Be The People Fest — Austin, TX
Music Brought Austin Together. Community Turned Inspiration Into Action.
On Sunday, July 19, Be The People Fest transformed Emo's on East Riverside into a free, all-ages celebration where music and community came together with one shared purpose: connecting people with organizations making a difference in their communities.
Hosted by former NFL player and entrepreneur Dhani Jones, the festival featured performances from, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Devon Gilfillian, Trevor Jackson, Luke Borchelt, Sadie Rose Van, DJ Christy Ray, and a special performance from students of the Los Angeles Academy for Artists & Music Production (LAAMP). The afternoon culminated with a powerful closing set from ACM Group of the Year nominee and Texas favorites, Flatland Cavalry. But while the music brought people together, it was what happened between the sets that made Be The People Fest particularly unique. Throughout the day, attendees explored the Join Fair, where Be The People's local impact partners introduced them to the work they're doing across Austin—and how attendees can play a role.
One of the day's defining moments came when representatives from each impact partner took the stage to share their missions with the crowd. In just a few minutes, attendees heard from organizations supporting youth, mentoring future leaders, helping young people experiencing homelessness, and strengthening neighborhoods across the city. It was a reminder that behind every cause are people working every day to make Austin stronger—and that getting involved often starts with simply knowing where to begin. Those introductions quickly turned into conversations. Some attendees stopped at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, where 170 notes of encouragement were written, many paired with Polaroid photos, for students preparing to head back to school. Nearby, 211 people signed up to volunteer with Global Impact Initiative, supporting refugee and immigrant communities throughout Central Texas. As its founder Anjum Malik shared with the crowd:
"Refugees are not looking for a handout. They are looking for a chance. Given one, they become entrepreneurs, taxpayers, and neighbors."
— Anjum Malik, Founder, Global Impact Initiative
And the impact continued throughout the day:
- At LifeWorks Austin, festivalgoers answered a simple but meaningful question: What does home mean to you? By the end of the day, 129 reflections had been collected to share with the young people experiencing homelessness that the organization serves.
- 185 people took part in the Travis Manion Foundation’s Character Does Matter activity, trading thoughts on leadership and service.
- The Brickyard invited guests to reflect on values like compassion, courage, humility, and hope, leading to 179 new Austin chapter sign-ups.
- Goodwill Central Texas introduced more than 80 attendees to its free Google AI training program, often hearing the same surprised response: "I didn't know Goodwill did that."
- Austin Habitat for Humanity recorded 87 QR code scans.
- Safe Families Austin distributed nearly 200 information cards and connected with families interested in learning more about their work.
The conversations didn't stop when the music did. Several organizations shared how Be The People Fest introduced them to those who may never have crossed paths with their work. LifeWorks Austin reflected on the experience by saying:
"It was truly an amazing experience to see everyone come together for the music and community. We are truly grateful for this connection."
— LifeWorks Austin, on-site partner team
By the end of the night, attendees left with new connections, a new perspective, and tangible ways to get involved in the organizations already making an impact across Austin.
