around first-generation immigrants,” she says, “you know they are very plugged into the political happenings of the country they have immigrated to.” Greene’s first childhood home in Austin was in marriedstudent housing in the Colorado Apartments on Lake Austin Blvd while her parents studied at UT. “On the one hand, you don’t expect luxury in UT student housing,” she laughs, “but it was also lakefront property. We could walk out the door and play at Town Lake, which is the beauty of Austin.” In addition to her early immersion in nature and frequent political discussions at home, Greene recalls being surrounded by a strong international community while growing up in the Tarrytown neighborhood. As the feeder school for the children of international students attending UT, Matthews Elementary provided a diverse student body comprised of cultures all over the world. “There was something like 100 countries represented at one point,” Greene says, “which has an impact on how you see the world, as well as the spaces you’re comfortable in and know are possible. I would not be who I am today without that diversity, and all of my work to engage the vulnerable and marginalized came from that space Matthews created.”
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Throughout elementary school, Greene participated in the gifted and talented program, which often meant that she was responsible for helping other children learn English. Whether teaching kids from Mexico or Hong Kong, Greene witnessed the tremendous lack of access people have to the world around them when they can’t communicate. Helping fellow students navigate school in a new country sparked her earliest desires to empower underrepresented communities by giving them a voice. Greene also started exercising her own voice in the classroom, which often got her in trouble as she was the first student to disagree with the teacher and question the process. While Greene’s parents welcomed her outspokenness, they didn’t always welcome the challenges that came with it.
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“Arguing about politics is part of Liberian culture,” she says, “but when you’re working three jobs, it’s hard to go in and talk to the principal about your daughter’s behavior.” After one particular parent/teacher meeting in the first grade, Greene vividly remembers her mother’s surprising reaction. “The teacher complained that other kids listened to me more than to her, and I thought I would be in a lot of trouble,” Greene laughs. “Instead, my mom just said, ‘There will be a lot of people who won’t like you because of your strong opinions—and you need to get used to it.’” In high school, Greene’s voice and opinions only grew louder and stronger. At one point, she called out fellow students for ostracizing certain groups from pep-rally preparations when they hosted painting parties in their homes instead of at school. Later, she asked to participate in the Ugly Man contest, which had traditionally only allowed senior males to dress up in costumes.
“”
You can’t be an expert on any issue unless you know how your opposition frames it.
“I did things like that a lot in high school, but my first real campaign was for prom queen,” she says. “I wanted my friend, John Rey, to be king. He was gay, so I wanted to give him my crown.” Throughout high school, Greene continued using her voice to support causes close to her heart. She participated in student council and started Students Against Drunk Driving, but the pivotal moment came when she went to cast her first ballot in the 1990 election. Walking proudly up to the poll station on the UT campus, she still remembers the excitement and responsibility she felt about voting for the first time— and then the horror when she learned there was an error with her registration. She begged and cried and pleaded, but she could not receive a provisional ballot. “That moment still reverberates in my life today,” Greene says. “I felt powerless, and I don’t want anyone to ever feel powerless. There are forces in this country that are purposely designed to make certain communities feel powerless; from that moment on, I decided to do everything I can to make sure communities don’t feel that way.” While studying at UT, Greene joined the Texas Young Democrats and eventually became the executive director. She also joined the Neighborhood Longhorns Program, which provides mentoring and tutoring to local students more likely to drop out of school. The more she volunteered with these organizations, the more she gravitated toward environments where she could see the direct impact of her work. “Doing the actual work of providing services to people who need it and helping them find their voice became much more compelling than sitting in the classroom and having theoretical conversations about social change,” she says. With that in mind—and with $10 in her pocket— Greene left her studies and returned to Washington to chase her childhood dreams. Driven by her desire to engage more young people in the voting process, she sought a job as national youth vote director for the 1996 Clinton campaign. “I was 23,” she says. “I had no job; I just had the vision. What I ended up doing was actually bigger than what I had envisioned, which became the theme of my early career.” Despite not landing her dream job, Greene was hired as a program assistant for Center for Policy Alternatives that helped her build her network in Washington. Before long, she became an assistant to Sylvia Panetta, who at the time was on the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and whose husband was chief of staff at the White House. “So many things came from being in that space and taking advantage of those opportunities,” Greene says. “Those early opportunities prepared me early on to be the youngest person, the only woman and the only person of color in those rooms—and to feel confident making sure my voice was heard.” Those early career experiences continued to sharpen her determination to bring other unheard voices and underrepresented communities to the table. In 2000, she became president of Rock the Vote, a nonprofit whose mission is to engage more young people in the political process. During her tenure as president, she says membership grew from 1,500 to 1 million by 2005 while youth voter turnout grew by 11 percent, a figure she remains proud of today.
