giving back

Learn more about Goodwill’s unique mentoring programs in honor of NationalMentoring Month

Chances are, you’ve been to one of Goodwill’s many Austin outposts; from gently worn vintage treasures to eclectic art, there’s always something to find in their massive retail spaces. But did you know that Goodwill does much more than collect donations? The non-profit also hosts three unique mentoring programs — and there’s no better time to get involved than this month, officially recognized as National Mentoring Month.

Goodwill Industries of Central Texas runs three programs in the Austin area:

Foundations: The Foundations Mentoring Program (FMP) serves kids ages 12-17. Volunteers are given the opportunity to connect with and empower kids, serving as a role model and, through activities and personal guidance, helping to develop academic, professional and social skills.

Financial mentoring: Goodwill offers a range of job search support programs, with components that cover pre- and post-employment skills as well as money management.

Goodwill Peer Support: “Goodwill Peer Support aids parents transitioning from jail back to the community,” explains Jana Sturdivant, mentor coordinator. “In 2007, there were 809,000 parents in prison, an increase of 79% from 1991, and Travis County was home to 5,820 of those that same year. Our program envisions a community that supports all individuals transitioning from incarceration to society, providing new chances for employment and financial stability which strengthens families and reduces crime.”

Interested in getting involved? On January 21, visit the Goodwill Community Center to learn more about the non-profit’s mentoring programs and ways you can contribute to their success.

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Goodwill’s volunteer recruitment event takes place on Saturday, January 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Goodwill Community Center (1015 Norwood Park).

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Self-driving Roller Coaster

More self-driving cars expected to roll out in Austin for 2025

Photo courtesy of Waymo via KVUE

Various brands offering self-driving cars are on-and-off in Austin.

Expect to see more self-driving rideshare vehicles, also known as robotaxis, on Austin roads next year.

Robotaxi company Waymo, which you may have already seen on Austin's roads, is partnering with Uber. At some point next year, customers will be able to use the Uber app to call a self-driving ride.

Austin-based company Avride is in the testing phase and plans to roll out its robotaxis next year.

Currently, Volkswagen ADMT and Amazon's Zoox are in the testing phase in Austin, while Hyundai's Motional is in the mapping phase.

Last year, robotaxi company Cruise paused operations in Austin after the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the company's permits to operate driverless vehicles in the state. And last week, General Motors said it would no longer fund the company because of the time and resources needed.

This way of getting around has come with its safety concerns and issues. The city is tracking those concerns. According to the Transportation Department, the problems span from blocking the roads and parking in front of people's homes for weeks with lights beaming through their windows, to actual wrecks.

Since July 2023, robotaxis have been involved in 75 incidents. Only 21 of those incidents happened in 2024. It's important to note that Cruise has not been operating in Austin this year.

Since July 2023, driverless rideshare vehicles have been involved in 22 near collisions, eight collisions and seven instances where driverless taxis ignored directions from the Austin Police Department (APD).

According to the data, at least four of those Austin police incidents happened in recent months. The issues varied from driving through police checkpoints, to malfunctioning and getting stuck at an APD road closure near pedestrians, causing safety concerns.

A Waymo spokesperson said their vehicles have gesture recognition capabilities, which they've been training APD officers on using.

As the report shows, sometimes it does not work and Waymo said it is working to improve that. The spokesperson said that as of just last week, Waymo's First Responder Program has been independently verified by TÜV SÜD, making Waymo the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to receive third-party validation for our emergency response protocols. They also said the data to date indicates the Waymo Driver is already reducing traffic injuries and fatalities in the places where the company currently operates.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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