Celebrating our legacy of improving lives and communities.
Location: Austin, Texas | Cesar Chavez Corridor Enhancements
ARIZONA | ARKANSAS | FLORIDA | LOUISIANA | OKLAHOMA | TEXAS
On behalf of the Downtown Austin Alliance, welcome to our Annual Future of Downtown event!
Tonight, we recognize the community leaders, partners, and advocates who help downtown Austin thrive — for everyone. Together, we’ll celebrate their accomplishments, reflect on the progress we’ve made, and look ahead to what’s next for our vibrant urban core.
We’re also proud to share highlights from our newly released State of Downtown report — an in-depth look at the economic trends, development activity, and key insights shaping Downtown Austin today and into the future.
EVENT PROGRAM
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Registration & Reception
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Welcome Remarks
Whitney Knight, Outgoing Board Chair
Keynote Address
Davon Barbour, President & CEO
2024-2025 Accomplishments
Awards Program
Mar
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Closing Reception
AUSTIN
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE FOUNDATION
Our Mission is creating downtown vibrancy through art, parks and cultural spaces by and for everyone.
The Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable foundation of the Downtown Austin Alliance. The Foundation serves underserved and underrepresented populations, using art and cultural placemaking to cultivate a welcoming, safe and vibrant downtown Austin by and for everyone.
vibrant and inclusive community, w
Learn More
CLIMB TO NEW HEIGHTS
Make downtown your playground.
Future of Downtown AWARDS
This inaugural award honors an individual who exemplifies the heart of downtown through unwavering dedication, pride, and service This ambassador leads by example ensuring our streets are clean, our spaces are welcoming, and every person they encounter feels seen and supported. Recognizable not only by their red shirt, but by their integrity, kindness, and work ethic, they embody what it means to be
MEREDITH POWELL AWARD FOR COMMUNITY CULTURE
Award Winner
The Meredith Powell is a tireless advocate for the power of arts and culture to strengthen community and place. The award for Community Culture is forever named in honor. She is a visionary in the arts community, as the former executive director of Art Alliance and founder of Public City Her work has significantly contributed to downtown’s vibrancy for over 20 years.
This award is intended to elevate the importance of giving a voice to all in the community and of bringing life to underutilized spaces or underserved communities through art and activation
The Downtown Alliance recognizes this as a critical element to elevating downtown’s vibrancy.
Sylvia Orozco, co-Founder and Executive Director of Mexic-Arte
Museum, has been with the organization since its incorporation in 1984. She received her B.F.A. in Fine
Arts from The University of Texas at
Austin in 1978 and completed course work for an M F A in Fine Arts from the
Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City in 1983 Among many other honors, in 2007, Sylvia received the prestigious Ohtli Award from the
Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior of the General Consulate of Mexico, and in 2009 was selected for the Austin
Arts Hall of Fame She also serves on
the Board of Directors for the Mexican
American Cultural Center and is a
tireless leader in the effort to earn a
cultural heritage designation for
Austin’s 5th Street Mexican American
Heritage Corridor
The Mexic‐Arte Museum is dedicated to enriching the community through education programs, exhibitions, and the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture for visitors of all ages.
BECOME A DONOR TODAY
DOWNTOWN VISION AWARD
Austin Theatre Alliance
2025 Award Winner
This award is given to a group or project that has a significant impact on the community
vision for downtown The Downtown Vision
strives to ensure downtown is a place that is
loved by all Austinites Transformative by
nature, the Downtown Vision awardee overtly demonstrates our core values of inclusion, impact and collaboration.
The Paramount and State Theatres are the artistic heartbeat of downtown Austin, hosting over 550 events every year
The nonprofit mission extends beyond venues, reaching 22,000 Central Texas students every year through award-winning
Paramount Education programs in classrooms and the theatres. The Access to the Arts program provides Central Texas nonprofits and students with complimentary admission and special artist meet-andgreets.
The organization produces Moontower Just
For Laughs Austin, one of the largest comedy festivals in the nation; hosts the star-studded world premieres of SXSW, Austin Film Festival, and beyond; and programs the beloved Summer Classic Film Series, now in its 48th year
Through it all, they work with experts to ensure the careful preservation of these treasured monuments to Austin’s history.
The Paramount is one of only 20 theatres remaining in the U.S. that is over 100 years old and still in use as a venue – and we can’t wait to see what the next century will add to our story
We connect people and strengthen community by showcasing unforgettable performances across genres, providing life-changing arts education programs, and dreaming up magical experiences in iconic venues that anchor and define Downtown Austin.