ATXWOMAN.COM | 55
“I think as women we should celebrate our accomplishments and I recognize that I had significant success at Rock the Vote,” she says. “The decisions I made helped millions of people vote.” Her tenure at Rock the Vote opened her eyes to the extreme lack of civic education among young people. The group received countless calls on election day from new voters unaware they needed to register prior to voting, which Greene partially attributes to bipartisan divides at the most basic level in public-school education. “We are so divided as a country at times,” she says, “that even our education is being framed within these partisan lines. And we’re gonna have to find a way to fix that.” Today, Greene continues to work toward that solution in all of her endeavors, but she is particularly passionate about her work with VoteRunLead. Started in 2014, the nonprofit is now the largest, most diverse candidate-training organization for women in the country. “We’ve helped more than 35,000 women run for office—and win,” she adds, smiling. A founding board member, Greene travels the country to lead comprehensive training programs focused on helping women see they already have the skills, experience, talent, vision and passion to lead. “Because we are so thorough and want to do a perfect job, women often think we need more time in a specific job, more education or more initials at the end of our name before we can consider leadership in a public-service position,” she says. “So, a lot of the training I do at VoteRunLead is just helping women understand there’s nothing else they need but this moment.” Greene encourages her trainees to consume content from a wide spectrum of media outlets, advice she offers to anyone seeking to be an active member of their community regardless of public office. “Our current media infrastructure has done great harm to embracing critical thinking, so the news we consume can’t come from simply sources that regurgitate our own thoughts,” she says. “You can’t be an expert on any issue unless you know how your opposition frames it.” As a political analyst for Fox News for the last 10 years, Greene walks the talk, unapologetically defending progressive policies on a largely conservative news outlet. Her views have earned her negative feedback—to put it mildly—from both conservative viewers and her progressive peers, but Greene believes she has a responsibility to share the life experience and perspective from different communities on the network. “I’m not going to spend an hour and half in hair and makeup to go chat with an audience that agrees with me,” she says. “It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to impact how someone might view a community of people and provide a different perspective.” Through her work at VoteRunLead, she hopes to encourage more and more women to do the same. In Austin specifically, she has also joined and helped create local initiatives and events, like #tribWomenInspire. With a goal to create more space for diversity and women’s leadership in the city, the program launched during the 2019 Texas Tribune Festival to honor the advocacy of author Piper Kerman. Greene hopes to curate the same kind of environment she remembers from her childhood experience at Matthews Elementary. “When I first moved back to Austin, it became clear that the spaces familiar to me growing up are much harder to find, so my goal is to help Austin become the community I know it can be,” she says. “My direct personal experience created a version of the city that is possible with a little intentionality; when you invite people into the community with a different opinion and different life experiences, everyone wins.”
56 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
ARRIVE AUSTIN Arrive Austin is an 83-room hotel on the corner of East Sixth Street and Chicon built to welcome people to the neighborhood. Upon arrival, guests check in at the bar where their welcome drink and snack is on the house. Here, opposites attract as modern industrial finishes meet bright cosmic collages by Sarah Presson. Each room is outfitted with custom Wood Castle millwork, an Apple TV, Marshall speakers and Brooklinen bedding and Turkish towels. Marble-accented bathrooms feature floor-to-ceiling subway tile and come stocked with Niven Morgan’s aromatic bath essentials. When hunger sets in, Vixen’s Wedding serves up Goanand Portuguese-inspired family-style eats and Lefty’s Brick Bar crafts banh boys and frosty cocktails worth sticking around for. On the second floor deck, Gin Bar pours more than 90 gin varieties from Argentina to New Zealand while Cartel Coffee Lab keeps the third-wave caffeine game strong downstairs. For more information, please visit arrivehotels.com/austin or follow @ArriveHotels, @LeftysBrickBar, @GinBarATX, and @VixensWeddingATX on Instagram.
Page 53: Ivory druzzy pendant necklace, $16; hoop earrings, $12.95, available at Maurices, 10515 N. Mopac Expy., maurices.com; dress, shoes and ring, model’s own. Page 54: Flawless solid tee, $24; olive paper-bag-waist pants, $44; layered necklace, $14.50, available at Maurices, 10515 N. Mopac Expy., maurices.com. Page 57: Texas hoodie, $39; high-rise ultra-soft leggings, $15, available at Maurices, 10515 N. Mopac Expy., maurices.com.
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MORE THAN
NOTHING
The women of the The Rabble are crushing political dread one to-do list at a time. BY BRIANNA CALERI PHOTOS BY TAYLOR PRINSEN
It’s Friday night at Cheer Up Charlie’s and Kristen Gunn can’t stop thinking about Butterfingers. She and Ashley Cheng, the two thirds of the progressive political organization Rouser who don’t have the flu, are recording a live on-stage episode of their podcast, The Rabble, at Boss Babes’ annual State of the Uterus. The topic of the night is sex education. They challenge the audience to a multiple-choice quiz on abstinence metaphors used in state-sanctioned sex-ed textbooks. But what they pose is a trick question, since all three answer choices have been taught in Texas schools to encourage students to not have sex until marriage, including a Butterfinger metaphor, as in: “Would you rather be a whole Butterfinger, or a chewed-up Butterfinger?” Gunn spews her mangled Butterfinger from the stage in laughter. It’s a bad metaphor for sex-ed, but the night perfectly represents the unruly glee of The Rabble. With the addition of Becky Bullard, the three women call themselves an “unruly mob,” and they live up to it. Their goal is to demystify Texas politics and encourage action, demonstrating the transformative power of local government. They achieve it by cursing, punning, laughing and crying in a roundtable format with a guest every week. And they don’t hide their lack of political expertise; if they can do it, they emphasize, anyone can. Bullard brought Rouser together. She had known Cheng for a while, as their paths kept crossing through mutual friends and a shared stint on the leadership board of Slow Food Austin. They drifted apart, but stayed connected on social media, where Cheng would post about activism. After the 2016 election, Bullard decided she wanted to learn to be an activist. She went to Cheng in search of a buddy for her journey.
