This year, Austin Voices brought over 12,500 people and hundreds of partners together for community celebrations and resources fairs at 11 Austin ISD and El Paso ISD campuses. These gatherings strengthen bonds between campus and community, while providing important resources for families. Austin Voices goal over the past decade has been to provide a model that communities can use to organize and fund events, as schools work together to organize the events across vertical teams and community school alliances. Partners love the level of organization and the large numbers of attendees at events. Families love that they can have a free day out with their children, while connecting with much-needed resources, such as employment, health screenings and more.
- The Burnet Holiday Fest, in its first year, brought together over 600 attendees on a cold and rainy Saturday before Christmas for a day of resources, fun, music, food and pictures with Santa.
- HopeFest, in its 13th year at Reagan High School, drew over 3,000 attendees and 150 exhibitors on Saturday, October 28 for a day of live music, food, children’s games and crafts,
and resources, including health, dental, insurance, employment, and education. - Harvest Fest, in its 5th year at Eastside Memorial High School, drew 1,200 attendees from the Eastside Memorial Vertical Team.
- The 5th annual STEAM Fest at Martin Middle School drew over 1,000 attendees, even on a cold and wet day. With an incredible assortment of STEM, arts and resource providers, STEAM fest went to the next level as a community event. Austin Voices was able to support the event, but step back as Martin leadership, including STEM Specialist Ryan O’Donnell, made the event their own.
- Austin Voices helped schools in the Chamizal and Segundo Barrio communities of El Paso to hold two “United as One!” Festival at Zavala Elementary School and Guillen Middle Schools. On a beautiful fall Saturday in October at Zavala, over 1,000 attendees joined 60 exhibitors for an amazing day of resources, fun, food and music, followed by another great festival in May at Guillen Middle School. Campuses are already planning for next year’s events, which have become neighborhood traditions.
- St. John Unity Walk and Kids Fest, in collaboration with Child, Inc. at Webb and Reagan. In its 14th year, the St. John Unity Walk had approximately 350 participants, including bands from Reagan and Dobie, walking the 1.25 miles from Webb MS to Reagan HS, where the third annual Kids Fest provided hours of family fun and resources, with approximately 1,200 attendees.
- Futbol Rapido and Lanier Family Resource Fair brought together approximately 800 parents and students together for a day of round-robin soccer games, resources and fun on Saturday, May 12.
- Other events and festivals included the Austin Energy resource fair at Dobie Middle School, events at Mendez Middle School, the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Burnet MS, and the ENCORE College Readiness event at Webb Middle School.
