April 2026 WAN

Casis Elementary celebrates 75 years

By Alana Moehring Mallard

Casis Elementary celebrated its big anniversary — 75 years — on March 5 with a student program of dancing to music popular through the decades, an alumni reception for former students and staff, and an evening community celebration on the Casis Quad.

Casis is named for Josephine and Lelia Casis, sisters and longtime educators at UT and Palm Elementary. The school opened on March 5, 1951, during the 1951-52 school year.

“The strength of Casis lies in its connections,” AISD superintendent Matias Segura said during the celebration. “It lies in parents volunteering their time, and y’all have volunteered lots of times.”

During a program in the auditorium, principal Sam Tinnon took the students through Casis questions of namesake and colors and mascot, with the student body roaring back to him their colors of blue and white, their cougar mascot, and their namesakes, Josephine and Leila Casis.

The Casis 75th Anniversary committee included April Allen, Chelsea Combs, Paige Davis, Courtney Ewing, Ashley Hollmig, Dora Lee

Around the Neighborhood: opening expanding celebrating

Around the Neighborhood: opening expanding celebrating

Tiny Grocer in Hyde Park gave its restaurant a mini-makeover to Tiny Grocer Café The neighborhood spot, at 4300 Speedway in Hyde Park’s old post office building, serves all day classics from breakfast to deli items and sandwiches, to steak frites and roast chicken, and is open seven days a week with a new kids’ play area, a walk-up wine window, and new inside booths

Howson Branch Library will host a Mayor’s Book Club discussion on May 9 of this year’s pick, Jason Mott’s People Like Us. The discussion caps several months of activities including a storytelling workshop at Howson, a grief writing workshop at University Hills Branch, and a conversation with the author at Austin Central. Howson’s discussion, from 10:30am to 12:30pm, is at 2500 Exposition Blvd. Mayor’s Book Club is sponsored by The Library Foundation Centennial Library Card Art Contest celebrates Austin Public Library’s 100th birthday with artists of all ages who want to design a new library card. Three categories of competition, children to age 12, teens 13 to 17, and adults 18 and older. Submissions are due by 9am on June 1, and open to all Austin resident APL library card holders. See library.austintexas. gov for details

Barbara Morgan

OBY FORREST PREECE

n a recent morning, I enjoyed a conversation with Barbara Morgan, Executive Director of The Austin Film Festival (AFF), in her corner office. Yes, it’s only fitting that this woman, who has led the festival to become the top event of its kind in the country, should have a location of importance in her business environs.

Heading into its 33rd year, the festival features screenwriters whose stories power the film and television entertainment industry and is one of the top US outlets for film premieres. Over 12,000 scripts and 6,000 films are submitted to AFF for judging each year. “On Story,” the Emmy Award-winning TV show featuring screenwriters that Barbara originated 15 years ago, is seen on 85% of PBS stations nationwide. The annual AFF Film and Food Party is one of Austin’s most popular fundraisers. AFF’s Ghost Ranch Retreat, held each year in New Mexico, is a sought-after spot for writers and filmmakers to hear professional talks and hone their craft. The festival’s Young Filmmakers Competition gives students ages 13-18 a chance to show their work to the world for free. And oh yes, Barbara and her management team oversee an army of 1,200 volunteers — around 600 of whom are active during the festival.

Now about that corner office — it’s the back bedroom of a 1950s house in a mixed-use neighborhood, two blocks east of I-35, south of Disch-Falk Field. As I sat there with Barbara, using a fold-up desk she provided for me, I told myself there couldn’t be anything more Austin-centric than this. I’m talking with the chief executive of a prominent

national operation that is headquartered in a place that, well, doesn’t look like 30 Rock. As she says, “This thing could never have happened anywhere else but Austin.”

Like many movers and shakers in this town, Barbara is skilled in several fields. She came to UT in 1979 to major in petroleum engineering. Then she moved into math. She began her career arranging financing for radio and television stations and dabbled in music management. In 1993, she had just finished making a broadcast station deal for a friend in the Panhandle. While they were having a meal, he asked her why there weren’t any mainstream film festivals in Austin.

A few weeks later, she was at a dinner party, and the topic came up again with the newly appointed Texas Film Commissioner in the room. Barbara asked her what it would take to make a festival happen, and the commissioner said, “Write a business plan and bring it to us.” Barbara did just that, and Governor Ann Richards saw it and liked it. Somehow, a Statesman reporter got wind of the idea and wrote a story about it.

Barbara quickly called Marsha Milam, a marketing expert and event planner, to bring her into the loop. Then Fred Miller, a national-level film producer and Marsha’s

neighbor, asked if they’d like to go have drinks and chat about the plans of making the festival bigger than just Austin. After some discussion, Fred tossed out the key idea: to center the event around screenwriters rather than just showing films and bringing in big-name directors. Barbara went to a pay telephone and called well-known screenwriter Al Reinert in Houston to ask if he’d appear at the event. He agreed and provided a contact for his writing partner, Bill Broyles. Then Barbara’s good friend Robert Draper brought in Bill Wittliff. Having this core group of all-star writers was crucial. “I believe in kismet,”

Barbara says.

