Managing Austin’s Success and GenATX

What would it take for Austin to become the best city in America for kids? That question is driving Generation ATX, an initiative launched by Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and the City of Austin in 2025. The goal is simple but ambitious: unite the community around improving outcomesfor more than 176,000 students across Central Texas.

In this episode of the Changing Austin podcast, powered by Amplify Credit Union, Chief Experience Officer Stacy Armijo sits down with Mayor Watson to explore the vision behind Generation ATX and what it will take to make Austin the best place to grow up. Drawing on his first term as mayor beginning in 1997 and his return to office, Watson reflects on how Austin’s biggest challenges are tied to its rapid growth and success.

The conversation focuses on how the city can address affordability, opportunity and access for families, while ensuring that Austin’s future works for the next generation. Mayor Watson outlines how his second term is focused on turning that vision into measurable impact for kids, families, and the broader community.