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The activity booths inside Austin Kiddie Limits proved to be very popular with the younger festival-goers. Many of the kids running around and playing inside AKL had bright pink and orange hairdos, including some impressive Mohawks, courtesy of 77Kids by American Eagle.  The tattoos to complement the hairstyle were provided by Kati Hammitt and Hip Tattoos.  Once the proper look was established, kids took their talents to the Rock Star Video Karaoke booth (also provided by 77Kids) and got a chance to record a video singing and rocking out.

Dance, Drumming, and Hip Hop Workshops were held throughout the day during the festival, giving kids a chance to bang on some hand drums with Michael Marcionetti at Drumzone, or learn some new Zumba dance moves with the help of the Fuzemoze team.  Walking by the Hip Hop booth, one could hear The Q Brothers leading kids through call-and-response rapping over beats and samples. The schedule was managed well so that there was always some kind of interactive activity happening in between the music sets on the Austin Kiddie Limits stage.  H-E-B Kids provided healthy snacks at their Snack Shack, and also offered shade under the tent in the H-E-B-sponsored Zilker Beach area, which included a roped-off section for kids only.  Lifeway Probugs gave away samples of their Organic Kefir to the delight of many AKL attendees.

For the artists in the family, Abrakadoodle offered a rare chance to throw and splatter paint (with protective suits to cover clothing and head) and create a large work of art.  Kids had a blast working with the paint, and doing something they couldn’t get away with at home.  In addition, Café Monet had a booth set up for kids to decorate a Rockn’ Magnet to keep for themselves. Theater Action Project provided the interesting Alter Ego Factory, where they showed aspiring actors how to get into a wide array of characters and costumes.

All of this was trumped by the fantastic musical artists playing on the Austin Kiddie Limits Stage.  Here is a quick review of some of our favorite sets.

Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could played two great sets of music.  The front of the stage was crowded with kids who were having a blast with his songs “I Found It” and “Love Me for Who I Am.” The band featured some accordion and mandolin to back up Brady on guitar and vocals for his fun-filled tunes, and Tor Hyams sat in for several songs on keyboard. See our feature on Brady Rymer here.

Recess Monkey really engaged the crowd with their superhero-themed set of songs.  They had the kids acting out the motions as they flew, jumped, and threw imaginary objects up in the air.  Three elementary school teachers from Seattle, the trio delighted the kids with their wacky and high-energy music.  A giant banner with their monkey logo flew behind the drumset.

Quinn Sullivan plays the blues guitar at a level beyond his years.  At the age of 12, he has already toured with the legendary Buddy Guy, and one of his original songs that he performed told the story of meeting him for the first time.  He sounded like a polished player already as he worked through some originals and a solid cover of Derek & the Dominos’ “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?”

Mariana Iranzi brought a skilled band and some bilingual flavor to Austin Kiddie Limits.  She encouraged dancing and participation as she declared in English and Spanish, “I have the rhythm in my hands, I have the rhythm in my feet.”  She showed off her talents on the bass while the band played a rocking set.

Heidi Swedberg and the Sukey Jump Band delivered some Hawaiian-influenced flair on her ukulele-led folk songs.  Heidi started playing and teaching children’s music after a successful acting career.

School of Rock received the honor of closing out Austin Kiddie Limits with the final set, and they were up for the task. In addition to performing a set earlier in the festival (and throughout all three days at the School of Rock tent), they put their stamp on some classic and modern hits with a resounding confidence to wrap up the festival.  The band consisted of all-star music students from the local School of Rock, and they served to inspire and entertain the kids and parents in attendance, with a strong take on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” and a clever mash-up of The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”

Sara Hickman played two set’s with her band Family Time Rocks!. Sara and her bandmates, Jason Molin and Gray Parsons, use interactive performances to show “how fun, easy, and rewarding it is to make music and art with your family”. How cool is that? Sara’s latest projects include a new CD “Best of Times” (all proceeds for Theatre Action Project) and “Family Time Rocks” (music for families/”Big Bird, Little Bird” (animated DVD). She’s an advocate for the homeless, youth education and an amazing visual Artist.

Peter DiStefano & Tor Hyams put together an all-star band of their own featuring some of the School of Rock musicians, and they creatively put a family-friendly spin on some classic rock songs.  In addition to JJ Cale and Peter Tosh covers, they played the song “Pets” from DiStefano’s band “Something for Pyros” (as he introduced it – probably a wise choice).  During that song Peter invited the kids to line up and join him on stage, and they got a chance to strum his guitar while he took an extended guitar solo.  The School of Rock players really did a great job of keeping up with Peter and Tor, and holding down a steady groove.

