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Steve Adler

Background​

  • Former Mayor of Austin, Texas (2015-2023)
  • Civil rights lawyer by training and early career focus
  • Started career handling Title VII employment discrimination cases
  • Early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential campaign
  • Current board member of Austin Urban League

Political Career & Achievements​

  • Served 8 years as Austin Mayor (2015-2023)
  • Implemented significant equity and civil rights initiatives during tenure
  • Created Austin's first Equity Office to review all city operations
  • Established Civil Rights Office within city government
  • Reformed minority contracting through "Access and Opportunity" programs
  • Ended problematic criminal justice pipelines (e.g., curfew detention of children)

Professional Background​

  • Civil rights attorney specializing in employment discrimination
  • Strong network from Obama campaign work and political organizing
  • Experience in nonprofit board leadership prior to running for mayor
  • Understanding of both legal and political systems

Policy Philosophy & Approach​

  • On Organizing: "Demonstrations and rallies were never enough by themselves"
  • On Access: Believes in being "where policy is shaped, not just where it is enforced"
  • On Electoral Strategy: Emphasizes working on campaigns to build relationships with decision-makers
  • On DEI Evolution: Recently shifting from race-focused to class-based equity approaches

Key Insights from 2025-06-08 Presentation​

On Political Strategy​

  • Campaign Involvement: "The most effective thing you guys can do is run for office"
  • Network Building: Emphasized building relationships before needing them
  • Coalition Strategy: Recommended spreading involvement across multiple campaigns
  • Persistence: Stressed need for sustained pressure beyond single demonstrations

On Current Political Climate​

  • 2026 Elections Critical: "If the people of this country return to Republican control in the House and in the Senate, then I think we're all screwed"
  • Money in Politics: Acknowledged challenge of competing against wealthy donors like Elon Musk
  • Organizing vs. Wealth: Focused on building grassroots power to counter financial influence

On Equity Strategy Evolution​

  • Historical Perspective: "I focused on D.E.I. as it pertains to race, to the exclusion of other people in our country that are also facing lack of access and opportunity"
  • Class-Based Approach: Now advocates for "class-based" policies focused on "access and opportunity, not about any identifier"
  • Broader Coalition: Believes Democratic Party must be "champion for everybody that doesn't have access to free media"

Strategic Advice for Organizers​

  1. Run for Office: Even if you don't win, you learn about community and yourself
  2. Work on Campaigns: Build relationships with people who will be in power
  3. Diversify Campaign Work: Don't put all efforts behind one candidate
  4. Organize Before You Need: Build networks before you need them to act
  5. Understand the System: Learn how policy actually gets made and implemented

Interactions with Gary Sheng​

  • 2025-06-08: First documented interaction at Urban League Young Professionals event
    • Gary asked about best organizing strategies for current political moment
    • Discussion about building effective coalitions and political power
    • Shared perspectives on money in politics and grassroots organizing

Austin Network & Influence​

  • Long-standing relationships in Austin political and nonprofit communities
  • Urban League board position provides ongoing community connections
  • Historical perspective on Austin's evolution over past decade
  • Understanding of local power structures and decision-making processes

Current Focus & Availability​

  • Serving on Urban League board in Austin
  • Available for mentorship and strategic advice
  • Interested in supporting next generation of political leaders
  • Emphasis on practical political education and campaign involvement

Notable Relationships & Network​

  • Obama campaign alumni network
  • Austin civil rights and nonprofit leadership
  • Urban League national and local networks
  • Legal community connections from civil rights practice

Key Quotes & Philosophy​

  • On Effective Organizing: "A demonstration or a rally in and of itself is good, but almost always ineffective if it was not done primarily as a device to organize people"
  • On Political Access: "The most effective way to impact the decision that's happening in that room or in that golf course is to be in that room or on that golf course"
  • On Campaign Strategy: "You need people who have a track record of winning. Those people are not going to work with you and for you unless they think you can win"

Strategic Value for Gary's Network​

  • Deep understanding of Austin political landscape
  • Practical experience in implementing equity policies at scale
  • Network access to political operatives and decision-makers
  • Mentorship capability for political organizing and campaign work
  • Bridge between activist community and institutional power

Notes​

  • Represents institutional political experience with progressive values
  • Valuable resource for understanding how to work within existing systems
  • Potential mentor for political strategy and campaign development
  • Strong advocate for practical political engagement over purely activist approaches