Good Work Austin

We truly can’t do this work without you.

The reason Good Work Austin is able to offer free healthcare access to local food and beverage workers, provide free culinary training to people looking for a pathway to a good job, and advocate for a stronger, more equitable food industry in Austin is because people like you choose to support this work.

Your support makes these opportunities possible for the people who keep our city fed.

If you want to help us raise money to keep doing this work, join us this Saturday, September 26, from 1–3 PM for our next We Do Good Work Tour at Boni’s, in partnership with the Austin Wine & Food Foundation.

We’re heading to Spain for the afternoon with Boni’s owners Jess Maher and Todd Duplechan, with wine education from AWFF, Spanish paella, and incredible wines selected especially for the event.

The best part? 75% of every ticket sold directly supports Good Work Austin’s programs for local food workers.

Come for the wine and paella. Stay for the good work. 🍷🥘

Saturday, September 26 | 1–3 PM
Boni’s
Tickets: $65

Tickets are at https://buff.ly/dMsDqjI

We’re thrilled to welcome our 2026 Fall Culinary Workforce Training class! 🎉

Over the next nine weeks, this incredible group of trainees will build the culinary skills and knowledge they need to thrive in Austin’s food and beverage industry. They’ll get hands-on training in the kitchen, learn from some of Austin’s best chefs, and visit restaurants and kitchens across our city to see the industry from the inside.

Special thanks to Trainee Alumni Brianna for coming to share her story on how this program changed her life and career journey.

We’re so excited to support this cohort as they learn, grow, and build their careers. We can’t wait to see where they go next and to celebrate the next generation of great Austin chefs.

Welcome to the Good Work Austin family! 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

Join us in congratulating Magda Espinoza on her promotion to Program Director at Good Work Austin!

Magda has been an incredible asset to our team for nearly two years focused on helping grow our Culinary Workforce Training program and supporting the expansion of our Community Kitchen. Our culinary training program has grown to three cohorts each year, connecting more trainees with the skills, support, and living wage opportunities they need to build lasting careers in the food and beverage industry.

Magda has also been an important part of expanding our Community Kitchen work, which will expand to over 200,000 quality meals for our community this year while creating meaningful employment opportunities for local food workers.

We’re so excited to see Magda step into this new role as we continue building out our Culinary Pathways work: serving healthy meals to our community, growing our culinary training program, creating pathways to living wage careers, and supporting our alumni long after graduation.

Congratulations, Magda! We are so lucky to have you on our team!

Last week we brought emergency response skills straight to Austin’s food & bev community!

A big shoutout to Lau Lau for hosting the training for their team and opening their doors to the broader GWA community.

Together, we learned:
❤️ Hands-only CPR + how to use an AED with COA EMS
💜 How to spot an overdose + use Narcan with SHIFT
🏠 How the Sobering Center can be a resource for local businesses and workers

We love bringing organizations together to make practical, potentially life-saving resources more accessible to our community.

Want to join us at the next one? Keep an eye on the GWA Events page for upcoming trainings and events!

We’re so excited to congratulate New Waterloo Hospitality Group, the winner of our Industry Leader Award at Building Good Work Together on August 25th! 🎉

This award honors a hospitality group that is helping shape a stronger, healthier, and more sustainable industry in Austin. Nominees demonstrate leadership through workplace culture, employee support, community impact, and a commitment to advancing good work across the hospitality ecosystem.

New Waterloo is a powerful example of what that looks like in practice.

In 2025 alone, New Waterloo celebrated 109 internal promotions, provided 398 employees with health benefits, supported 111 employees through their 401(k) program, and helped employees save more than $15,500 in healthcare costs through their Employee Assistance Program.

They also paid for 538 volunteer hours, giving their team members the opportunity to give back to causes they care about.

What stood out to us is that these efforts aren't just a collection of numbers. They reflect a clear philosophy: to leave every community they’re part of better than they found it.

New Waterloo, thank you for your leadership and what the entire New Waterloo team is doing to create meaningful opportunities for hospitality workers, strengthen workplaces, and invest in the communities you call home.

Congratulations to New Waterloo Hospitality Group! We’re proud to celebrate the good work you’re doing across Austin. ❤️

A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped us celebrate the people doing good work across Austin: H-E-B, Still Austin, OS Benefits, OpenTable, and NEFT Vodka. Thank you for believing in the power of good work and supporting the people who make our food community so special.

We’re so excited to congratulate Eldorado Cafe and owners Joel and Joanna Fried, the winners of our Building Good Business Award at Building Good Work Together on August 25th! 🎉

This award celebrates a business owner who is setting the standard for people-centered hospitality. Someone who prioritizes employee well-being, invests in their people, and models practices that strengthen a more equitable and sustainable local food scene.

Joel and Joanna Fried have been doing exactly that.

Nominators highlighted Eldorado’s healthcare and tuition assistance, their support for employees and their families during COVID, and their commitment to creating a workplace where people can truly thrive.

As one nominator shared, “Joel and Joanna Fried are innovative pioneers for people-centered hospitality.” Their leadership puts employee well-being, growth, and empowerment at the center of the business.

Another said, “They have woven a tapestry of Good that reaches far beyond our four walls.”

