Macon-Bibb Shalom Zone Director Frank Austin has been accepted into the 2016 Political Leadership Boot Camp of the Congressional Black Caucus Leadership Institute.
The seven-day rigorous leadership development program will take place July 17-23, and is designed to aid participants who have a desire to gain the expertise to become the influential leaders, strategists, and vital affiliates who will produce successful candidate and issue campaigns or lead public and private sector policy work. This non-partisan educational program is offered each summer in the national capital area of Washington, DC. The first CBCI Boot Camp was held in 2002, and through the years, has graduated more than 500 members.
As a Community Leader, he leads, trains and empowers distressed communities in revitalization methods. Frank was selected to serve as the Director of Communities of Shalom; a neighborhood asset-based empowerment initiative and has become the only Cerfited Shalom Regional Trainer in the Region. Serving as the Director of Shalom, Frank originally lead six communities to now twelve underserved communities to develop holistic, systemic and socio-economic development strategic plans. He served on the City of Macon-Bibb’s Blight Task Force established to address blighted housing in low-income neighborhoods and represented Macon-Bibb at the National Center for Community Progress Conference held in Detroit, Michigan. Frank serves on the committee which established Operation Hope for the City of Macon-Bibb; offering numerous programs and services to reduce poverty. Frank was carefully chosen to participate in the first class of Middle Georgia Regional Leadership Champions Class of 2015; a regional training program. Now, Frank is an Ambassador for the Middle Georgia Regional that promote a Better Quality of Life for the Middle Georgia Area in 11 counties. Currently, Frank Austin is a member of Leadership Macon Class of 2016.
Prior to becoming the Director of the Macon-Bibb Shalom Zone, Frank Austin founded a non-profit organization which focuses on economic development, housing, health, crime and agriculture entitled The Austin Center. He was recognized by the City of Macon-Bibb’s Mayor with a proclamation declaring December 9, 2014 as Austin Center Day because of his revitalization efforts in Macon-Bibb. Also, Mr. Austin is the recipient of the Iconic Lifetime Achievement Award by Keeping America Beautiful called the Iron Eyes Cody Award, which has only been given to 20 males in the United States over the past 20 years.
