Austin Coming Together

07/29/2026

Get ready before disaster strikes. ACT is partnering with United Way of Metro
Chicago, Verizon, and the American Red Cross of Illinois to make sure our community
is prepared for crisis, and strengthen our capacity to respond.

Join fellow residents and community leaders for a free workshop on Thursday, August 6th at 3pm at the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation (5500 W. Madison St.). We will be offering practical tools to prepare for flooding and other potential disasters in Austin. Attendees will also receive a free disaster preparedness kit.

RSVP for free here: https://shorturl.at/nL7xp

07/29/2026

Hey Austin fam + good food lovers! 🎉 Join us Thursday 8/13, 6:30–9:30pm for Austin Eats: Movie at the Farm 🎬🌻

🍽️ FREE dinner bites
🚲 “Food 2050” screening
🌿 Garden tours
🩺 Health checks
🔥Make S’mores
🐔 Meet the BUILD chickens
📍 BUILD Chicago , 5100 W Harrison

Rain or shine!

Space is limited—RSVP now 👉 https://bit.ly/4waqamF
💛 Please share + invite friends!


One Earth Film Festival

07/28/2026

Our Weekly Activities in Austin email includes the 7/28 Austin Fresh Grant info session, reminders about the 8/10 deadline for our Austin Eats Culinary Entrepreneurship Grant application, the 8/13 Austin Eats Movie in the Garden event hosted at BUILD, and our Back to School Supply Drive that ends on 8/21.

07/27/2026

Do you have an idea that could make a difference in the Austin community?

Austin Fresh is excited to launch the 2026 Call for Ideas, supporting innovative projects that help our community thrive.

Want to learn more before you apply? Join one of our free information sessions
- TOMORROW, July 28 at 4:00 p.m. (Online)
- And Wednesday, August 5 at 5:30 p.m. (In person at Austin Coming Together, 5500 W. Madison St.)

Register for an info session via this link: https://shorturl.at/TjTSi

- Grant applications open on Monday, August 3, 2026
- Submission deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Follow this link to apply for the grant: https://myforefront.org/

Visit the Austin Fresh webpage: https://freshtaste.org/austin-fresh/
to review the 2026 RFP, guidelines, FAQs, and more.

We can't wait to see your ideas!

07/24/2026

🚨 Calling Austin restaurant owners! 🚨

The Austin Eats Culinary Entrepreneurship Grant is back for its 3rd round of funding!

Eligible brick-and-mortar food businesses can apply for $3,000–$10,000 to support business expenses and help grow their impact in the Austin community.

Eligible businesses must:
• Be located in Austin (Austin community area)
• Have a public-facing brick-and-mortar location
• Be an established restaurant, café, coffee shop, or bakery
• Be committed to increasing healthy food access and community wellness

Applications open today, July 24, and close on Monday, August 10 at 11:59 PM

Award decisions will be announced on Friday, August 28.

07/23/2026

Check out our June Thrive newsletter which includes hiring updates, celebrating our one year anniversary at the Aspire Center, more details around our J.J. Walser House acquisition, and information on local farmers markets as well as food assistance opportunities.

Click the link to view the full newsletter: https://shorturl.at/I9JyD

07/23/2026

Hey Austin fam + good food lovers! 🎉 Join us Thursday 8/13, 6:30–9:30pm for Austin Eats: Movie at the Farm 🎬🌻

🍽️ FREE dinner bites
🚲 “Food 2050” screening
🌿 Garden tours
🩺 Health checks
🔥Make S’mores
🐔 Meet the BUILD chickens
📍, 5100 W Harrison
Thursday. Aug 13, 6:30–9:30pm
Rain or shine!
Space is limited—RSVP now 👉 https://bit.ly/4waqamF
💛 Please share + invite friends!
Chicago One Earth Film Festival

07/22/2026

Don't forget to tune in to The Brunch Bunch today at 12PM! Our Executive Director, Darnell Shields, will be live on Inspiration 1390 iHeart with the team to share about the Walser House acquisition, what this means for the community, and more!

Click the link at noon to tune in.

https://inspiration1390.iheart.com/

07/22/2026

RSVP TODAY 👉 https://bit.ly/4waqamF

Hey Austin fam + good food lovers! 🎉 Join us Thursday 8/13, 6:30–9:30pm for Austin Eats: Movie at the Farm 🎬🌻
🍽️ FREE dinner bites
🚲 “Food 2050” screening
🌿 Garden tours
🩺 Health checks
🔥Make S’mores
🐔 Meet the BUILD chickens
📍, 5100 W Harrison
Thursday. Aug 13, 6:30–9:30pm
Rain or shine!
Space is limited—RSVP now 👉 https://bit.ly/4waqamF
💛 Please share + invite friends!
Chicago One Earth Local Austin Coming Together

07/21/2026

Our Executive Director, Darnell Shields, will be on The Brunch Bunch
Radio on Inspiration 1390 tomorrow, 7/22 at 12pm!

Tune in for updates on ACT and the new Walser House acquisition on Inspiration 1390 iHeart Radio: https://inspiration1390.iheart.com/