The Black Paper

A Lived-Experience Data Black Paper

Deanna Cureton, MPH | Tiffanie Harrison, MBA

212 Catalysts and the African American Leadership Institute approached MEASURE with a problem: Compared to other large metropolitan cities in the United States, Austin, Texas is unique in that the percentage of the Black population is declining as the overall population grows rapidly. Additionally, employers are having a difficult time retaining Black hires. What prohibits Black Austinites from connecting with their community and remaining in the Austin metropolitan area?

Community-Led Survey

The MEASURE Community-Led Survey Tool is implemented using a racial-equity lens whereby those who are historically and systematically impacted by disparate social outcomes must make up the majority of those creating the survey instrument. This prioritization will result in an elevation of their lived-experience and voice as we gain meaningful understanding about the issue or need that we are working to assess. MEASURE assembled a Community-Led Survey Design Team to collaborate on a survey to seek answers regarding the exodus of Black Austinites.

375 Survey Participants

Community-Led Survey participants provided clear guidance on what inhibits Black Austinites from building the community necessary to remain in the Austin area. By centering community voices and experiences we learned that policy, affordability, and a sense of belonging all contribute to Austin’s declining Black population.

What People Are Saying

  • For the most part, our rich culture and history are absent from the fabric of Austin, so from museums/ theater to concerts to houses of worship, there are multiple opportunities for development."

    - Black Woman in Austin who works in the tech industry

  • "When l moved to Austin the Black community had a voice and was part of Austin l moved here in 1987."

    - 65 y/o Black Woman in Austin

  • "I recall the 1990s lots of Blacks were living in Austin, from Atlanta, Memphis, Michigan, etc. But big layoffs hit the Black community hard and those people left never to return"

    - 52 y/o Black Woman who works in manufacturing and lives in Austin

  • "There are jobs out here, but they're not the most inclusive. It feels like we're always tokens or a small handful of people at these companies and organizations and it can be hard to find each other. A sense of belonging doesn't always exist. Plus, since a lot of workplaces skew white, that means that they aren't always as interested in hiring Black people or treating them right once they're hired."

    - 29 y/o Black Woman who works in education and lives in Austin

  • Measure

    MEASURE has a mission to mobilize communities that are furthest from opportunities to fight against systematic disparities through the MEASURE CARE (Community,Advocacy, Resilience and Evidence) Model and our other anti-racist evaluation tools.

  • 212 Catalysts

    212 Catalysts specializes in providing operational and strategic assistance, recommendations, and connections to both for- and non-profit organizations to identify and meet targeted goals. Business aspects covered include strategy, action planning, finance, data, evaluation and leadership.

  • AALI

    The African American Leadership Institute (AALI) is a program in which Black professionals gain enhanced civic awareness and leadership opportunities enabling them to make contributions that have a positive impact to Central Texas communities.