East Austin Neighborhood Center gives fresh food, health screens & tips, job search, and referrals to low-income seniors, families and workers. Call 972-6650 or come to 211 Comal Street (78702) , M-Th 8am-6pm, Fri. 8-12pm, closed daily 12-1pm for lunch. Call or click 211 for help 24/7, se habla español.
The RBJ Senior Residential Center Master Plan update is now online!
Community meetings for residents and neighbors held over the last few months have been very positive. Continued support by our neighborhood could possibly double the number of truly affordable housing units for seniors, as well as add services that could be used by RBJ residents and those neighbors who want to bike or walk to local retail outlets. The next community meeting is in the works for later this summer. You can learn more about the goals of the Board of Directors who will ultimately decide what to do with their land or get on the meeting notice list by contacting Ashley or visiting the updated RBJ website. See www.rbjcenter.org or call or email Ashley, (512) 477-1018. Se habla español.
Do you remember when you were younger and had to go to the grocery store with your mother? In my experience, it always took what seemed like an eternity to get back in the car because my mom knew so many people and stopped to talk to all of them. As a child, it was painful to endure. As an adult, I look forward to that happening each time I’m out and about. The East Cesar Chavez neighborhood’s strong sense of community has had a significant impact on me personally. Befriending my neighbors and watching their children grow up, meeting the business owners in the area and making efforts to support them better, listening to the history of our barrio from the mouths of the true locals…that is all so intrinsically valuable.
This spring and summer consider how you can add to our community. Meet your neighbors young and old, step up and volunteer for a project, help an elderly neighbor, start a contact list for your block, keep an eye out for pesky robbers, frequent the many local businesses, visit the farmer’s market…and as you do, know that you are adding a little magic to our wonderful world on the east side.
In May, our Economic Development Committee hosted a happy hour meet-up for neighborhood business owners. The event brought together more than 25 business owners and employees who got to know one another and shared their experience doing business in our neighborhood. In addition to hearing feedback on what we as a neighborhood can do to better support our neighborhood businesses, it was great seeing business owners connect and discuss what they can do to support one another!
Our goal is to host a happy hour once per quarter. Our next meet up is scheduled for September, more details coming soon.
If you see something odd, report it by calling 911 — not 311. Any crime in progress (even loud music) is a 911 call. The dispatcher will decide if your call should be transferred to 311. Reporting crime through 911 helps the City provide adequate police representation and other services for our area. Please keep calling 911!
It is quite an honor to serve as the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Team’s new chairperson. I look forward to further contributing to the community and working towards achieving our neighborhood goals. Some of my personal goals for the year include improving the team’s web presence to better communicate with neighbors and area businesses, developing a consistent process for handling agenda items and citizen communications and coordinating more opportunities to enhance the lives of those neighbors most in need. I am most grateful to all of the team members for their continued hard work and efforts to preserve our neighborhood keep it safe and grow in a manner that will benefit us all.
