Meet LifeWorks Austin: Introducing AIGA Austin’s 2018 Changemaker Series Change Organizations
The AIGA Austin Changemaker Series is excited to announce its 2018 Changemaker Organizations: Foundation for the Homeless, LifeWorks Austin and Texas Appleseed.
With our inaugural ATX Changemaker Series challenge focusing on “How we might better serve the homeless population in the Austin area,” we set out to partner with these inspiring nonprofits and change organizations that serve the homeless and seek to end this cause within the near future.
Before the Change Organizations join us at our Weekend Workshop on June 9th, and collaborate with teams of creative professionals on a three-month project to help advance their missions, we wanted to get to know them a bit more.
LifeWorks Austin
LifeWorks Austin is a fearless advocate for youth and families seeking their path to self-sufficiency. They provide counseling, housing, and education & workforce services which include a Young Parents Program, GED services, onsite apartment homes known as The Works II, and more. Most importantly, LifeWorks Austin is a fearless leader in the community plan to End Youth Homelessness by 2020.
Looking at their short term and long term goals, LifeWorks Austin hopes to collaborate with the Changemaker Creatives to help shed light on their upcoming campaign and communicate their need to end youth homelessness in the most effective way possible.
Q&A with the LifeWorks Austin
What communities does your organization serve? (families, youth, vets, etc.)
LifeWorks serves youth and families experiencing homelessness in Central Texas. With over 18 programs, we offer an aligned network of services ranging from shelter, education, and counseling to workforce development and affordable housing — all focused on achieving real, sustainable, and measurable results for the clients we serve.
Right now, what’s the biggest hurdle in the way of your mission? What are your biggest frustrations?
The biggest hurdle in the way of our mission is the fact that youth continue to experience homelessness in major cities across the country — even though our goal is to end Austin’s youth homelessness by 2020 by making occurrences rare, brief, and non-recurring, it takes multiple levels of non-profit and federal funding and partners to make this goal a reality. We are pleased though, to have multiple partners working with us to achieve this goal and are supported with federal funds to help advance our work.
Homelessness is a complicated issue to understand, and youth homelessness comes along with increased mental health effects that only continue to go unaddressed the longer the youth is living on the streets.
A hurdle in our journey to increase philanthropic funds also comes with awareness of our mission and with the work that we’ve done, and continue to do, in Austin. Our biggest frustration is of course, that we’re doing this work to fill a societal problem. We truly believe that through our work, we can end youth homelessness and create a city that is welcoming, inclusive, and full of (accessible) opportunities for all to become self-sufficient and reach their own goals.
What do you wish the public knew about your work, your cause or about the people you serve?
Twenty years ago, four Austin non-profits made the decision to band together and become a one-stop shop for housing, workforce, education and counseling services for youth and families in the Central Texas Area. We are the largest mental health services provider in the Central Texas Area.
Youth experiencing homelessness in larger metropolitan cities (Dallas and Houston) find ways to get to Austin specifically to become a client at LifeWorks. We wish the public were better informed of the kinds of services we offer; our mission is to serve as a fearless advocate for youth and families seeking self-sufficiency.
LifeWorks is more than just an organization that offers emergency and long-term shelter/housing services for youth experiencing homelessness. We have two-decades worth of research, evaluation and strategic planning to reinforce our case for improved donor relations and increased funding.
Our Legacy Circle — with more than 50 members who pledge $5000 or more per year — has become a network of people who shout the LifeWorks mission from the rooftops.
Unfortunately, homelessness comes with its own stigma — add in youth homelessness and it becomes a stigma with a very complicated road to navigate. The work that we do here, and our goal to End Youth Homelessness by 2020 will ensure that our full scope of wrap-around services embrace the client, addresses their needs, provides placement (housing) and then focuses on their goals, so that we can get them to where they want to be.
How do you overcome the many myths and misconceptions that exist about homelessness?
The word “Homelessness” evokes a chain of questions, and, as the number of questions increases, the conversation around the initial cause and the solutions to fix it turn complex.
LifeWorks provides mental health services for thousands of Texas clients — in its 20th year, LifeWorks meets people where they’re at when they walk into the door, whether that is mentally, physically or emotionally.
A safe space environment of the service provider is paramount to a client’s success; LifeWorks is the leading partner in filling the role to improve mental health and homelessness within our community. LifeWorks provides housing solutions and counseling services for youth experiencing homelessness as well as individuals or families.
There are many components to righting the myths and misconceptions about homelessness and mental health services. Strategies to improve our community are formed through educating our neighbors, our police and fire/EMS services, and our larger community that homelessness negates opportunities for self-sufficiency. We are a fearless advocate for youth and families seeking self-sufficiency.
What’s the problem-solving process like at your organization? How much room is there for creativity and out-of-the-box thinking in your organization’s decision making?
The problem-solving process among our teams and our executive-level staff is extremely collaborative, innovative and encompassing. Open dialogue and brainstorming are encouraged, and frequently, teams will meet to flesh out change-process or work through new initiatives to ensure that all parties understand, are comfortable and have bought in.
Nothing is done in a silo, as we believe that the best ideas flow freely when staff feel comfortable and supported.
Creativity among the Development Team (the team charged to manage donors and funds, increase public perception and work amongst our community partners) is encouraged and ways to engage our audiences, donors and volunteers through social media, communications or events are always percolating. The Development Team leads the work on the agency’s look and feel, as well as event planning and execution.
While we have not formally incorporated design-thinking across our organization, members of the Development Team practice design thinking when it comes to collateral and marketing/communications best practices demonstrated across the organization.
Have you worked with designers before? If so, what was the overall experience like and is there anything you wish designers would do differently or you would do differently?
LifeWorks has not worked with designers outside of our organization. We have a Creative Coordinator on staff who serves as our in-house designer. For the designers helping with this project, we appreciate the communication, collaboration, and a willingness to learn about who we are as an organization.
If only one thing was to come out of this experience for the benefit of your organization, what would you want that to be?
Increased community awareness among Austin residents and the greater Texas community. Increased awareness through a strategic fundraising campaign should result in a large increase in philanthropic donations.
Have more questions about the AIGA Austin Changemaker Series?
Email us at changemaker@austin.aiga.org. Following @AIGAAustin on social media or join our Changemaker Series email list to stay in the loop.
