Austin Neighborhood Network: The Value of Collaboration & Community Driven Vision

04/23/21 • 26 min

What does it look like to engage with community stakeholders to co-design a community plan for revitalization that authentically centers the needs of the local neighborhood? In our 14th episode we feature Austin Neighborhood Network, located in the largest geographic neighborhood of Chicago, to learn more about their participatory efforts to collectively transform their community. Listen in to learn more from Jose Abonce, Ruth Kimble, and Sandra Diaz, as they share the successes, challenges, and insight about how their coalition works to build up community infrastructure by following four of the highest priorities set by community members as part of their Quality of Life Plan, including 1) access to quality early learning opportunities, 2) living wage careers, 3) safe neighborhoods and, and 4) healthy and affordable housing.

To learn more about the Network and their backbone organization, Austin Coming Together visit their website https://austincomingtogether.org/.

Jose Abonce, Lead Organizer, Austin Coming Together
Ruth Kimbel, Community Partner & Owner/ Operator of Austin Childcare Provider’s Network
Sandra Diaz, HUB Coordinator, Austin Coming Together
Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Networks

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Resonate Recordings

To learn more about the Network and their backbone organization, Austin Coming Together visit their website https://austincomingtogether.org/.

Jose Abonce, Lead Organizer, Austin Coming Together
Ruth Kimbel, Community Partner & Owner/ Operator of Austin Childcare Provider’s Network
Sandra Diaz, HUB Coordinator, Austin Coming Together
Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Networks

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland

Edited by: Resonate Recordings

Previous Episode

Essex County Council for Young Children: Centering Parent Leadership to Foster a Trauma Informed Newark

What does it look like to create a trauma-informed early care and education community? Why is centering parent leaders critical to achieving this vision? In our 13th episode, we learn about the innovative work that the Essex County Council for Young Children (ECCYC) is leading to foster meaningful cross-sector partnerships between agencies and parents to create healthy, thriving, and resilient communities. Based in Newark, New Jersey, ECCYC is made up of a coalition of parents and families, along with providers and other community members as active partners, who identify and discuss the issues that affect the health, education and safety of children from pregnancy to eight in Essex County, including the important role of childhood trauma and adverse early experience. A leading statewide model for authentic parent engagement and leadership, ECCYC is made up of majority parent involvement in key leadership roles and is actively working with peer communities to share their trauma-informed and parent leadership approach across the state of New Jersey. Through our conversation, we learn about why parent leadership matters, their cross-sector collaborative approach, and the importance of meeting people where they are at and honoring each of our gifts in this work. Learn more and stay connected with ECCYC at https://www.facebook.com/Essex.Council.
Guests include:

Dr. Beverly Lynn, CEO, Programs for Parents, Inc
Judy Bennett, Consultant to Essex County Council for Young Children
Altorice Frazier, Parent, Essex County Council for Young Children Co-Chair; Executive Director, Parents Engaging Parents
Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing
Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited by: Diana Rivera

Next Episode

The LIFE Project: Building on The Strengths Of Immigrant Families To Promote Quality Early Care And Education Access

Based in New York City, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), in partnership with Fifth Avenue Committee, LSA Family Health Service, BACDYS (Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services), and Masa, launched the Linking Immigrant Families to Quality Early Care and Education (LIFE) Project to connect quality early education to immigrant families including the city's Pre-K and 3K programs. Their work builds on the passion that immigrant families have for educational opportunities and existing relationships with community programs, identifies unique barriers and challenges faced by immigrant families, and aims to build trusting relationships with the communities served. In our final episode of Season 1, we learn from Rosario, Liza, and Kim, members and leaders of the LIFE Project. Guests reflect on what brought them to this work, the strength of the communities they work with, and the lessons learned as they champion for a more equitable early education system in New York City for immigrant communities.

To learn more about the New York Immigration Coalition and their projects please visit, https://www.nyic.org/.

Guests include:

Rosario Jimenez, Community Health Worker & Early Care Education Advocate, LSA Family Health Service Inc
Liza Schwartzwald, Senior Manager of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
Kim Sykes, Director of Education Policy, New York Immigration Coalition
Host: Ronda Alexander, Director of Operations, NOW at Vital Village Network

Produced by: Networks of Opportunity for Child Wellbeing

Music By: Morgan Breland
Edited by: Resonate Recordings