REAL | LEADERS
AUSTIN BOARD OF REALTORS®
A Historic Partnership with Community First! Village In February, the Austin Board of REALTORS® announced a $1 million, 10-year partnership between the ABoR Foundation and Community First! Village, an innovative, 51-acre masterplanned community by Mobile Loaves & Fishes that provides permanent, supportive housing for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. This partnership, which is the largest donation in our association’s history, is ABoR taking action on our deeply held belief in the value of community.
ROMEO MANZANILLA
2020 PRESIDENT
We believe that homelessness is experienced by far too many in our community today. Through a profound, catastrophic loss of family, our homeless neighbors have not only lost a place to call home, but also the hope and dignity inherently deserved by every human being. The work of Community First! Village restores
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Austin Board of REALTORS Pledges $1 Million to Community First! Village: ABoR CEO Emily Chenevert, ABoR 2020 President Romeo Manzanilla, Founder and CEO Mobile Loaves & Fishes Alan Graham and ABoR Foundation Chair Carrie Weikert of Coldwell Banker Realty
that hope and dignity every day. Currently home to
Works Entrepreneur Hub and a 20,000 square-foot
he’s learned serving Austin’s homeless over the last
more than 200 formerly homeless men and women,
wellness and respite center for residents. A donor
two decades.)
Community First! Village has 100 Park Model RVs
recognition park uniting Phases One and Two will
and 130 micro-homes, laundry/restroom/shower
be named after the Austin Board of REALTORS®.
As REALTORS®, we not only have the privilege to connect families with their homes but to demonstrate
facilities, outdoor kitchens, gardens and farms,
But the best part of Community First! Village
that level of kindness and goodness to those we serve
walking trails, a market and a Capital Metro bus
is what it’s like to experience the village itself.
every day. The ABoR Foundation’s partnership with
stop. The Village’s art house, outdoor cinema,
The motto of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, “serving
Community First! Village is noteworthy not just
car care center, woodworking shop, forge, event
goodness,” is apparent at every step, from street
because of the size of contribution or the length
concession and catering and bed and breakfast inn
names like “Heart Over Pocket” to the kindness
of the partnership, but because it’s more than just
allow residents to practice hobbies, learn a trade
shown from everyone you meet. Alan Graham,
financial support. Our work with Community First!
and earn income.
founder & CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, lives
will not just include opportunities to volunteer and
Phase Two of Community First! Village, which is
onsite and greets every resident by name and with
support housing projects at the village, but to get to
underway, will bring another 300 homes, additional
hugs. (You can read his book, Welcome Homeless,
know and spend time with its residents throughout
outdoor kitchens and facilities, a Community
on the people who have changed his life and what
the year.