She adds that if they had just made it a film festival, the business model wouldn’t have worked. “There’s no way to make enough money from just showing films.” Then she had the idea to solicit scripts for judging and awards, thereby bringing more of the spotlight onto that part of the film industry. The first year, 1,200 scripts were submitted for appraisal. Now they receive around ten times that many each year. To say the least, it’s challenging to get the scripts read, but they have built the process up over time, and it is efficient.

Barbara soon found out that the writers — even at the top level of the profession — were often dismissed by the very industry they helped forge. Writers were not usually invited to premieres, and no one had ever produced a festival that invited them to speak. At the first AFF in October 1994, they had six Oscar-nominated writers attend who participated in panel discussions. Things caught fire in a hurry. One of the winning scripts submitted that year, Excess Baggage, was bought by Columbia Pictures. That was another spark that drew attention to them and let the film industry know this festival would be important.

In 2000, they expanded the festival’s scope to include television writers. David Chase

(The Sopranos) was among the first group AFF welcomed that year. Barbara says that many people in the film business thought TV writing was a lunchpail job. But actually, it was the area of the industry’s largest expansion, and it added to AFF’s profit stream.

Unlike other festivals that keep trying to do the “film, movie stars, and directors” model, AFF has the framework to keep succeeding. The biggest challenge they face is the high cost of making any event in Austin work. Tech people are moving here by the thousands, and they don’t care about events that have been around for decades. It’s a cultural shift. In spite of all that, last year’s festival was a success, and plenty of people from Los Angeles and other film centers came, enjoyed the screenings, and had a great time.

One thing that is helping is that the state has re-upped incentives to film here, to the tune of $1.2 billion, largely thanks to two young people, Grant Woods and Chase

Musselwhite, who conceived the plan and pushed it through the legislature. That has been a godsend. And there are forces like Taylor Sheridan’s (Yellowstone) producing work here in Texas that are catalysts for more positive things.

One way the festival has kept its brand vibrant and expanded its reach is through On Story, its national TV show, currently launching its 16th season. Again, it was kismet that made this juggernaut happen. Not long after the turn of the century, Barbara was having lunch with Bill Stotesbery, KLRU’s CEO, and she mentioned all the footage they had in storage from writers’ panels. Bill asked if she could produce a sample show for him to see. Barbara and her staff did just that and gave it to him. He viewed it and quickly asked, “How many more can you do?” KLRU wound up airing 12 episodes, and then Bill put the shows out on the PBS national system (NETA) to see who else would pick them up.

Barbara still remembers the call she received when Bill

said that they’d been adopted by eight stations, including San Francisco. Soon, 20 stations started airing it, and now they produce 15 new shows a year, which are aired on PBS stations nationwide, including 23 of the top 25 markets. This exposure is a major driver of the AFF brand, and it has led to a massive increase in badge sales and attention from prominent writers. They also produce 24 podcasts and radio shows a year, giving students a chance to edit the pieces and gain valuable training. They do other things to keep the festival fresh as well. Their Ghost Ranch Retreat lets them connect, up close and personal, with their core constituency of writers, filmmakers, and many audience members. And the Young Filmmakers Competition provides a look into the generation ready to emerge. Barbara says, “Keeping AFF going for thirty-three years is a tremendous accomplishment. It’s easy to be complacent, and we can’t let that happen.”

A Stellar Night for Central Texas Families

One hundred and fifty community members filled the historic Brodie Homestead for Any Baby Can’s annual One Stellar Night Gala. More than $291,000 was raised to provide essential services to more than 3,000 children and families, directly supporting the organization’s goal of building a more equitable future for children in Central Texas. Those vital services include more than 65,000 direct service visits each year, an average of approximately 178 per day.

The lovely event was chaired by Chris and Colleen Lynch and included cocktails and dinner, along with a lively auction featuring Astounding Auction’s Tiwanna Kennedy. Auction items included high-profile trips and other exciting offerings.

Emcee Russell Duke, a former client and now a board member, shared a story from his own experience of first connecting with the organization more than 20 years ago, when his daughter was diagnosed with pediatric cancer. After her passing, he channeled his grief into action. Today he serves as a powerful advocate in the community and helps guide the organization’s mission.

Duke’s message underscored the importance of not only supporting families in moments of need, but also empowering them to find their direction, gain confidence, and, one day, give back to the com-

PHOTOS BY BRIO PHOTOGRAPHY

munity that supported them.

“We believe something simple and powerful: no family should have to navigate choppy seas by themselves, “ said Veronda L. Durden, President & CEO of Any Baby Can, “We’re incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support shown at One Stellar Night.”

Any Baby Can provides child development, family health, and parent support services in Central Texas. By supporting families in overcoming obstacles and building resilience, the organization creates brighter futures for children and families. Services include in-home support for children facing a serious diagnosis, first-time mothers, and parents who need additional assistance.

