Austin Area Urban League

To assist African Americans and all other under-served Austin area residents in the achievement of societal and economic equality by focusing on educational improvement, employment readiness, health and wellness, and the preservation of affordable housing.

Description:
We have several program areas:

Center for Advocacy and Constituency Representation (CACR)

CACR connects with local businesses, corporate community leaders, and citizens who are working to build a stronger, more vibrant Austin. Board members, staff and volunteers from the Austin Area Urban League participate on various boards, commissions and panels throughout Central Texas. This effort creates a network of professionals who express the need for political and social change, benefiting all individuals and creating a level playing field. Community activities include: Austin Racial Reconciliation Forum, Austin Community Advisory Committee, AISD Dropout Prevention Task Force, and many more.

Center for Housing and Emergency Home Repair (CHEHR)

CHEHR provides emergency and critical repairs to owner occupied homes located in the City of Austin. The homeowners assisted by this program must reside in the City of Austin and their incomes may not exceed 80% of the Median Family Income (MFI) as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Services under this program include emergency repairs, customer recruitment, screening and selection of eligible customers, and the supervision of repairs on homes owned by low-income residents. The purpose of this program is to help preserve the existing housing stock and improve the quality of life for low-income homeowners by allowing them to remain in their homes. Three categories are used to describe repairs:

Crisis Intervention Assistance: repairs to homes which would alleviate those situations which present life threatening conditions such as leaking gas pipes or electrical wire short-circuiting.

Emergency Repair Assistance: repairs to homes, which would alleviate threats to health and safety of occupants.

Major System Repairs: repairs to or replacement of major operating system(s) of a home, when the repair does not alter environmental conditions and when the repair is limited to protection, repair or restoration activities necessary to control or arrest the effects of disasters, imminent threats or physical deterioration. Major systems are identified as electrical, plumbing, roofing, mechanical and heating systems.


Institute for Quality Education and Career Development (IQECD)

The Institute for Quality Education and Career Development provides computer training, employability skills workshops, professional development and job placement assistance to unemployed, underemployed, low-income and minority clients. The Institute for Quality Education and Career Development’s goal is to provide state-of-the-art training that will give all students an edge in competing in the Austin area job market.

Essential Office Skills (EOS)/Workplace Literacy

The Austin Area Urban League’s EOS/Workplace Literacy training program offers a variety of services from basic business skills to software training and concluding with job placement assistance and community resource referrals. The job readiness component of the EOS/Workplace Literacy training includes business math, business English, reading, spelling and vocabulary. The curriculum includes business communications essentials such as memorandum and business letter writing, verbal communication, reference material usage, as well as office technology sessions whereby students are exposed to electronic research, multi-line telephone, fax, copier, and postage machine utilization and filing. Coursework is supplemented by job readiness workshops conducted by professional guest lecturers [local employers re-emphasizing teaching strategies and expectations in the workplace necessary to succeed in the job market], selected business site visits, resume writing and mock interviews.

Life Skills Program

The Austin Area Urban League’s Life Skills Programs offers programming and referral services designed to assist youth and adults in altering those negative patterns of behaviors that create barriers to their success. Life skills programming strives to increase the clients’ responsibility for their education, their personal growth and development, and provide an opportunity for the client to acquire the knowledge of the value and satisfaction that comes from contributing to society in a positive manner.

History:
The Austin Area Urban League, incorporated on August 12, 1977, stands proudly as it takes its place among the 115 affiliates of the National Urban League. Although 32 years have passed since its creation, the Austin Area Urban League continues to hold fast to our original mission; one which guides our outreach, programming, partnerships and advocacy. We envision a community in which all citizens are free from barriers to education, economic and social success.

Over the years, significant steps have been made in removing the early prejudices and barriers, thus allowing many of our constituents to learn to grow, and to thrive in the Austin community. As we move forward with our programs, we have been able to adapt to the ever-changing Austin environment - one that has grown from being merely the state capital to that of a thriving technological hub that incorporates the community, government, and the business sectors.

Contact person: Jeff Mathis, (512) 478-7176 x233, (email)

Office fax number: (512) 478-1239

Address:

1033 La Posada Drive Suite 150 Austin, TX 78752 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.aaul.org

Last updated on November 16, 2009