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30 future-focused class members from across the city will get started in January
AUSTIN, TX – The ATXelerator has recruited its fifth class filled with 30 engaged and talented Austinites from around the city and a variety of backgrounds including technology professionals, community leaders, business owners, and entrepreneurs.
"Once again, we are honored and thoroughly impressed by the quality of another excellent cohort," said ATXelerator Board President Ashley Amini. " Hailing from districts across the city, these Austinites are eager to learn about their city government and get involved in leadership positions as board and commission members or as candidates for office."
When this cohort concludes its class in April, the ATXelerator will have an alumni base of more than 130 Austinites, including more than 20 current or former city board and commission members, two candidates and Councilmember-elect Fuentes serving on the city council. Three commissioners of the 14-member Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which drew city-council district lines in October, were graduates of the 2020 cohort, including Vice Chair Luis Gonzalez.
The ATXelerator, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2017, is the only elected office candidate recruitment engine in Austin. It is designed to identify, mentor and promote the next generation of future-focused leaders interested in public service. The 30 individuals selected for the Class of 2022 have a standout dedication and commitment to the future success of Austin and to serving our community through public service.
The 2022 class includes:
District 1:
Selina Yee
David Douglas
District 2:
Candace Hennessey
Kyle Unruh
Tami Dumond
District 3:
Anureet Gill
Daniela Silva
Heather Emerson
Lanelle Jarmon
William Hayden Glasstetter
Yasmine Smith
District 4:
Aneka Patel
District 5:
Alyssa Rodriguez
Armin Salek
Michael Nahas
Sharsch Bidargaddi
District 6:
Shireen Kahlon
District 8:
Heather Duval
JC Dwyer
District 9:
Anna Bourland
Brian Nunnery
Eric Hegnes
Erik Huckle
Jess Heck
Kelsey Vizzard
Kym Olson
MacKenzie Seale
Shaayaan Sayed
District 10:
Abby Roedel Schlicher
Jessica Ray
ATXelerator participants receive rigorous training and mentorship by experienced elected officials and community leaders. The 2021 ATXelerator curriculum, which was online, included more than 40 subject-matter experts including former State Senator and Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Texas Demographic Center’s Dr. Lila Valencia, Mayor Steve Adler, Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon and Habitat for Humanity CEO Phyllis Snodgrass, among others. Each class member is also assigned a mentor, typically a current or former elected official or a professional with experience working in and around city council.
The class’s opening weekend is Jan.7-9, 2022, followed by 10 weekly Wednesday evening sessions taught by experts in the fields of transportation, land use, utilities, economic development, homelessness, diversity and social equity, campaigning and a variety of other issues intended to prepare future candidates and city board and commission members. The ATXelerator has a closing weekend on media training, how to serve on a board or commission and class project presentations. Following the weekend, class members engage in a pitch-style competition before an expert panel of judges and a public event for contest finalists.
About the ATXelerator
The mission of the ATXelerator is to identify and prepare future-focused leaders for public service and educate the community about solutions that will improve Austin's quality of life for generations to come. The program aims to encourage citizens to pursue and prepare for elected office and board/commission service through a technology accelerator model. The ATXelerator’s Advisory Board is comprised of former mayors Lee Cooke, Lee Leffingwell and Bruce Todd; former city council members Brewster McCracken and Randi Shade; and community/business leaders Greta Goldsby, Jeff Hahn, Nan McRaven, John Scarborough and Lemuel Williams. The late Pike Powers was also a founding member of the advisory board. For more information, visit: www.atxelerator.org.