58 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Gunn, fittingly, is a frequent provider of non sequiturs on The Rabble, who got involved by coincidence. She regularly attended community meetings and was excited to spot a woman who wasn’t decades older than she was. She approached Bullard, recognizing a familiar energy in her “vibrating need to do all the things.” The Rabble was conceived through a desire for community engagement. With positivity and a willingness to publicly discuss their own mistakes, Rouser built a community for people who care but don’t know how to take consistent action. “I wanted everyone to know that I didn’t know what I was doing,” Cheng says, “and that we should all not know what we’re doing together and figure it out.” Through polling, they found their target audience typically faces three roadblocks to political engagement. In Gunn’s words, “People are turned off by politics because it’s a bummer, people don’t feel like anything they do will matter or people don’t see any clear way to help.” The Rabble provides a leg up in every category, with positivity and accessibility, stories of success and stories of further need, and weekly assignments. “We’re like Lisa Frank goes to the capitol,” Bullard says, smiling.
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POLITICS ARE NOT A BUMMER Most traditional etiquette tells us to avoid politics at all costs when speaking to family, coworkers or friends we don’t want to lose. Politics are for arguing, and proving things, and if you’re not mad, you’re not paying attention. It is sometimes a misguided badge of honor, Gunn points out, to insist we are above politics. “‘I don’t like politics’ is synonymous with saying, ‘I’m not petty,’” she says. But to have a political opinion requires knowledge of a complicated system that few fully understand and sharing it risks getting called out or “cancelled” when people don’t agree. In short, being involved in politics means being involved in being wrong. And The Rabble is here to teach you how to be wrong in the right way. The first step is recognizing the difference between intent and impact. In season two, on the episode “Building a More Intersectional Texas with Measure,” listeners meet two women who work for the Austin-based organization Measure and embody a healthy partnership between a community and its allies. Founder Meme Styles educates on black stereotypes and statistics while Janis Bookout, the white director of performance and evaluation, joins the conversation to shepherd white listeners through confronting benevolent prejudice within themselves. This symbiosis echoes the relationship between The Rabble and its featured guests: One creates a learning space that is empowered by humility, while the other provides the hard facts and lived experience. In that same episode, Bullard shares a personal story acknowledging the racial bias she will already have to help her 5-year-old undo. Bullard relishes the power of personal stories, saying she hopes hearing about a mistake “gives our listeners permission to forgive themselves for when they screw up, too.” Letting go of defensiveness, then, allows for a release of uptightness. The unapologetic positivity within each hour ranges from cathartic outbursts (gleefully shouting, “Ew!” at the mention of Texas Rep. Chip Roy) to disarmingly sincere interjections of gratitude for each other. Even exercising their rights to frequent bouts of crying feels like rebellious, reimagined positivity—it’s their podcast and they’ll cry if they want to. Lightening the mood around topics as heavy as abortion, family separation and gun laws is hard, but necessary work to undercut intimidation and keep the activism flowing. Cheng, especially, leans on dry humor and a heavy coating of irony to discuss bad situations without losing momentum. She sees the privilege that kind of positivity takes, and all three use it to convert disheartening realities into rowdy brunch talk.
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Cheng says calling her representatives to complain is “the cheapest form of therapy.”
“”
THE THINGS WE DO MATTER Positivity is a powerful motivator, inspiring people to face intimidation, past failures and negative perceptions. Social-justice activist Adrienne Maree Brown coined the term “pleasure activism” to describe the philosophy that politics can and should be fun. In order to create sustainable movements, people have to avoid burnout and feel inspired. After drawing in political skeptics with its contagious positivity, The Rabble’s next mission is to show listeners that their participation matters. Much like the women who dubbed themselves “nasty women” in 2016 after a derogatory comment by President Donald Trump, The Rabble founders identify as an “unruly mob” as an homage to Wendy Davis’ infamous 2013 filibuster. The Texas Legislature was poised to pass an antiabortion bill when Davis took the floor seven years ago. Armed with personal stories from supporters, Davis set her sights on midnight, 13 hours away. Her filibuster continued until the Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst ruled her out of order. As Davis’ turn to speak ended, other legislators started raising their own voices. In a pivotal moment, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte shouted, “At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over the male colleagues in the room?” Rabble rousers on every level of the capitol building rotunda started shouting; the noise crescendoed as protestors in the hallways and outside joined in. The Senate, unable to vote over the chaos, let midnight pass, and the new day swept the bill away with it. Dewhurst told reporters, “I didn’t lose control of what we were doing.” Instead, he complained, “We had an unruly mob.” Just as Davis relied on the stories of Texas women to delay the bill, The Rabble leans on its guests to be the voices of the state. Gunn, Cheng and Bullard are positivity emcees who collect and distribute stories, proving that things are being done. All three are adamant about constituents calling in, testifying or otherwise making their voices heard. To those afraid of confrontation, they emphasize that it’s a representative’s job to be nice to the public they serve. Cheng says calling her representatives to complain is “the cheapest form of therapy.” “I used to feel like I needed to have something really wellresearched to say, or something that came directly from an organization that was really reputable that I respected,” Cheng says. “But then I realized that I should have more self-respect for my own opinions, and that’s literally why our representatives are there.”
