Grand Opening Celebration for Austin’s New Co-Working Community
AUSTIN, Texas—(Nov. 1, 2011)—The Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at Center61’s grand opening on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 6 to 9 pm at the People Fund Building, located at 2921 East 17th Street in Austin, Texas. Center61 is Austin’s co-working community for small-scale non-profits, socially minded entrepreneurs and business professionals. Simply put, Center61 is a physical space where social networking becomes social inter-ACTION for Austin’s nonprofits and social entrepreneurs committed to making an impact on the world. Individuals can RSVP for the grand opening at http://center61.ticketbud.com/grand-opening. Tickets to the grand opening are free, and the event will include beverages and hors d’ouerves.
Given that Austin has over 6,000 nonprofits and is one of the leading hubs for entrepreneurship, Center61 is a perfect addition to the city. The first of its kind, Center61 will provide a community of like-minded people to create a synergistic environment that enables all participants to collectively accomplish more.
“Center61 was created as a tangible way to serve the greater Austin community through a physical space with first-class amenities for small, up and coming organizations,” said Steve Wanta, CEO and Founder of Center61.
As a co-working community, members have access to essential business facilities to meet their organizations’ day-to-day demands alongside informal areas that redefine the traditional office environment. The physical space includes a large collaborative work environment, printer, copier, scanner, and fully equipped conference and private meeting rooms. The target market for Center61 is a small, one- to three-person organization that has either outgrown their informal work environments and/or crave a space that offers a positive, collaborative atmosphere.
“We are thrilled to partner with Center61 for their grand opening,” said Ed Kargbo, President of AYC. “Our membership is ripe with entrepreneurs, start ups and young professionals that could greatly benefit from the services provided by Center61.”
Steve Wanta founded Center61 in June 2011 after more than 2 years of conversations with close friends and colleagues who shared a passion for social entrepreneurship and a desire to create a physical space that could foster and give back to Austin’s community dedicated to creating a better world.
Often times people look to give back to their communities by volunteering or performing other charitable work. Wanta has actually done the reverse. As the Executive Program Director for Whole Planet Foundation, Whole Foods Market’s nonprofit, he oversees the foundation’s support of microfinance around the world. Inspired by the poor living on a dollar a day and the organizations that serve them, he felt the best way to give back to the city Wanta loves was to establish Center61as a business to serve a community of scrappy nonprofits and social entrepreneurs.
About the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce-
The purpose of the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC) is to develop and connect young professionals in Austin to create business, community and individual success.
Work hard. Play hard. That’s our motto at the AYC. As young professionals in the Austin area we know that you work hard to develop yourself both personally and professionally. We also know that in a city like Austin there are countless ways to play hard. The AYC is where you can do both with other young professionals in the Austin community.
Find us online:
www.austinyc.org
www.facebook.com/austinyoungchamber
http://twitter.com/austinyc
About Center61
Center61 is a new co-working Community in Austin, conveniently located in the beautiful new PeopleFund building that is dedicated to small, 1- to 3-person nonprofits and social entrepreneurs. The design, pricing, and services have been created by and for Austin’s nonprofit and social entrepreneur community. Center61 offers opportunities to collaborate with your peers and gain exposure to other idea-shaping events. Learn more at www.center61.com.
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See the article in the Austin Business Journal today regarding the AYC Apprentice Austin program. We are still looking for mentors; apply today. The deadline is Oct. 10.
The Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC) is accepting applications for the 3rdclass of Apprentice Austin, a city-wide mentoring program designed to develop tomorrow’s young professionals and the future leaders of Austin. Apprentice Austin will pair 30 students from area universities with 30 young professionals for an 8 month, 10-14 session mentoring opportunity for a student to learn from a local leader in an area of their career interests. Applications are available online for both mentors and apprentices at www.austinyc.org/apprentice-austin and will be accepted from now until Oct. 1, 2011. Apprentices chosen for the program will be announced on Oct. 5, with the apprentice and mentor matching announcement on Oct. 15. The program will run from Oct. 24, 2011 through April 13, 2012.
Mentors give one hour every other week to their apprentices to help guide the student on career development, make contacts and network in Austin, and offer work advice and community awareness. The program kicks-off with a launch party and culminates in a graduation ceremony with the apprentices, mentors, local leaders, key stakeholders from the University, and sponsors.
Since 2010, over 75 students have gone through the Apprentice Austin program; this is the largest mentoring program in Central Texas. The industries in this program range from pharmaceutical sales to real estate to ministry. The benefits for student apprentices include an opportunity to build their network, test drive a career through shadowing their mentor, learn the ins and outs of a career and/or industry from a peer in the position, and receive a free annual AYC membership. The benefits for professionals/mentors include connecting with tomorrow’s top talent, helping job seekers skip mistakes and follow steps to success, gain a renewed interest in his or her career and receive a free annual AYC membership.
”We have been so pleased with the response from both the business and college communities in Austin,” says Nathan Green, co-founder of the Austin Young Chamber, and Board Member responsible for the program. “I have had several students tell me how valuable the experience was and how they landed their first job out of college through Apprentice Austin.”
“St. Edward’s University was very proud to participate in the Austin Young Chamber’s Apprentice Austin mentoring program,” said Barbara Henderson, Director of Career Services at St. Edward’s University. “The students were able to make connections through networking and get hands on experience in their related fields of interest. This type of program will prove to be invaluable for the future successes of our students as they begin their careers in the Austin community.”
