Leadership Austin programs are centered around the concept of intersectionality. The important issues that affect our region – access to healthcare, jobs, transportation, childcare, etc. – are all connected. Our goal is to get representatives across these sectors into the same room at the same time. Only then, we believe, will we be able to affect real, impactful change.
Rylie Davis of McKinney York Architects is an example of one of these aha moments. She recently attended an Engage Breakfast where the topic was “Immigration, Boundaries and Borders”. Afterward, she had this to say: “I got the chance to see our city, state and country through the eyes of immigrants and immigrant rights activists. Their insightful and thought-provoking stories prompted me to think about how architecture and design can support communities and foster diversity and inclusion, particularly in our civic spaces.”
Rylie at the Engage Breakfast with Heather McKinney
Rylie attended the breakfast with Heather McKinney, Founding Principal at McKinney York. This year, the firm bought two season passes to the Engage Breakfast Series. Every month, they send two members from the firm to take part in a discussion about timely, relevant community topics with a panel of subject area experts and people with lived experience.
“The Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast Series is one of the remarkable treasures of living and working in downtown Austin,” Heather says. “I have really enjoyed the stimulating conversations with strangers at our table, all of whom have come with open minds and curiosity. The program on immigration, borders and boundaries was inspiring and disconcerting at times and I could literally feel my perspective shifting as I listened to the stories from the dais. Both of us left a little changed.”
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Rylie and Heather! And thanks to McKinney York Architects for joining us as a season pass subscriber to the Engage Breakfast Series!
The Engage Breakfast Series is a great way for the public to connect with Leadership Austin (and stay connected, for alumni). Attendees leave educated, informed and inspired to act. The season runs September through June every year. See the schedule for the current season, and buy tickets, on our website. If you are interested, partial season passes are available for the remaining six breakfasts this season. These make great gifts for co-workers and mentees!
If you aren’t able to attend the breakfasts but still want to participate, check out Engage on the Go. Watch recordings of every Engage Breakfast and stay informed about the people and issues that are affecting our region. You are encouraged to invite family, friends and neighbors to watch, too, and have a conversation about what you hear.
Follow the 40 Stories in 40 Days campaign on Instagram and on our website.