At what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over the male colleagues in the room? THERE ARE CLEAR WAYS TO HELP The final step in The Rabble’s activist initiation is homework. It’s easier than it sounds. In fact, not only do the assignments eliminate the awkward effort of getting the ball rolling in new political spaces, they’re designed to be achieved in a couple of minutes. Both mothers themselves, Gunn and Bullard know the importance of equipping moms with tiny tasks that fit into their schedules. Even without kids, there are obstacles for anyone to get involved, such as not having a car. Calls to action can be as simple as buying a black doll to send to daycare to increase representation at a young age, or RSVPing to an event. At the live taping for the first season finale, Cheng asked the audience to save the phone number to the office of Texas Sen. John Cornyn. She demonstrated how to call and leave a voicemail and asked that each member of the audience call on the drive home. Many of them did. Specificity is the secret ingredient that has proven to motivate Rabble listeners in taking formerly intimidating steps. The podcast’s Instagram stories detail obscure bureaucratic processes and if listeners are still nervous, the founders offer to help; they’ll march with you, call representatives with you or testify in court with you. Bullard says the antidote to political dread is “giving people actionable things that they can do and showing them the difference that it will make.” To this effect, Rouser partnered with Blue Squad, an app that allows users to follow organizations and complete their assigned tasks. Even if the task is just to sign up with a new organization, the 30-second commitment opens the doors to more opportunities, sparking a domino effect. Evolution at The Rabble is caring, learning, listening and joining. Coined by frequent guest Stephanie Chiarello, its rallying cry is simple but convicting: “Do more than nothing.”
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HOW TO BECOME AN ACTIVIST IN A YEAR Right now: “Check that you’re registered to vote on Register2Vote.org,” Bullard says. “If you lean Democrat, download the Blue Squad app to look up who represents you (and who is running against them).” Check out Rock the Vote, Vote 411 and The Texas Tribune for nonpartisan voting resources. Today: “Pick your democracy buddy. It’s easier (and more fun) to do democracy with a friend,” Bullard says. The Rouser girls recommend meeting fellow advocates at events hosted by Annie’s List, Indivisible, The Texas Tribune, Blue Action Democrats and the League of Women Voters. This week: “Look up your precinct chair and connect with them,” Bullard recommends. “This is the person in charge of making sure your neighborhood turns out to vote. They will be thrilled to have your help and can answer questions and point you to more resources.” This month: “Start researching candidates and go see them speak in person if you can. When you find someone you like, volunteer with their campaign: help register voters, write postcards, send texts, make calls, knock on doors. Don’t worry, they will teach you everything you need to know.” In eight months: “The 2020 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, but early voting is from Oct. 19 to Oct. 30,” Bullard says. “Vote in every single race all the way down the ballot. We love to make a party of it by hitting happy hour after casting our ballots.” By the end of the year: “The Texas Legislature will be back in session beginning in January of 2021,” Bullard says. “This is the body that makes all our state laws, from funding for our schools to restrictions on abortion and everything in between. Stick with The Rabble for tutorials on testifying at the capitol, visiting your lawmakers and [making] the biggest impact right here in our backyard.”
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THE LADIES OF THE RABBLE ON THEIR FAVORITE LESLIE KNOPE QUOTES Kristen Gunn: “Ann, you poetic, noble land mermaid.” Becky Bullard: “If I had to have a stripper’s name, it would be Equality.” Ashley Cheng: “I’m big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself.”
To read more, visit atxwoman.com. ATXWOMAN.COM |  63
RECIPE REVEAL
KING OF SOURDOUGH
Amanda Turner shares her sourdough recipe. BY COURTNEY RUNN
Jester King embodies the best of Austin: a deep commitment to sustainability, an inherent invitation to community, a quirky pride and sense of self and a passion for excellent food and beer. Tucked off Highway 290 in Dripping Springs, Texas, the brewery stretches across 58 acres of land, supporting on-site fruits, vegetables, a herd of goats and a colony of bees. Like everything else on the property, its menu is seasonally inspired and made with local ingredients, offering an array of savory snacks, pizzas and pastries.
The locally driven farm-to-table menu, plus the chance to work with Chef Damien Brockway, is what first attracted Amanda Turner to her current role as the brewery’s chef de cuisine. New ingredients keep her inspired in the kitchen and her latest experiment explored the limits of sourdough for Jester King’s Doom Forge Day event. “I wanted to make a bread that was black and white, and I was inspired by a black garlic pasta dough I used to make and tried to see if it would translate to sourdough, and it did,” Turner says. “The flavor of black garlic is really unique and brings a lot of umami character to the dough.” The invention was a hit, becoming a bestseller at the brewery. Bring Jester King to your own kitchen table with Turner’s sourdough recipe.
BLACK GARLIC SOURDOUGH Ingredients 100 grams sourdough starter (You can find a starter at businesses like King Arthur Flour, or at local farmersmarket vendor The Sourdough Project.)
25 grams whole-wheat flour
375 grams water
20 grams squid ink
10 grams salt 40 grams black garlic
476 grams high-gluten flour Directions 1. In a mixing bowl, combine water and starter and mix thoroughly. Add flours, salt and let rest for 20 minutes.
3. A fter dough has been folded, each half will be recombined together, stacking the black and white loaf on top of each other. Using a standard shaping procedure, make the bread into a round shape and allow to rest for 30 minutes. 4. After 30 minutes, shape the loaf into its final form and move to a banneton or floured bowl. Allow to rest in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. 5. To bake, preheat a pizza stone or large Dutch oven to 500 degrees. Remove the dough from the bowl and use a sharp knife or razor blade to score the bread. Move into the oven or Dutch oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the top from the Dutch oven if using and bake another 15 to 20 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Allow to rest on a rack for at least 1 hour before cutting. 64 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Photo by Mackenzie Smith Kelley.