Tor Hyams is the mastermind that makes Austin Kiddie Limits happen.  Tor is everywhere, acting as MC up on the stage, directing events in between the music sets, coordinating backstage activity, and playing keyboards live with several of the bands on the bill.  He also puts on a similar show for the Lollapalooza Festival up in Chicago every year called “Kidzapalooza,” which has grown to be its own separate event.  In addition to putting on festivals, Hyams is a music producer and songwriter, and you can read our feature on Tor here.

2011 marked Ruby Jane’s fourth appearance at the Austin City Limits Festival, and she graced the Austin Ventures stage early on Sunday in front of an impressive and enthusiastic crowd.  She led the band through an absolutely blistering version of “Chameleon” (Herbie Hancock) and had the lucky viewers enthralled.  Several original songs followed, which showcased her songwriting and vocal talents while featuring some intense jamming between Smith and guitar player Trevor LaBonte.  Her music incorporates many different styles and influences, including jazz, blues, country, and rock.  “The band that I have now is primarily Rock & Roll,” she explains, “but with flavors of all the different things I’ve learned.”

She gushes about the members of her band and their talents.  “I say this all the time, but I really feel like this band is the band that I’ll have for a long time.”  LaBonte joined the band two years ago on guitar, and they have developed a great musical chemistry. “I think he’s probably the best guitar player I’ve ever heard, and that’s saying a lot,” she insists.  “Trevor is a genius, and I can’t believe that he’s in my band.  We play back and forth and trade licks.”  Bass player Kai Roach and drummer Colter Lutz are best friends who hold down the rhythm section and also have a tight musical connection. “They’ve played together so much, they know what each other is thinking.”

Ruby Jane loves living in Austin, although it was a cultural change after growing up in a small town in Mississippi. “It’s very, very different.  But I love it, and I love that it’s a music city.”  She met Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel soon after her arrival, and he introduced her to some other musical heroes. “Everyone since I first moved here has kind of welcomed me with open arms, and I really feel like it’s my hometown now.”  Lately she and the band have been touring a lot – they recently played the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago and traveled around the Midwest before returning home to play the ACL Festival.  She plans to go into the studio in the near future to work on her next recording, with a lot more touring along the way.  If we’re fortunate, those future travel plans will include more appearances at Austin City Limits.

http://www.rubyjane.org/

Elizabeth walked into the acupuncture office with nausea and extreme sensitivity to certain smells. In her sixth week of pregnancy, even the smell of her favorite perfume makes her feel sick. She is experiencing a poor appetite and vomits often. Ginger tea and candy have been ineffective in helping calm her stomach. After her first acupuncture treatment, she felt much better; her nausea was completely gone when she left the clinic. She also learned that applying pressure on the acupressure point Pericardium 6, a point on the wrist, would ease her symptoms between acupuncture treatments.

Jen is in her second trimester of pregnancy and she suffers from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. She wakes at night to pain and numbness in her hand and experiences the same numbness while driving during the day. Jen admits that she has an aversion to needles from getting vaccine shots as a child, but several of her close friends have strongly suggested that she try acupuncture. To her surprise, she did not feel sharp or severe pain during her treatment. She described the feeling of the needles as a heavy sensation or a slight pressure, which was very different from her experience with shots. Unlike needles used for vaccinations, acupuncture needles are solid, thin needles about the diameter of a cat’s whiskers or smaller.

Acupuncturists can help pregnant women to make their pregnancy easier in different ways. Some of the treatable conditions are depression, migraines, sciatica pain, anxiety and stress, headaches, edema, back pain, breech presentation, and even to induce labor.

Cupping is a traditional Chinese medical treatment that is effective for addressing any type of back pain, pregnancy-related or not. Cupping involves the acupuncturist burning a cotton ball in a glass cup to displace the air, creating a vacuum that is applied to a specific area of the body. The suction helps to stimulate the flow of blood, balances and realigns the Qi (energy), breaks up obstructions, and creates an avenue for toxins to be drawn out of the body. The suction in cupping can cause some swelling and bruising on the skin, but these bruises are usually painless and disappear within a few days of treatment. Some clients have said that cupping feels similar to deep tissue massage.