Best Places to Work Awards
June 17 | Kalahari Resort & Convention Center
Awards Luncheon
Best CFO Awards
July 10 | W Austin
Private Cocktail & Awards Reception
Women in Business Awards
August 22 | JW Marriott
Awards Luncheon
Nominations close: June 2
Best CEO Awards
September 18 | Fairmont Austin
Private Cocktail & Awards Reception
Nominations close: July 28
Austin-San Antonio Growth Summit
October 8 | Embassy Suites in San Marcos Luncheon & Panel Discussion
Fastest Growing Companies
October 23 | JW Marriott
Cocktail Reception & Awards Presentation
Nominations close: August 25
ABJ Power Players
November 19 | Headliners Club
Private Cocktail Reception
Inno Fire Awards
December 9 | Austin Central Library Happy Hour & Awards Presentation Nominations close: October
Williamson County Growth Summit
December 18 | Kalahari Resort & Convention Center Luncheon & Panel Discussion
Beers with the Beat
Quarterly | Various locations Happy hour & networking event
Cheers
TO OUR SPONSORS
SPEAKER INTRODUCTION SPONSOR
Halff Associates
STATE OF DOWNTOWN REPORT SPONSOR
Heritage Title Company of Austin, Inc
MUSIC SPONSOR
Austin Transit Partnership
HDR AWARDS SPONSOR
CORPORATE SPONSOR
BIRD
Capital Metro
Clean Scapes
Coca-Cola
Cousins Properties Inc
DPR Construction
Husch Blackwell, LLP
IBC Bank
JE Dunn
Garza EMC
Google SOM
Texas Disposal Systems
Turner Construction Company
Waterloo Greenway
SUPPORTER SPONSOR
AllensWorth Law
Block by Block
City of Austin Economic
Development Department
JLL Capital Markets
Meredith Powell
STG Design
Visit Austin
Austin Convention Center
Read the Report
As a law firm that is committed to the communities we call home, Husch Blackwell is proud to support the Downtown Austin Alliance We celebrate its mission to create, preserve, and enhance the vibe, vitality, and value of downtown Austin for everyone
Jody Rudman | Office Managing Partner 111 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 huschblackwell com
PHOTOGRAPHY FELLOWSHIP
The XOXO Photography Fellowship program is an XOXO Downtown Austin campaign initiative aiming to empower emerging photographe
vibrant and welcoming. Through the campaign, we aim to create a sense of belonging and empower our community to build an authentic, connected
Downtown Austin
The 2024 XOXO Photography Fellowship ran from
September to the end of the calendar year. The fellowship lasted six weeks, with a final assignment to
produce high-quality images of Downtown Austin icons for the XOXO Downtown Austin campaign
Fellows received a stipend, shooting, editing and check-in sessions with their mentors and the
Downtown Austin Alliance team while growing their photography network and elevating their work.
2024PHOTOGRAPHYFELLOWS
Ismael Quintanilla III
Shania Montúfar Isabelle Milford
Sabine Fletcher Russell Crawford Eric Duong
2024PHOTOGRAPHYMENTORS
Chie Endo Marina O’Neill (Marina Wanders) Jay Ybarra (PhotoJay)
VIDEOGRAPHY FELLOWSHIP
The XOXO Videography Fellowship program is an XOXO Downtown Austin campaign initiative aiming to empower emerging videogr
vibrant and welcoming Th
Austin.
XOXO Videog
2025VIDEOGRAPHYFELLOWS
Jason Yu Hope Wager
Madeline (Maddie) Abdalla
2025VIDEOGRAPHYMENTORS
Carlos Nevarez Julián Fernández Garnik
PHOTO:ERICDUONG
About the
DASA ARTIST RESIDENCY
The DASA Artist Residency Program offers a unique opportunity for artists across various disciplines to immerse themselves in a supportive and inspiring environment The program provides the perfect space to focus on your creative practice, develop new work and engage with a diverse community of artists and cultural enthusiasts.
Residents receive a dedicated studio space in downtown Austin, digital, print and social media promotion through our partnership with Tribeza, access to resources and facilities at DASA Residency spaces, opportunities for collaboration and networking, professional development and mentorship over one year and exposure to new ideas, cultures and experiences
Each residency window is six weeks. Artists create works available for sale for a public closing exhibition, performance or presentation.
Johnny Munoz (OG Johnny) 2024-2025ARTISTRESIDENTS
Cat Carter (Superwoman
Records) Chris Rodriguez (Tobar) Kiara Harris (Ki)
Malti B Lee
Megan Hildebrandt
Dan Jimenez Robin Winter
Eggs
ABOUT ISSUES & EGGS
FROM BACK ROOM TO MAIN ATTRACTION
Activate your space downtown.
