■ ICE spotted at Jackson Blvd. apartment building PAGE 3
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September 10, 2025
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2025 QUARTER 3
THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY PUBLISHED ITS FIRST QUALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN CALLED AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. (AFT) IN 2018. THIS QUARTERLY PUBLICATION DESCRIBES HOW AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER (ACT) IS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT AFT AND OTHER EFFORTS.
THE GOOD NEWS Our unity is driving progress
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THIS ISSUE INCLUDES A SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE ASPIRE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION STARTING ON PAGE 7
Vol. 39 No. 36
September 10, 2025 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
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As Trump blusters, MAAFA Redemption Project breaks ground ‘Not another chance. A first chance.’
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By LEAH SCHROEDER Contributing Reporter
On Sunday, President Donald Trump threatened war on Chicago in a supposedly satirical social media post. Though Trump has since claimed the post was a joke, he has not denied that he wants to “clean up” the city. Amid this rhetoric, local leaders are making progress to improve the city they love and over the weekend, they broke ground on a new project: a renovation of the MAAFA Redemption Project’s Center for Arts and Activism. The MAAFA Redemption Project, born out of New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church by Rev. Dr. Marshall Hatch Sr., says this new center will serve as a reminder of hope in West Garfield Park and provide services for young men and women including reentry services, mentorSee REDEMPTION PROJECT on page 7
HECTOR CERVANTES
Painting hope: Austin residents unite for transformative mural at A.C.T. Yoga Led by local leaders and artist Dwight White II, the mural reflects residents’ voices gathered through listening sessions and peace circles
Antidote Inc. and Taproots Inc. brought the Austin community together to create a transformative mural at A.C.T. Yoga, turning a blank wall into a canvas for healing, storytelling and youth empowerment. The project is powered by Austin-based leaders including Courtney Gipson of Antidote Inc., Ruby Taylor of Taproots Inc., Alexandra Auguste and Jermaine Harris of the Commu-
By HECTOR CERVANTES | Contributing Reporter
See MURAL on page 6
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