Spring is in the Air!
Hello, Friends,
As most of you know, we Texans have come out of a harrowing week, courtesy of all-powerful Mother Nature. Our team had its share of pain, yet also jumped in to help neighbors, friends and family however possible via rides, deliveries, volunteer time and donations.
Below are a few organizations that stepped up in Austin to help our neighbors in need. Click through to learn more about what they do and how you can lend a hand today or tomorrow.
In the spirit of sunnier days, read on for good news from clients and organizations we love along with our new social media series dedicated to the very important topic of media literacy. Working with media almost daily, it’s a practice we in PR may take for granted. Yet after a year like 2020, known not only for a deadly pandemic, but for another harmful, fast-spreading malady called disinformation, it’s vital for media consumers young and old to sharpen their media literacy I.Q.
Here’s to brighter days ahead!
– Lisa & the Breakaway team
Building Stronger Communities in Central Texas
Client News of Note
Big World, Small Girl Enjoys Valentine’s Day in Georgetown
Caitlin, the blogger behind Big World Small Girl, spent a romantic Valentine’s Day weekend in Georgetown just before the infamous winter storm hit Texas. She and her boyfriend stayed at the Sheraton in Georgetown, which meant she could bring her two dogs along for the trip. As a craft beer connoisseur, Caitlin made sure to visit the Barking Armadillo Brewery. Other food/drink stops included Lamppost Coffee and Barrels and Amps Gastropub.
Enjoy a visit of your own to the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas and tell them that Breakaway PR sent you!
The Museum of the Pacific War Gains National Recognition as a Smithsonian Affiliate
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW) is proud to announce its new status as a Smithsonian Affiliate! The museum will join more than 200 Smithsonian Affiliates in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Panama. The program facilitates a partnership between affiliate museums and the Smithsonian to increase discovery and inspire lifelong learning within communities. Less than one percent of museums in the United States have this distinction, so hat’s off to this gem of a museum in the heart of the Texas Hill Country in Fredericksburg.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and recommends advance ticketing via the website to adhere to Covid-19 spacing guidelines. There’s much to see and do, so give yourself a few hours. And, if you need more time (as many do), tickets are good for two days.
Become a Trail Angel with Explore Austin
Quality time in nature provides a proven benefit to our mental and physical health. Unfortunately, plenty of urban families do not have easy access to the great outdoors. From the big cities of Chicago and New York City to Austin and Memphis, there is a shortfall of communal green space.
For nearly 15 years, Explore Austin has been helping Austin’s urban youth connect with outdoor adventure via a long-term mentorship program that empowers students to reach their full potential. Explorers (students) grades six through 12 team up with mentors to dive into an exciting array of outdoor activities and expeditions that not only create memories of a lifetime, but build perseverance and confidence.
Join the adventure, literally on the trail or off. There are many ways to get involved from mentorship to in-kind donations and financial support. Becoming a Trail Angel helps provide monthly gifts that enables Explorers and volunteer Mentors to continue the adventure.
Media Literacy Matters
As PR practitioners, we ensure that truth and transparency are part of all client communications, both external and internal. When we guide clients on media messaging, media targets and the evaluation of media results, media literacy is embedded in the strategy.
False and misleading information about the pandemic and presidential election spread quickly in 2020 on all platforms from the web to podcasts, TV news and newspapers. Beefing up your media literacy is more than just checking sources; it involves understanding how messages are constructed and for what purposes.
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) created a list of five core concepts of media literacy, which we’re sharing on #MediaLiteracyMonday through March on Instagram and Facebook. We look forward to providing additional, well-vetted resources and guides on this important topic. It’s an information battlefield out there, so let’s stay informed and well equipped to avoid the landmines.
Upcoming Events
Amplify Austin returns March 4th and 5th, produced by the great team at ‘I Live Here I Give Here.’ This two-day giving marathon invites all Central Texans to give to a wide range of organizations that help our community stay healthy on every level. From We Are Blood to The Trail Foundation, it’s easy to find a cause you’re passionate about and pay it forward.
Seltzerland, a celebration of the growing array of fizzy, boozy drinks, debuts in Austin Saturday, March 13 at Onion Creek Golf Club. This outdoor event allows you and your crew to move along the golf course and try a new hard seltzer at every hole! Join our friends at Blue Norther Hard Seltzer for a day of fun, food, music, and of course, plenty of hard seltzer.
Purchase tickets for Seltzerland here!
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