2. O nce rested, split the dough into two halves and mix black garlic and squid ink into one half, squeezing the dough with your hands to combine. Each dough half will then need to be gently folded every 30 minutes for 2 hours, for a total of four folds.
ATXWOMAN.COM |  65
Photo courtesy of Granger Coats.
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PRAISE THE PELVIC FLOOR
What you need to know pre- and post-pregnancy to prevent pelvic-floor dysfunction.
Ladies, let’s address the post-baby sneeze-and-pee phenomenon. If you’re a mom, first of all, you’re a rock star for creating, nurturing and birthing an actual human being into this world. While we can talk all day long about how beautiful motherhood is, if you’re experiencing the not-so-beautiful “I laughed so hard I peed a little” situation, or have had some, ahem, accidents where you just didn’t quite make it to the ladies’ room in time, you should know this is not a sacrifice you have to make. UT Health Austin’s Women’s Health Institute pelvic-floor physical therapist Maureen Christian explains, “The pelvic floor is a multi-layered group of hammock-shaped muscles along with other ligamentous and connective tissue structures that span from the pubic bone anteriorly to the sacrum/coccyx posteriorly.” The pelvic floor separates the
pelvic cavity above from the perineal region below and helps support the pelvic organs. Pelvic-floor dysfunction occurs when the pelvic-floor muscles have become weak or damaged, potentially generating urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, constipation or pain with sexual intercourse. During pregnancy, the added weight pressing down on the pelvic floor can cause compression and prolonged stretching, possibly making the muscle tissue weaker and more challenging to contract. Christian adds, “This, combined with added pressure directly on the urinary bladder, can cause urinary leakage with surge pressures from coughing, sneezing, laughing, position changes, etc.” The degree to which the pelvic-floor structures are stressed during childbirth is dependent on many factors, such as fetal weight and head size, length of the second stage of labor and labor-to-birth positioning.
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“The truth is, childbirth does change things and puts a woman at greater risk for pelvic-floor dysfunction. However, barring injury, given time, the body heals, recovers and returns to its pre-partum state,” Christian says. There are several interventions a pelvic-floor therapist can educate the patient on in order to reduce and, ideally, eliminate the symptoms. It’s important to seek the assistance of a pelvic-floor therapist should you have persisting symptoms after six to eight weeks postpartum. Prior to pregnancy, become well informed about your pelvic floor by visiting a pelvic-floor therapist. Utilizing safe body mechanics, being mindful of engaging abdominal muscles and practicing a balanced routine of pelvic-floor muscle engagement and relaxation can help to prepare the tissue for the extensive stretching it will
encounter during the birth process. “In the latter stages of pregnancy (post-37 weeks), have an experienced therapist begin manual perineal stretching treatment and instruct you on proper self-perineal stretching techniques,” Christian recommends. With therapy and guidance from experts, many women are able to strengthen their pelvic-floor muscles, regain control and live without incontinence or other issues. If you are experiencing symptoms of pelvic-floor dysfunction or are concerned about your pelvic-floor health, make an appointment with experts at UT Health Austin’s Women’s Health Institute by calling 1-833-UT-CARES (1-833-882-2737).
ATXWOMAN.COM | 67
HER ROUTINE
SHOOTING HOOPS
Elite basketball player and high-school coach Dominique Simmons always finds the net. BY GRETCHEN M. SANDERS
Meet Dominique Simmons, a 6-foot tall semi-pro basketball player in Austin. The 33-year-old power forward is a top player in the Austin Women’s Basketball League, which launched in 2013 and attracts elite and recreational athletes. Simmons, who started shooting hoops at age 5 when her parents were stationed at Fort Hood, played ball at Simpson University in Northern California where she was a key player. Between 2010 and 2018, she played in an international professional league for Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany and Kenya. These days, Simmons also scores points for the San Antonio Troopers, a semi-pro team that plays in national development leagues. “My midrange game is pretty good,” she says. “I have a spin move to the basket, and I finish with a layup.” Simmons can’t get enough of the game. When she’s not dribbling down a basketball court, she’s a girls varsity coach at the Regents School of Austin. Spectators can watch Simmons play locally when the spring season of the Austin Women’s Basketball League kicks off on March 27. Here’s how this power forward keeps nailing her jump shot: 68 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
THE A.M.:
“I wake up at 4:45 a.m. and spend about 30 minutes having me time. I will either watch motivational videos by Les Brown or Eric Thomas, journal or read from a devotional book. It fuels my mind for success during the day.” THE WORKOUT:
“I play basketball four times a week. I do two open-gym workouts at Lively Middle School in South Austin, which are hosted by Becky Beaver, a basketball player and attorney here. We play five-on-five for about two hours, and anyone can come. I also work with a personal skills trainer twice a week for an hour to develop the skills I need for my position. This could mean shooting, doing speed and agility drills or practicing ball handling skills. The Troopers have mandatory practices twice a week in San Antonio during our season, which is from May through August. We practice in the evening for two and a half hours. Sometimes I don’t get home until 11 p.m. Troopers games are usually on weekends in Texas, Louisiana or Oklahoma. AWBL games are on Friday nights at the Round Rock Sports Center. We play two 20-minute halves. It’s great exercise.” THE DIET:
“I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018. I’m in remission now, but I’ve changed the way I eat. I care about how food impacts my body. I don’t eat meat anymore, and I try to buy organic food. I like leafy greens and plant-based proteins. I eat three big meals every day, plus one snack, which is often a shake I make at home with spinach, kale, arugula, pineapples or berries, almond milk and protein powder. I’m known for eating on the bench during games. I’ll have a banana, strawberries or melon. I rarely drink sports drinks, unless it’s Gatorade Zero. Mostly I drink alkaline water.” THE GEAR:
“I wear Nike basketball shorts and shoes. I like LeBrons or Hyperdunks because I have wide feet and those styles are most comfortable for me. They’re high tops, and I want the ankle support. I also wear compression socks and long-sleeve compression tops on game days to keep my joints warm. I wear a knee brace if needed. For practice, I wear goofy, bright, colorful socks and longsleeve Dri-FIT shirts to prevent getting scratches and bruises on my arms. I prefer Wilson basketballs because I like the texture and grip. Women’s balls are 28.5 inches [in circumference] and are smaller than men’s basketballs.” THE MOTIVATION:
“I will play basketball until my body no longer allows me to do it. It’s fun to be on the court. I don’t think about what’s happening in my life when I’m playing. I’m in the moment, and it’s peaceful.” THE MINDSET:
“Why are you here? I’m here because I love basketball. I choose my attitude.” THE P.M.:
“I massage CBD oil into my knees some nights after practice. It helps to reduce pain and inflammation. I watch Bob’s Burgers and fall sleep between 10 and 10:30 p.m.”
