Power in Persistence: Austin Coming Together

Since 2010, Austin Coming Together (ACT) has been at the heart of Austin’s revitalization, driving change through collaboration, persistence, and a shared vision for a more vibrant future. ACT’s mission is to increase the collective impact of its member organizations on education and economic development in Austin. It provides backbone support for a network of more than 50 public, private, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations and leads collaborative efforts to set long-term priorities and plans for the West Side neighborhood.

One of those priorities came to life in 2025 with the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, a transformative project reflecting eight years of community consensus-building and shared effort. Once a closed school, the site has been reimagined to provide critical workforce development services, addressing a need long expressed by residents. The center shows how collective action can turn an image of desolation into a beacon of hope – and fuel the community’s momentum to continue building the thriving, vibrant Austin they envision.

“The Aspire Center shows the power we have when we band together to lead transformative change in our communities.”

DARNELL SHIELDS
Executive Director
Austin Coming Together