Here’s Our Story
The For the City Network maximizes and catalyzes individual, community, and city restoration efforts. We do this by developing communities and connecting people, churches, and organizations – all for God's glory.
Develop
Every city is made up of many neighborhoods; restored cities, in particular, are made up of healthy neighborhoods. And while every neighborhood has unique character – marked by both assets and needs – some are healthier than others.
We develop neighborhoods and communities because we care about the health of each one.
Connect
A restored city requires a lot of people and organizations active in its restoration. There is already a lot going on, and it can be hard to stay in the loop and know where to start.
We want to work effectively and efficiently together for city-wide restoration, so we connect people, churches, and organizations.
Nonprofit Partnerships
We act as a platform for organizations to share what they’re doing and connect with volunteers and other organizations.
Church Partnerships
We believe churches have a critical role in city restoration, so we help them find the best ways to connect to mission.
Other Cities
We call Austin home, but we want to see other cities restored, too. We have opportunities for those outside of our city to join us and learn how to adapt our principles and practices wherever they call home.
Our Team
Justin Lopez
Executive Director
In 2008, Justin studied mercy and advocacy for communities and visited Memphis to learn of the need and work happening there. The For the City Network was born soon after. With a background in Dell’s Supply Chain, Justin’s values of minimizing (or ideally eliminating) wasted time, money and resources while increasing quality now play out through partnerships and collaborations with nonprofit organizations and individuals. Justin and his wife Sally are both from Austin and graduates of Texas A&M University. They have two daughters, Annabel (Annie) & Lucy.
Staci Bishop
Administrative Assistant
Beginning as a volunteer, Staci soon found herself tending to many emails and phone calls as people wanted to serve the city of Austin. With a heart for volunteers and getting people involved, the former elementary school teacher from West Texas now spends her time making sure people stay connected and Justin stays sane.
Amanda Jackson
Partnership & Marketing Manager
A graduate of The University of Texas and native Austinite, Amanda’s role includes building, managing, and cultivating partnerships with nonprofits in Austin, in addition to marketing and brand development. Prior to her role with FTCN, she ventured to the East Coast where she worked for Major League Baseball and the Boston Red Sox.
Steph Stallo
Community Development Manager
After graduating from The King’s College in New York City, Steph lived in Harlem and worked in education reform. She then roamed the East Coast and Central America doing community-based field research before a cross-country road trip made a stop in Austin. She decided to stay and join the FTCN team where she continues people research, engages grassroot efforts and oversees community development plans.
Bo Schwarz
Development Director
After graduating from Southern Methodist University, Bo stayed in Dallas where he worked with an angel investment group and developed a passion for seeing start-up businesses and social causes receive funding. He then worked for Campus Crusade for Christ doing fund development and college ministry at Louisiana State University before moving to Austin in 2009. With The For the City Network, Bo serves as the Director of Development, overseeing fundraising along with the development and expansion of services. Married to a native Austinite, he and his wife Sally have two daughters, Sadie and Eloise.
Chris Allman
Director, SWITCH and Total City Sports
After graduating from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2001, Chris spent ten years in sports media and golf course management. He then answered God’s call to come to Austin and intern for The Austin Stone. In October 2010, after a year on the Operations team, Chris took over Total City Sports, an organization with the desire to develop Austin’s next generation of leaders through mentoring and high-level athletic training. He loves his wife Kari, Houston sports teams, and the Baylor Bears.
Matt Price
Director, RBI Austin
Matt attended Wheaton College in Illinois, where he played baseball. He moved to Austin in 2007 and soon discovered his passion for reaching underserved youth through sports after serving at camps and as a volunteer baseball coach at nearby Reagan High School. He then helped launch an affordable baseball team for local high school players, which later developed into the first Austin chapter of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program. Launched in January 2011, RBI Austin now serves at-risk youth ages 4–18 through clinics, summer leagues, and year-round mentoring.
Aaron Mullins
Director, Unison Development
After graduating from Purdue University in Indiana, Aaron and his wife Shauna moved to Austin in search of warmer weather. He worked in the commercial construction industry for four years, and his last project with a large commercial contractor was the construction of The For the City Center in St. John. During this time, Aaron saw first-hand the great need for job development and affordable housing in Austin. This led to the launch of Unison Development, which he now directs.
