In Ruth Bader Ginsburg's infamous words, “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you,” these five Austin women have taken heed and are fighting for the things they care about.
Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Jacquie Benestante, Hailey Easley, Elizabeth Kahura and Lily Trieu share what drives them to be passionate about their mission and how they’re making changes in Austin and beyond.
Hailey Easley, Executive Director, Austin Asian Community Health Initiative
ATX City Lifestyle: What inspired you to lead AACHI and how does your personal background influence your commitment to improving the health and well-being of Asians in Central Texas?
Easley: As a second-generation Korean Mexican American, I saw my mother face barriers in nearly every part of life — from healthcare to simple day-to-day interactions — because the systems around her weren’t built for people who spoke foreign languages. Even when help was available, navigating these systems was exhausting and isolating. Leading AACHI allows me to channel those personal experiences into meaningful change, working to ensure others don’t have to face the same obstacles just to access essential care and services.
ATX City Lifestyle: Could you provide an overview of AACHI's key programs and discuss their impact on the community?
Easley: AACHI’s Community Health Navigation Program helps people access healthcare and essential resources that are out of reach due to language, cultural or logistical barriers. Our certified, bilingual Community Health Workers guide clients through complicated processes like applying for Medicaid or SNAP, securing transportation and connecting with housing and food assistance. Our annual AAPI Health Fair is another vital touchpoint, offering free screenings, vaccinations and health education in multiple languages to community members who may not have other opportunities for preventive care.
ATX City Lifestyle: How does AACHI collaborate with local partners to address the health challenges faced by the Asian community in Central Texas?
Easley: AACHI builds strong partnerships to make healthcare and essential services more accessible for people often overlooked by traditional systems. We work with Austin Public Health, Central Health and community organizations to connect people with healthcare, food, housing and other resources that support overall well-being. Whether it’s multilingual vaccine outreach or translating emergency information during winter storm Uri, these collaborations help ensure that everyone — regardless of language or background — can access the support they need.
ATX City Lifestyle: What future initiatives or goals does AACHI have to support and advocate for the Asian community's health needs in the region?
Easley: We’re working to expand language access by adding more community health navigators and ensuring we can serve newer immigrant populations, including recent Afghan refugees. As rising costs push families out of Austin, we’re also looking to extend services into surrounding counties with fewer healthcare resources. But true equity takes more than direct services — it requires systemic change. That’s why we’re just as committed to advocating for policies that break down barriers to care so that healthcare isn’t a privilege for a few but a basic right for everyone.
Lily Trieu, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Asian Texans for Justice
ATX City Lifestyle: What motivated you to co-found Asian Texans for Justice and how did your personal background influence this decision?
Trieu: Asian Texans for Justice was founded by a group of Asian American organizers and advocates who fiercely believe that AAPIs are an integral part of what it means to be American and deserve a seat at the decision-making table. As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, too many people, like my parents, feel like they don't belong here. Our work is motivated by the vision that one day, all people in Texas can feel bold in their belonging.
ATX City Lifestyle: Can you share some of the key initiatives that Asian Texans for Justice has undertaken to empower the AAPI community in Texas?
Trieu: AAPIs are the fastest-growing racial group in central Texas and the country but we are also the most diverse, representing over 50 ethnicities and speaking over 100 languages. As a result, it can be really complicated to inform and engage AAPI voters in our democracy and we risk missing a critical voice in our elections and policy-making process. We've spent the last several years finding ways to provide culturally competent and language-accessible information to our community, including an AAPI voter guide, in-language digital ads and a ballot builder tool where they can read about candidates and make their choices in a language they understand.
ATX City Lifestyle: How does your experience across public, private and nonprofit sectors enhance your approach to leading Asian Texans for Justice?
Trieu: Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to work in corporate America, government and nonprofit organizations. Each experience has taught me new skills, developed my critical thinking and given me examples of how I want to lead. No sector is perfect and there are transferable skills and lessons from each. Exposure to all three has given me a chance to reflect on the type of leader I want to be.