To learn more, visit www. anybabycan.org.

First time on the market in over 65 years! Elegant 1940s Georgian Revival residence featuring 4-5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 3 living areas, 2 dining areas, 2-car garage, swimming pool. 4,892 SF, .25 acre lot. Shown by appointment. List price: $3,500,000

SAFE Gala Honors H-E-B with Guardian Award

Austin residents and local business leaders turned out for SAFE’s (Stop Abuse for Everyone) 20th annual Gala of Hope at the JW Marriott. The event raised over $1 million to support SAFE’s work with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and sex trafficking. The funds will help provide immediate crisis services and support long-term programs aimed at strengthening community safety.

Quan Cosby, former UT Football Player, served as emcee, and guests enjoyed a cocktail hour before being seated for dinner. Attendees bid on a variety of high-end auction items that included a luxury escape to Vail, an Italian getaway and an African safari.

This year’s Guardian Award, the highest expression of gratitude SAFE gives to long-time partners, was presented to H-E-B. A Texas-based, family-owned company, H-E-B has a strong reputation for stepping up in moments of need, responding to crises, and investing in families. For more than a century, the company has demonstrated a commitment to people, service, and local impact Sean Ransenberg, Managing Director of H-E-B Retail Media and Brand Services, was on hand to receive the award.

Charles Peveto

1. What’s something about you that not many people know?

That I am a collector of many things, and an avid collector of Mid-Century Mexican Silver, Spanish Colonial Silver, and pre-Columbian art. Most people assume I collect only Texas Modernism, that being my main focus, both paintings and sculpture.

2. What was your first job?

Designing a sign to go on top of a friend’s shop in Orange, Texas, while in high school, enrolled in drafting.

3. If you could have dinner with four people — dead or alive, at any time in history, who would they be?

The late Modernist Edward Durell Stone, late Austin architect Charles Henry Page, Houston philanthropist and socialite Lynn Wyatt, and Austin philanthropist and author Gay Gaddis, all at Table 50 in The Austin Club.

4. If you had to pick three musicians for a playlist, who would they be?

10. Which living person do you most admire?

Good friend and former Mayor of Austin, Lee Cooke

11. What makes you happy?

The recognition reflects a 35-year partnership with SAFE, from Favor team members delivering holiday meals to families in shelter to a $1 million contribution toward SAFE’s permanent supportive housing project, the Lancaster. SAFE Alliance Board Vice Chair Karly Houchin and Nelia Robbi served as chairs for the event and committee members included Mary Anne McMahon, Cassie Shankman, Taylor Short, Nina Brissey, Samuel Coon, Tara Godby, Miranda Gonzales, Lexa Sandquist, and Samantha Sheffer Houchin commented, “I was proud to serve as co-chair of the gala and help raise $1M for SAFE. The money raised helps sustain programs like supervised custody exchanges, forensic exams, affordable housing, and emergency shelters. Philanthropic donations are a critical part of the equation, but funding sustainability also requires long-term investment from community partnerships. Together, we can ensure that SAFE’s programs will help survivors for many years to come.”

Diana Ross, Madonna (her ballads, especially “Masterpiece”), and the current group, Cigarettes After Sex (the perfect background for a reception)

5. Favorite book and TV show?

Book: “Double Vision” The Unerring Eye of Art World Avatars Dominique and John de Menil, Television Show: Dark Shadows, 1960s.

The Houston-Tillotson Jazz Band played for the after-party, and highly acclaimed local artist Nick Stevenson provided live-art painting.

6. Most powerful movie you have seen.

“The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone”

7. Favorite place in Austin?

Well, I have two. My tiny place at Westgate Tower (19621966), designed by American Modernist Edward Durell Stone, next door to the beautiful Texas State Capitol. Historic preservation and history being my life, I had the Westgate listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Also, Wooldridge Square, one of Austin’s original four historic squares that were laid out in Edwin Waller’s 1839 Plan of Austin. I chair the Friends of Wooldridge Square in my Downtown neighborhood.

8. Favorite restaurant and watering hole Fonda San Miguel

9. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Architect/Designer

Dining with friends. Lunching at Table 50 at The Austin Club, with good friends, someone in particular. Breakfast/ Lunch at Casa de Luz. “Truffles Charles,” a special dessert was created in my honor, a very healthy macrobiotic creation. I always have dessert for breakfast at Casa. Lunching at the Argyle Club in San Antonio. Breakfast/ Lunch Table 13, Pasqual’s, Santa Fe. Listen, I was born to lunch, especially in historic places. It is what it is ...

12. Best advice you ever received? You have to earn the trust of others.

Nicole’s Place: Building Women to Stand on Their Own

Supported by The Austin 20

By Anne DeVries

In recent years, more visibility has been given to the existence of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) in the United States. What most people in Austin don’t realize is that it is not a far-off problem, but is happening in our own city. The issue is commonly thought to be isolated to kids being trafficked across the southern border. This is not the full story.