Tara has a ten-month-old baby boy whom she is breastfeeding. However, she has lower back pain, which is aggravated by certain movements when breastfeeding. Since the baby has arrived, Tara has been feeling exhausted and is struggling to keep her typically high levels of energy. In Oriental medicine, we use many forms of diagnosis, including the pulse and the color of the tongue. After feeling Tara’s pulse and looking at her tongue, I asked if she was irritable and sometimes short-tempered. Tara wondered how I knew, and of course her answer was “Yes.” I put two needles on both of her hands, and let her stretch her lower back with the needles still in for two minutes. She was so surprised when the pain disappeared! After the treatment, I also gave her some dietary recommendations.

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine have helped women in all stages of pregnancy as well as after childbirth for post-partum depression, lactation difficulties, fatigue and insomnia, anxiety, stress, and pain disorders for thousands of years. For more information, contact the Academy of Oriental Medicine at Austin at www.aoma.edu.

A Look At The South Congress Neighborhood.

Austin is more than the sum of its parts.  Each neighborhood nook and cranny adds influence, flavor, and color: an ambiance synergy so to speak.  Whole Lifestyle wants to bring you into these neighborhoods.  Discover what makes each of them a world unto themselves, take a look at the quality of life with their borders, immerse yourself the flavors that keep Austinites rooted at home.  First up, one of the hippest locations in the state, South Congress or SoCo.

The history of South Congress marches in line with the history of Austin.  In 1852 it became the main highway from San Antonio as well as the postal route when James Gibson Fisher granted the access through his farm for the road.   It wasn’t however until 1910 when the concrete bridge across the river was finished that South Congress really began to grow.  As automobiles grew in numbers so did the businesses serving them along South Congress.  This trend continued until the 1940’s when Interstate 35 was completed.  Travel-service businesses slowly relocated to I-35 freeing up space that was quickly filled by artists, musicians, and small retailers creating the atmosphere we recognize today.  There was a short period of time in the late 70’s to early 90’s that South Congress dipped into the seedier life but a recent resurgence in trendy retail shops and restaurants has returned SoCo to it former glory.

The SoCo neighborhood today runs south down Congress Street from the Congress Street Bridge to Oltorf and west to First Street.  It’s an eclectic amalgam of the modern and traditional.  Historic landmarks dot the sidewalks between retro-styled dwellings and right-angled modernism.  It’s more than just a location; SoCo is a flavor that is unique to Austin.

The Median Income in SoCo is slightly above the Austin average at just over $60,000 a year.  An average single-family home sells for around $210,000 where the average rent is about $634.

The average age of the Austinites who call SoCo is 28.  They are well educated (40 percent have a college degree) and single, (reportedly only 8 percent are married).  It’s no wonder that SoCo is quickly becoming known as a singles haven.

The area’s main artery that is South Congress Avenue naturally carries with it the neighborhood’s greatest population of eateries.  Here you can taste anything from an exquisite cup of hot and steamy or iced-cold Joe at Jo’s Coffee, (www.joscoffee.com ), to the Gambertti and polenta at Botticelli’s, (www.boticellissouthcongress.com) (See review in this issue!). It’s hard to pass up getting a cupcake at the Hey Cupcake (www.heycupcake.com) Airstream over in the unofficially named South Congress Trailer Park Row.  Tip a cold one at the Continental Club (www.continentalclub.com) while basking in the history of one of Austin’s most treasured clubs, or grab a sandwich any time day or night at the famous Magnolia’s Café, (www.themagnoliacafe.com).

Although there’s much to eat on South Congress, there’s much to see and even more to browse.  The scrawled “I Love you so much” sign on the side wall of Jo’s coffee that faces the “I love you more” sign of the Snack Bar.  There’s the slightly phallic and certainly historic Austin Motel sign, and the beautiful grounds of the Texas School for the Deaf.  Feel like shopping?  You can step back into history at one of the many antique or junkque stores, such as Uncommon Objects (www.uncommonobjects.com)  or pick up some organic, locally grown food at the Farm to Market Grocery, (www.fm1718.com).

The SoCo neighborhood is more than just South Congress Avenue.  Venture west and you’ll find things come with a bit more spice.  Some of the best authentic Mexican food in the city can be found on the banks of First Avenue.  There’s El Mercado (www.elmercadorestaurant.com), Torchy’s Tacos (www.torchystacos.com), as well as Izzoz Tacos (www.izzoztacos.com).  You can visit the historic Robert Stanley house or find your own historic treasures at Amelia’s Retro, Vogue, and Relics.

