By Irit Umani
Homelessness in Austin became a big public discussion issue recently, widely covered by media in town hall meetings and in city council meetings. What happened? What changes created this citywide “emergency?”
Archive | From the desk of Irit Umani
Annual Report for 2018
By Irit Umani — Trinity Center, which in 2019 celebrates 20 years of serving our brothers and sisters, remains true to the original mission and heart-centered intention to serve physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our neighbors.
Our Executive Director at the General Convention!
By Irit Umani
Executive Director
During the General Convention of the Episcopal Church here in Austin, I was invited to discuss what we do here at Trinity Center. A filmmaker came to the Center to film scenes of our services to downtown “neighbors,” and then I was interviewed by Rev. Lorenzo Lebrija of the Diocese of Los Angeles, who put me very much at ease. I think the result shows beautifully what we strive to do every day in service to our homeless brothers and sisters. Please watch and enjoy.
Executive Director’s Report for 2017
By Irit Umani
Executive Director
When I examine through Trinity Center’s lenses the year that just ended, I am looking to find out whether we remained true to our mission “to serve the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Austin.” I am looking to find out if we changed or increased services to the neighbors we serve in ways that respond to their actual needs. I am looking also to find out if we did so with deep care and compassion. Are we still serving neighbors rather than clients? And are we playing a role in the larger community’s attempt to end homelessness?
At Times Like This …
By Irit Umani
Executive Director
At times like this, silence is not golden. Times like the chapter that we are in call for raising our voices. At such time that a group of Neo-Nazis with swastikas shouting “Jews will not replace us” walk in the name of “freedom of speech” and our president assesses that there were “fine people among them,” or that the people who resisted them were equally to be blamed for violence, at such times, we must raise our voices.