In reality, the abuse is often started by a girl's own family, fueled by drug abuse. Occurring due to teen isolation and loneliness that is preyed upon. Techniques, including social media, are used to hijack vulnerable young women, luring them into relationships with extravagant gifts and false friendship that place them into debt. The repayment option: sexual exploitation.

For one local resident, learning this was enough to compel her to take action.

In 2017, Lisa Knapp founded Nicole’s Place alongside 20 friends from the Westlake area. They call themselves The Austin 20. Together, they built a transitional living community for pregnant and parenting mothers working to leave behind lives marked by trafficking, abuse, and poverty.

Located a short drive from Austin, Nicole’s Place is a residential home that provides not just a roof over the heads of young mothers and their

PHILANTHROPY SPOTLIGHT

children, but also a roadmap guiding residents toward independence through concrete, measurable steps.

“We are not raising girls to rely on us,” Knapp says. “We are raising women who rely on themselves.”

That philosophy shapes every aspect of the program. The path forward at Nicole’s Place is built on actionable progress: obtaining a driver’s license, pursuing an education, securing employment, and accessing reliable childcare. These are not aspirations. They are tools necessary to build a self-sustaining life. What separates Nicole’s

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

▲ Weekly: direct interaction consistency a must, commitment required.

▲ Life Skill Teaching: cooking, financial education, outdoor activities, childcare, etc. Interval definable, planning needed, reliability a must.

▲ Shopping: monthly Costco run, special needs identified.

▲ Rides: on call for transportation of residents or delivery of needed items.

▲ Meal Delivery: premade meals delivered with predetermined consistency.

CONTACT: www.theaustin20. org/contact-us

Place from traditional transitional housing is its refusal to confuse support with dependency. There is no therapeutic language designed to keep someone comfortable while they stay stuck. There is, instead, a steady and non-negotiable expectation of growth guided by professionals and caring volunteers.

“These girls are not the problem,” Knapp says. “They are not lazy, not reckless, not looking for a handout. They are capable, very capable. Growing up in chaos makes you very good, very fast, at reading people and situations. That’s not dysfunction. That’s survival. And we build on it.”

Knapp’s experience with the young woman has revealed that though each is unique, they share one unmistakable characteristic: extreme strength. “It is the kind of strength that isn’t found on motivational posters. It is the kind that kept them alive. And

MEANINGFUL WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

▲ Donate: fund campus expansion and daily operations. https://theaustin20.org/donate-1.

▲ Fundraising: Help with fall event, identify other opportunities.

▲ Service Research: help identify and coordinate social services, community resources, public assistance provided by the city and state services in support of low-income individuals.

▲ Partners: businesses and organizations- assist monetarily or with knowledge and expertise in land or housing acquisition, home maintenance, and legal support.

CONTACT: www.theaustin20. org/contact-us

when a young mother arrives with an infant and very little else, something remarkable often happens”. She shared.

“You can watch it happen,” Knapp continues. “The moment the thought clicks inside of them — I can do this. It happens not because we saved them, but because that capacity was there the whole time. Nobody had ever bothered to expect it out of them.”

Camp Balcones Springs

What Makes Great?

The women leading Nicole's Place hold themselves to the same standard. Debra Rodriguez, a counselor and psychoeducation specialist who specializes in trauma recovery, runs the day-to-day operations. She is assisted by Jennifer Comeaux, who serves as the House Manager."

At Camp Balcones Springs, we’re more than a camp—we’re a family. Campers build confidence, take meaningful risks, and make lifelong friends in a supportive, tight-knit community.

At Camp Balcones Springs, we’re more than a camp—we’re a family. Campers build confidence, take meaningful risks, and make lifelong friends in a supportive, tight-knit community.

Dena Wood, an original member of the Austin 20 group and Board Member, serves as the Volunteer Coordinator. Wood is described by Knapp as the embodiment of the organi zation’s culture, someone who leads with consistency, never says “we can’t,” and shows up without exception.

That culture of showing up extends to one of the program’s defining commitments: no waitlists. When a young mother and her baby are living in a car, Knapp says, there is simply no “circle back later.”

Nicole’s Place is currently

With small cabins and an industry-best camper-to-counselor ratio, every child is known, welcomed, and supported from day one.

pushing to expand its campus to serve more women, and the need is urgent. Monetary support is needed, as are volunteers willing to commit consistently in various capacities. Learn more or get involved at https://theaustin20.org/.

With small cabins and an industry-best camper-to-counselor ratio, every child is known, welcomed, and supported from day one.

Rooted in Christian values, CBS is a place for everyone. No matter their faith or beliefs, every camper feels at home.

Rooted in Christian values, CBS is a place for everyone. No matter their faith or beliefs, every camper feels at home.

Camp Balcones Springs may be in Texas, but our community spans the country and beyond. With campers from across the U.S. and abroad, friendships here last a lifetime. •

Inclusivity is at our core. We create a safe, welcoming space where every camper is valued and a year-round camp, we offer air-conditioned cabins, top-tier facilities, and a dedicated full-time staff— including a culinary team ready for any

Inclusivity is at our core. We create a safe, welcoming space where every camper is valued and supported.

