Four Things You Should Know About Us
Small and Scalable
Urban Connection Austin was launched in the middle of this country's worst economic crisis in 80 years, so we were careful to keep our operation small and scalable. We've kept our overhead and expenses low - no fancy office or expense budget, no administrative staff and no debt. We're thoroughly grassroots and growing, but now, as we're experiencing an economic recovery, it's time for us to expand our capacity. And we've kept our operation scalable to be able to do just that. Our plan for the future has three elements: 1) to expand our operation at the Dobie Family Resource Center to full-time status, offering services five days a week next Fall, 2) to strengthen and expand our core of community partners, comprised of local churches and businesses, nonprofit organizations and neighborhood associations, and public institutions, and 3) to expand our services to the entire neighborhood where our students live, to help strengthen and transform it.
Resources and Relationships
We connect people to resources and relationships, because without relationships most resources are ineffective. We create those relationships by offering focused, personal attention to those we serve and by continuing to encourage their progress. Although the manner in which we do our jobs is professional, it is also personal. We don't serve clients as much as we serve our neighbors, operating by Jesus' call to treat others the way we would want to be treated. Which means treating them with dignity and respect. We also maintain regular contact, keeping detailed records that allow us to monitor and encourage families from crisis to stability and, eventually, self-sufficiency.
Stability to Self-Sufficiency
If all we succeed in doing is moving families in crisis to stability our efforts fall short of our goal. If we've learned anything from this present economic crisis, it's that simply stabilizing families isn't enough. Those that struggle to survive should be given the opportunity and resources to thrive, both for their sake and for the good of our entire society. All there will always be those that require the protection and provision of various social programs, to accept that as the fate of everyone that lives in poverty is short-sighted and self-defeating. It is also financially unsustainable. We can do better than that.
Receiving to Giving Back
The ultimate goal of helping get people on the path to a safe, healthy, and sustainable future, is helping people move all the way from crisis to stability to self-sufficiency and, finally, to giving back and helping others. This is how authentic community is formed and transformed. That's why we exist to partner with our neighbors to fight poverty together. The ultimate expression of personal development and maturity is when we move from receiving help to giving it back. The surprise is that even those that are serving and giving back are still learning this principle and discovering new meaning for their lives every day.
