By Alba Muñoz Saiz
Austin Aspires is building a stronger community through education and collaboration.
When Jayne Gibson talks about the team behind Austin Aspires, her face lights up with pride. Whether helping a newcomer with school enrollment, mentoring a student, providing a safe space for someone facing a crisis, or supporting a family in need, the team’s work goes far beyond academics and office hours. Every interaction is rooted in a belief that even small actions can create lasting change for the community.
“We’re constantly looking at how to meet students’ needs, whether that’s academic, emotional, or even helping with basic necessities. It’s about making sure they feel supported so they can thrive.”
Jayne Gibson, Austin Aspires executive director.
In 2014, Austin Aspires began as a one-person operation, driven by the belief that a dedicated grassroots effort could support students at every stage of their educational journey and address educational needs in the community. With support from the Hormel Foods Charitable Trust, the Hormel Foundation and Mayo Clinic Health System, the organization began connecting families with resources to meet their most pressing needs.
Austin Aspires has grown into a dedicated team of nine full-time staff members, building on its early success to deepen its impact. Currently, the organization provides mentorship programs, early childhood navigation and academic support, among others. The office has also become a hub of information, connecting families to resources such as food assistance, community events and essential services. Despite this strong growth, Austin Aspires remains focused on the work still to be done — leveraging every opportunity to create lasting change.
Gibson has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s growth and deepening its impact. Under her leadership, it has brought new resources into the community and fostered critical partnerships. Gibson emphasized the personal nature of the work they do. “It’s challenging to capture the true impact,” Gibson says. “I might have made a difference for one student today, but that doesn’t mean I improved the overall graduation rate. This work is individualized — but it can change lives and impact generations.”
Students at the Center of Change
For the team, helping students succeed means looking beyond academics. “You can’t just focus on what happens in the classroom,” says Jwokamer Debock, director of student programs. “To support students, we need to address everything going on in their lives — whether it’s food insecurity, mental health or finding a safe space to grow.”
Programs like Boys of Tomorrow aim to provide that space. Last summer, the program included an etiquette lesson which culminated with a group meal at a local restaurant, thanks to the support from the Hometown Food Security Project. For many of the boys, it was a new experience. “Some of them had never ordered for themselves at a restaurant,” Debock recalls. “It wasn’t just about learning manners — it was about building confidence and showing them what’s possible.”
The students served by Austin Aspires reflect the diversity of the community. According to Gibson, more than 60% of the district’s students qualify for free and reduced lunch, and nearly 50 home languages are spoken in the local schools. Many students are from immigrant or refugee backgrounds, including those from Guatemala, Ethiopia and Myanmar. “Our students bring incredible strength and resilience,” Gibson said. “Understanding their unique needs is essential to building trust and providing support.”
A Partnership Rooted in Community
Hormel Foods has been a steadfast supporter of Austin Aspires, providing both funding and hands-on involvement to help the organization achieve its mission of supporting students and families since its founding. From hosting resource fairs at the Hormel Production Facility in Austin to volunteering with students, the company has demonstrated a shared commitment to bridge critical gaps in the community.
Jim Snee, Chairman of the Board.President, Chief Executive Officer at an Austin Aspires office meeting with students.
Hormel Foods Chairman, CEO and President Jim Snee, along with many other executives, frequently engages with the organization, joining events and organizing gatherings with students. During a recent visit to the Austin Aspires office, Snee sat down with a group of high schoolers over pizza, sharing stories from his own life journey and career. “Seeing the CEO of such a big company sitting with them, treating them as equals — that was a powerful moment,” recalls MaKayla Oxley, early childhood navigator. “They realize they, too, have a path forward, regardless of where they start.”
“Seeing the CEO of such a big company sitting with them, treating them as equals — that was a powerful moment”
MaKayla Oxley, early childhood navigator
For one student, meeting Jim Snee was momentous. “When I told my mom I had lunch with the CEO of Hormel, she couldn’t believe it. It was like meeting a real-life superhero. I never thought someone like him would want to sit down and talk with us.”
The Power of Collaboration
At the heart of the success of Austin Aspires is its ability to build meaningful partnerships with other organizations and resources to amplify impact. The Austin Aspires team currently shares office space with the Hometown Food Security Project and the Backpack Program. Both of these organizations are dedicated to ending hunger and food insecurity locally. By working under the same roof, the teams have streamlined support for families, offering referrals and immediate access to critical resources like SNAP applications, backpack food supplies and transportation assistance. “Having an office downtown has increased the number of people stopping in for food resources or to learn more,” said Jessica Anderson, parent engagement and mentorship coordinator. “It’s allowed us to guide individuals in the right direction and connect them to what the families need.”
Members of the Austin Aspires team during a summer block party.
The collaboration with the Hometown Food Security Project has had a tangible impact on Austin Aspires’ work and its ability to serve the community. One example is their support for Summer Block Parties. These events bring together families, students and local organizations, but organizing them requires a significant coordination of resources. The Hometown Food Security Project stepped in last summer to take on an entire block party, providing meals, organizing activities and managing logistics. “They handled everything,” says Oxley. “From food to volunteers, they made it happen, which let us focus on connecting with families and sharing resources.”
Another key collaboration is with Mayo Clinic Health System, where Oxley works weekly in the pediatric department. “This allows us to connect families directly with the resources they need, whether it’s childcare, food assistance or other essential services.”
Building Trust as the Foundation of Success
At the heart of Austin Aspires’ impact is the deep trust its team builds on a daily basis with students, families and community partners. Many staff members bring lived experiences that allow them to connect authentically with those they serve. Anderson, for example, is a working mother of five who serves as a vital bridge between families and schools, helping parents navigate challenges and ensuring that resources are accessible. The team emphasizes that when you are sharing your true story, others are no longer looking at you as an expert or someone who is going to judge them. They’re looking at you as an equal — and that builds trust. While the team is exceptionally skilled — with backgrounds in psychology, and extensive experience in childhood education — they rarely lead with their credentials.
This dedication was recently recognized when Austin Aspires received the 2023 Commissioner’s Circle of Excellence Award from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The award honors their transformative work in fostering equity and improving access to education and childcare for local families, driven by the impactful efforts of their early childhood navigators.
As Austin Aspires celebrated its 10th anniversary this past fall, the team looks to the future with a stronger than ever sense of purpose and optimism. “The needs of our community are always evolving,” noted Anderson, “but as long as we keep listening to families, working with our partners, and putting children at the center, we know we’re making a difference.”