If you head east you’ll find yourself along the banks of the Blunn Creek. You can walk you dog from the Little Stacy Park to the Big Stacy Park where you can dive into the community pool.  Travel to the northern edge of the neighborhood and you can let your dog run free in Town Lake, (Lady Bird Johnson Lake) shores dog park.

Don’t forget that the first Thursday of every month is an event in SoCo. Business along South Congress stay open late and host one big block party, Austin style.

SoCo is one of the hippest neighborhoods in a very hip city.  The vibe and the vision blend with the unbuttoned attitude of a West Coast hippy to create an atmosphere that is uniquely Austin.

Imagine delicious restaurant delivery… without the restaurant.  Entrepreneurs who offer gourmet takeout – post a web menu, hop on a bike, all without an actual storefront – are popping up in Austin now. And don’t forget grocery stores that partner with bike messengers to get their goods to you; even local programs such as Meals on Wheels and area artists now participate in the new trend. Our helmets are off to them.

Whole Foods Downtown Bike Delivery

Now delivering Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Hours are Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Email: lamar.conciergeorders@wholefoods.com to order, or call # 512.542.2243.

The Soup Peddler

Sign up for your weekly soup order and pick what is tempting your taste buds. The soup will be left on your doorstep (you should have a cooler to participate), according to season and delivery schedule. Check www.souppeddler.com for hours and menu, or call #512.373.7672.

Beat the Clock Bike Messengers

Beat The Clock is Austin’s first bike-only messenger service for downtown Austin to deliver just about anything faster than gas-powered vehicles. From Courthouse filings to Bank Deposits, or lunch from your favorite place, Beat The Clock is the solution when your to-do list is just too long. www.beattheclockmessengers.com or # 512.524.0219.

Good Bike Coffee

The Good Bike is a mobile coffee and desserts vendor specializing in gourmet coffee and cake balls. Located on 2538 Guadalupe Street, they’ll deliver to you between Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. # 210.410.9262.

Meals on Two Wheels

Through this program, interested volunteers will deliver meals to the homebound via bike on certain routes in East Austin. Volunteers can either use one of MOWAM’s three specially-designed bikes and cooler-holding carts, or bring their own bike and cart. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up to be a substitute or regular bike volunteer for one of their 12 pre-selected bike routes. Call # 512.476.6325 for more information and to sign up as a volunteer.

Peter Staats Photography Design Studio

Peter is a talented photographer and urban bicyclist who often takes his bike en route to sessions from his east Austin charmed home, if he’s not shooting portraits in his studio or garden. Check out his art here (if you haven’t already seen his work and casa during the East Austin Studio Tour): peterstaats.com, www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p374550or call # 512.473.2277 for availability.

How to Save money and the Environment

Clearly the number one thing people say stops them from eating more local food is cost. But even those on a tight budget can reap the benefits (great-tasting food, smaller carbon footprint, a boost for local economy)—here a few tricks that’ll help you get started:

Seek Out the Late Shift

The Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to find local, generally well-priced food. But if you really want a bargain, call your CSA’s organizer and request what Paige Hill, Founder of Urban Patchwork Neighborhood Farms, calls the late shift. “Every week there are people who can’t pick up their shares,” she explains. “Whoever is working the drop-off shift usually gets first dibs on the leftovers.” This works for the farmers’ markets, too; you won’t get the goods for free, but at the end of every market day, you could score some tasty bargains. You may have to ask for a discount, but think of it like a garage sale: You want it, they want to sell it, and the later the day gets, the more bargaining power you have. Also be sure to use your Go-Local card: With every purchase (especially at HOPE on east 5^th Street), you get some local treats for free, or can score an additional discount. urbanpatchwork.org/ thegolocalcard.com /hopefarmersmarket.org

Get to the Meat of It

Ask around—a lot of CSAs now offer meat, egg, and milk shares. If yours doesn’t, search eatwild.com for a farmer near you who sells animal food products directly to the public. If you have big meat eaters at home, consider “cowpooling,” going in with other families to buy a cow [or bison perhaps]. The farmer will usually butcher and pack it for you (though you should confirm that there aren’t any surprises), and then everyone paying can divide it up. A good source is the Community Renaissance Market, and its vendor David Ernstmeyer, Sales Manager for Green Grass Meats. David is at Community Renaissance Market every Friday afternoon with a great selection of grass fed meat products. communityrenaissancemarket.com.

