Austin Area Sustainability Indicators project wins international award

The Austin Area Sustainability Indicators (A²SI), an initiative led by LBJ School Professor Patrick Bixler and supported by the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, was recently selected for the 2020 Community Project Impact Award from the Community Indicators Consortium (CIC).

The honor recognizes “a project that is grounded in, and supported by, the community and use data to analyze, communicate community conditions, engage the public and policy makers to catalyze action for making measurable and sustainable improvements in quality of community life.”

A²SI aims to measure quality of life, sustainability trends, and serve as the foundation for a systems approach that addresses challenges in Central Texas. Indicators describe context, identify trends, and translate data into points that are easier to communicate — and they span population demographics, civic life, education, health, mobility, economy and environment. By measuring and reporting on indicators within nine indicator themes, the project strives to make the Austin Area a better place to live.

The initiative is sponsored by St. David’s Foundation, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Austin Community Foundation, Episcopal Health Foundation, City of Austin and Travis County. Bixler was recognized at the CIC’s Virtual Impact Summit in August 2020.

An international consortium, CIC “supports communities’ efforts to improve quality of life. Since 2005, CIC has provided resources and tools to help communities and practitioners advance the practice and effective use of community indicators.”