around the world

Meet Plan Go hosts nationwide travel seminar, encourages people to stop dreamingand start packing

Got wanderlust? So do a lot of likeminded people around the world who are meeting in 10 cities, including Austin, on October 16 to discuss how to stop dreaming and start traveling with the help of Meet Plan Go (MPG).

MPG is an organization that is "dedicated to helping people fulfill their dreams of really traveling to experience the world, well beyond the two-week vacation."

“Because we live in a society that doesn’t find value in taking time off, we wanted to create a community for people who want to break out of the norm and travel for an extended period of time,” says MPG co-founder Sherry Ott. “This is the only seminar out there designed for people who are looking to do long term independent travel.”

For the October 16 events, MPG has planned inspirational speakers, discussion panels, breakaway sessions, resources and giveaways that will "help people connect and plan their own extended travel or career break."

Travel experts Jefre Outlaw, Tiffany and Billy Toomey, Greg Davis and the founders of JB Journeys will be on hand in Austin to answer questions from budget management to transportation tips.

Taking substantial time off to see the world is certainly a leap of faith, but it's one that might nuture your soul more than any yoga series or weekend getaway ever could.

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The event will take place at Abel’s on the Lake beginning at 6:30 p.m. for mingling, with the program starting at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online.

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GIVING TUESDAY

Austin's Sims Foundation restores some services thanks to local gifts

Sims Foundation Riders Against the Storm

Photo courtesy of Sims Foundation

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It may not be the tidy finale of a Hollywood holiday movie, but the Sims Foundation is rewriting its story. A critical cash infusion from two Austin groups will allow the nonprofit to continue to serve its most vulnerable clients as it grapples with a long-term plan.

On October 22, Board Chair Marissa Rivera announced that Sims would pause services for 90 days to restructure its service model. Although the foundation has traditionally kept operational costs lean, public funding shortages, a changing healthcare landscape, and the lingering aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic left the 30-year-old nonprofit shaky.

"The reality is simple," Rivera wrote in an open letter, "We need more funding to continue to operate at our current service levels, and we need to restructure our service model to ensure that we are maximizing all of the resources and efficiencies that are now available."

Although fundraising remains urgent, new funds from C3 Presents and charitable lifestyle brand Armadillo World Headquarters (AWHQ) will allow SIMS to resume select mental health and addiction recovery services for Austin's musical community.

"Helping SIMS Foundation to continue to be able to serve our community was a no-brainer," said AWHQ spokesperson Nick Shuley via a release. "We deeply value the role SIMS plays in sustaining the health and vibrancy of our city's musicians and artists, and we hope other organizations are inspired to do the same."

Public support will remain a key part of the equation as SIMS navigates the future. The C3 and AWHQ monies helped the nonprofit reach 30 percent of its Restore the Rhythm campaign goals, but support from local individuals and businesses is needed to tighten the gap. Donations can be made online.

The need for care among Austin's musicians, industry pros, and dependents remains sharply felt. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five Americans experiences a mental health condition each year. As Austinites wrestle with a high cost of living, The SIMS Foundations remains committed to removing barriers to wellness.

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