As a year-round camp, we offer air-conditioned cabins, top-tier facilities, and a dedicated full-time staff— including a culinary team ready for any dietary need.

Camp Balcones Springs may be in Texas, but our community spans the country and beyond. With campers from across the U.S. and abroad, friendships here last a lifetime.

For the third consecutive year, Regents School of Austin has earned the 5A State Champion title in TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) Academics. Regents also secured an impressive third-place overall finish at the highly competitive Academics, Speech, and Debate state meet.

Several Regents students placed in the top eight of their respective events, earning crucial points to secure the team’s state title. A major highlight of the meet was the team’s dominant performance in math, which included individual state championships in Number Sense, Calculator, and Advanced Math, capped by a spectacular 1-2-3 “podium sweep” in the Advanced Math category.

The team is coached by Dr. Josh Wilkerson, Director of K-12 Mathematics. The math competitors are also coached by Lisa Collins, director of the Regents Vectors Math Club.

Congratulations to all the participating students on a job well done.

Regents School of

Students

Spring Work at Reed Park

By Meg Rein, Friends of Reed Park

Spring has come to the neighborhood, and many neighbors will have noticed an uptick in activity at Reed Park. In February, beautiful new Mexican sycamore trees were planted along the playground. One of them already holds a bird’s nest. In March, a crew was at work removing invasive plants along the sloped ground behind the ball field, parts of the creek, and the playground. The smell of freshly cut mulch drifts over the hillside now, as volunteers have been spreading it around trees and along paths, and scattering native plant seeds in the newly cleared areas.

The work being done at the park has been organized by Friends of Reed Park (or “FORP”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the care and maintenance of the park, in coordination with the City of

Austin. In recent years, FORP has advocated for needed maintenance and care at the park, and for preserving the peaceful, natural character that makes Reed Park so special to the neighborhood.

URBAN FOREST GRANT FUNDS

Last fall, FORP applied for and won an Urban Forest Grant in the amount of $70,500, for invasive species removal and habitat restoration work at the park. Urban Forest grant funds are earmarked for work on Cityowned property to enhance the long-term health of Austin’s urban forest. FORP applied for the grant in consultation with the City of Austin and well-known local landscape architecture firm Campbell Landscape Architecture, led by Cameron Campbell, a landscape architect and resident of Tarrytown who has donated

time and expertise to park restoration efforts.

Now, the grant funds are being put to use. After a bidding process, FORP hired Maas Verde, a local company specializing in landscape restoration and vegetation management, to remove the invasive species—including ligustrum, nandina, photinia, privet and poison ivy—that were choking the sloped, wooded hillside on the back 3.25 acres of Reed Park.

Unlike volunteer laborers, Maas Verde’s professional crews are able to girdle invasive plants where feasible to discourage regrowth, and to apply targeted herbicides that are environmentally safe and City- approved. The crews put the removed invasives into a wood chipper to create mulch to be spread along trails and around native trees as a tree ring for their long term health. The crews left a 40-foot buffer of vegetation at the top of the hillside, at the request of park neighbors for privacy purpos-

es, but otherwise have made noticeable progress clearing the hillside of invasive plants.

WHY REMOVE INVASIVES?

Seeing almost $80,000 put to work in the park is exciting, but also begs the question: are invasives really the most pressing problem at the park? Why is this work so important? Adam Blanton is a native Texan and the owner of Blanton’s Nursery, where he grows native trees and woody shrubs from seed. As an expert in this field, he explained a few things that casual park users may not know. Adam acknowledges that seeing trees cut down in a park may be unsettling, but explained, “this is not a destructive act, but the first necessary step in a long-term plan to restore our park into a thriving, native ecosystem.” He went on:

“Think of it like owning a home. When you first move in, everything might look fine. But if you neglect regular upkeep—

like fixing a leaky roof or managing overgrown landscaping—small issues become big problems. Over time, the property falls into disrepair. Our park has experienced a similar kind of ecological neglect. Over the years, invasive trees have taken over. While they are green and appear healthy, they choke out native plants, reduce biodiversity, and create a fragile landscape that cannot sustain itself.”

Adam stresses the crucial importance of native tree species in supporting a local ecosystem. He explains, “native trees are host plants to native caterpillars, which in turn become native butterflies.

Many species of birds rely on caterpillars as their primary food source. When we remove trees that don’t support native insects and replant with native trees, we start to rebuild the entire ecosystem from the ground up. Invasive trees simply do not serve this function. They may look like trees, but they are ecological dead ends.”

