Leadership Austin Emerge is a gathering of community-minded, high-potential young professionals who want to build relationships and hone skills that will help them to be more effective leaders. The AFA grants provide scholarship funds for Leadership Austin to design-industry professionals and others who advocate for a well-built environment.

The idea that a well-built environment can shape and enrich the quality of our lives is at the heart of the AFA mission.

“Leadership Austin teaches what it means to be a part of a community, and opens doors for each of us to be able to contribute to our communities in ways that we all find rewarding and fulfilling. This endeavor, which has helped me develop my community leadership skills as a design industry professional.”

— Paul A. Bielamowicz, AIA, LEED AP

“Leadership Austin brought into focus all that is Austin and what each of us can do to make it grow into the place we want to leave for our grandchildren. Through this experience I strengthened my networking skills and made important new friendships – overall, it was a humbling and life-changing experience.”

– Gwendolyn Jewiss, AIA

“Leadership Austin Emerge helped me communicate more effectively to other leaders. I practiced building durable, community-oriented teams and learned to vocalize my goals.”

– Philip Southwick, AIA

“Leadership Austin changed the way I look at my community and how I can make a difference in it. It taught me to be a more effective leader, a more engaged citizen, and how to use my passion for design and my skills as an Architect to inspire others.”

— Michele L. Van Hyfte, AIA LEED AP BD+C