About Ashton Cumberbatch Jr.
- ABBA- Austin Bridge Builders Alliance

Ashton G. Cumberbatch Jr., is the Vice President of Advocacy and Community Relations for Seton Healthcare Family and associate pastor at Agape Christian Ministries. Previously he was the Police Monitor for the City of Austin, a partner at McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P, and Chief of the Trial Division at the Travis County DA’s Office.

Community service includes:

  • Austin Area Research Organization
  • Clean Air Force of Central Texas
  • AISD Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
  • Greater Austin Crime Commission
  • Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce
  • Austin Bridge Builders Alliance

 

Honors:

  • AISD District W. Charles Akins Award
  • American Heart Association Power Award
  • Austin Area Interreligious Ministries’ Hope Award
  • Garnet F. Coleman Eternal Flame Award
  • UT School of Law’s Thurgood Marshall Legal Society Distinguished Alumni Award
  • Austin Chapter of the NAACP Outstanding Service Award
  • City of Austin Distinguished Service Award
  • Austin Metropolitan YMCA Will W. Miller Volunteer Leadership Award

 

Cumberbatch has an A.B. in Economics from Brown University and a J.D. from The UT School of Law.

Which of your personal traits has most helped to make you a good leader?
Listening: While the leader's perception of the matter is key, it cannot stand apart from the leader listening and comprehending the various stakeholders' views of the issues.
What are the key things you would counsel someone coming into the workforce?
Know thy self. Successful workers are aware of their skills -- strengths and weaknesses -- and understand how they match up with the essential functions of their job and the needs of the organizations. This knowledge helps with monitoring continuing education, which should be ongoing, and job advancement.
What is the one thing that you would like to tell the Austin community about this organization?
ABBA's purpose is twofold: Connect the various members within the Austin area Body of Christ to each other -- across denominational, age, geographical, gender, ethnic, and other walls; connect the resources of the Christian community to the needs of the city. Scripture informs us the the Church is one body, although comprised of different members and that Christians are to pray for and pursue the peace (completeness) of the city. We have a responsibility to assist appropriately in the building and maintaining of a region where the core systems of the community, e.g., economic, health, public safety, educational, and government, are thriving and accessible to all.
If you were trapped on a desert island, what would be in your survival kit?
My BlackBerry (it contains my bible among other items); endless supply of turkey jerky; and my wife.
When you were 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A professional football player and a lawyer in the off season.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Potato Chips.