Austin Area Research Organization Inc

AARO ENGAGES ITS 115 MEMBERS IN DELIBERATIVE, STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES TO ADVANCE THE LONG-TERMECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF CENTRAL TEXAS. IN 2021, AARO ENGAGED ITS MEMBERS IN EFFORTS IN FIVE PRIORITY AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL EQUITY, TRANSPORTATION AND WATER.

PROVIDED INFORMATION ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN 5 PRIORITY AREAS: EDUCATION, HEALTH, SOCIAL EQUITY, TRANSPORTATION AND WATER BY HOSTING PROGRAMS FEATURING CONTENT EXPERTS AND PROVIDING WRITTEN MATERIALS TO MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDED SIX MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND MORE THAN 50 ISSUE-RELATED MEETINGS IN WHICH MEMBERS WERE FORTIFIED WITH FACTS TO ALLOW THEM TO UNDERSTAND COMPLEX ISSUES AND EDUCATE OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ABOUT CRITICAL POLICY ISSUES FACING THE REGION. THE VISION COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO GROW THE AARO HANDBOOK, INCUBATE NEW TOPICS SUCH AS THE STATE OF CENTRAL TEXAS WOMEN.

THE AARO, WORKING WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS THROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS ADDRESSING CANCER TOGETHER (ACT), WORKED TO FINALIZE A BETTER MODEL FOR CANCER CARE FOR THE UNINSURED IN CENTRAL TEXAS COUNTIES SURROUNDING TRAVIS THAT DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM TAX BASE FOR PATIENT CARE. THE SHIVER'S FOUNDATION PROVIDED A $200,000 GRANT TO ASSIST PROGRAM START UP IN Q4. THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND CITY OF SAN MARCOS COUNCIL BOTH COMMITTED FEDERAL ARPA FUNDING AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PROGRAM AND SERVICES TO LOCAL RESIDENTS. NO FUNDS FROM ANY OF THESE SOURCES WERE DRAWN DOWN IN 2021. THE AARO HEALTH COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED UNITED WAY FOR GREATER AUSTIN AS THE IDEAL PARTNER TO BECOME THE PERMANENT COORDINATING ENTITY FOR THE INITIATIVE. BY YEAR END, BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ACT COALITION LEADERSHIP APPROVED THE PARTNERSHIP AND DEVELOPED A TRANSITION PLAN.

IN THE CLOSING MONTHS OF 2020, AARO CREATED THE PERSONAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY WORKING GROUP WHICH CONCLUDED AT THE END OF 2021. FOR MANY MONTHS, THE WORKING GROUP MET TWICE MONTHLY AS THEY READ THROUGH VOLUMES OF MATERIALS, DISCUSSED MYRIAD ISSUES RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND RACISM. AT YEAR END, THE WORKING GROUP CONCLUDED THEIR INVESTIGATION AND RECOMMENDED TO THE MEMBERSHIP THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IN CENTRAL TEXAS WOULD BE WELL SERVED BY THE CREATION OF A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND CONVENING REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES REGULARLY TO DEVELOP DEEP RELATIONSHIPS AS THEY DISCUSS NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CHALLENGES IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, REVIEW EVIDENCE BASED BEST PRACTICES AND CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATIVELY IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY IN CENTRAL TEXAS.

THE FRANK MCBEE JR. FELLOWS PROGRAM IS A RIGOROUS, 13-MONTH PROGRAM FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. FRANK MCBEE JR. FELLOWSHIPS OFFER EXCEPTIONAL CENTRAL TEXAS LEADERS FIRST-HAND, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH REGIONAL CIVIC ENTREPRENEURS ON A VARIETY OF PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES TO IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CENTRAL TEXANS.THE FELLOWSHIP IS DESIGNED TO SEED CENTRAL TEXAS WITH LEADERS WHO THINK REGIONALLY AND ACT AS STEWARDS FOR THE GREATER COMMON GOOD. LIKE AARO MEMBERS, MCBEE FELLOWS:LEAD WITH INTEGRITY INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELYESTABLISH AND NURTURE RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUSTTHINK AND ACT SYSTEMICALLY, CONSIDERING THE INTERDEPENDENCY OF ISSUESDURING THE PROGRAM YEAR, FELLOWS ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH MANY OF THE REGION'S MOST INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS THROUGH AARO COMMITTEE AND MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS. IN ADDITION, EACH FELLOW MEETS REGULARLY WITH TWO AARO MENTORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FELLOWS ARE EXPECTED TO REPAY THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE FELLOWSHIP YEAR BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE REGION AS FUTURE LEADERS. AARO HOPES MCBEE ALUMNI WILL INSPIRE OTHERS IN THEIR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE TO THINK AND ACT IN THE LONG-TERM BEST INTEREST OF THE REGION.