ACT awards honor leaders in Austin

This article first appeared on Austin Weekly News.

by Jessica Mordacq November 25, 2025

Austin Coming Together recognized a group of leaders in Austin at its annual membership awards on Nov. 20 at Morgan MFG in Chicago.

The ACT awards celebrated companies and individuals in Austin who have led through volunteering, funding and advocating for the neighborhood.

“Tonight is special, not just because we’re celebrating outstanding partners and colleagues, but because we’re recognizing what it means to be part of a community that is being redefined every single day,” said Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together, at the awards.

“Austin Come Together has been on a journey, a journey to truly serve those who live in this community, who work in this community, who have raised families in this community,” said Shields. “For many organizations, community is a word that appears in a mission statement in a newsletter. But for us, community is action. Community is momentum. Community is what happens when people who share values also share responsibility.”

ACT awards and their recipients are:

Excellence in early childhood development — Lurie Children’s Hospital

Lurie Children’s Hospital aims to improve children’s health with clinical care, advocacy, research and educational efforts. The hospital is being honored because of its involvement with the Austin HOPE Center, where Lurie Children’s will offer pediatric and behavioral health services when the center opens next year.

Lurie Children’s was also recognized for its maternal and child health team that has been working with Austin providers to create the Next Generation Home Daycare and Angelic Scholars Academy – both for early childhood development. The hospital also manages West Side Healthy Parents and Babies, which has connected over 150 people who are pregnant and parenting to health care resources since launching in April.

Excellence in neighborhood safety and youth development — Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago aims to educate, sustain, console and celebrate communities. They were honored with the award because of their work advancing neighborhood safety and empowering young people.

INVC is the first SC2 – Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago – hub leader in Austin. Eight other local organizations that are a part of the SC2 collaborate to serve those at the highest risk of participating in gun violence.

Excellence in workforce development – ITW

ITW is a global manufacturing leader across multiple industries. In 2014, it opened the David Speer Academy, a STEM-focused school that, this year, had a 98% graduation rate. In 2022, the company partnered with United Way to develop the workforce and continue economic development in Austin and Belmont-Cragin. ITW is bringing its first Austin-based manufacturing facility to the neighborhood to create careers, teach skills and provide long-term economic mobility in the area.

Excellence in housing and neighborhood development — Habitat for Humanity

Aligning with its mission to build quality homes and support homeownership, Habitat for Humanity built its first homes in Austin earlier this year. The initial three houses have been purchased by Austin residents, who are now a part of Habitat for Humanity’s affordable homeownership program. Habitat for Humanity has also supported 27 Austin resident-led projects, funding the likes of block parties, resource fairs and youth development programs.

Member of the year — Legal Aid Chicago

Legal Aid Chicago provides civil legal assistance to those who are vulnerable or living in poverty. The group started partnering with ACT in 2020 on re-entry work, offering legal services, and now has space in the Aspire Center.

The group was honored at the ACT awards for advancing justice and working to create equitable neighborhoods. Last year, Legal Aid Chicago handled over 14,500 cases with a 95% success rate and $34 million in financial benefit to clients. Also within the last year, Legal Aid Chicago has launched a partnership with the University of Chicago to prevent youth violence by addressing the social determinants of health like housing and environmental harm.

Champion of collective impact in Austin — Deloitte 

Through its partnership with United Way of Metro Chicago, Deloitte Chicago has created economic and community development in Austin. The consulting firm uses its staff and facilities to help organizations supporting Austin.

The Mildred Wiley community fire award 

Morris Reed, CEO of Westside Health Authority — For over 30 years, Westside Health Authority has helped locals with employment services, reentry and youth development. In 2018, WHA bought the former Emmet School that, in June, reopened as the Aspire Center.

Malcolm Crawford, founder and director of the Austin African American Business Network Association – Twenty years ago, Crawford created the AAABNA as a way for businesses to network and advocate for themselves. Helping to give Austin businesses a voice, Crawford launched a series of Black economic empowerment rallies that have increased revenue for businesses.

Elizabeth Abunaw, owner and operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market – In September, Abunaw launched Chicago’s first Black- and woman-owned grocery store. The market came after, in 2017, Abunaw started a grocery delivery service and popup markets. As one of the only full-service grocery stores in Austin, Forty Acres Fresh Market improves access to quality food and nutrition in the neighborhood.