Of course, it is not enough to swap one species of tree for another. FORP has committed to planting a diverse group of plants in each specific area of the park, and this work is also underway. Using privately donated funds, FORP has planted new trees and spread thousands of dollars worth of native seed in the park. Adam says the diverse plantings “encourage not just plant diversity, but biological diversity as a whole” because they provide food and shelter for a wide range of insects, birds, and other wildlife. When the native plants bloom and fruit at different times, there is a steady food supply across the seasons. As Adam says, “the result is a resilient, balanced ecosystem that can better withstand disease, pests, and a changing climate.” In other words, Adam and other landscape experts see the removal of invasive trees and plants, like those

Gazelle Foundation Gala Makes Clean Water Flow in Burundi

For the sold-out crowd who gathered for the Gazelle Foundation’s Spring for the Water Gala at Hotel ZaZa, it was a night of purpose, joy, and generosity that showed what can happen when a community comes together. The annual event raised more than $300,000 to build spring-fed, gravity-powered water systems in Burundi, a small rural country in East Africa. The funds will support six new water systems that will serve more than 8,000 people, eliminating the need to walk long distances to collect clean water.

The evening kicked off with guests participating in an immersive water-walk simulation, offering a glimpse into the daily journey many families in Burundi take to obtain water. Thanks to the Foundation’s water systems, the typical fourmile journey has been reduced to just 400 meters.

That shared experience set the tone for the night, which continued with dinner, dancing, and a lively auction and paddle raise.

Foundation staff shared moving stories and personal experiences that underscored the desperate need for easily accessible clean water and emphasized the life-changing difference these systems make in the lives of Burundians.

around where I grew up, and schools have water.”

ELIZABETH KREUTZ

Co-founder and local running coach Gilbert Tuhabonye reflected on the journey that brought him from Burundi to Austin. “My life was not easy, but it was a lot of fun,” he shared, weaving together memories of hardship, resilience, and hope. He spoke of carrying his mother miles to a hospital and fetching water for her while missing school, then paused to reflect on how life has changed in the communities where he grew up.

“The clinic that treated my mother has water now,” he said. “There are tap stands all

That full circle experience is made possible by a Central Texas community that has embraced Gilbert’s spirit of joy and perseverance, transforming it into advocacy for clean water in a remote area of the world.

Co-founder Peter Rauch offered a behind-the-scenes look at how the Gazelle Foundation partners with local communities to build the water systems. “There’s no backhoes or electricity where we work,” he explained. “It’s largely a labor-intensive process.”

While on a trip with her family, the Foundation’s Community Development Associate Maslin “Mazzy” Redett had the rare opportunity to witness firsthand the impact she helps make possible every day.

When Reddit arrived on site in Burundi where a water system was recently completed, she was met with singing, dancing, and celebration from the community. Through a translator, one woman told her, “To have this water is a gift of God. We are so thankful.”

“It was emotional seeing the work because it was hard to visualize how large these systems really are,” Reddit said. She added, “Children as

young as 2 and 3 years old were fetching water from the tap stands.”

To close the evening, Gilbert returned to the stage to express his gratitude and remind the crowd that their commitment means that clean water now flows in places where it once did not. He summed it up simply yet powerfully: “Because of you, water will flow.”

Since 2006, the Gazelle Foundation has helped bring clean water to 144,560 people in Burundi, creating jobs, improving health, and opening doors for education and opportunity.

The celebration may have lasted only one evening, but its

REED PARK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

that had been steadily taking over Reed Park, as the hard but necessary work of clearing out the “rot” so the park’s forest can thrive. It is not the end of the park’s trees, but a chance for the native trees to have the resources they need. Eventually, as Adam explains, healthy and diverse native species in the park “will create a resilient, self-sustaining ecosystem that our community can enjoy for generations.”

Taking out the invasive species may make the hillside look bare for a time. But in a few short years, it will become

impact will continue for years to come. To see what this community has helped build over

much healthier and more beautiful than “the monoculture of invasives it is replacing,” Adam says.

FORP members have been proud to work in conjunction with the City on this project, and to see a large investment of Urban Forest funds poured into our own neighborhood park. The work will bear fruit for years to come and is part of FORP’s enhancement plan at the park, which it describes as “a neighborhood-driven vision to restore, beautify, and future-proof” this beloved neighborhood green space.

ATTRIBUTIONS

the past 20 years and find ways to get involved, visit www. gazellefoundation.org.

We’re proud to partner with the City of Austin’s Urban Forest Grant, who made this project possible. Learn more at AustinTexas.gov/ufgp. Reach Adam at Blantons Nursery@gmail.com or on Instagram @blantonsnursery. Friends of Reed Park is an all-volunteer organization. All funds raised go directly to the care and maintenance of Reed Park. FORP’s website is https:// www.reed-park.org/ . Reach out to get involved or donate— your help and support is so appreciated. Upcoming events at Reed Park include Kiln Fest on May 2nd (mark your calendars!) and the opening of Reed Pool on June 8. Contact City of Austin for details on Reed Pool’s swim team.

“WALLERING” AROUND IN AUSTIN’S HISTORY

The Mantle of Violet Identity: City of the Violet Crown

Long before the booster catchphrase “Live Music Capital of the World” was coined, Austin was known by the more genteel term, “City of the Violet Crown.” Quite a few businesses today sport “violet crown” in their names, like the Violet Crown Coffee Shop in the Crestview Shopping Center and the Violet Crown Theatre on 2nd street downtown. The name is often a slight source of puzzlement for newcomers.

