Our Mission

GAVA organizes and mobilizes community power to reduce barriers to health while increasing institutional capacity to respond to the people most impacted by historic inequities.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which ZIP codes no longer serve as predictors of health outcomes, and in which all Austinites in the Eastern Crescent - regardless of race, income, ethnicity, primary language, or immigration status - have access to nutritious food, active living, and neighborhood stability.

Core Values

These core values are the bedrock of our organization and provide the foundation for communities that are strong, stable, and healthy. Without them, our work to fulfill our mission and vision would not be possible.

Self-Determination 

We believe in the right to self-determination. The priorities we champion are always informed by the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of those living in the neighborhoods we serve. 

Leadership Development 

We believe that leadership is discovered and nurtured. We create spaces in which community members and institutional leaders can develop a more sophisticated analysis of the issues that impact them, as well as the network to take public action toward solutions they envision. 

Coalition Building 

We believe that relationships are the key to accomplishing our mission and vision. By forging relationships, we are building power - the power of sustainability, perseverance, and shared interests - that will endure. 

Equitable Access

Simply put, we believe that equitable access to healthy living, economic opportunities, and neighborhood stability are the inalienable rights of all community members, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, primary language, or immigration status. We also believe it is crucial to learn from a people’s history to understand why access has become so inequitable. 

Transformation 

We believe that driving systemic transformation - in our government, business, and community organizations - that addresses the factors contributing to historic health disparities will, in turn, transform the lives of the people in the communities we serve.