Austin has long embraced the slogan “Keep Austin Weird,” but a new local initiative is inviting the community to rally around a different message: Keep Austin Kind.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Joseph Rodriguez and Audrey Ponzio, the movement aims to celebrate the kindness, inclusivity, and community spirit they believe have always defined Austin while supporting local nonprofits that make a difference across the city. They joined Trevor Scott in the studio along with partner Patrick Slevin of local nonprofit Austin Soundwaves to share more.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Joseph Rodriguez and Audrey Ponzio, the movement aims to celebrate the kindness, inclusivity, and community spirit they believe have always defined Austin while supporting local nonprofits that make a difference across the city. They joined Trevor Scott in the studio along with partner Patrick Slevin of local nonprofit Austin Soundwaves to share more.
A Simple Idea Born in Traffic
The inspiration for Keep Austin Kind came during an ordinary drive home.
Audrey recalled the couple being cut off in traffic when Joseph remarked that while Austin is known for being weird, it was really the city’s kindness that made people want to live here.
“It wasn’t weirdness that brought people or keeps people in Austin,” Audrey said. “It was more about kindness and inclusion.”
As someone who works in branding and storytelling, Audrey decided to turn the idea into something tangible.
“I registered the domain, I registered the trademark, and I was like, we’re going to bring this to life,” she said.
What began as a Christmas gift for her husband has since grown into a community-focused initiative.
New “Keep Austin Kind” initiative encourages community through kindness and local giving
More Than a Slogan
The founders say Keep Austin Kind isn’t about looking back with nostalgia; it’s about carrying forward the values that have made Austin special.
“I don’t think it’s ever the wrong time for kindness,” Audrey said. “Now more than ever, we kind of need it and crave it in community.”
She says something as simple as wearing a Keep Austin Kind shirt often sparks conversations with strangers.
“People kind of melt and say, ‘Oh, I love that,’” she said. “It creates an engagement moment that seems super authentic and real.”
Joseph says the message serves as a reminder for the person wearing it, too.
“You have to walk the walk when you’re wearing it,” he said. “It communicates inward that I do need to be more patient.”
New “Keep Austin Kind” initiative encourages community through kindness and local giving
Partnering With Austin Soundwaves
One of Keep Austin Kind’s first nonprofit partners is Austin Soundwaves, an organization that provides music education and leadership opportunities to more than 2,000 students each year.
Executive Director Patrick Slevin says the partnership felt like a natural fit.
“Since day one, it’s been music as an entry point to help young people go to college, start their careers and really build skills like kindness and love and community,” he said.
Many Austin Soundwaves alumni have returned to teach and mentor younger students, reinforcing the organization’s mission of building community through music.
New “Keep Austin Kind” initiative encourages community through kindness and local giving
Looking Ahead
The founders hope Keep Austin Kind becomes more than a phrase; it becomes an invitation to slow down, show patience and invest in the people and organizations that make Austin unique.
“I think it’s a way for us to figure out what the things we loved about Austin are,” Joseph said, “and how we can use that as a roadmap to build the future of Austin.”
To learn more about the initiative, upcoming projects, and ways to support participating nonprofits, visit KeepAustinKind.com.
New “Keep Austin Kind” initiative encourages community through kindness and local giving