One Voice Central Texas

Congratulations to Dan Leal, CEO of the Seedling Foundation, and Christian Rodriguez, Executive Director of the Trinity Center Austin, for receiving $80k each in grant awards from Impact Austin!

Dan and Christian are both dedicated One Voice members, evidenced by their participation in activities such as the Buddy Program. OVCT's Buddy Program pairs nonprofit leaders with peers in their community, promoting learning from one another. Since its inception, the program has paired over 100 members, and it continues to forge connections today.

In 2023, Dan and Christian were paired as "buddies." In 2026, we celebrate the two standing together as grant award recipients! We are honored to have watched this journey and can't wait to celebrate all of the successes to come.

As Impact Austin prepared to announce 2026 grant awards, President Claudia Barlow remarked, "Each of these six organizations is doing this work at a time when the people they serve need support more than ever while funding is constrained.

"Tonight, we show that you don’t have to be a millionaire or a well-funded foundation to make a meaningful difference in your community. Through the power of collective giving, we’re showing what happens when a few hundred women with a commitment to supporting our neighbors come together."

Claudia Pegues Barlow Capital Area Counseling EGBI Business Accelerator The Refugee Collective Casa Marianella Seedling Trinity Center Austin

Laura Elmore LeBlanc, CEO of the Sobering Center and One Voice Past Chair, was recently featured on the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health's podcast, Re-Imagining Justice. Laura shares her insights about her work at the center. You can listen to the full episode here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1SFuRjvbbonqMigVBXJGCc?si=Xm_nw6N8SBScdD50oePR8Q

The Sobering Center with Laura Elmore LeBlanc Reimagining Justice: Exploring Texas Innovations in Mental Health · Episode

For the past several months, One Voice members have met with individual City of Austin Government City Council Members to discuss the role that social service funding plays in supporting the infrastructure of public health in the Austin area.

On May 28, One Voice Chair Dr. Rosamaria Murillo penned a letter to all City Council members explicitly laying out five crucial Asks for the City to take into consideration during FY27 budget decisions. We are proud to announce that this advocacy has culminated in written support and prioritization from Council Members.

At the time of this posting (Updated 06/16/26), Council Member José Velásquez, Council Member Ryan Alter, CM Krista Laine, Council Member Mike Siegel, District 7, Council Member Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, District 9, and Councilwoman Vanessa Fuentes have signed on to support this advocacy. One Voice extends our deepest gratitude to these Council Members.

We are excited and moved by our members' advocacy efforts and we will continue to uplift these wins. You can find Dr. Murillo's full letter and related links to articles on our website by following the link below:

https://onevoicecentraltx.org/issues/ovct-letter-regarding-fy27-city-budget/

"More people will end up in the streets; more people will stop receiving services that they utilize in order to survive."

Dr. Aaron Alarcon, 2026 Vice Chair for One Voice Central Texas and CEO of Family Eldercare, was invited to speak with KXAN on the necessity of local nonprofits yesterday. During his interview, Dr. Alarcon urges City of Austin Government to consider nonprofits as essential services, and reconsider funding allocation. One Voice Central Texas is also identified for its advocacy at the 1:05 mark.

See the interview here:

Austin council members push to protect social service funding this budget cycle As the city moves toward a challenging budget process this summer, some Austin City Council members are raising concerns about a possible $16.8 million reduction in social service contracts, urging city staff to prioritize funding for programs that support vulnerable residents. READ MORE: https://ww...

For the past several months, One Voice Central Texas members have been meeting with elected officials, City Council members, and been attending City Council and Committee meetings to urge the City to prioritize funding for programs that serve as the infrastructure of the community.

We are pleased to share that, at the time of this posting, Council Members Jose Velasquez, Ryan Alter, and Mike Siegel have signed on to support this advocacy. See the KXAN article below.

Tonight at 10 p.m., KXAN will also air an interview with One Voice Vice Chair, Dr. Aaron Alarcon. We will share that interview once it's available.

Austin council members push back on proposed social services cuts in budget Austin council members are urging the city to prioritize social service funding and limit a proposed $16.8M reduction.

One Voice is pleased to spotlight one of our wonderful Connector Level sponsors, Goldstein Insurance. Goldstein has been in business in Austin for over 35 years, known for their local touch and superior client-oriented approach. Goldstein takes pride in helping their clients find solutions for their insurance needs. With over 75 years of combined experience, their team has the understanding, knowledge, and most of all, integrity to achieve results.

With their support, One Voice Central Texas can continue to provide workshops, mentorship programs, advocacy outreach, and more for our members. Thank you Goldstein Insurance!

To learn more about Goldstein Insurance please visit their website here: https://lnkd.in/guFqVc9p

Blair Loaiza of AGE of Central Texas recently sat down with CBS Austin to discuss the "Dignity Drive," a donation drive that aims to collect adult pull-ups for low-income older individuals. Loaiza emphasized that there are no barriers to accessing these resources: “If we have the item and you need it, it’s yours,” she said. “This is just one program, but it’s also our largest program, serving more than 2,500 individuals each year.”

One Voice is proud to support AGE as a community partner with CBS Austin. The Dignity Drive runs through May 31 — learn more below!

https://cbsaustin.com/features/we-are-austin/meet-our-may-community-partner-age-of-central-texas

Meet our May Community Partner, AGE of Central Texas Blair Loaiza, Chief Development & CommunicationsAge of Central Texas Is Helping Older Adults Age With Dignity — and the Community Can HelpAs part of CBS Austin

One Voice is excited to share our 2026 Buddy Program Pairings. Each year, the Buddy Program pairs our more seasoned nonprofit executives with our emerging leaders, as well as a peer-to-peer option. Each year, we find that both buddies in mentorship pairs have the opportunity to gain invaluable insights, guidance, and support. This year marks exactly 100 members connected since the inception of the program!

Dan Leal, Barry Hamilton, Elizabeth Colvin, Lisa Barden, American Gateways, Streams in the Valley Counseling

American YouthWorks was recently awarded the 2026 Corps Network Project of the Year. This prestigious award acknowledges their "Rebuilding Community and Hope" rapid response to last July's devastating Texas floods.

Next month, American YouthWorks will receive this award at The Corps Network 2026 Action Summit in Washington, DC. We are so proud of them for receiving this recognition for their efforts and unwavering commitment to the community!

The Project of the Year video can be found below:

American YouthWorks 3 likes, 1 comment. "The Corps Network Project of the Year, American YouthWorks"