ATX City Lifestyle: What challenges have you encountered in mobilizing Asian Texans for civic engagement and how have you addressed them?
Trieu: One of the most beautiful things about engaging AAPIs and Asian Texans is just how diverse our community is. We work with community members who are 3rd or 4th-generation Texans as well as those who have just arrived in the U.S. and become voters for the first time. That also means that our community isn’t a monolith. They practice different faiths, speak other languages, observe different traditions and have different opinions on policy. Our job is to make sure that we honor our commonalities but also celebrate our differences.
Elizabeth Kahura, Owner and Founder, African Safari Programs
ATX City Lifestyle: In your performances, you emphasize the importance of cultural values and community interdependence. Could you share a specific story or experience from your childhood in Kenya that highlights these themes?
Kahura: I grew up in a village setting. I enjoyed the beauty and warmth of a family tree surrounded by my parents, siblings and extended family. We share the same cultural values, such as respect for elders, family loyalty and hard work. There was never a dull moment; we farmed, cooked, cleaned and celebrated together. My dream was to be a performer and an educator. I admired family members who held these professions. They not only shared their wisdom but also took me under their wing and taught me. As the saying goes, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
ATX City Lifestyle: Your program, "A Day in Africa," introduces audiences to various aspects of African culture. How do you select the specific elements to include in each performance and what impact do you hope they have on your audience?
Kahura: “A Day in Africa" is one of my favorite programs. It allows the audience to experience the "feeling of Africa" by playing authentic African instruments while learning how rhythm and dance bring communities together. The audience learns about cultural traits like languages, clothing, religions, social etiquette and various foods through performance art and props. Storytelling allows audiences to visualize Africa's geographical and historical features, as well as the people and their cultural behaviors. My main goal is to show how African cultures share similar human behaviors and morals with other cultures worldwide. By understanding that we have more in common, we become inspired, more tolerant and valuable global citizens.
ATX City Lifestyle: Having lived in the United States since 1995, how have you seen perceptions of African culture evolve among American audiences and how has your program adapted to these changes over the years?
Kahura: I have witnessed a great desire among American audiences to learn about African culture. By continuing to educate and present the "true meaning of Africa" through the various programs I offer, audiences are inspired and can evaluate misconceptions about Africa. Over the years, my programs have become adaptable to school curriculums and served as enrichment resources in public libraries, workshops and festivals.
ATX City Lifestyle: As a recipient of the 2017 'Mashujaa' (heroes) award from Kenyans in Austin, how has this recognition influenced your work and what future projects or goals do you have for the African Safari Program?
Kahura: Receiving the “Mashujaa” award was a great honor and achievement. This recognition encouraged me to continue inspiring, educating, and entertaining while spreading kindness and self-empowerment. My future goals are to write more books about Africa, develop African knowledge curricula for learning institutions and have a streaming program.
Jacquie Benestante, Executive Director, Autism Society of Texas
ATX City Lifestyle: What is the primary work of the Autism Society of Texas?
Benestante: The Autism Society of Texas has been serving the entire state since 2017, though it began in Austin in 1990. This year marks our 35th anniversary. We support over 100 counties annually through our free Navigating Autism program, offering guidance on all things autism-related, including diagnosis, therapy, special education and services for children and adults. We also facilitate over 20 free support groups across the state for parents, caregivers and autistic individuals. We offer all of our free support services in Spanish as well! In addition to direct support, we focus on advocacy and public policy to improve the lives of those affected by autism.
ATX City Lifestyle: What inspired your transition from a career in clothing design to becoming an advocate for the autism community and how have your past experiences influenced your current role?