ATXWOMAN.COM |  69
Photo courtesy of Dominique Simmons.
ON THE MONEY
PAYING LESS IN PROPERTY TAXES
Follow these three steps to making sure you’re not overpaying for your home. BY JENNY HOFF
As the Austin real-estate market continues to boom, you’ll likely find yourself paying more in property taxes as the value of your home increases. Travis County boasts one of the highest property tax rates in Texas, which is why many people are moving to neighboring counties. While there is no insider secret on paying less in property taxes, there are some steps you can take to make sure you’re not overpaying. And, if you’re currently house hunting, pay attention to more than just the price of the property, as the property tax rate can vary dramatically within a few miles’ radius.
Of the approximately 400,000 homeowners in Austin, one-third of them protest their taxes and the majority win.
1. When considering a location, look for areas with a lower tax rate. The two drivers of your tax bill are what the property is worth and the effective tax rate. If you can find a home that is on the lower end of your budget, you’ll pay less in taxes. If there is a set price you’re looking for, then search various zip codes you’re considering to find their rates; you might be shocked at the difference. When searching for a home, another way to minimize taxes is to look at older developments instead of new ones. “The newer, more recently developed areas tend to have the higher rates because a lot of that has to be funded through property tax bonds,” says John Krueger, CEO of Five Stone Tax Advisers. 2. Protest your property taxes—every year. If you own a home, you’re likely already getting ads in the mail from companies offering to help you get a lower valuation for your home, which will lower your tax payments. These agents usually only charge you if they’re successful and they often are. “Last year, we served 20,000 clients in the Austin area and got relief for 85 percent of them,” Krueger says. According to him, out of the approximately 400,000 homeowners in Austin, one-third of them protest their taxes and the majority win. If hiring a company sounds too daunting, you can also protest yourself. There are forms available on your county’s website to protest online. In some cases, just submitting screenshots of similar houses within a couple miles’ radius that are priced lower (using an app like Redfin or Zillow) will do the trick. Krueger says you should make sure to also request the county’s evidence for the valuation they gave you when protesting—the software they use is not much different from Zillow’s and can be inaccurate. 3. File for every exemption available to you. For most people, the homestead exemption, which gives you some of your tax money back, is the only one they will qualify for. However, you need to make sure you file it every year and on time. (The Travis County deadline for 2020 is April 30.) Also look at your county’s website to see if you qualify for any other exemptions, most notably those for people 65 years and over and disabled veterans. As you prepare for tax season, use the tools available to keep your property taxes affordable, so as Austin continues to grow, you’ll be able to grow with it.
GETTING YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER IN 2020: MARCH TASK Gather information on all your 401(k)s, stocks and other investments from previous jobs and roll it all into one plan or organize it in an easily accessible binder.
70 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
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ACNE: CAUSES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States.
Acne most commonly affects teenagers and young adults, however it can affect people of all ages. Even mild acne should be treated early to prevent permanent scarring and the darker discoloration that lingers post breakout called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Studies show that acne can lower self-esteem and can cause depression. There are different types of acne including: comedonal acne (i.e. blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, cysts and nodules. You can develop acne anywhere on the body, although it is usually present on the face, chest and back. It is estimated that 40 to 50 million Americans will suffer with acne at some point in their lives. Luckily, there are many effective treatments available to treat this frustrating condition. Acne occurs when a pore becomes clogged. Our skin cells are constantly turning over and producing new skin cells. This process usually takes between 28 to 40 days. In healthy skin, dead skin cells rise to the surface of the pore and shed. Excess oil, also known as sebum, can accumulate in the pore and mix with dead skin cells. Once trapped within the pore, acne can form. A bacterium called P. acnes can also grow and thrive in this environment causing inflammation.
