Austin Coming Together Honors Trailblazers At Annual Membership Awards

Austin Coming Together held its annual Membership Awards on Nov. 20 at Morgan MFG, 401 N. Morgan St. in the Fulton Market District. During the event, ACT honored major institutions while spotlighting three community leaders whose long-standing contributions have reshaped the community.

2025 Institutional Awardees 

• Lurie Children’s Hospital was awarded for excellence in early childhood development and its role with the forthcoming Austin HOPE Center, which will offer pediatric and behavioral-health services. 
• The Institute for Nonviolence Chicago was honored for its neighborhood safety and youth development efforts, including leading a community violence intervention hub as part of the SC2 network.
• ITW was recognized for workforce development and investment in a new local manufacturing facility to support economic mobility and job training.
• Habitat for Humanity was awarded for housing and neighborhood development, including building homes in Austin and supporting resident-led community projects. 
• Legal Aid Chicago was named Member of the Year for providing civil legal aid, especially via its partnership with the Aspire Center and helping clients with re-entry and youth-violence prevention efforts.
• As “Champion of Collective Impact in Austin,” Deloitte Chicago was honored for leveraging its resources and partnerships (notably with United Way of Metro Chicago) to support community and economic development. 

Mildred Wiley Community Fire Awardees 

• Morris Reed, the CEO of Westside Health Authority, was recognized for his leadership in a range of economic development projects that have revitalized Austin, including the redevelopment of the former Emmet School that’s now the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation. 
• Malcolm Crawford, the founder and director of the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA), was recognized for his role in enhancing Austin’s business and economic development. 
• Elizabeth Abunaw, the owner and operator of Forty Acres Fresh Market, was recognized for her “extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to the Austin community.”

See more photos of the event here.