Be Open to Non-Certified

You don’t always have to see the certified organic label to get food that’s still organically grown but often lower priced than certified items. A lot of local small farms don’t have organic certification because the process is costly, but they still farm using organic methods. Because you’re buying from the farmers who grew it, you can just ask about their growing methods. A good starting question: How do they handle pest-and weed-control? If they say they spray, you’re probably out of luck. But if they tell you they use natural methods, delve deeper: Do they pair crops that naturally repel each other’s pests? Do they encourage helpful insects like ladybugs and ground beetles? If they’re skilled at these natural methods, chances are they’ll be happy to tell you about it.

Know Peaks vs. In-Season

Probably one of the most important factors, as this seemingly minor distinction can make all the difference in the price of produce. In-season means the crop is being harvested in your area; peak season means it’s so abundant locally that growers are going to cut prices to sell it faster. Prices drop, and the quality is better, so it’s a win-win for consumers. To find out when prices will drop for peak season, ask the farmers you shop from. They might just tell you whether those tomatoes that are $3 a pound now are going to be half in a few weeks. Or you can check what’s local in your area at any given time at the Natural Resources Defense Council’s website, nrdc.org/health/foodmiles. If you’re canning or preserving, talk to your farmers and see if anyone will cut you a pre-season bulk deal. It never hurts to ask, and you may just walk away with the season’s best crop at a very sweet price.

Locally owned and operated Monkey Nest is an environmentally and socially conscious coffee shop with superior customer service. Founder and owner Koris Derakhshani had a vision of a great coffee house when he designed this great family space. An engineer by day, he was a huge consumer of coffee. With the support of his wife and friends, and a short six months of hard but creative work, Monkey Nest coffee house became a reality. From the beginning, Derakhshani’s vision was a variety of comforting food and great tasting coffee, in an environment that would “welcome all spectrum of life, with flexibility and family in mind.”

They have listened to their customers on the food selection when incorporating must-have new items such as protein goods or boiled eggs for local CROSSFIT members. Working as a team, all inspired members of the Nest team will listen to what the customers embrace, and will create it to the best of their ability. Their creative spaces include an Artist Wall (artists receive the full amount of their sales) and a little nook for children beside a cozy fireplace. Monkey Nest supplies fun games and reading, so moms and dads alike can grab some latte while their children are safely entertained. Check their listings on Facebook or their website to find out about live music entertainment and other events.

In the future, Monkey Nest hopes to continue growth by giving back in the form of community giving projects that will support local charities. They have a warm, friendly presence, and a steady stream of customers who love to take advantage of the fresh foods, the locally provided variety of organic teas made by Zhi Tea, and a meeting room in the back of the café – available to your group for a cup of coffee!

The delicious coffee is organic – pastries and lunch items are eclectic and international. Monkey Nest strives to use all local and natural ingredients. We’re sure you’ll love Monkey Nest just as much as we do – be sure to check out this little gem located at 5353 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756. Call or visit their website to reserve a meeting room: www.monkeynestcoffee.com.

Hours of Operation: Mon-Thu 6a.m. – 9p.m./Fri – Sat 6a.m. – 10p.m./Sun 7a.m. – 9p.m.

Ruth Glendinning and Susan Buhrman, business partners in Community Renaissance Market LLC, have taken an empty eye-sore of a building and turned it into a flourishing addition to the community. It’s a place where everybody can unpack their dreams and work in a supportive community to bring them to life. As Buhrman says, “At Community Renaissance Market, you are in business for yourself, notby yourself.”  The idea to take an empty big-box space and turn it into a thriving marketplace for entrepreneurs has caught national attention, and plans are underway to replicate this business model in other areas of the country.

