In May 2026, I began a new chapter as a Community Engagement Specialist with Austin Resource Recovery at the City of Austin.
The role felt like the convergence of several parts of my career: sustainability, communications, public education, community outreach, and relationship-building. (It was also a milestone that carried weight because of the difficult path leading up to it.)
A Role That Brought My Experience Together
My career has moved through public relations, environmental communications, digital marketing, community programs, waste and recycling, and the built environment.
Along the way, I worked on projects involving:
- Environmental education
- Recycling and waste-reduction campaigns
- Public programs and statewide outreach
- Community partnerships
- Digital content and communications
- Sustainability events and initiatives
- Business development and stakeholder engagement
Although the organizations and job titles changed, the common thread was helping people understand ideas, programs, and services that could improve their communities. Austin Resource Recovery gave me an opportunity to bring those experiences together in one role.
Returning to Community-Focused Work
One of the things that attracted me most to the position was the direct connection with community members.
Community engagement is more than distributing information. It involves listening to people, understanding what they need, and explaining services in ways that are practical and useful.
In resource recovery, that may include helping someone understand:
- What belongs in recycling or compost
- How to dispose of batteries and hazardous materials
- What reuse and repair services are available
- How apartment and residential services differ
- Why contamination affects the larger system
- How everyday choices support Austin’s zero-waste goals
Those conversations may seem small, but together they influence how well public programs work.
The Long Road to the Opportunity
Before accepting the role, I experienced a long period of unemployment and career uncertainty.
There were difficult moments when progress felt slow and the next opportunity was unclear. I continued applying, interviewing, networking, attending professional events, learning, and staying involved in Austin’s various communities.
I also had support from people who:
- Shared advice
- Reviewed materials
- Introduced me to others
- Invited me to events
- Checked in during difficult periods
- Encouraged me to keep moving forward
That support mattered more than many people probably realized.
The job did not appear because of one conversation or one application. It came after a long period of persistence, reflection, and continued participation.
Why the Timing Felt Meaningful
The opportunity arrived after an especially active Earth Month.
Throughout April, I attended events focused on clean energy, climate technology, circularity, conservation, sports, and community-building. I met new people, strengthened existing relationships, and spent time around work that reminded me why I had chosen sustainability in the first place.
Then, shortly afterward, I accepted a role that allowed me to contribute directly to that work.
The timing felt like confirmation that the relationships, learning, and persistence had been leading somewhere.
Public Service as the Next Chapter
Working for the City of Austin also introduced a familiar dimension to my career: public service.
Public-sector communications and community engagement require accuracy, accessibility, patience, and trust. Community members need information to help make decisions, access services, and understand how City systems affect their daily lives.
The work also requires meeting people where they are. That may mean speaking with families at a school, answering questions at a neighborhood festival, explaining services at a community center, or helping someone sort an item they have never known how to dispose of.
Building a Cleaner and More Connected Austin
I entered the role excited to support Austin’s waste-reduction and zero-waste efforts, but also to help strengthen the relationship between the City and the people it serves. The job brings together many of the things I care about:
- Sustainability
- Education
- Communication
- Community-building
- Public outreach
- Practical problem-solving
- People-centered service
After a long and uncertain chapter, it felt good to find an opportunity where those interests and experiences aligned.
My career journey has not followed a straight path. Each position, transition, setback, event, and relationship contributed something to the direction I eventually found.
Austin Resource Recovery was not simply my next job. It felt like the opportunity I had been working toward.
*Content was generated with AI based on my notes and direction, then edited and refined by me for accuracy.
