Central Texas Issue Series
The Central Texas Issue Series, or CTIS, projects provide a platform for dialogue, coalition building, active collaboration, problem-solving, and action on issues of importance to Central Texas. Ongoing CTIS issue areas include climate, journalism, and public policy and law.
- Climate & Sustainability – Addresses environmental challenges, promotes resilience, and fosters sustainable practices.
- Journalism & Media – Strengthens public media literacy and understanding of key issues; enhances the role of a free press in a democracy.
- Public Policy & Law – Promotes public policy innovation and legal literacy and agency on the part of the public.
Central Texas Issue Series: Climate Initiative Summit
Climate Initiative Summit
Led by Team Member: Austin Wells
Summary
The Climate Initiative Summit brought together students, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and environmental advocates to strengthen climate resilience across Central Texas. Hosted by the Green Workforce Collaborative in partnership with the Center for Government & Civic Services (CGCS) at Austin Community College, the summit focused on collaboration, civic engagement, and translating climate ideas into real-world action. Through keynote remarks, panel discussions, and facilitated breakout sessions, participants explored practical strategies related to food systems, environmental health, housing, transportation, and policy engagement, with an emphasis on measurable outcomes and sustained regional collaboration.
Highlights & Achievements
-
100+ students, community leaders, policymakers, and advocates convened at ACC’s Rio Grande Campus
-
Participation from 15+ community organizations across Central Texas
-
Keynote remarks from Congressman Greg Casar, Commissioner Brigid Shea, State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, and GWC CEO Tatianna Cannon
-
Interactive panel and breakout sessions focused on actionable local climate strategies
-
Zero-waste event model with fully compostable food service
Looking Ahead:
-
Advance a CGCS-led regional climate initiative launched at the summit
-
Develop shared regional tools, including a calendar and contact directory for climate efforts
-
Strengthen cross-sector partnerships and civic engagement across Central Texas
-
Support follow-up actions led by students and community organizations
Central Texas Issue Series: Journalism & Media
Journalism & Media
Led by Team Member: Marisela Perez
Summary
The Central Texas Journalism Summit gathered more than 40 student journalists across the state for a day-long summit designed to create a community of practice to promote greater impact, protection and scope of college journalism. This empowers the professional development of student journalists; fosters collaboration, skill-building and innovation in journalism to strengthen press freedom and democratic dialogue.
Highlights & Achievements
The summit included presentations, a keynote speaker, breakout discussions and an action planning session. Breakout discussions focused on conceptualizing lasting collaboration avenues between college newspapers. The majority of responses focused on a centralized network of communication and building a wide state coalition. By using a voting poll, participants voted to create a Slack and build a Texas Student Media Alliance.
The event included the participation of:
- The University Star, Texas State University
- The Daily Texan, The University of Texas at Austin
- The Retrograde, The University of Texas at Dallas
- The Sundial, San Antonio College
- The Hilltop Views, St. Edwards University
- The Houstonian, Sam Houston State University
- ACCENT, Austin Community College
- ACCidential Media, Austin Community College
The first four student newspapers delivered presentations highlighting:
- Notable publication and reporting work
- Challenges faced as student publications
- Creative solutions and examples of resilience
- A shared vision for collaboration between student newspapers
The summit also featured contributions from the Society of Professional Journalists, the nonprofit Listening Post Collective, and Press Forward’s San Antonio Chapter.
Looking Ahead:
The Texas Student Media Alliance (TSMA) is a student journalist-led initiative currently working to build lasting and supportive partnerships between college newspapers and student media organizations. The alliance meets regularly and is actively building collaboration outlets between student newspapers.
Whether you are a student newspaper located in or out of Texas interested in joining the network, contact Marisela Perez-Maita at marisela.perezmaita@austincc.edu to be part of the initiative.
Central Texas Issue Series: Public Policy & Law
Public Policy & Law
Led by Team Member: Catherine Thomason
Summary
The Symposium will provide a platform for ACC students to learn the latest developments in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) as they relate to the future of the legal industry. The Symposium, to be held in late March, will invite ACC Students and Faculty and select JD Candidates. The day will include a keynote speech, a panel, and an interactive session where teams of ACC students go against each other using AI to craft a legal argument on an issue selected and judged by JD Candidates.
Highlights & Achievements
- By the end of the program, participants will have strengthened their reasoning skills through collaborative, multi-perspective legal analysis, gained an up-to-date understanding of developments in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) relevant to law, applied political philosophy to explore ethical challenges posed by AGI, and developed practical expertise with AI tools through hands-on workshops that integrate legal and philosophical perspectives.
Looking Ahead:
The Initiative will advance by engaging leading experts in legal ethics and AI as keynote speakers and panelists, creating promotional materials and source packets for breakout sessions, and assembling student ambassadors for outreach and coordination. If student interest remains strong after the event, the CGCS will launch an ongoing initiative to help students build skills that support academic success and prepare them for future opportunities in law and law school.
