News & Blog

KIPP Spring Project Seeks Donations!

2010-04-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

Please read through our wish list - You may see a way you can help UpLift the KIPP Austin Collegiate community!

Rain Water Cistern
Working with local AIA Design Voice architects including returning Project Leader Catherine French and members of the S.H.I.R.E. (Sustainable Habitats Incorporating Renewable Education) students are in the process of designing and implementing a rain water harvesting system for the school garden and landscape areas.

Project Time Line: April 6-May 21, 2010

Estimated Cost: TBA

Materials (We will have a more specific list once the students have finalized the design and we are happy to provide the schematics upon request.)

Lumber
Corrugated metal roofing
Gutter system: hangers, downspouts, piping, conveyances
Hardware: nuts and bolts, masonry screws
Hosing
8 spigots for 55 gallon barrels
Netting
Fly wire
Gift cards and Cash donations graciously accepted.

General Project Supplies
70 pairs of work gloves
10 Shovels
28 Trowels
10 Rakes
5 Power Drills
Outdoor Wood Screws
Exacto Knives
2 Wheelbarrow
10 Paint Brushes
10 Paint Rollers
Plastic Tarps & Drop Cloths
Duct and Masking Tape
Outdoor Tool Shed

Sponsors will get the benefit of being recognized at our CommUNITY Volunteer Days and Celebration Events, having your logo displayed on the UpLift website and on email campaigns to over 4,000 Austin residents.
We are a 501(c)3 organization and offer the opportunity for a tax deduction.

Please contact Jen at Jen@upliftaustin.com for more details!

KIPP students meet with Council Member Riley

2010-03-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

On Friday, March 12 the entire 10th grade class of KIPP Austin Collegiate took a field lesson at City Hall.

Council Member Chris Riley spoke with the students in the chamber about his work and addressed some of their questions regarding green roofing, transportation, and green spaces.

Prior to the field lesson at City Hall, each Uplift class held a MEETINGinaBOX where they identified strengths and weakness of the Austin community in attempt to contribute their ideas to the comprehensive plan.

More green roofing systems
Better public transportation
Disparity in East Austin
Equal and diverse education
Stricter enforcement of recycling
Sustainable practices in restaurants businesses, schools, public space

Many thanks to Fred Evins of the Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services who made this field lesson come together so seamlessly, to the kind folks at City Hall who helped 75 students and 10 adults navigate the space, and to Council Member Riley for sharing his story to our students

CommUnity Day Success: One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade. (Chinese Proverb)

2010-02-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

30 + tools from Keep Austin Beautiful's Took Shack
21 Adult Volunteers
7 9th Grade KIPP Austin Collegiate Students
1 Vision to Uplift our school

Last semester, with the help of a landscape professional, 9th graders designed this project to beautify and uplift their campus for generations to come. The rainy winter prevented the projected from being completed on schedule creating a very real-world experience for these future green leaders.

Committed to excellence, our students did not give up.
Two more Community Volunteer Days were scheduled for 2010 and on Saturday, February 20, 30 people showed up to lend a helping hand. In four hours, students were finally able to see their project completed! (Below are the before an after pictures.)

For information on how to get involved in our CommUnity Days, please contact Jen at jen@upliftaustin.org.

UpLift Austin is looking for volunteers!

2010-02-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

We've got a CommUnity Volunteer Day coming up at KIPP Austin Collegiate - please come help the students implement the landscaping project they designed to improve their campus!

When: Saturday, February 20, 10:30am - 3:00pm
Volunteers are welcome to come in any time frame that suits your schedule!

Location: KIPP Austin Collegiate - 8509 FM 969, Building 676 Map to KIPP

Type of labor: LandscapingSuitable for: Seeking adults and children over 13 who enjoy digging and physical labor. These landscaping missions are not for the little ones. Not to worry, we'll have more opportunities for the whole family in the coming months.

Materials: If you have your own gardening tools, please feel free to bring 'em! (If you don't, no worries!) Water and light snacks will be provided.

Please RSVP to Assistant Program Coordinator, Jen Karydas, jen@upliftaustin.org

KIPP Austin: Campus-Wide Recycling is Live!

2010-02-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

On Monday, February 1 at KIPP Austin Collegiate (KAC), four 9th grade students stood before 100 peers, teachers, and faculty members and presented the new campus-wide recylcying and composting program. "80% of what schools throw away is paper, and that can be recycled," shared Edgar A. and Guillermo F. KAC will not only recycle paper, but plastic, glass, and cans.

In the fall semester, four Uplift Austin health classes learned about Waste Management, Air Quality, Energy, Water Resources and Healthy Agriculture and then synthesized their knowledge to design and implement a campus wide program that would promote the health of students, staff and the planet. 4th period was charged with the task of designing and implementing the recylcing and composting program which rolled out earlier this week.

How does it work? Each class now has recycle bins and advisory classes will rotate recycling pick up duty each Thursday during advisory period, making it a true campus-wide collaboration. Ecology Action picks up the recyclables each week.

As a final touch to the promotion of the new recycling program, students worked with a professional videographer and created a recycling awareness video that debuted at the assembly.

Next Post: How Composting Works at KAC!

KIPP Projects have broken ground!

2009-11-17T21:34:00.000-08:00

The UpLift Austin's inaugural class at KIPP Austin Collegiate completed 4 different sustainability projects.

- Organic Campus Garden
- Xeriscape Landscape Design Project
- Campus Identity and Sustainability M ural
- Campus Wide Recycling Program and Awareness Campaign

Check out some pictures here of the commen cement of these projects:

Stay up to date on the project progress by following us on twitter at www.twitter.com/upliftaustin and on this blog! The students will be tweeting and blogging their adventures in progressing towards campus sustainability on a regular basis this spring.

