Gray Panthers of Austin

While the Gray Panthers organization fights to tackle issues of national priority, it is the grassroots work and effort of our local networks that collectively define Gray Panthers. So to show our appreciation for our local networks, we shine a spotlight on them in our Network Highlight.

In this newsletter, we highlight the work of the Gray Panthers of Austin. The Gray Panthers of Austin “prowl” for social and economic justice, affordable housing, universal health care, peace, environmental preservation, and improving education. They work to eliminate discriminatory practices such as ageism, racism, and sexism.

Recently, the Gray Panthers of Austin’s focus has been on fighting corruption and demanding accountability from leaders at local and state levels. As Gray Panthers national board member and former co-convenor of the Austin network, Clint Smith often claims, “We have our fair share of “sinners, convicts, crooks and thieves down here in the Belly of the Beast,” so building a platform around fighting corruption in Texas seems only fitting for the Gray Panthers of Austin.

In conjunction with the Texas Senior Advocacy Coalition (TSAC) and the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, Gray Panthers of Austin took part in Senior Day at the Capitol in February. Gray Panthers of Austin joined with about 5000 other Texas seniors and their friends and families at the state capital to demand accountability and call on lawmakers to fix funding for programs. They also set out to draw attention to a number of problems, including affordable housing for the elderly and the lack of a state plan for maintaining and engaging the senior workforce. Another important bill they are rallying against is a voter ID bill which requires voters to show a photo ID or a utility bill at the polls. The Gray Panthers of Austin helped to argue that requiring a photo ID will make it harder for some seniors to vote. Bob Phillips of the Texas Country Reporter, elected officials, and leaders in the aging network were keynote speakers at the function. This event was a great success and gained much local media attention.

The Gray Panthers of Austin have also invested much of their focus on their “Rehabilitation not Incarceration! Funding Public Services Enhances Public Safety” initiative. Its goal is to enhance public safety in the community by re-prioritizing its spending and focus on the root causes of incarceration. At the “Rehabilitation, Not Incarceration” Gray Panthers 2008 Forum, panelists argued that the millions of dollars being devoted to the continued building of prisons would be better used in helping to rehabilitate non-violent criminals.

The Gray Panthers of Austin have been instrumental in tackling national legislative initiatives by:

• Initiating Congressional support of the National Silver Alert Act introduced by Congressman Lloyd Doggett which was passed in the House and continues to have Gray Panthers support as it moves through the Senate; and
• Sponsoring two “Improving Access to Health Care in Texas,” forums in conjunction with Health Care For All Texas (HCFAT) and working for a health care bill to pass in the 2009 Texas Legislative session. Thanks to their efforts, Austin became the first city in Texas to endorse single-payer universal health insurance for the nation and HR676.

Locally, Gray Panthers of Austin have had a long tradition of working to provide assistance and service and promoting mental health and public safety to members of its community:

• Since 1985, the Gray Panthers of Austin have published Caregiving: A Family Guide to help older adults, their families, and professionals plan for the challenges that will accompany the later years of life. The new 2009 edition continues to help guide elders, caregivers, and professionals through a range of choices and a maze of health and social service issues and options.
• Gray Panthers of Austin were represented by Dr. Bonny Gardner on the Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force Monitoring Committee and on a panel regarding suicide prevention issues, which was sponsored by the Texas Suicide Prevention Council. As a result, there has been more funding in Travis County to address emergency mental health issues.
• Gray Panthers helped HousingWorks offer a summit investigating correlations between school success and affordable housing in the Austin community. One session focused on countering gang activities with after-school programs and as a result, additional after-school programs were opened in connection with Austin Public Safety to combat teenage gang activities.
• Gray Panthers of Austin advocated that the City Building Code include “Visitability Standards” to make single family houses and duplexes more universally usable at the Coalition for Visitability’s press conference where they were represented by Paula Mixson. As a result, the city adopted some of the recommendations.
• As a result of feedback during a presentation at Gray Panthers of Austin Board meeting, Capital Metro will not raise fares for seniors and people with disabilities.
• Gray Panthers of Austin’s efforts have led to restoration of the Housing Trust Fund and other social services in the City of Austin 2009 budget process.

We commend the Gray Panthers of Austin for their tireless dedication to supporting the mission of the Gray Panthers in working for social and economic justice and peace for all. Their active engagement and courage to boldly stand up and fight injustice in Austin serves as just one example of how Gray Panthers are growling throughout the nation.

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