The idea of turning a former 60,000-square-foot Albertsons grocery store in South Austin into a micro-business incubator for fledgling entrepreneurs took root in early 2009.  It really began to flourish in August 2009 when Ruth and Susan received full management authority for the property and, with the help of Tribe Creative Agency, the project was rebranded Community Renaissance Market, reflecting the partners’ commitment to community. By keeping the rent low & costs manageable, new entrepreneurs have a chance to learn about their market, work with fellow business owners and organically grow into their success.  If the full-time commitment is a barrier, there is the option to pay a daily fee for those who only work during the weekend or at special events. Currently, CRM contains 40+ businesses, an accessible technology training and placement program for people with disabilities, and an apprentice training program for foster children ages 18-22 as part of Foster Apprentice Training Enterprises.  Recent additions include a coffee bar featuring Texas Coffee Traders coffee and baked goods from in-house bakers Objects of Confection, Sugar Tooth Bakery [vegan, some gluten free], CakeMaker 3000 and other local providers; Native Nom Nom restaurant will open mid-May 2011, and  an indoor farmers market is in development. To better reflect the purpose of CRM to incubate businesses which meet the criteria of ‘Sustainable Local Organic Work’, they have begun the trademark process for the “SLOW Tech Incubator™” concept in which businesses are positioned for sustainable success since they reflect the local community needs.

“Part of our job is educating people about the actions you need to take and what to do to be a successful business owner,” Ruth said. “One of the most important parts of maintaining a micro-business is education about the process.”  Glendinning and Buhrman strive to create alliances with nonprofits such as Foundation Communities, a local organization that provides individuals with affordable housing and financial education through its tax preparation program and business education, and Eastside Community Connection, which has a clothes collection box in the market’s lobby.

Community Renaissance Market has been profiled in Community Impact News; Austin Business Journal; News 8; Channel 24 News; ABC World News with Diane Sawyer; an upcoming “Entrepreneur” series on KLRU/PBS; and will be featured on a reality show filming in June 2011 and expected to air during the fall of 2011.

Even during this economic downturn, CRM is succeeding. They are revitalizing an old building, creating community and, most importantly, are positioning more people for a sustainable financial future.

To learn more about Community Renaissance Market go to: www.communityrenaissancemarket.com

Soon, the families of Austin will have the opportunity to enroll their young children in a pre-school program built on innovation, healthy lifestyle, and a focus on giving the children of Austin a physically active program.

Whole Kids Adventure (“WKA”) is a Texas non-profit corporation and the vision of Lene Saint-Orens. First and fore-most, Saint-Orens is a mother. Knowing first-hand the challenges that come with the tough decisions associated with child care, she has immersed herself in a mission that would bring the first “Eco-Healthy Child Development Model” to Austin families, with a focus on healthy lifestyle choices, physical activity and organic nutrition, and a shared harvest program attached to it’s palate of offerings.

Saint-Orens is inspired by her own life experiences that began with exposure to international child care programs, her education, as well as extensive travel in Europe. These experiences gave her the tools that would be needed to formulate the vision for Whole Kids Adventure.

Many families in the United States and specifically Austin are concerned about the growing childhood obesity problem. With that in mind, Saint-Oren’s model will address the growing obesity epidemic in children and adults by implementing a health focused program that will include organic nutrition programs for children and their families in an eco-friendly environment. The program will also include a focus on wellness and nutrition education for families.

WKA is working with a number of community partners in Austin to build the foundation of what will most certainly be a unique model for early care and education. Through a community based model and with the support of corporate sponsors, WKA will identify and create collaborative programs in Austin that will provide wellness, gardening, and nutrition education for the community. Understanding that there is a diverse population in Austin, WKA will serve a variety of populations. Offering this type of child-care program to families with limited resources will also bring increased awareness to the importance of increased physical activity and making healthy lifestyle choices.

All meals served to the children and staff will feature locally-grown, hormone free, organic food. Menus are being developed by a local chef who understands that teaching children about the importance of how meals are prepared will simultaneously create a broader understanding of the food culture. The goal to bring this type of meal service to WKA will give children healthy meal options and will allow for the accommodation of special dietary needs.

The program will offer specialized progressive learning opportunities including second language learning. Spanish and French will be taught as part of the curriculum along with creative arts and movement. WKA will open its doors with a commitment to achieving accreditation through a nationally recognized program.

WKA is seeking partners to equip the classrooms and kitchen and supply eco-healthy educational materials and learning tools needed by the program. Materials are also being sourced for use on the natural playground area.

WKA is also ready to invite additional community partners to become a part of the development and implementation process. Saint-Orens is encouraging participation from a large number of individuals and corporations who share the commitment to bring programs such as these to the children of Austin. For information on how you or your organization can become a founding partner in this unique program email Lene Saint-Orens at lene@wholekidsadventure.org – wholekidsadventure.org