Benestante: My transition to autism advocacy was driven by family. After having a child, I realized that a career in fashion wasn’t compatible with the time I wanted to spend with him. In 2006, I became involved in autism policy advocacy, particularly around autism insurance reforms, as many plans limited essential therapies like speech and occupational therapy and didn’t include behavior therapy at all. I also took action when Austin ISD proposed closing several elementary schools back in 2011, including my son's. These experiences fueled my ongoing commitment to public education, special education and everyone's access to therapy and healthcare.
ATX City Lifestyle: Having served on the Autism Society of America’s Public Policy Advocacy Committee since its inception, what significant policy changes have you witnessed and what areas do you believe still require urgent attention?
Benestante: I’ve worked on the reauthorization of the Autism CARES Act, securing funding and authorization a few times. However, there's still much work to be done, especially in ensuring equitable access to services, improving school support, and addressing the needs of adults with autism who are in need of housing and employment options. At the state level, I’ve worked to get applied behavior analysis covered under Medicaid for nearly a decade. It was finally implemented in 2022, but we are still working to improve access to therapy in many areas of the state.
ATX City Lifestyle: Balancing roles in advocacy, events, programs and development requires diverse skills. How do you manage these responsibilities and what strategies have you found most effective in advancing the organization's mission?
Benestante: I love this job — there’s always something new! I balance my work by focusing on one task at a time when possible, but often, the issues overlap. For example, a conversation with a parent may reveal gaps in services that lead to new public policy initiatives. I’m fortunate to have a dedicated team, board and volunteers who help make our work possible. Together, we tackle everything from legislative advocacy to practical support for families.
Dr. Ellen Jefferson, President and CEO, Austin Pets Alive!
ATX City Lifestyle: What were the initial challenges you faced in transforming Austin into a no-kill city and how did you overcome them once you took over APA?
Jefferson: The initial challenges that we faced were immense. We started with no funding, no staff and no building and were able to slowly grow that through community support. We also faced a perception that saving all the lives was impossible and/or shouldn’t be tried. We were able to overcome that by just doing it and showing that not only was it possible to save the lives but they were incredibly worth it.
ATX Cit Lifestyle: Can you discuss some of the key programs you've implemented and their impact on animal welfare in Austin?
Jefferson: We take our mission statement very seriously. We have created programs to intervene in the deaths of every major type of cause. That has led to the creation of our parvo puppy program, neonatal kitten program, ringworm treatment program, injured and ill triage and treatment hospital and large dog foster and behavior program. We also help other shelters with very few resources across the state by mentoring, transporting animals outside of the state for them, supply drives and support when they have crises.
ATX City Lifestyle: In 2012, you linked with San Antonio Pets Alive! to implement the no-kill programs that had proven successful in Austin. What motivated you to expand these efforts beyond Austin and what have been the outcomes?
Jefferson: The animals that are needlessly dying in shelters are always the motivation for our work. We know that they are stable, we know how to save them and we know they should be saved. We have supported several cities in their journey. Large cities must recognize the value of having a community that is humane for the pet part of the family. San Antonio is an excellent example of a city that wanted to do better and needed some help. We continue to try to find partnerships like that and are currently working with Hays County.
ATX City Lifestyle: As a groundbreaking animal welfare visionary, what advice would you give to individuals aspiring to lead in the animal welfare sector, particularly in creating and sustaining no-kill communities?
Jefferson: The best advice that I can give somebody is that they need to be aware that this industry is challenging – meaning that they will be hit with opposition from every single angle they can think of. Crises are inevitable when you’re working with life and death. Knowing that and assuming someone still wants to do it, I recommend that they surround themselves with people who understand what the endpoint is, which will help them stay on track. The last piece of advice is to share everything publicly because the more people know, the more people want to help.
Leading AACHI allows me to channel those personal experiences into meaningful change, working to ensure others don’t have to face the same obstacles.
My main goal is to show how African cultures share similar human behaviors and morals.
The animals that are needlessly dying in shelters are always the motivation for our work.
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”-- Ruth Bader Ginsburg