Since eighth grade, Alyssa has been a powerful force for positive change in the Austin community. Introduced to Austin Coming Together (ACT) through her grandmother, Alyssa quickly found herself immersed in community work and youth events — experiences that would shape not only her connections, but her future.
“The first thing I did with ACT was join the Restorative Justice Circles every Thursday,” she recalls. “That space helped me grow as a person. It gave me the chance to listen, to lead, and to connect.”
During the pandemic, ACT partnered with Taproots to expand Restorative Justice training for youth. Through this collaboration, Alyssa helped coordinate RJ Circle trainings that empowered young people to become Circle Keepers, including herself. The experience deepened her understanding of healing justice and connected her to the broader work of organizations like BUILD, where she saw the power of restorative practices in action.
Today, Alyssa is a fully trained Circle Keeper, facilitating safe and healing spaces for dialogue. This role has allowed her to bridge generations and connect with people from all walks of life, while also deepening her own roots in the community.
“I see familiar faces at events now. It feels like home — like we’re building something together.”
Through ACT, Alyssa was also introduced to Territory, a youth-led design nonprofit working to reimagine public spaces. Her work with Territory’s “Creating Spaces in the Community” initiative helped her see how a vacant lot could become a vibrant, shared place — built with and for the people who live there. It was a hands-on lesson in community development and the power of collaborative design.
Now with a degree in Sociology from Illinois State University, Alyssa says ACT didn’t just shape her local involvement, it helped guide her career path. Her time with ACT sparked a strong interest in urban planning, especially as it relates to equity and community development.
“It showed me how important it is to invest in where you live. ACT taught me that I have a voice — and that I can use it to shape my environment.”
She also participated in programs through Chicago Austin Youth and Travel Adventures and MyChiMyFuture, which expanded her view of what’s possible for young people in Austin and across the city.
Alyssa strongly believes in the importance of getting youth involved early.
“There are so many good tools through ACT to help kids connect with their communities. Even when the world tries to devalue where we live, ACT reminds us that our neighborhood matters. And we matter.”
Her message to other young people in Austin?
“Treat Austin like somewhere you would want to move to.”
“Ask yourself — what do I want Austin to look like?”
For Alyssa, the answer is clear: a place where young people are heard, neighbors are connected, and community isn’t just a word — it’s a way of life.
Austin Coming Together
Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s mission is to increase the collective impact of our 50+ member organizations on improving education and economic development outcomes for Chicago’s Austin community. Since 2010, we’ve been connecting residents to services, attracting investments for the community, and building capacity for policy change. Recent efforts include co-developing the former Emmet School into the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation and supporting the Austin Eats Initiative, a 20+ group focused on strengthening the community’s food access infrastructure.
Learn more at austincomingtogether.org.
