Williamson-Burnet Co. Opportunities Inc. was established in 1966 as the areas official Community Action Agency. The organization is a private, non-profit corporation governed by elected officials, community leaders and target area representatives. Throughout its history, WBC Opportunities has administered a wide range of social service and economic opportunity programs benefiting many thousands of low and moderate income persons. Current programs include Head Start, Senior Nutrition (including Meals on Wheels), Emergency Assistance and Affordable Housing. WBC Opportunities has an annual operating budget of over $8 million and a staff of more than 220.

Women & Their Work is a visual and performing art organization located in Central Austin that serves as a catalyst for contemporary art created by women living and working in Texas and beyond.  For over 30 years, W&TW has brought groundbreaking art to Austin, with exhibitions, performances, literary readings and educational workshops.

Workers Assistance Program, Inc. is committed to providing affordable services that help individuals and organizations achieve optimum states of performance and well being. Founded in 1977, they now assist over one million people in communities throughout the United States and Canada through their comprehensive menu of education, training, counseling and workplace consultation services.

Established in 1981, the Writers' League of Texas is a nonprofit professional organization whose primary purpose is to provide a forum for information, support, and sharing among writers, to help members improve and market their writing skills, and to promote the interests of writers and the writing community.

With approximately 1,500 members nationwide, we are composed of published and unpublished writers as well as those who recognize the written word as art and simply love to read.

Our name, Writers' League of Texas (formerly Austin Writers' League), reflects our membership base, over 50% of which resides outside the Central Texas area, and represents the numerous programs we offer to the entire community of Texas writers.

The YMCA of Greater Williamson County is a 501 © (3) organization chartered by the YMCA of the USA. The YMCA of Greater Williamson County is audited annually by independent auditors who present their finds directly to the Association Board of Directors. The Association Board of Directors is a volunteer-based group of community leaders that serve as an independent governing body to provide the checks and balances necessary to ensure that YMCA of Greater Williamson County activities are transparent and properly reported to the public as well as applicable governmental agencies.

YouthLaunch believes service is a powerful and effective strategy for positive youth development. We develop empowering service programs for young people, through which participants gain new knowledge and skills, form positive and influential bonds with peers and adult role models, improve their self-esteem and efficacy, and develop a strong sense of social responsibility.

Founded in 1933 as Austin Civic Theatre, ZACH Theatre is the oldest continuously operating theatre in Texas and one of ten original resident theatre companies in America. The company was renamed Zachary Scott Theatre Center in 1968 in honor of Austin-raised, Academy Award-nominated film star, Zachary Scott, best known for his popular films Mildred Pierce (1945) and Cass Timberlane (1947). In 1972, the 230-seat Kleberg Theatre opened, and in the late 1980’s ZACH embarked on a successful capital campaign to build the Whisenhunt Theatre, a new 130-seat theatre-in-the-round, classroom, administrative offices and costume shop space. In the early 1990’s ZACH moved to professional status with Actor’s Equity Association and was selected for a National Endowment for the Arts Advancement Grant.

Austin Independent School District (AISD) Mission (What We Do)

In partnership with parents and our community, AISD exists to provide a comprehensive educational experience that is high quality, challenging, and inspires all students to make a positive contribution to society.

Values (What We Believe in)

• • Focus on Children
• • Excellence
• • Integrity
• • Equity
• • Respect
• • Health and Safety

CompassLearning, the leading provider of personalized education technology solutions, helps students achieve success through differentiated instruction, formative assessment, and response to intervention. CompassLearning offers a portfolio of products, including Odyssey, a complete suite of K–12 digital curriculum that engages, educates and inspires thousands of students every day. In 2010, CompassLearning acquired Renzulli Learning, a leader in practical classroom differentiation and high levels of student engagement. 

LifeWorks transitions youth and families from crisis to safety and success. We provide the most comprehensive network of services for youth and families in Austin. We offer a safety net of support to more than 10,000 youth and families every year. LifeWorks’ services to runaway and homeless youth are a national model, providing a pathway from street life to self-sufficiency. We are the largest local provider of free and affordable counseling to youth and families. Our youth development training opportunities prepare youth to become healthy, successful adults. We invite you to learn more about LifeWorks and to become part of the strong network of caring individuals that creates opportunities for success.

Student Showcase: Austin High School  is a collaboration between Austin High School and Forefront Austin to cultivate voices of the next generation.  On a regular basis, students will develop essays that present unique perspectives in response to one of Forefront Austin’s monthly questions.  The students conduct independent research, interview community leaders and author essays for publication on Forefront Austin.  The student-developed essays are edited by Forefront Austin staff.

Essay Contest:

Question: Who are Austin's Pot-stirrers, Problem Solvers and Visionaries?

Pot-stirrers. Problem solvers. Visionaries.  Learning about leadership was a personal experience for 120 Austin High sophomores when they worked in teams to tackle global problems in their Austin backyards. Learn more about the Global Studies program and read about two of the community projects in the students’ own words.

Introduction to the Showcase

Winning Student Essays: 

• Sports Against Poverty by Daniel Laden and Riley Longtain
• Check out our S.W.A.G: Student Working to Act Green by Rachel Escobedo and Brandon Fielder

Student Showcase: St. Michael's Catholic Academy is a collaboration between St. Michael's Catholic Academy and Forefront Austin to cultivate voices of the next generation.  On a regular basis, students will develop essays that present unique perspectives in response to one of Forefront Austin’s monthly questions.  The students conduct independent research, interview community leaders and author essays for publication on Forefront Austin.  The student-developed essays are edited by Forefront Austin staff.

Creativity Essay Contest:

Question: Why should Austin embrace its creative side?

The project kicked-off soon after the Fall 2011 academic semester began, with the students engaged in a lively, far-reaching discussion on the state of the arts in Austin, led by Cliff Redd, formerly of the Long Center, and now with the University of Texas School of Natural Resources. Then, largely under the tutelage of faculty members Stephanie Stewart and Corinne Callahan, the students set-out to help show why the arts in Austin are important. A panel of Forefront judges returned to St. Michael’s six weeks later with the difficult task of trying to select the most creative, informative works.

Winning Feature Perspective: 

• Catch and Release Austin By Blake Ann Seeker

Finalists: 

• Play Me, I'm Yours, by Ellen Smith

• The Individual Identity of Austin, By Cella Mahoney