Alongside Westside Health Authority, Austin Coming Together (ACT) is co-developing Austin’s former Emmet Elementary School into the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation (ACWI), a central location for resources and high-performing on-site workforce development training.
ACWI is located at Madison and Central, one of the most important intersections in our community because Central Avenue is the spine that connects Austin’s other smaller neighborhoods. Developing existing assets in this densely populated area directly addresses many of the community’s needs and is a visible symbol of the investment our community deserves.
We understand it is important that the center help address both residents’ immediate and long-term challenges, so we have established a holistic model to approach serving residents along a spectrum of outcomes from economic stability through wealth creation.
Just as ACT’s Austin Community Hub currently does, the Aspire Center will support individuals by connecting them to a comprehensive range of services, many of which will be provided at the Center or by local service organization partners. Whether it be mental health, housing, or even steady employment, we will help residents overcome the barriers holding them back from thriving.
However, we know that simply connecting an individual to a job will not allow them to build wealth unless that job is a career opportunity that pays a living wage. That’s why the Aspire Center will provide linkages and pathways to high-demand economic sectors such as healthcare, transportation distribution, and logistics, information technology, and advanced manufacturing so Austinites can truly have the chance for upward mobility.
When you visit, you’ll find a welcoming environment with various spaces designed for community engagement, including reservable conference rooms and even a rooftop terrace!
The Aspire Center will be a place that offers so much more than just services; it will help aspirations take flight. We want the center to inspire everyone who walks through the doors to reach for their dreams and ambitions!
Completing the project will be a milestone in the community-led renaissance that’s been underway in Austin for years. It will catalyze economic development and represent how the community is rising above a history of disinvestment, limited opportunities, and underfunded services.
The story of the Aspire Center is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities come together to build their future. It exemplifies how grassroots efforts can successfully transition to impactful and successfully funded initiatives that honor the voices of those they serve.
Construction is on track and the grand opening will be Spring 2025!
How we operate the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation will be guided by these principles:
- Focus on the individual
- Infuse humanity in all we do
- Commit to meet a person where they are and inspire
- Address all related barriers
- Help a person imagine goals they never thought possible
- Help residents remain in Austin and thrive
- Use our collective experience with who we serve as our primary source of research at the outset
- Design for possibility, not necessarily services that exist
Learn more at AustinComingTogether.org/Aspire-Center