Many effective topical and oral treatments are available that can clarify the skin and boost self-esteem. Patients with mild acne are typically treated with topical medications that address both the inflammatory and bacterial components of acne. Several acne topicals contain a retinoid which promotes cell turn over and clarification of the pores. Retinoids also help address post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is the darker discoloration that lingers after a breakout clears. Topical antibiotics and acids are also commonly used for acne. Moderate and severe acne typically requires both a topical and oral medication. Most oral antibiotics prescribed for acne address both the bacterial and inflammatory component of acne. Isotretinoin, most known as Accutane, is the only medication available that puts the glands in chronic remission. This means that after a course of isotretinoin, acne usually never goes back to baseline. It is used commonly and is usually very safe if monitored by a dermatology provider. Providers at Tru-Skin Dermatology will cater your skin-care regimen to clear your skin quickly and effectively. Tru-Skin offers many in-office treatments to clear acne. A peel series can clarify skin, as well as treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Our Bellus Medical SkinPen helps address acne scarring. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin tone and texture. There is no better fulfillment as a provider than helping to achieve our patients’ skincare goals. Tru-Skin Dermatology accepts most medical insurances. Call 512.451.0139 or visit tru-skin.com to schedule your appointment. You can also communicate with us by text at 512.359.3163.
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ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER HOW THE STATESMAN CAP 10K KEEPS JANE NORWOOD RUNNING by Kathy Walsh
Of the 41 Austin American-Statesman Capitol 10,000 races that Jane Norwood has participated in, there are several that remain vivid in her mind: thick fog obscuring the tops of the downtown buildings; her 10-year-old daughter running by her side in the rain; and experiencing the Congress Avenue course for the first time, with the Texas State Capitol in full, exhilarating view. There was also her first race after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Norwood has lived in Austin since 1976. In her early 30s, she decided it was time to get into shape by establishing a regular exercise program. Running seemed like a good fit for a busy mom of children ages six and three. How hard could it be, she wondered. After her first run, Norwood was gasping for air and her shins were screaming. Time to regroup. She bought a pair of pink running shoes and set a personal goal of increasing her running distance by half a block each week.
In 1978, the Statesman Cap 10K was warming up for its first race. Norwood pictured many of the participants as Olympians: tall, long-legged athletes running three times as fast as anyone else. She didn’t think she was ready to join them—yet. Norwood continued her running regimen, eventually progressing to three- and four-mile loops around Lady Bird Lake. She and a group of friends traveled to neighboring towns to participate in their 10Ks. By the time of the second Cap 10K in 1977, Norwood was ready. For the next several years, participating in the Cap 10K became a tradition. She and her friends would enjoy what felt to her like a celebration in the streets of Austin: runners in creative costumes; spectators lining the course, clapping and cheering; volunteers offering water and encouragement; bands playing their hearts out to keep the runners going.
Jane Norwood crossing the 2017 Cap 10K finish line
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After each triumphant finish, Norwood and her friends would celebrate with Mexican food and mimosas. At some point, she realized she was on a streak and that she had better keep it going. Decades later, her streak remains unbroken, despite her Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2014. Since then, running the Cap 10K every spring has taken on greater personal significance. “The Cap 10K is a marker in my year that tells me how I am doing in the battle to keep Parkinson’s at bay,” says Norwood. “There is no cure. While prescription drugs can ameliorate the symptoms, exercise is the only evidence-based method of slowing the disease’s progression. Exercise is crucial to maintaining strength, range of motion and stamina. It increases one’s ability to carry on with life.”
She applies her decades of experience and advanced degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and St. Edward’s University to analyze data on state and federal reporting. Norwood’s family keeps her busy, too. “I’m married to a wonderful man, Larry Norwood. Between us, we have four children and four grandchildren. They are a great joy in our lives,” says Norwood.
IT’S TRULY AN IN-THE-MOMENT EXPERIENCE.
In addition to running, Norwood takes Power for Parkinson’s classes. The local nonprofit organization provides multiple free exercise, dance and singing classes in Austin and the surrounding communities as well as globally through a home video series. “We laugh a lot,” says Norwood of the classes. Norwood also stays active in other ways. Although she’s retired from her position as director of professional development for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, she continues her long career in social services by working remotely for a social-service agency in California.
She and her husband also enjoy volunteering in a clothing room for those experiencing homelessness. Norwood manages to find time to sing alto in her church choir, too. Last summer, she felt privileged to go on a concert tour in Italy, which included a memorable performance in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Like every year, Norwood is looking forward to the upcoming Cap 10K, which has grown into the largest 10K in Texas. She encourages all to participate in the hometown race on April 5. Whether you’re a professional or serious runner, or a costumewearer and people-watcher, this race has something for everyone. “Cap 10K race day is a happy day,” she says. “Participants, observers and volunteers are glad to be there. I see lots of smiles. It’s truly an in-the-moment experience. Since the addition of the stroller division, it’s become a family event for us. We now have a third generation of Cap 10Kers!” While Norwood acknowledges that receiving the diagnosis of Parkinson’s was difficult, “it’s not the end of life as you know it.” Here’s to your 42nd Cap 10K, Jane, and many more.
To register for the 43rd Statesman Cap 10K on April 5, 2020, presented by Baylor Scott & White, visit Cap 10K.com. Jane Norwood, her daughter and granddaughter at the 2017 Cap 10K, the first year that all three generations participated in the Cap 10K
Jane Norwood, her son, daughter and grandchildren at the 2018 Cap 10K
ASK LUCY
PAW-CHOO
How to cope with canine seasonal allergies. BY LUCY J. PHILLIPS
Dear Lucy, As a Central Texas pup, my skin gets really itchy and I can’t help but give it a good scratch after I’ve walked with my human outdoors. My favorite thing to do is play catch outside, but it makes me so itchy! Do you have any recommendations to cope with seasonal allergies without giving up my favorite pastime?
