GLOBAL SHAPERS: AUSTIN HUB

In 2016, Shapers set out to examine the ideal of a welcoming city and quickly realized that affordability was one of the biggest identified challenges for Austin residents. As a result, the Shapers began a MFI study on the 78702 area of Austin, historically East Austin, partnering with professors from the University of Texas and Huston Tillotson to publish a white paper on the subject. In 2017, the work grew to include an affordable housing resident research survey and the group was also accepted into Impact Hub's Housing Accelerator. Today, two Shapers sit on the board.

In 2016, The Austin Shapers worked in coordination with El Buen Samaritano to host a series of smartphone training programs to better introduce communities not yet adapted to web based technology to connect them with useful resources on the web through greater smartphone accessibility.