Workforce Solutions Capital Area is seeking community input on its Hire Local Plan, an initiative aimed at enhancing workforce development in the Austin metro area. The plan focuses on increasing skilled local talent, improving income for residents and expanding payrolls for local businesses. To achieve these objectives, WFSCA has outlined four key strategies: awareness and enrollment, training, placement and advancement. Community members are encouraged to review the strategies and provide feedback to ensure the plan is inclusive and collaborative.

WFSCA is also hosting the Recruiting Source International Job Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 1 p.m. at the Workforce Solutions Capital Area office on North Interstate 35. The event aims to connect experienced IT professionals with hybrid and remote roles in the Austin area. Interested candidates are encouraged to learn more online.

The Austin Chamber of Commerce is set to host its annual Infrastructure Summit on April 8 at the Hilton Austin. This event offers business and community leaders opportunities to gain insights into the evolving sectors of transportation, transit, water, energy and more within the Austin region. The just-completed programming schedule includes the following topics:

• I-35 Express, Austin’s Convention Center & Congress Avenue
• Austin Light Rail
• Air Services
• Energy Reliability in Texas: Natural Gas
• Water Infrastructure
• Clean Energy in Solar & Wind
• Texas Electrical Grid
• Regional Transportation

Early-bird tickets are available until March 1, with event details available online.

The biannual It’s My Park Day is scheduled for March 1, and volunteer registration is now open for people who want to come together to enhance local parks, trails and greenbelts – while also taking part in fun activities beyond the volunteer work, such as ice cream trucks, Zumba classes and live music, plus special discounts and freebies at local establishments. For a complete list of projects and hours at the 88 parks citywide, check out the Austin Parks Foundation’s website at austinparks.org/impd. Last year, 3,000+ volunteers had a huge impact, removing 34,000 pounds of trash and spreading 713 cubic yards of mulch. This year, the Parks Foundation is introducing the “IMPD Park Picker” system to place volunteers at parks in a more balanced way. This community event was established in 2003 and generates the equivalent of $650,000 in volunteer labor on average each year. “The impact of It’s My Park Day extends well beyond a Saturday morning in the park,” said Austin Parks Foundation CEO Colin Wallis. “This community-led day of service is an integral part of both our city’s collective commitment to public green spaces and our organization’s dedication to supporting parks in every district.

In celebration of Black History Month, the Black History Bike Ride group will be hosting a day of cycling and film on Saturday, Feb. 22. The guided bike ride will kick off at 1 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Museum. The premiere of Momentum, a short documentary about Black History Bike Ride and free screenings of The Route to Emancipation and A Race in the Sun will follow at 6 p.m. at Antone’s Night Club. Both events are free, with RSVPs available here.

Major Taylor Cycling Club, a group that honors the legacy of Black cyclist Marshall Walter “Major” Taylor, will also be hosting cycling events throughout the month of February. More information on those can be found here.

Even though it’s too chilly for most to consider swim weather, the Aquatic Division of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department is busy. It is now hiring hundreds of lifeguards (ages 15 and older) starting at $21.63 per hour. Training is ongoing, with March 16-22 holding a number of opportunities during spring break. The city points out that “candidates from diverse origins, orientations, identities, and abilities are welcome.” For more info, visit LifeguardAustin.com. Also, Barton Springs Pool’s annual closure for maintenance is scheduled for March 1-14. And lastly, season passes are currently available to buy for the 2025 swim season, valid March 8 through Oct. 31. The passes also include parking at Zilker Park. For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/Pools.

The Housing and Independent Living Task Force Austin has launched a local housing market analysis to assess the needs of adults with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities in Austin. The effort, supported by a new special project fund at the Austin Community Foundation, seeks to identify housing barriers and explore solutions across public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. The study will be facilitated by First Place, a national leader in housing analysis for neurodiverse communities. The survey is available at HAILTaskForceAustin.org and will stay open through March 14. A kickoff event will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Speakers include Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard and Integral Care CEO Jeff Richardson. With autism diagnoses rising significantly and a growing number of A/I/DD individuals living with aging caregivers, the task force aims to inform future policies and investments to expand housing options in the Austin area.

