Good Work Austin Leads the Way for Food Workers

This Labor Day, Good Work Austin’s Executive Director, Kara Hanaoka, joined Spectrum News 1 to talk about why supporting food workers matters and how our organization is leading the way. With more than 65,000 food and hospitality workers in Austin, chances are someone in the industry has served you in the past 48 hours. As Kara shared, “They are the backbone of our economy, our tourism, and the heart of our city. When you’re eating out, we want to take care of those people.”

Click here for the full interview

Good Work Austin is the only nonprofit in Central Texas dedicated to supporting food workers and businesses. We do this through workforce development programs that train and upskill workers, advocacy to advance fair workplace policies, and initiatives like our Culinary Workforce Training Program, which provides paid, nine-week training for people facing barriers to employment. Graduates leave with industry certifications, life skills, and connections to living-wage jobs at local restaurants—ranging from food trucks and cafés to Michelin-star establishments.

This Labor Day, we’re reminded that the strength of our community depends on the people who keep it nourished. From breakfast tacos to barbecue, food workers make Austin the city we love. By choosing to dine at Good Work Austin member restaurants, you can directly support businesses that are creating healthier workplaces and investing in their employees. Visit goodworkaustin.org/eatandrink to discover local restaurants that are doing good work.

Here’s to the cooks, servers, dishwashers, managers, owners, and everyone in between who make our food system possible. We see you, we celebrate you, and we’re fighting to make our industry better along with you! Want to support Austin’s workers this Labor Day? Make a donation today: www.goodworkaustin.org/donate.