Austin Enlightenment Society Meetup

📍 Location: Capital Factory, Astroboy on Floor 1

📣Visit our new website to learn more about the Austin Enlightenment Society. Find links to follow us on social, subscribe to the newsletter, and find out about upcoming events!

Event Overview
​Most of us start the year with good intentions—but without reflection, direction, and a solid plan, it’s easy to fall back into the same patterns.
​What if you gave yourself the space to pause, process, and design your year with purpose?

​This workshop is your opportunity to reflect on 2025, clarify what truly matters in 2026, and build a personalized vision for your future. Through writing, group dialogue, and partner exercises, you'll gain deeper insight into your life and leave with a clear roadmap to guide your year.

Agenda

• ​🧠 Discussions on the power of reflective thinking in our day-to-day lives
• ​✍️ Reflective thinking activities to gain perspective and clarity about the core takeaways from the past year
• ​🎯 Goal setting and planning exercises to decide and prioritize your focus for the year to come
• ​🗓️ Conversations on building a personal system to help you stay aligned and accountable to your yearly goals
• ​🤝 Moments of authentic connection with like-minded community members

What to Bring?

• A notebook or journal
• A curious mind
• A friend who loves big questions

Who Should Attend?

• Curious minds who enjoy meaningful discussions
• Those interested in personal growth, history, and culture
• Anyone passionate about building a better world and fostering community

Expect a welcoming atmosphere, thought-provoking conversation, and the chance to connect with like-minded people who care about shaping the future.

📍 Location: Capital Factory, Astroboy on Floor 1

📣Visit our new website to learn more about the Austin Enlightenment Society. Find links to follow us on social, subscribe to the newsletter, and find out about upcoming events!

Event Overview
In today’s world, “personal growth” is everywhere—books, podcasts, coaching programs, apps. But how often do we stop to ask: Where did our ideas about transformation come from? What have we forgotten along the way? And what could a more holistic practice of becoming truly look like?

This event is both an inner reflection and a meta-conversation about personal transformation itself. We’ll explore how cultures across history understood personal growth—not just as self-improvement, but as a sacred, communal, and often spiritual process. Then we’ll turn inward to reflect on how we’ve changed in recent years, and how we want to grow in the years ahead.

Agenda

• 🗣 A group conversation to explore how we each currently view personal transformation
• 📖 A short lecture on how transformation has been practiced through ancient spiritual paths, Renaissance humanism, psychology, and modern self-help
• 💭 A guided reflection to evaluate who you were 5 years ago, who you are now, and who you’re becoming
• 🔍 A hands-on activity exploring historical transformation practices—identifying which are still useful today, and which we might benefit from reviving
• 🤝 Deep conversations and new perspectives in community

What to Bring?

• A notebook or journal
• A curious mind
• A friend who loves big questions

Who Should Attend?

• Curious minds who enjoy meaningful discussions
• Those interested in personal growth, history, and culture
• Anyone passionate about building a better world and fostering community

Expect a welcoming atmosphere, thought-provoking conversation, and the chance to connect with like-minded people who care about shaping the future.

📍 Location: Capital Factory, Astroboy on Floor 1

📣Visit our new website to learn more about the Austin Enlightenment Society. Find links to follow us on social, subscribe to the newsletter, and find out about upcoming events!

Event Overview
In today’s world, many feel disillusioned with government. Systems seem broken, reforms slow, and change often feels out of reach. Some turn to outrage. Others tune out. But what if there’s a better way?

At this event, we’ll reflect on the foundational ideas behind governance: why it exists, what gives it legitimacy, and what role citizens play when institutions no longer serve the people.

We’ll start with a quick refresher on social contract theory from Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. Then we’ll dive into the decline of trust in modern institutions, explore what forms of government still retain public faith, and examine why hostile activism has gained traction.

Together, we’ll imagine healthier, more powerful ways for communities to take action and explore real paths for civic engagement right here in Austin.

Agenda

• 📜 A brief refresher on the key ideas of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, focusing on their interpretations of social contract theory
• 📉 A deeper look into the long-term decline of trust in government and a more nuanced analysis of lack of trust in different areas of government
• 📊 A discussion guided by research on the rise of hostile activism and why more people are turning toward aggressive methods of change
• 🛠️ A collaborative exploration of how to build stronger, healthier forms of civic involvement that allow real change without sacrificing social stability
• 🌱 A closing group brainstorm on local pathways for civic engagement in Austin and which opportunities could make the biggest difference

What to Bring?

• A notebook or journal
• A curious mind
• A friend who loves big questions

Who Should Attend?

• Curious minds who enjoy meaningful discussions
• Those interested in personal growth, history, and culture
• Anyone passionate about building a better world and fostering community

Expect a welcoming atmosphere, thought-provoking conversation, and the chance to connect with like-minded people who care about shaping the future.

📍 Location: Capital Factory, Astroboy on Floor 1

📣Visit our new website to learn more about the Austin Enlightenment Society. Find links to follow us on social, subscribe to the newsletter, and find out about upcoming events!

Event Overview
What if you knew exactly how to make a real difference in Austin?

So many people want to help shape their city, but don’t know where to begin. This event is your gateway into civic involvement in Austin: how it works, why it matters, and where your voice fits in.

We’ll explore how local governance is structured, how decisions are made, what the city’s priorities are for the future, and how you can directly impact them. Whether you're new to civic life or looking to deepen your engagement, this night will help you step into your power as a community member.

Agenda

• 🏛️ A breakdown of how government is structured: federally, statewide in Texas, and here in Austin
• 🧭 A guided overview of how decisions are made locally and how open and inclusive Austin's governance model really is
• 📣 A walk-through of all the ways you can get involved: boards, commissions, City Council meetings, SpeakUp Austin, and more
• 📜 A review of Imagine Austin (our city’s 30-year vision) and the Strategic Direction plan (our short-term goals)
• 🤝 A group discussion and workshop to assess whether these city goals reflect our community’s hopes and what we’d like to see prioritized more

What to Bring?

• A notebook or journal
• A curious mind
• A friend who loves big questions

Who Should Attend?

• Curious minds who enjoy meaningful discussions
• Those interested in personal growth, history, and culture
• Anyone passionate about building a better world and fostering community

Expect a welcoming atmosphere, thought-provoking conversation, and the chance to connect with like-minded people who care about shaping the future.