Red River Cultural District’s focus this year on telling its story and highlighting the connections between music, heritage, culture and commerce will kick off March 1 with its first District Dialogues event. The quarterly event series is designed to spark conversation, showcase creatives and bring the community together. The first edition takes place at Swan Dive (615 Red River St.), featuring rare screenings of the documentaries “Blue Flamingo” and “The Cavity,” which explore the history of some of Austin’s most storied music venues. Attendees can also check out a limited-edition Red River zine, a mini book sale from UT Press, and a taco pop-up from Pelon’s Tex-Mex. District Dialogues is made possible through new city funding awarded last fall, supporting efforts to preserve and amplify Austin’s live music culture. Tickets are available online.

Central Health is hosting the first of several community conversations 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, as a chance for members of the community to share with the Central Health Board of Managers and senior leadership their thoughts on improving health care in Travis County. The gathering, which will begin with an update on the Central Health Healthcare Equity Plan, will cover topics like new clinics and patient-centered care; bridge services, respite care and upcoming programs; better care through new approaches; and open discussion with board members. It will be held at the Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin, TX 78752. More community conversations will be held in April and May. Food and parking will be provided, and attendees are asked to RSVP here.

All are invited to Art in the Park, hosted by Art Spark Texas and McBeth Recreation Center. The family-friendly event is billed as an “inclusive arts festival that celebrates creativity, connection, and diversity,” and it is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Fiesta Gardens Pavilion, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St., offering live performances and “a variety of hands-on art activities designed for participants of all ages and abilities, encouraging attendees to explore their imagination and create unique works of art,” a news release explains. Local organizations, artists and performers (musicians, dancers and other entertainers) are invited to host booths offering “make-and-take” crafts, interactive art activities, art demos or performances. “It is so heartening to see the community come together to celebrate the joy of creativity and the power of inclusion through the arts,” said Celia Hughes, executive director at Art Spark Texas. “Art in the Park is a reminder that art has the unique ability to connect us all, regardless of age or ability.” For information on how to host a booth or perform at Art in the Park, email info@artsparktexas.org.

The Downtown Austin Alliance is still accepting nominations for the 2025 Future of Downtown Awards, honoring individuals and groups that have significantly contributed to the vibrancy and community of downtown Austin. The nomination form is available online and will close at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. Award winners will be recognized at the Downtown Austin Alliance’s Future of Downtown event on May 27 at ACL Live, and will also be celebrated in a video feature. The awards feature two categories: the Meredith Powell Award for Community Culture, and the Downtown Vision Award. The event will feature key insights from the annual State of Downtown report and introduce the new CEO and president, Davon Barbour, as the keynote speaker. Tickets for the event are available online.

The city is seeking public feedback on the Austin Core Transportation Plan, a strategy aimed at enhancing transportation and mobility in and around downtown Austin that is currently under review by various city boards and commissions. The ACT Plan builds on previous initiatives and anticipates significant upcoming projects, such as I-35 Capital Express Central and Project Connect, to create a transportation framework for the downtown core. The public is encouraged to participate by providing feedback on the SpeakUp Austin website or by attending upcoming public meetings. The schedule for these presentations is as follows:

• Small Area Planning Joint Committee: Feb. 5
• Design Commission: Feb. 24
• Planning Commission (Briefing): Feb. 25
• Joint Sustainability Committee: Feb. 26
• Urban Transportation Commission: March 4
• Planning Commission (Recommendation): March 11
• Council Mobility Committee: March 20

The ACT Plan is anticipated to be presented to City Council for adoption in spring 2025.

The Watershed Protection Department will host a virtual public meeting on Feb. 14 on its proposed ordinance to expand erosion protections along the Colorado River south of the Longhorn Dam after the approval process for the ordinance was delayed last month. The Monitor previously reported on the details of the ordinance, which would expand a 100-foot erosion hazard zone on either side of the river to 200 feet and require developers to evaluate whether any new construction in the area would fall within the new EHZ. Readers can find more information and register for the virtual meeting at this link on the Watershed Protection Department website.