In 1888, the Austin Statesman announced that Austin was set among “hills crowned with violets.” There is indeed a species of wild violets that grow in Texas, but perhaps someone else has seen them. Not this author!

Hues of violet and purple often do create a purple haze at sunset over the hills to the west that could be called “a violet crown.”

But when did Austin first receive this name? Accounts differ.

Some attribute the sobriquet to Austin’s boast of its similarity to Athens, Greece, as a City of Learning. The 6th-century Greek lyric poet Pindar wrote of Athens:

“City of light, with thy violet crown, beloved of the poets, thou art the bulwark of Greece.”

Just substitute “Texas” for “Greece” and there you have it!

O’Henry, the nom de plume of the noted short story writer William Sydney Porter, called Austin “City of the Violet Crown” in an 1894 detective story, “Tiqtoq” (shades of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot).

O’Henry may have been teasing Austin a bit for its overly ambitious claims that it had ascended the cultural heights of ancient Athens.

O’Henry, author and sometime embezzler, remarked that:

“Austin society is acknowledged to be the wittiest, the most

select, and the highest bred to be found southwest of Kansas City.”

Southwest of Kansas City! A high compliment, indeed. Or “damning with faint praise,” as we used to say. (It should be noted here that the Austin History Center has an incredible collection of O’Henry materials, collected by Judge Trueman O’Quinn!) Here’s a sample of just one of the O’Henry collections of short stories in a tattered Modern Library book cover.

In 1917, a promotional booklet, “Austin, Texas: The City of the Violet Crown” was published and included a panegyric poem:

“Proudly thou sittest upon violet crowned hills, Beautifully serene thy shady dales and rills; Austin, wondrous fair art thou, in beauty thou wilt stand As age on age old Time rolls on thy glories to expand”

— Narnie Hillary Harrison

The pamphlet included information on Austin’s Thriving Industries, Beautiful Homes, Educational and State Institutions, Scenic Views, and so forth. An undated second booklet, full of wonderful, historic photographs, proclaims that Austin is “A Modern 20th Century City.” Indeed! In the 1920s, the “Violet Crown San Sam Festival,” was held, a quirky name in honor of both the Battle of San Jacinto and its hero, Sam Houston. Since Old Sam wanted to move the state capitol away from Austin to Houston, the festival’s name is quite ironic. (Dear Reader, the “San Sam Festival” will be covered in another column.)

Today, the mantle of violet identity has been taken up by the neighborhoods of Brentwood and Crestview situated between Burnet Road and North Lamar. In the 1940s, two entrepreneurs, Dr. Joe Koenig and Clarence McCullough, developed a subdivision which they called “Violet Crown Heights.” Brentwood and Crestview are known for their annual Violet Crown Festival and publish a newsletter, “Voices of the Violet Crown” (www.violetcrownvoices.com). There’s even a connection to our own beloved Mat-

thew McConaughey! In Richard Linklater’s 1993 breakout film, Dazed and Confused, featuring a young McConaughey, the Violet Crown Shopping Center was called “The Emporium.”

Austin is proud of its many neighborhoods as our city planners have discovered, sometimes to their dismay. In 2008, the Brentwood and Crestview neighborhoods erected a fabulous 120-ft.- long mosaic wall at 7100 Woodrow Avenue. It proudly announces “Welcome to the Neighborhood.” It was designed by artist and Brentwood resident, Jean Graham. The mural is easy to miss, but well worth a look-see for its many charming details, homages to the proud history of the two neighborhoods.

Jean Graham’s cunningly crafted mural pays homage to neighborhood institutions, from the dancing pig, to the two founders and their Oldsmobile, to the still thriving Crestview Shopping Center itself. Immortalized are Lala’s with its proud pink poodle, the Chief Drive-In Theatre, Top Notch Hamburgers, and Theadgill’s, where the seeds of the Armadillo World Headquarters were sown. A wavy violet river runs throughout.

This year’s Violet Crown Festival takes place on May 2, 2026 at Brentwood Park. Plan to

BY MARTHA HARTZOG

join in the fun! See https://www. violetcrowncommunity.org/ vcf_2026.

As a final note, the sky west of Austin often does appear purple at sunset toward the Hill Country. A new phenomenon, likely unforeseen by the early

visionaries, is the wall of steelblue high-rises looming over downtown Austin. If you drive east off the MoPac at just the right time of an early evening, to skirt Lady Bird Lake following the originally named Water Street (renamed First Street, then Caesar Chavez Street, and now being renamed), the towers reflect the sunsetting sky to create quite another “Violet Crown” skyline. Give it a try! The magic of Austin shines on ...

