Accomplishments

What are some of the past accomplishments of the Temple Beth Shalom Advocacy?

• Marched in the Austin Pride Parade in 2014 and 2015
• Hosted an Accountability Session for Mayoral and County Judge Candidates 2014
• Worked with Austin Interfaith in support of issues impacting Austin
  • Promoting voter registration and get out the vote activities
  • Securing local approval of Community First! Village
  • Fixing flaws in local health care system
  • Obtaining support for flood victims, including mental health concerns
  • Improving wage and working conditions for city employers and contractors
  • Optimizing budget funding for libraries, parks, after school care, affordable housing, workforce development initiatives, and more
• Sponsored Advocacy Shabbat speakers
  • Ernesto Cortes, Jr. Co-Chair, Industrial Areas Foundation
  • Alan Graham, CEO and Founder, Mobile Loaves & Fishes
  • Alan van Cappelle, Executive Director, Bend the Arc
  • Koreena Malone, President, Oak Creek Village Tenant Association
• Conducted Advocacy Shabbat workshops
  • Identified issues impacting our congregants - mental health, eldercare, and education emerged as key concerns
  • Informed congregants of the Impact of the change to the 10 - 1 city council format on all of us
  • Modeled the decision making process involved in setting City of Austin budget priorities
• Focused on removing stigma surrounding mental health
  • Conducted adult education classes on Setting Healthy Boundaries and Mental Health Emergencies
  • Held a Mental Health Shabbat in 2015 informing the congregation of issues facing us all and identifying available resources
  • Raised $10,000 for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in 2015
  • Participated in NAMI walk in 2015