Empower Change, Equip Compassion: Unite for BRAVE Communities' 2024 Year-End Impact
Want to be BRAVE? Our mission is to cultivate BRAVE spaces to Build Relationships Awareness Voices and Engagement, to co-create connections for a more just and equitable community. Our programs and events seek to engage community members around questions of inclusiveness and public policy, to empower young leaders to be agents of change on a local and global level. Your generous support will help us to continue to offer ongoing affordable or free educational and community-building services. We encourage intercultural and intergenerational relationships in our communities by offering:
BRAVE Young Leaders We empower diverse 14-24 years old from Central Texas with tools, resources, and opportunities to develop and strengthen leadership, bias reduction, critical thinking and problem solving skills, and gain hands-on experience over the course of in-person and virtual workshops, group projects and events.And, we compensated the participants, averaging ~$15/hour) for their time and energy to co-create community-building initatives.
BRAVE Communities Connections We offer free monthly community-building events, ranging from panel discussions, movie/documentary screenings, circle talks, creative and wellness activities. Community members listen, learn, unlearn, participate, experience, discuss, and share their stories, while amplifying the lived experiences of marginalized communities.
BRAVE Fest This annual Austin-wide community event, we celebrate local artists, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups that are positively impacting and changing our city. Attendees enjoy a day of music, dance, and spoken word and celebrate community.
Global Social Impact We design and facilitate leadership and social innovation programs for 60+ young leaders ages 16-38 through our partnership with the U.S. Department of State and a DC-based NGO. We bring emerging young leaders from Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Latin America, to learn about and discuss solutions for issues impacting their respective communities. BRAVE hosted 8 Profesional Fellows from the N. Africa region and 24 TechGirls from the Asia/Pacific region in 2024, and plan to increase the participation in 2025. Austin city immersion experiences for the Professional Fellow Program (PFP) and TechGirls.
BRAVE Young Leader - educational & service trip to Montgomery, AL in 2025
BRAVE Young Leader Scholarship Funds to help with college/university application fees & textbooks
Facility rental for BRAVE Communities Connections
Refreshments for our BRAVE Communities Connections
Honorarium for a guest speaker at our BRAVE Communities Connections
Snacks for our BRAVE Young Leader workshops
Monthly Zoom fees to host virtual meetings & workshops
Welcome kits for our Global Social Impact programs