Name: Amy Stansbury
Title: Editor-In-Chief
Company: Austin EcoNetwork

 

1. How did you get to Austin?
I moved to Austin about three years ago, just wanting to explore a different part of the country. I grew up in the northeast and thought it was about time to get away from the cold weather and angry people and see what else is out there. So far, I think it was a pretty good decision 🙂

2. Why did you join the AYC?
I joined AYC to connect with fellow young people in Austin and to advocate for better civic education and leadership amongst the millennial community. Civic education is my passion, especially amongst young people, which was why I was so excited at the prospect of joining a network filled with young people wanting to make a difference

3. What is your favorite lunch spot?
Snack Bar on South Congress

4. If you could have any superpower, what would it be and what would you use it for?
I would love to have the ability to pause time. There just never seems to be enough time in the day to do all of things I want to do (plus, the ability to pause time would allow me to take naps whenever I wanted).

5. If you could have any celebrity live next door to you, who would it be?
Terry Gross from Fresh Air. I have dreams of just dropping by her house so that she can interview me about the amazing book I just wrote or movie I directed. Plus, I’m certain she’d be an amazing dinner party guest. She’s met everyone.

6. What are your top 3 things to do/see in Austin?
Swim at Barton Springs Pool, Hike the Green Belt, Paddle board on Lady Bird Lake

7. If you played hooky for a day, where would we find you?
Jester King Brewery

8. When people ask you what you do for a living, what do you tell them?
I tell stories. I love traveling around Austin, learning more about what’s going on in the city, and then sharing that information with others. At the moment, I’m more than a bit obsessed with civic education, especially for young people. When I go to City Council meetings I can’t help but notice the lack of people under the age of 35 making decisions about our city’s future. Young people need to be at the table as well, sharing their unique input and perspective. And yet, they are often nowhere to be found. There is a huge disconnect between city government and young people in this town and that needs to change. I’m constantly thinking of new ways to bridge that gap and teach young people how to get involved in new and creative ways. So, I guess that’s what I do for a living.

9. What do you think is the best invention in the past 50 years?
I’m going to answer this with my least favorite invention instead (clearly I can’t follow instructions) – email.

10. Who was your first Facebook friend?
Lisa Burkholder – a longtime friend and an amazing runner who I ran cross country and track with in high school. Shortly after, we posted our first picture together – a true gem, complete with braces and an ice cream sundae at the local Friendly’s.

11. If you couldn’t live in Austin, where would you want to live?
I’m a pretty outdoorsy person, so I think I would enjoy living any place where I could go camping on a moment’s notice. Perhaps the Pacific Northwest, or Canada. I think Ireland would be nice as well (but that’s mostly just for the great beer).