Austin’s restaurant scene is one of the city’s biggest draws, but behind every memorable meal is a team of chefs, servers, bartenders, and hospitality workers who help make it all happen.
Local nonprofit Good Work Austin is dedicated to supporting those workers by helping restaurants build sustainable businesses while creating healthier careers in the food and beverage industry.
Executive Director Kara Hanaoka and Adam Orman, co-owner of L’Oca d’Oro and Bambino, recently joined Trevor Scott to share how the organization is investing in Austin’s hospitality community.
Executive Director Kara Hanaoka and Adam Orman, co-owner of L’Oca d’Oro and Bambino, recently joined Trevor Scott to share how the organization is investing in Austin’s hospitality community.
Building Better Careers in Hospitality
Founded in 2018, Good Work Austin works to improve conditions for food and beverage workers by advocating for living wages, healthcare access and other employee benefits.
“We exist to support food and beverage workers here in Austin with access to things like living wages, health care,” Hanaoka said. “We really want them to have healthy careers.”
Orman, one of the organization’s co-founders, said the nonprofit grew out of conversations among local restaurant owners who wanted to create a more sustainable industry.
“Texas is a state where it’s okay to pay $2.13 and have servers rely on tips for the bulk of their wages,” Orman said. “Health care, child care, these are not things that are traditionally a part of our industry.”
Good Work Austin invests in the people powering Austin’s food scene
Feeding the Community
One of Good Work Austin’s signature initiatives is its Community Kitchen, which launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program partnered with local restaurants to prepare meals for food-insecure Austinites while also helping restaurants keep their businesses operating.
During Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the Community Kitchen provided nearly 200,000 meals in just a few weeks.
Today, the program continues by partnering with about 15 local restaurants to prepare three meals a day for transitional shelters throughout Austin.
“It’s a great way for the restaurants to put money in their pockets while making sure the shelters are getting nutritious meals made by locally owned businesses,” Orman said.
A Different Approach to Dining
Orman also highlighted L’Oca d’Oro’s ongoing Pay What You Will nights, which are expanding throughout August.
Instead of raising menu prices as food costs fluctuate, guests are invited to decide what they’d like to pay for their meal.
“It’s the same menu, same service,” Orman said. “You come in, and you get to choose what you’re going to pay for your food.”
The restaurant’s employees already earn guaranteed wages, allowing the program to focus on accessibility and community rather than tipping.
“We want people to be able to try new foods, enjoy a night out, and enjoy being part of the community,” he said.
Pay What You Will nights will take place Tuesday through Thursday evenings throughout August.
Good Work Austin invests in the people powering Austin’s food scene
Celebrating Hospitality Leaders
Good Work Austin is also launching its inaugural Building Good Work Together Celebration on August 25 at Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Rather than recognizing restaurants solely for their food, the event will honor hospitality professionals who are making a positive impact through leadership, workplace culture and employee support.
“We don’t really have any awards that celebrate the people behind the counter and the good work that they’re doing,” Hanaoka said.
The evening will feature food from local chefs, whiskey from Still Austin and fundraising to support Good Work Austin’s mission of expanding healthcare access and promoting living wages for hospitality workers.
To learn more, purchase tickets or become a member, visit GoodWorkAustin.org.
Rather than recognizing restaurants solely for their food, the event will honor hospitality professionals who are making a positive impact through leadership, workplace culture and employee support.