SOURCES

▲ The Austin History Center and its Welcoming Staff

▲ ATXplained, “Why are so many places in Austin named

www.kut.org/2025-04-10 ▲ “Voices of the Violet Crown” newsletter (www.violetcrownvoices.com). ▲ Violet Crown Festival for 2026 (https://www. violetcrowncommunity.org/vcf_2026). ▲ Wikipedia: “City of the Violet Crown” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_ the_Violet_Crown)

Leadership Gets Personal by Nan McRaven and Susan Engelking

“Leadership Gets Personal” offers insight into the philosophies of some remarkable people on life and growth, telling engaging tales along the way. In this book, Nan McRaven and Susan Engelking, two people I admire, have done a masterful job of assembling the success stories of twelve of the University of Texas’s most prominent graduates. Among the people who were interviewed: Admiral Bill McRaven, Roy Spence, Brené Brown, Matthew McConaughey, Colt McCoy, and Amy Faith Ho.

All of these people have achieved great things through perseverance and determination to achieve their goals, sometimes tinged with a trace of pure luck. For instance, I loved reading about how Roy Spence met up with Bill Gurasich and his brother Steve, then Judy Trabulsi and Tim McClure at UT. They were all young people looking towards their futures, who later became the nucleus of the award-winning GSD&M advertising agency. As for pointing to success after college, a Gallup-Purdue poll found that most thriving former students had three things in common: a professor who cared about them, a mentor, and a group project they worked on for six months. Roy had the first two in Alan Sager and Shirley Bird Perry. His project was Media 70, a series of multimedia shows that they made and showed on campus for a small admission fee. “My class was the UT campus,” Roy says. That trio of requirements would be very useful information for someone starting their career. Then there is Admiral Bill McRaven, Nan’s brother. This well-rounded man with a background in journalism has served

lor of the UT System. As Time Magazine wrote, he is a “reporter-turned-frogman-turned-giantkiller.” And his book “Make Your Bed,” based on his commencement address for the 2014 class at UT, has sold over 2,000,000 copies and has been published in 40 languages. As

SEAL training, you can ring a bell that is mounted near the training course if you want to quit. And yes, I can attest that the further anyone goes in a career, the stronger the lure of the bell often becomes. “Never, ever ringing the bell” is the motto he lived by – and that resonates with most successful people.

And how about Dr. Brené Brown, who went through a stressful family situation, dropped out of UT, roamed around Europe, came back to St. Mary’s, flunked out, tried to get back into UT, was rejected, went to Houston Community College, didn’t get back into UT, then attended ACC, and finally was accepted back at UT. She now has three degrees, including a PhD, and she runs The Brené Brown Education and Research Group, spend-

leadership. As the chapter on her states, “Her own life is a model for daring greatly—not because she is perfect, but because she is imperfect. She has written six #1 New York Times bestsellers, and she’s still writing, still researching, and still speaking to audiences around the world.” This quote from her is revealing and useful: “The biggest barrier to courageous leadership is not fear. It’s how we protect ourselves when we’re afraid.” In her words, learn how not to armor up, but to acknowledge your fear, listen, and learn. All twelve of these stories are excellent and instructive. Nan and Susan did a terrific job writing them. If I had a young relative who needed a gift, I could not imagine a better one than this book. It’s available online and in book-

Compiled by Forrest Preece

I was a bachelor until I was 39, so I had a fair number of dates. One is easy to remember as my date introduced me to her husband — yup, as in currently married to, not separated, just plain married.

I departed with a measure of haste. Another was a blind date set up by a friend. The woman was new to Austin and didn’t like it. She did like the margaritas, about four or five of them. Got her home and could not wake her up to go inside. Had to rummage through her purse for her keys, unlock the door, get her onto my shoulder, and carry her inside. Worried a lot about how to leave her - face down, head hanging over the side, didn’t want her to choke to death if she threw up. She called the next morning to say what a lovely evening she had. I admitted that I didn’t have a similar experience. One date from the online era. She didn’t have a photo posted, but I did. We met at a TexMex place near Lakeway. Seemed to go fine - nice meal, light chatting and I walked her to her car. She asked me to text her so she would know I got home. I did so and she asked how I thought the evening went. I thought it went fine enough, she did seem to be a bit nervous and never completely relaxed, but first meeting and all. Seems she was not the least bit pleased. My fingernails were too long, she didn’t like my mustache (clearly visible in

appalled, very appalled that I had a ponytail (not visible in my profile picture), when I walked her to her car, she was afraid I was going to fall down, and I was a disgrace to veterans everywhere. I thanked her for the information and apologized for her less than delightful evening. Well, she was like a dog with a bone, repeating her complaints several times with me saying thank you and sorry. Then her aim shifted, and she was trying to get me to insult her as she had me. I declined, and she insisted until I finally blocked her. Felt I had definitely dodged a bullet. I still enjoy going out on dates; people are fascinating. Can’t imagine any circumstance in which I’d insult my date. My mother would somehow know and would explain in excruciating detail that when I insulted my date, I had also insulted my mother, as it was she who had taught me manners. I would go down in history as the guy who insulted his mother.