“All Things Food” – Food Tank at SXSW 2025: Day 2 Recap

The second day of the Food Tank conference at SXSW 2025 continued the momentum from Day 1, bringing together thought leaders, industry experts, and advocates to discuss the future of food sustainability, agriculture, and nutrition. Held once again at the scenic Barr Mansion in Austin, TX, the event provided a deep dive into critical topics, from organic farming to food justice. Below is a recap of the most insightful discussions and key takeaways from Day 2.

Welcome Remarks

Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, opened the second day of the conference by emphasizing the importance of sustainable food systems and the role of collaboration in addressing global food challenges. She highlighted the growing consumer interest in organic and regenerative agriculture, setting the stage for the day’s discussions. Watch her remarks here.

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Exploring the Future: My Experience at SXSW Industry Day 2025

Attending SXSW Industry Day on March 12, 2025, was an inspiring journey into the future of art, technology, and innovation. This free event, designed to connect professionals across industries, provided a deep dive into groundbreaking ideas shaping our world. While it didn’t quite match the scale and excitement of previous SXSW experiences, it was still a valuable opportunity to explore emerging trends, network, and get a taste of cutting-edge innovations.

Can Immersive Art Save Planet Earth?

My day kicked off with the panel discussion, Can Immersive Art Save Planet Earth? This session explored how various forms of expression—physical art installations, documentaries, and interactive experiences—are being leveraged to inspire environmental action. A major highlight of the discussion was the Black Hole activation, an immersive exhibit designed to provoke thought about sustainability and climate change.

While I didn’t experience the Black Hole activation firsthand due to the long wait time, I heard plenty of positive feedback from others who went through it. Attendees described it as a visually stunning, interactive journey that blended art, sound, and storytelling to create an emotional connection to environmental issues. The panelists emphasized how experiences like these can make climate concerns feel more personal and urgent, proving that art isn’t just for aesthetics—it’s a catalyst for activism.

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Networking in Austin: My Experience & Insights

Navigating the Networking Scene in Austin, Texas

Networking has been a cornerstone of my professional and social life in Austin. The city is buzzing with opportunities to meet people from various industries, and over the past several months, I’ve had the chance to attend a wide range of networking events. Each one provided a unique experience, valuable connections, and insights into making a networking event successful (or not!).

Diverse Events, Unique Experiences

One of the networking events I attended was the Austin Remote Workers Meetup on July 25 at The Brewtorium. This event brought together professionals working in remote and hybrid settings, offering a great space to discuss productivity hacks, work-life balance, and career growth in a digital-first world.

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Taylor-Made Socials: Bringing People Together in Austin

Introducing Taylor-Made Socials: Bringing People Together in Austin

Creating opportunities for people to connect in person has always been a passion of mine. Back in 2022-2023, I started hosting social mixer events for the Austin Social Scene Facebook Group. These monthly gatherings quickly gained traction, with anywhere from 40 to 120+ attendees, depending on the event. I organized these mixers at some of Austin’s most popular restaurants, bars, and breweries, including ABGB, Pinthouse Brewery, Still Austin Whiskey, Little Woodrow’s, Oskar Blues, and many more. These events were a great way to build friendships, make acquaintances, and foster a sense of community. (See more here: ASS & AYP Networking Event)

After a couple of years of consistent event hosting monthly, I eventually experienced burnout and decided to take a break from organizing socials. However, as 2025 rolled in, I felt a renewed desire to bring people together. Instead of limiting myself to a singular Facebook group, I wanted to create a brand that could expand across multiple communities. Thus, Taylor-Made Socials was born—a monthly social mixer designed to help adults in Austin meet new people in a relaxed, fun, and welcoming environment.

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Marketing Coordinator Role at Design Workshop

As a Marketing Coordinator at Design Workshop, I played a vital role in supporting the Austin Studio while frequently supporting the Houston Studio. My work spanned various aspects of proposal coordination, marketing, business development, and industry research, ensuring the Texas studios made their annual goals and the firm remained competitive in securing projects across the state and the nation. My primary proposal coordination responsibilities required exceptional attention to detail, strong project management skills, and the ability to facilitate multidisciplinary teams across different locations and time zones.

Proposals & Qualifications

Proposals are a crucial part of winning new projects, and I was responsible for managing the entire process from start to finish. This included:

  • Leading kick-off meetings to align the team and set clear directives for proposal development.
  • Developing custom InDesign RFP/RFQ bid submissions for Texas, national, and international projects.
  • Ensuring compliance by reviewing and submitting all necessary legal documents and forms.
  • Coordinating deadlines to maintain efficiency and ensure high-quality deliverables.
  • Editing proposals for grammar, formatting, and design consistency.
  • Communicating with subconsultants and partners to gather required materials.
  • Managing content libraries for past proposals to streamline future submissions.
  • Providing design recommendations to enhance the visual appeal of proposals.
  • Tracking proposal success rates and analyzing feedback to refine content and formatting approach.
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Exploring Austin Creative Reuse Center

I had an inspiring experience recently that I’m excited to share with you all: my first visit to the Austin Creative Reuse Center! Here’s a glimpse into what made this visit so special:

Unveiling Creativity and Sustainability

This past week, I had the pleasure of exploring the Austin Creative Reuse Center for the first time. Located right here in our vibrant city, this center is a hub of creativity and sustainability. As soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted by a bustling market of vendors, all showcasing their crafts and creations.

A Haven of Creativity

What struck me immediately was the sheer variety of items on display, from handmade jewelry to upcycled furniture and everything in between. What makes this place truly unique is that all these creations are made from materials donated to the center. It’s a testament to the power of creativity and the importance of repurposing materials.

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