Joel’s words at the event brought the story full circle. Reflecting on the early days of the pandemic, he shared how more than 100 restaurant owners came together, fearful and unsure of what was ahead. Joel remembered seeing Good Work Austin doing “really cool and good things” during that time, and shared: “You helped everyone in this room survive the chaos that was the pandemic.”

But perhaps the most meaningful part of his remarks was what came next:
“But we would like to share it with everyone in this room. Because if you’re here tonight, you are part of this great organization, that you are taking care of your team, and that we are all building better businesses in Austin together.”

That is exactly what we hope Building Good Work Together is about. Celebrating the people who are leading the way, while recognizing that none of us are doing this work alone.

Joel and Joanna, thank you for leading with care and for showing what people-centered hospitality can look like in practice. We’re honored to celebrate you, and even more honored that you chose to share this recognition with the entire Good Work Austin community.

Congratulations to Eldorado Cafe, Joel, and Joanna! ❤️

A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped us celebrate the people doing good work across Austin: H-E-B, Still Austin, OS Benefits, OpenTable, and NEFT Vodka. Thank you for believing in the power of good work and supporting the people who make our food community so special.

We’re so excited to congratulate Aubrey Barone of Desnudo, the winner of our Rising Leader Award at Building Good Work Together on August 25th! 🎉

This was our most competitive award category and Aubrey stood out for the way she leads with initiative, compassion, and a genuine commitment to helping the people around her succeed.

Nominators described Aubrey as a manager who adapts her leadership to the people around her and finds ways to help them thrive.

One story really captured what makes her such a special leader. During an especially demanding service, Aubrey stayed late to create visual workflow tools for one employee, then jumped onto the bar to coach another. She helped turn what could have been a stressful shift into a successful one.

As one nominator shared, “Aubrey exemplifies the exact qualities of a compassionate, effective rising leader.”

Another said, “She looks at the people around her, figures out how to help them shine, and changes the whole energy of the room.”

Aubrey, thank you for the care, energy, and intention you bring to your team and your workplace. We’re so excited to celebrate the impact you’re already making and can’t wait to see where your leadership takes you next.

Congratulations, Aubrey! We’re proud to have you as part of the Good Work Austin community. ❤️

A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped us celebrate the people doing good work across Austin: H-E-B, Still Austin, OS Benefits, OpenTable, and NEFT Vodka. Thank you for believing in the power of good work and supporting the people who make our food community so special.

Only a handful of tickets left for our Tour of Spain with Boni’s Bar Next Door! 🇪🇸

Join us for a special afternoon with Boni’s Bar Next Door, a new concept from Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher, the owners of beloved Austin restaurant Lenoir.

This isn’t just a chance to enjoy incredible wine and food. You’ll get to know the owners Jess and Todd, learn more about their approach to hospitality, hear the story behind their concepts, and understand why doing good work is such an important part of their vision.

With wine (and education!) from the Austin Wine & Food Foundation and paella from Boni’s, it’s an afternoon designed to bring people together around great food, great wine, and a stronger hospitality industry.

Need another reason to join us? 75% of all ticket proceeds will directly benefit Good Work Austin food and beverage workers, supporting access to free healthcare, living wage jobs, culinary training, and more.

Grab your ticket at https://buff.ly/qNSLqBW

We’re so excited to congratulate Chef Rick Lopez of La Condesa, the winner of our Executive Chef Leadership Award at Building Good Work Together on August 25th! 🎉

This award honors an executive chef who leads with integrity, mentorship, and care for both their team and the broader food community. Chef Rick embodies that in every way.

Chef Rick has been repeatedly recognized for his commitment to investing in the next generation of chefs through mentorship, teaching, and his work with Good Work Austin’s Culinary Workforce Training program.

As one nomination shared, “He leads with humility, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to both his team and his guests.”

Chef Rick doesn’t just teach technical skills. He shares his passion for the craft, encourages curiosity, and helps students see a future for themselves in hospitality.

Chef Rick, thank you for the way you show up for your team, your students, and our food community. We’re so lucky to have you in the Good Work Austin community.

Congratulations, Chef Rick! We’re proud to celebrate you. ❤️

Thank you to our sponsors who helped us celebrate the people doing good work across Austin: H-E-B, Still Austin, OS Benefits, OpenTable, and NEFT Vodka. Thank you for believing in the power of good work and supporting the people who make our food community so special.

Y'all Grapes for Good from ATX Somms is back and we’re so excited to be the beneficiary of this incredible evening.

More than 20 of Austin’s top wine professionals and sommeliers will be pouring wines they’re genuinely passionate about, alongside amazing food from some of our favorite local restaurants.

We’re especially thrilled to have Good Work Austin members joining us, including Hillside Farmacy, The Guest House, Lenoir, Siti, Thai Fresh, Ezov, and Antonelli’s Cheese.

This event is not only phenomenal wine and incredible food-- most importantly, your ticket supports Good Work Austin and our work to build healthier careers in Austin’s food and beverage industry.

Sunday, September 13
6–9 PM
Wanderlust Shady Lane

🍷 Premium wines from around the world
🍽️ Small bites from Austin restaurants
🎵 Live DJ by
🛍️ Silent auction
🍾 Wine by the glass and bottle
🎯 Wine ring toss by Austin Wine & Food Foundation

Tickets are on sale now. Come raise a glass for good work. 🍷❤️ https://buff.ly/3ycKuci