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Urban League Young Professionals Event: Political Strategy and AI Ethics

Date: June 8, 2025
Location: Austin, TX (Victory Grill area)
Format: Community organizing event with keynote presentations

Executive Summary​

A comprehensive Urban League Young Professionals gathering featuring strategic presentations from former Austin Mayor Steve Adler on political organizing and campaign strategy, and Meme Styles on AI ethics and data-driven advocacy. Gary Sheng attended alongside Russ Ballard and met Nick Hawkins, a financial advisor and community organizer from DFW. The event focused on practical political engagement, responsible AI development, and building power within communities of color.

Key Participants & Roles​

Mayor Steve Adler - Keynote Speaker​

  • Former Austin Mayor (2015-2023), now Austin Urban League board member
  • Civil rights attorney background with Obama campaign experience
  • Presented on moving beyond demonstrations to sustained political organizing

Meme Styles - Featured Speaker​

  • CEO/founder of Measure (advocacy analytics company)
  • VP of Responsible AI at Austin AI Alliance
  • Author and former Black Lives Matter organizer
  • Presented on AI bias and data-driven community advocacy

Nick Hawkins - Participant/Community Leader​

  • Parliamentarian for DFW Urban League Young Professionals
  • Financial advisor with impact investing focus
  • Co-founder of 40 Acres organization with Russell Ballard
  • Actively considering running for political office

Gary Sheng - Attendee/Network Builder​

  • Attended with Russ Ballard to learn about organizing strategies
  • Engaged in discussions about AI ethics and financial services
  • Connected with multiple participants for potential collaborations

Mayor Steve Adler's Political Strategy Presentation​

Core Message: Beyond Demonstrations to Sustained Power​

Key Quote: "Demonstrations and rallies were never enough by themselves. Because you find that it creates discomfort in that moment. And if you can weather that moment as a politician, then people start going on to other things."

Austin Policy Achievements (2015-2023)​

  • Created city Equity Office reviewing all municipal operations
  • Established Civil Rights Office within city government
  • Reformed minority contracting through "Access and Opportunity" programs
  • Ended criminal justice pipelines (stopped detaining children for curfew violations)
  • Developed restorative justice approaches to community safety

Strategic Advice for Organizers​

1. Run for Office - Even If You Don't Win​

Quote: "The most effective thing you guys can do is run for office. Whether you win or don't win, you should run for office. Because you're going to learn a lot by running for office."

2. Work on Campaigns to Build Access​

Quote: "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."

  • Emphasized building relationships before needing them
  • Recommended diversifying across multiple campaigns
  • Stressed importance of being remembered by winning candidates

3. Organize Continuously, Not Just for Specific Issues​

Quote: "If the effort and time and resources was made to do a rally or a demonstration, There needed to be an equal amount of attention on how to give that continuing life."

  • Build networks before needing to activate them
  • Create systems for sustained engagement post-demonstration
  • Focus on organizing as primary tool, demonstrations as organizing device

On Current Political Challenges​

Money in Politics​

Quote: "If I had an answer to that question, we'd all be living in a much nicer country. Because the power of money is pretty enormous, especially if you have someone like Elon Musk that's playing, somebody that can put $250, $300 million into a presidential campaign."

2026 Elections as Critical Juncture​

Quote: "If the people of this country return to Republican control in the House and in the Senate, then I think we're all screwed. I don't think there will be any limits on what happens after that point."

Evolution on DEI Strategy​

Major Insight: Adler acknowledged shifting approach from race-focused to class-based equity policies:

Quote: "I think what I did wrong was 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."

New Approach: "Our powers should be class-based. They should be about access and opportunity, not about any identifier."

Meme Styles' AI Ethics and Data Advocacy Presentation​

Setting: Victory Grill Historical Context​

Quote: "All of the greats, every single one has stepped on this stage. And if you're not from Austin or if you're new to Austin, know that all of the greats have come through Austin as well. Booker Taliaferro Washington also came right here."

  • Connected current organizing to historical civil rights legacy
  • Emphasized continuity from chitlin circuit era to current AI policy advocacy

Core Message: Power and Policy Shaping​

Key Quote: "It's not just about politics. It is about power. And it's about whether we are going to be the ones to wield and hold that power or not."

AI Bias and Algorithmic Harm​

Quote: "AI algorithms are disproportionately harming y'all when you try to go get a job because your name sounds a little different."

  • Detailed how hiring algorithms discriminate based on names
  • Connected to broader patterns of algorithmic bias in healthcare, criminal justice, lending
  • Shared personal experience of medical bias during childbirth

Economic Data and Community Impact​

Major Finding: Austin study showing potential $5.3 billion annual surplus if Black-owned businesses achieved equity:

  • Currently only 2% of businesses with employees are Black-owned
  • Black population represents 9% of Austin metro
  • Systemic barriers prevent realization of economic potential

Strategic Framework for Policy Engagement​

Where to Focus Energy​

Quote: "Be present where policy is shaped, not just where it is enforced."

Communication Strategy​

Quote: "Be loud about your vision, not just about your pain."