Due to the success of Apprentice Austin, the Belton Chamber of Commerce has decided to develop a similar version of the program with the blessing of the Austin Young Chamber. Billy Moyer, Vice Chair of the Apprentice Austin program, has helped the Belton Chamber develop the Apprentice Belton program that will begin this fall. Apprentice Belton will team up with the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) to give students an opportunity to be mentored by professionals who work in their desired career or industry.
“We have always been committed to developing young talent in Belton, Texas,” Stephanie O’Banion, CEO of the Belton Chamber said. “After hearing about the success of Apprentice Austin, we thought bringing the program to Belton was a perfect fit. We look forward to helping the students of UMHB figure out what they want to do and hopefully we will keep them in the area.”
Student Testimonials about Apprentice Austin:
“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Apprentice Austin. I felt honored to be a part of such a great program where mentorship is a top priority and the benefits of the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce are given freely. I learned a great deal from my mentor, Coco Valdez. She gave me further insights into the non-profit sector that I would have never have learned inside a classroom. It was obvious that Coco was a true servant and simply desired to share her passion for her career with others. She didn’t expect anything back and sacrificed her time to meet with me. She truly confirmed my desire to pursue a career in non-profits and especially in the area of programming and event coordinating. I will always remember this experience and will continue to seek mentor relationships wherever my future may lead me.”
Lya Morfit, Apprentice
Concordia University
“I really enjoyed my experience with Apprentice Austin. I was able to meet new people and to learn different aspects of the career field which I am pursing from the perspective of related fields. My mentor has also been very helpful, motivating me to think about the future. He held me accountable for writing down and actively pursuing my goals while inspiring me by discussing his progress towards his own goals. I’m glad for the opportunity to expand my horizons that Apprentice Austin has provided me.”
Mariel Kerbacher, Apprentice
Southwestern University and the University of Texas
“My experience as a mentor was spectacular. I loved meeting with my apprentice, Rachel every other week. We developed a very strong relationship and we continue to talk today. I have had many mentors in my life and Apprentice Austin gave me an opportunity to give back by being a mentor myself. It turns out that I probably learned more from Rachel than she did from me!”
Amber Fogarty, Mentor
Chief Marketing Officer, SOS Leadership Institute
Adjunct Professor at St. Edward’s University
Tribeza Magazine joined us at the annual AYC Poker Tournament on August 25th. See their photos from the event here.
The Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC) Imagine Committee will host an Office Space Quote-A-Long at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 6:30 pm. The Quote-A-Long will be emceed by The Action Pack; the evening will include a chance to beat up office equipment, an Office Space-themed food and drink menu, door prizes from the Austin Film Festival and Austin Film Society, and the first 50 attendees will receive custom sunglasses from Sparefoot.
AYC is grateful to their event partners: Alamo Drafthouse, Art of Fifth, Austin Film Festival, Austin Film Society and Sparefoot. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 7 pm. Member tickets are $10 and non-member tickets are $15; these can be purchased at www.austinyc.org.
The AYC Imagine Committee provides AYC members the opportunity to connect to the local Austin arts and culture scene. For more information about this committee, contact Macy McBeth, Chair of the Imagine Committee, at macymcbeth@gmail.com.
About the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce-
The purpose of the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC) is to develop and connect young professionals in Austin to create business, community and individual success.
Work hard. Play hard. That’s our motto at the AYC. As young professionals in the Austin area we know that you work hard to develop yourself both personally and professionally. We also know that in a city like Austin there are countless ways to play hard. The AYC is where you can do both with other young professionals in the Austin community.
Find us online:
www.austinyc.org www.facebook.com/austinyoungchamber http://twitter.com/austinyc
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The Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC) has launched a new committee devoted to connecting, educating, and engaging young professionals with the established and emerging energy industry in Central Texas. This committee will focus on connecting students and young professionals with energy companies and organizations, partnering with groups to host events for young professionals interested in careers within the energy industry, as well as community service and outdoor engagement opportunities. Founding partners of the Committee include NRG Energy, Chesapeake Energy, Cielo Wind Power and Green Bank.
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Melanie Plummer and Erin Geoffroy sit down with Inside Austin.
I’ve written about Austin Young Chamber of Commerce before (here), but this time they are throwing a mega shindig. At their Tie One On party at Rebel’s Honky Tonk, there will be an OPEN BAR from 7-11pm, live music from Grant Jones and the Pistol Whip Lassos & Mikey and the Soda Jerks, a bull riding contest, pairs dancing contest, punching bag contest, and a best dressed contest. Plus, everytime you participate in a contest you get entered into the raffle to win two round-trip tickets ANYWHERE Jet Blue flies! There will be lots of other prizes and surprises, so don’t miss this event!
Read more at:
http://thisislifeinaustin.com/2010/03/25/tie-one-on/
Austin was one of the top 10 cities for young entrepreneurs last year, according to Under30CEO.
The website’s list was compiled from surveys to readers asking everything from resources and schools to social scenes for young entrepreneurs. New York came in No. 1 on the list, citing its position as the country’s largest city, “which gives it just about anything a business or young person would want.”
Read more at:
http://www.abjentrepreneur.com/news/2011/01/austin-a-top-spot-for-young.html?ana=abje