2009-09-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Join us for the 6th Annual Birdhouse Competition & Gala!

DATE: October 17th, 2009 7-10pm

ABOUT: UpLift Austin, Big Red Sun & LEAP (Lifework's Executives and Professionals) invite you to an evening of delicious food, drinks and Birdie Festivities! Explore and enjoy our silent auction filled with dozens of bird-inspired creations spun from the imagination of Austin's most talented artists, architects & designers!

FOR: All proceeds will benefit UpLift Austin and directly fund our 2009-10 programs serving 240 students at Garza Independence High School and KIPP Austin Collegiate!

LOCATION: Big Red Sun - 1102 E. Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78702

TICKETS: $25 advance purchase / $30 door
(tickets will be available for purchase soon)

CONTACT: more info is coming soon! If you have any questions, please email hellobirdie@upliftaustin.org

Download the event poster: Hello Birdie Flyer.pdf

For Artists, Architects & Designers!
Are you interested in creating a birdhouse? Deadline for registration is Friday Sept 11th, 2009.
Download the Bird Call for Entry: Bird Call for Entry.pdf
Download the Birdhouse Registration Form: Birdhouse Registration.pdf

For All Community Allies!
Is your company interested in supporting UpLift Austin by commissioning a birdhouse & becoming an Event Sponsor? Hello Birdie sponsors receive numerous benefits including event tickets & various marketing opportunities!
To learn more, download our Sponsorship Packet: Hello Birdie Sponsorship.pdf

Hello Birdie has landed!

2009-09-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Join us for the 6th Annual Birdhouse Competition & Gala!

DATE: October 17th, 2009 7-10pm

ABOUT: UpLift Austin, Big Red Sun & LEAP (Lifework's Executives and Professionals) invite you to an evening of delicious food, drinks and Birdie Festivities! Explore and enjoy our silent auction filled with dozens of bird-inspired creations spun from the imagination of Austin's most talented artists, architects & designers!

FOR: All proceeds will benefit UpLift Austin and directly fund our 2009-10 programs serving 240 students at Garza Independence High School and KIPP Austin Collegiate!

LOCATION: Big Red Sun - 1102 E. Cesar Chavez St. Austin, TX 78702

TICKETS: $25 advance purchase / $30 door
(tickets will be available for purchase soon)

CONTACT: more info is coming soon! If you have any questions, please email hellobirdie@upliftaustin.org

Download the event poster: Hello Birdie Flyer.pdf

For Artists, Architects & Designers!
Are you interested in creating a birdhouse? Deadline for registration is Sept 11th.
Download the Bird Call for Entry: Bird Call for Entry.pdf

For All Community Allies!
Is your company interested in supporting UpLift Austin by commissioning a birdhouse & becoming an Event Sponsor? Hello Birdie sponsors receive numerous benefits including event tickets & various marketing opportunities!
To learn more, download our Sponsorship Packet: Hello Birdie Sponsorship.pdf

Pint-Sized Fundraiser!!! Birthday Request for Donations for UpLift Austin!!!

2009-01-19T08:22:00.000-08:00

Hello!

This is Christina, one of UpLift Austin's Board member's here! I hope your new year is going great and that you are in good health and spirits!

As I turn 30 on February 7th, I have a lot of great things going on in my life. I can't complain - I am in good health and so are my cats, Mona and Luna. I have access to and take advantage of clean, potable water and organic food everyday. I have a job that is fulfilling, and in the meantime, I plan for a future here in Austin, Texas. I take continuing education classes to learn about grant writing, solar power, and at the end of January, QuickBooks for Nonprofits!!! I have beautiful, supportive friends and family! I have met a lot of wonderful, talented people who inspire me everyday to be better, to know more, to give more, to laugh more. In 2008, I saw some beautiful American countryside: Texas, California, Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. For 2009, I'm planning new adventures into Mexico, New Orleans, and where else? I'll keep you posted on that!

Well, one of my favorite projects that I have been involved in for the past year is UpLift Austin, a dream that is slowly but assuredly being realized as I write this. My oldest and dearest friend in the world, Gina LaMotte, is the Executive Director and visionary behind it. She has been chugging along to bring it all together and set it into beautiful motion.

This project has so much support behind it - many people have been involved in the creative process of bringing this idea to life that it's really inspiring: from the Mayor's office, to Austin Independent School District, to volunteers and graduate students at University of Texas. Programming will begin in April at Garza High School and another UA program will begin at Eastside Memorial High School next school year.

Being an active Board Member, it is one of my duties is to ask for financial support from my community of family, friends, and peers. You are part of my community and here is where I ask: Will you please make some financial contribution to this organization? It can be $5, $10, or more... Whatever you are able to give will make a genuine difference in the lives of at-risk youth.

And to make this request even better, I wish that instead of birthday cards or presents, I would love it if you made a donation to UpLift Austin in honor of my 30th birthday. It's an exciting project and one that I put 100% of my support behind.

You can make donations directly through the website, or mail checks to the address listed there. All donations are tax-deductible and you will receive a receipt by mail for your records.

If you have read this far, I thank you! I am grateful for your time and appreciate your consideration of my request. I know that the economy isn't in the best of shape, but if we all put forth a little effort, then all of us together can make a big difference!

Sincerely,
Christina

Ps. For those of you living here in Austin, I will be celebrating my 30th birthday at Independence Brewery from 1 - 3 pm on Saturday, February 7th. I will be there with my mom, who'll be visiting from Colorado. I invite y'all to come and share a pint with me. An official invitation will go out to you soon, and will include evening activities! xoxo!