Data-Driven Advocacy​

  • Using quantitative analysis to demonstrate systemic inequities
  • Advocacy analytics as "vehicle for change in our community"
  • Working with Austin AI Alliance to shape responsible AI development

Nick Hawkins' Community Organizing Philosophy​

Bridge-Building Mission​

Quote: "There is a sentiment that is constantly growing that the learned scholars of the black community oftentimes get their education, get their skills, and don't come back and contribute in a meaningful way."

40 Acres Organization with Russell Ballard​

  • Monthly book club studying "The Miseducation of the Negro" by Carter G. Woodson
  • Focus on connecting educated Black professionals with community needs
  • Long-term commitment: "the next 15 years to help build the Urban League of Texas"

Financial Services as Community Impact Tool​

Quote: "I used to have to throw every black founder sim in the trash. And only look at, you know, healthcare tech and legal tech. And, you know, it was unfortunate. And I really didn't want it to take me to the front of a race. I wanted to find a way to build a new system."

  • Transitioned from traditional private equity to impact-focused financial advisory
  • Focus on clients seeking "direct community impact" not just returns
  • Understanding that professional success must serve broader community goals

Political Organizing Concerns​

Asked Mayor Adler: "How could grassroots movements like ours build capacity to fight back against the growing influence of money in politics?"

  • Referenced 89th Texas legislative session where "will of the people was clearly not listened to"
  • Concerned about outside donors like Pennsylvania charter school advocate
  • Planning to run for office in near future

Gary Sheng's Strategic Engagement​

Network Building and Learning​

  • Attended with Russ Ballard to understand organizing strategies
  • Exchanged contacts with multiple participants
  • Showed particular interest in intersection of technology and social impact

Key Questions and Interests​

Asked Mayor Adler: "Do you think this is the best sort of group for this kind of stuff?" - regarding organizing and coalition building

Connection Points Identified​

  • AI ethics expertise through Meme Styles
  • Financial services impact through Nick Hawkins
  • Political organizing strategy through Mayor Adler
  • Community organizing through Nick's partnership with Russ Ballard

Russ Ballard's Role and Connections​

Partnership with Nick Hawkins​

  • Co-founder of 40 Acres organization
  • Monthly book club collaboration
  • Shared commitment to bridging educated professionals with community needs

Connection to Gary's Network​

  • Brought Gary to learn about organizing strategies
  • Facilitating introductions and relationship building
  • Understanding of both Austin and DFW networks

Strategic Insights and Cross-Cutting Themes​

Integration of Professional Success and Community Impact​

All speakers emphasized using professional platforms for community benefit:

  • Adler: Law career to political leadership
  • Meme: Tech expertise to AI ethics advocacy
  • Nick: Financial services to impact investing
  • Gary: Technology/business to community organizing

Data-Driven Advocacy as Emerging Model​

Meme's Approach: Using quantitative analysis to demonstrate inequities and drive policy change

  • $5.3 billion Austin economic equity study
  • AI bias documentation and prevention
  • Healthcare disparity research and advocacy

Political Strategy Evolution​

Mayor Adler's Key Insight: Moving from identity-based to class-based equity approaches while maintaining focus on those most harmed by current systems

Long-term Organizing vs. Event-Based Activism​

Consistent Theme: All speakers emphasized sustained engagement over episodic demonstrations:

  • Building networks before needing them
  • Creating ongoing pressure beyond single events
  • Developing institutional power rather than just protest power

Follow-Up Actions and Potential Collaborations​

Immediate Opportunities​

  1. Gary-Meme Connection: AI ethics and responsible technology development
  2. Gary-Nick Partnership: Impact investing and community-focused financial services
  3. Russ-Nick Collaboration: Expanding 40 Acres model beyond DFW
  4. Austin Political Network: Access through Mayor Adler's Urban League board position

Strategic Initiatives Discussed​

  1. Political Candidacies: Nick planning to run for office with potential strategic support
  2. AI Ethics Work: Austin AI Alliance collaboration opportunities
  3. Impact Investing: Community-focused financial services development
  4. Organizing Infrastructure: Building sustained political engagement capacity

Austin as Organizing Hub​

Historical Significance​

  • Victory Grill as historical organizing venue
  • Connection to civil rights movement and "chitlin circuit"
  • Current role as Austin AI Alliance center
  • Urban League as institutional organizing base

Contemporary Power Dynamics​

  • Understanding of local political landscape through Adler's experience
  • Tech industry presence creating AI ethics opportunities
  • Diverse organizing community with professional and activist wings

Key Takeaways for Gary's Strategic Network​

New Relationship Categories​

  1. Policy Expertise: Meme's data-driven advocacy model
  2. Political Strategy: Adler's institutional political knowledge
  3. Community Finance: Nick's impact investing approach
  4. Organizing Infrastructure: Urban League professional network

Models for Scaling Impact​

  • Combining professional expertise with community organizing
  • Using data and technology for policy advocacy
  • Building sustained political power through campaign involvement
  • Creating economic equity through business and investment strategy

This event represents Gary's continued strategy of learning from established organizing communities while building relationships that can support his technology and community impact work.