Here are the organizations I’ve helped build. Most were labors of love. But I learned the hard way that love isn’t always enough for an organization to thrive.

American Red Cross of Central Texas Youth Council

The informal Youth Council serves as the backbone for all Red Cross youth activities in Central Texas. Youth Council coordinates and mentors the high school and college clubs, plans and executes the Annual Leadership Development Retreat, and manages all other youth-related initiatives.

Built up over 6 years. Now integrated with the American Red Cross of Central Texas.

Austin Personal Development

An organization which served as a consistent and focused forum for explicitly working on all areas of personal development (e.g., health, productivity, happiness, fulfillment, creativity).

Ran for 4 years. Now Integrated into Self Spark.

Alternative Spring Break (at The University of Texas at Austin)

A college club and small social enterprise (formerly connected to Break Away) that annually sends groups of students to unique locations around the United States and world to immerse in purposeful week-long service experiences.

Active on and off for the last 7 years. Seeking new leadership.

University of Texas at Austin Community Emergency Response Team

A small team of university students that were trained by CERT in basic disaster response skills (fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations) to provide as-needed services to the community.

Integrated into American Red Cross Club at The University of Texas at Austin.

Singapore Futurists

An organization in Singapore dedicated to connecting futurists together and engaging in the hot topics: futurism, foresight, humanity+ (H+), transhumanism, longevity/life extension, lifehacking, self-modification, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, the Technological Singularity, and many others.

Currently active and growing.

Austin Adventuring Group

An informal group of friends that had interesting outdoor and city-based adventures roughly once a month. Hit list to date: cliff jumping, camping, backpacking, hiking, caving, paintball, swimming, tubing, meteor hunting, ice cream bonanzas, amusement parks, festivals (including “TEDfests”), and a few unique Austin sites.

Active for 1 year, but became inactive when I moved. Will reactive if I move back.

University of Texas at Austin Community Emergency Response Coalition

A coalition that facilitated communication between student-led emergency response services at the University of Texas at Austin to support their efforts of providing a rapid, organized, and effective response.

Inactive when I graduated. Became obsolete with launch of Campus Safety & Security Office.

Juntos (Mastermind Groups)

Small groups of people that chose to consciously grow together. I set up one in Austin, one in Houston, and one in Singapore (which currently serves as my Personal Advisory Board). Each was intended to evolve into deep institutions, as Benjamin Franklin’s Junto did (it lasted ~40 years). I’m also establishing a global group for polymaths, called Polymath Junto.

Houston and Austin became inactive after I moved. Singapore group is active. Polymath Junto is slowly building up members.