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Hello,

As we head into the holiday season we want to share how grateful we are for you and your leadership.

We wrapped up our last BLC general body meeting of the year on November 9th and we were blown away by the work you've done on the 32 priorities. These are priorities that you set as a passionate Black leader who cares about disrupting the outcomes Black people experience in education, health, economics, and housing, and the like.

Your leadership to break down systems and structures of white supremacy is deeply appreciated -- by our community today -- and the generations to come.

It's been a tough year for all of us. But you have stepped up to set an agenda and to act upon it. We are so proud of you and of our collective action.

In 2021 we will focus on visioning what the Black community can be. We will also focus on healing the ways white supremacy affects us personally, and therefore our leadership. And we will continue to show up, the strategize and to act.

We are so grateful for you. We love you.

Have a blessed holiday,
Terry + Shuronda

PS - Please hold January 8 and 9 for our first training and healing session for Black leaders. We will send details next month.

An Intergenerational Approach to Black Leadership

We brought our elders together to teach us about what it means to lead. BLC is excited about developing curriculum to support our leaders. If you know of an elder in Travis or Williamson County that we can interview, please send us an email.

Click the link to watch the teaser: https://youtu.be/M9yItiD0G0U

Want to Fuel the Movement?

We are looking for help with the following to keep the movement going:

Social Media content

Website updates

Meeting Scheduling

Organizing groups and meetings

To find out more: leadership@blackleaderscollectiveatx.com

DOWNLOAD: Black Leaders Collective Priorities & Action Plan

Updates on BLC Priorities and Actions

The Black Leaders Collective is a diverse and broad-based group of Black community leaders. In September we announced specific priorities and actions to confront systemic racism and remove barriers that impede success for our local Black community – particularly those in Travis and Williamson counties.

Take a look at what we've been able to accomplish together in 2020!

BLC Announcements

Let's congratulate our collaborators who successfully ran for public office!

Commissioner Jeff Travillion, Travis County, Precinct 1
Councilmember Rudy Metayer, City of Pflugerville, Place 4
Kevin Foster, PhD, Austin ISD School Board of Trustees, Place 4
Tiffanie Harrison, Round Rock ISD School Board of Trustees, Place 6

Do you know and love a Black Musician?
There are health insurance grants available for Black musicians. The open enrollment deadline is Dec. 15. Check out the VIDEO more information.

Want to make sure Project Connect's implementation serves the Black community?
The Austin Transportation Partners board is responsible for oversight of design, construction and implementation of Project Connect projects. Capital Metro will invest $7.1 billion in the initial phase of the project and the City of Austin will provide $300 million in anti-displacement funds. The deadline to apply is Dec 2nd. Qualifications can be found here: http://bit.ly/3lQxgbF.
Email a resume & letter of interest to: ATP.Board@austintransitpartnership.org

Want to know about APD's record on racial profiling?
Read the Joint Report: Analysis of Austin Police Department’s 2019 Racial Profiling Data

Congrats to author and activist Cluren Williams on the publication of his new children's book: Oscar The Ostrich Wants To Fly.

Austin Justice Coalition hosts Reentry Roundtable
Reentry is the transition of individuals from incarceration back into the community. 95% of those who are incarcerated will eventually return to the community.
How often do you consider the impacts of reentry on your life, your family, your workplace, and your faith community?
The Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable and the Austin Justice Coalition are co-hosting a virtual Community Conversation on Reentry on Monday, December 7th, 2020 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. This invitation is open to any community member who is interested in learning more about the impact of reentry on individuals and our community as a whole. This event will be more intimate than a town hall meeting – we will start with an overview of the state of reentry in Travis County and then will move into small group conversations to promote dialogue.

Texas Black Caucus Foundation Hires Rudy Metayer
“We recognize that energy and what’s happening right now in this movement,” said Pflugerville Council member Rudy Metayer, who is serving as president and executive director of the foundation. “They [Texas Black Legislative Caucus members] need to be able to have a place where they can actually make a difference with that energy.”

Project Connect Board Deadline
Extended to Dec. 2.

If you’re a community expert with the requested qualifications, email a resume & letter of interest to ATP.Board@austintransitpartnership.org For more info, visit http://austintransitpartnership.org

About Black Leaders Collective

BLC formed in July 2020 against the backdrop of the killings of George Floyd and Mike Ramos, and widening racial disparities in wealth, health, education, and justice in Austin and surrounding cities. Following the group’s formation, BLC conducted a series of strategic planning sessions that resulted in the creation of The Black Leaders Collective Priorities & Action Plan.

Let's congratulate our collaborators who successfully ran for public office!

Project Connect Board Deadline Extended to Dec. 2.

Project Connect Board Deadline
Extended to Dec. 2.