Dear Cappuccino, You have no idea how much I feel your pain—literally. While humans are busy complaining about all the sneezing and coughing that comes with the budding pollen this time of year, some don’t realize that allergies affect their dogs as well! I did a little digging on the causes of these pesky allergies and a couple solutions you might want to explore. A lot of Austinites—especially new transplants—report a surprising delay in their own allergy symptoms. In 2012, an article in The New York Times reported that humans can develop new allergies in new environments, often after three to five years of exposure. Similarly, puppies might not react to seasonal allergies until later in life, and I went nearly five blissful years before I started to develop really red, itchy skin during our dry Texas winters and early springs. The American Kennel Club recommends contacting your vet if you start to develop symptoms like itchy, runny eyes, sneezing or red, inflamed skin. During one particularly painful episode last year, we ended up with a few products that took care of the immediate problem, but my human worked with the veterinary team at Lake Austin Boulevard Animal Hospital to find a more preventative solution. (She now refers to my gorgeous coat as “delicate princess fur” and while often I detect a hint of sarcasm, I can’t say I disagree).
Along with a foaming cleanser my vet provided for specific flare-ups, she recommended I take a daily dose of Zyrtec (or generic equivalent) with my food—just like my human! Now, it’s part of our daily routine with breakfast before we head out into the world to crush our goals (which in my case is seeing how long I can nap and barking at the mailman). Since most allergies are caused by dust, pollen and grass, I do take more frequent baths to keep that princess fur looking fresh, but the daily Zyrtec has prevented more severe reactions. I can’t stress enough that it’s really important to chat with your vet while searching for the right solution. First, while itchiness may not seem like more than a minor inconvenience, skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection; scratching, biting or licking your skin can lead to really painful hot spots that require antibiotics. I hope you’ll take my word on that one! Second, while Benadryl and Zyrtec products are safe for dogs, there can be side effects associated with taking the wrong dosage. Be sure to get your vet’s advice on the right amount based on your weight before you start taking any pills. My vet provided a handy cheat sheet of all the different brands and dosages so we could make an informed decision. I hope this advice will keep your own fur looking fresh this year— even after a good roll in the grass! Puppy love,
Lucy
If you have a dog-related question for Lucy, reach out and follow her on Instagram @asklucydog.
74 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Lucy photo courtesy of Hannah J. Phillips. Cappuccino photo by Carrie Runn.
Love, Cappuccino the Cute Retriever
SELFLESS
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NOMINATE YOUR NURSE TODAY AT RECOGNIZINGNURSES.COM.
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I AM AUSTIN WOMAN
Pat Gordon Brodnax shares her memories of three decades of advocacy on behalf of Barton Springs.
W
hen I moved to Austin in the late 1980s, it was a laidback college town. The music scene was unrestrained, Whole Foods was a tiny health food shop and Barton Springs was our local swimming hole where we went to rejuvenate and bask in the sun. We were blissfully unaware that our quality of life could be at risk. That changed one day in 1990 when a massive development was proposed for the banks of Barton Creek. It was the largest slated development Austin had ever seen, pushed by the nation’s largest and worst water polluter, the Freeport McMoRan mining company. Austin was called to action to defend Barton Creek and Barton Springs. More than 800 people testified into the night for their beloved waters, convincing Austin’s City Council to deny the proposal and the Save Our Springs (SOS) movement was born, leading to the voter-approved Save Our Springs Ordinance in 1992 and to 30 years of advocacy for Barton Springs, the Edwards Aquifer and the Hill Country. Most everyone in the city knew about the Save Our Springs movement then and fiercely worked to protect the springs. However, throughout the years, due to extreme growth and change, the threats to our home waters grew. Along with more development, Austin also lost that strong sense of place and connection to the springs. Newcomers are simply not as educated as they need to be about our fragile aquatic ecosystems. As Save Our Springs Alliance’s managing director and director of education, I see this as our new call to action. The success of the SOS movement continues to depend on our legal and advocacy efforts, but now, more importantly, it requires us to educate Austin’s new citizens and the next generation. SOS Alliance is responding to this challenge by expanding and enhancing our educational mission mostly through our premier educational program, Barton Springs University (BSU). BSU is a year-round endeavor that includes snorkeling eco-tours, hikes, kids camps and Barton Springs 101 classes. The program culminates each September with a full day of BSU at Barton Springs Pool, featuring outdoor presentations and experiential learning activities taught
76 | AUSTIN WOMAN | MARCH 2020
Photo courtesy of Amy Weiss Photography.
FIGHTING FOR THE SOUL OF THE CITY
by the foremost water experts and professionals in our area. More than 1,000 high-school students, their teachers, college students and the public attend. Our goal is to educate new citizens, re-engage longtime citizens and inspire our young people to become the next generation of environmental stewards and activists. BSU gives us all an opportunity to learn what we must do as a community to protect and sustain our local watersheds. You can learn more at bartonspringsuniversity.org. When I think back to when my son was young, gleefully learning to swim and explore in that cool, clear water, and now see my granddaughter, Juniper, donning her mask and snorkel, discovering the wonderful underwater world of Barton Springs like her father did, I am reminded of how life was then and now— and how it should always be in our unique city. Barton Springs is my sanctuary, the place that will heal and comfort me for the rest of my life. My hope is that every Austinite will always have the opportunity to experience this natural treasure, learn about it and then act to protect it. It is our responsibility as a community to build on the passion and awareness from over the years, carry it over to each new generation and protect the soul of our city forever.
We shine brighter with you.
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AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020
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“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” –Jane Goodall
Prized for protecting what matters
