The Rev. David Boyd, Chair
Eugene Shepherd, President
Michele Bondy, President-Elect
Jennifer Stayton, Secretary
The Rev. Lex Breckinridge
Julie Jansen
Rebecca Powers
Linda Prentice
John Rouse
Beverly Silas
Mark Warner
Karen Bartoletti
Brook Brown
Cody Carlson
Carol Clark
Geoffrey Connor
Susan Driver
Bill Gamel
Karen Hartwell
Jan Hughes
Celia Israel
Judith Jones
George McGonigle
Vicki Minor
Liz Nauert
John Ross
Nancy Springer-Baldwin
Sharon Voudouris-Ross
Mark Warner
Executive Director
Mary Rychlik
Center Administrator
Donna Spence
Program Coordinator
Melanie Behrends
Justin Schmidt, AmeriCorps Member
Megan Strauss, U.T. Social Work Intern
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Trinity Center grew from the concern of parishioners of St. David's Episcopal Church for people experiencing homelessness, their downtown “neighbors,” who were living in shelters and on the streets near the church. Trinity Center was founded by volunteers and is based on a model of action through voluntarism. Since its inception in 1999, Trinity Center has evolved from a Sunday-only ministry in borrowed space to a separately-incorporated 501(c)(3) organization that offers a variety of programs throughout the week.
Our programs are based on a neighbor-to-neighbor approach that fosters trust and community between those who have homes and those who do not. We offer companionship, community, food, and – for those who desire it – a place of worship for our neighbors who have lost the comfort of home. We feel very proud of the manner in which our staff and volunteers “lead by acceptance,” resulting in neighbors feeling ownership of Trinity Center and thinking of it as their community center.
The Center currently offers opportunities for volunteers and neighbors to develop positive relationships with each other, serves meals six days a week, and informs neighbors about social service resources. Trinity Center plays a vital role in several categories of service in Austin: faith based services, basic needs services, and homeless services. We collaborate closely with other organizations to minimize overlap in services and to strategize on long-term goals.
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