The Moritz Center for Societal Impact

TOMORROW — don’t miss Moritz Concert & Community! 🎶

We’re back Wednesday, April 29, from 4:30–6:30 PM at Hole in the Wall

Ruby Manders Dice+ full band are taking the stage—and Ruby just won Best Bass Player in Austin. ✨This is one you’ll want to see live.

Get there early for 2-step lessons with Allyson from Two Step Lessons during the first 30 minutes! 💃

Free with RSVP: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57uK7vi87ivAwfA

Come out, fill the room, and be part of the fun!

Projects for Societal Impact Webinar 🧡💙

Hear from our 2025 PSI grantees as they share project updates and reflect on the impact of their community-based research. We’re proud to highlight the work of these incredible teams!

✨All are welcome

🗓️Monday, April 27

⏰ 3:30–4:30 PM

Virtual Event—DM us for the link!💻

🌱Join us for The Power of Pause: Building Trust & Resilience Together — an interactive workshop presented by the Mental Health Collab. 🌱

As we wrap up the spring semester, take time to slow down, reconnect, and build stronger relationships through connection, presence, and collective learning.

Facilitated by Mental Health Collab leads Anita Guarjardo, Lauren Gulbas, and Vanessa Klodnick 🧡

Food provided 🍽️

All are welcome ✨

Friday, April 24--12:30–2 PM 🤘

We’re proud to support community-driven research and impact! 💚

The University of Texas at Austin’s Initiative for Law, Societies, and Justice (ILSJ) is offering free research assistance to community organizations and faculty working on projects related to the criminal legal system in Central Texas. Through this initiative, students gain hands-on experience while contributing to meaningful, community-engaged research.

As part of this effort, the Moritz Center is proud to collaborate with ILSJ by supporting two interns at Communities for Recovery, helping advance impactful work that strengthens our Central Texas community. 🌷

It’s a double header! Join us for the last Lunch and Learn of the semester to hear from two engaging speakers:

📚Dr. Fiona Conway, who will discuss her
research on Recovery Support Services and the Substance Use Disorder Care Continuum.

✏️ Dr. Khamron Micheals, presenting “Rethinking Pulmonary Function Testing: Interpretation, Equity, and Clinical Impact.”

Location: WWH 200
Date: April 22nd
Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm

As always, charcuterie will be provided! 🧀

It’s Back! 🎉

The SIC: Social Impact Challenge has returned! This exciting pitch competition, presented by the Moritz Center, invites graduate students to share innovative ideas that use the arts and humanities to improve behavioral health in our communities. It’s your chance to turn a meaningful vision into real-world impact.

🏆 Two winning teams will each receive $5,000 to bring their projects to life.

📅 Mark your calendar: The pitch competition takes place on September 15.

🔗 Learn more and apply here: https://moritzcenter.utexas.edu/programs/social-impact-challenge/

SIC Teams in Action! 🧡

We’re proud to support graduate students Cheng Chow and Hannah Kim as they bring their Social Impact Challenge project to life: “Cultural Healing Through Story, Song, and Symbol: Exploring Arts-Based Pathways to Behavioral Health in Asian and Asian American Communities.”

Working directly with the community, they’ve created focus groups to build interactive, arts-based activities designed to support well-being and connection. They’ll be sharing their final projects at an exhibition with their community partner!

Amazing work, Cheng and Hannah!🎉

Breaking stigma through storytelling 📚

Teaching Story, Stigma, and Mental Health Narratives in Prison—one of our Social Impact Challenge teams—is wrapping up its first semester. Led by Charlotte Perez and Jo Hurt, the project centers on exploring behavioral and mental health themes in literature with currently incarcerated students through a credit-bearing UT course. 🤘

Check out the readings and literature Charlotte and Jo used to shape their course in the comments!

Way to go to this incredible student team—we’re so proud to support such impactful work! 🧡

🎶✨ April 29th – Moritz Concert & Community event is BACK! ✨🎶

We’re so excited to invite you to our 2nd show – April 29th from 4:30–6:30 pm at the iconic HOLE IN THE WALL 🎸

This time, we’re featuring Ruby Manders Dice + full band. The band is amazing and Ruby just took home Best Bass Player in Austin 🏆🙌

To kick things off, join us for 2-step lessons with Allyson from Two Step Lessons during the first 30 minutes!

🎟️ Free with RSVP: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57uK7vi87ivAwfA
— grab your spot, share graphic, bring your friends, and share the love!

Let’s fill the room, build community, and enjoy live music together ❤️!

“Students are the gems… the prize audience for anyone working in academia.”

At the Moritz Center, that belief is playing out in real time. Following the Social Impact Challenge, graduate student teams are turning bold ideas into action: navigating budgets, building partnerships, and creating meaningful change in their communities.

From mental health initiatives to language access and food security, these projects highlight what’s possible when students are given the tools and trust to lead.

In the latest Moritz Center insight “The Gift of Working with Students,” our Project Manager, Sara Vandegrift, takes a closer look at how these students are transforming ideas into impact, and why investing in them matters more than ever.

Read the full Insight here: https://moritzcenter.utexas.edu/the-gift-of-working-with-students/

Great things are happening in the kitchen! 🍓🍳

Team CHEFS from the Food Security Lab —one of our 2025 Social Impact Challenge teams—is already bringing their pitch to life with a cooking class that’s full and thriving.

These classes help students learn to cook affordable, nutritious meals using ingredients from the UT Outpost and local partners. Participants cook together and leave with meal kits to use at home—extending the impact beyond the classroom. 🥕🍅🧅

Yum! 💚