Between 2019 and 2024, Austin’s youth population dropped by over 17,000 children or 9.3%, according to research published by Generation ATX. The decline raises an important question about the city’s future: What will it take to make Austin a place where families want to stay and children can thrive?
“If we want Austin to continue being a great city, we have to pay attention to what it’s like to grow up here today,” Fran Baylor, Generation ATX’s new executive director, told the Chronicle.
Generation ATX, or GenATX, is an initiative launched by Mayor Kirk Watson last fall, with the goal of “making Austin the best place in America to be a kid.” Now that the program has hired its first executive director, it’s entering a new phase focused on turning research and community assessments into coordinated action.
GenATX’s mission centers on three pillars: keeping Austin’s youth healthy, safe, and happy. The initiative aims to connect organizations already supporting children and families, identify gaps in resources, and establish shared goals to measure progress.
“We’re not trying to duplicate the work of any organization,” Baylor said. “We’re trying to connect the work in our community, identify gaps, and think through community solutions that help make Austin the best place to be a kid.”
During its first phase, GenATX conducted research to better understand the challenges facing Austin’s children. That work helped establish five priority areas: investing in early childhood; ensuring every child has healthcare, food, and shelter; strengthening youth mental health services; enhancing recreational and social connections; and improving the public education system. Each of these five goals are supported by working groups that bring together community organizations and local leaders.
The organizations spearheading these five objectives include the United Way for Greater Austin, the Austin Healthcare Council, the Central Texas Food Bank, the Austin Child Guidance Center, Integral Care, the Andy Roddick Foundation, the YMCA of Austin, the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Breakthrough Central Texas.
The next step is turning those priorities into a strategic plan. Baylor said GenATX is working with these local organizations and CivicSol, an Austin-based consulting firm, to identify opportunities for coordinated action and develop ways to track progress.
As for Baylor’s role, her responsibilities include engaging community partners and funders, coordinating efforts among the working groups, and helping translate research into practical strategies.
“I wouldn’t describe my focus as changing the direction of GenATX,” Baylor said. “It’s actually helping move us into phase two and carry the vision forward.”
Baylor brings about 15 years of experience in family economic security, affordable housing, childcare, and workforce development. She also works at Asset Funders Network, where she helps coordinate philanthropic investments supporting the Affordable Childcare Now! coalition.
Now that GenATX has completed its initial research phase and begun bringing community partners together, its next challenge will be demonstrating how that collaboration can lead to measurable improvements for Austin’s children and families.
“We want Austin to be a place where families want to live,” Baylor said, “where children have opportunities to grow and thrive, and where young people can imagine building their futures.”
This article appears in October 16 • 2026.