SIMS Press

In our first newsletter of 2020, we talk about our 25th Anniversary, introduce our new Executive Director, Patsy Dolan Bouressa, and preview upcoming events including Amplify Austin Day.

City of Austin police officials and council members are taking steps to improve public safety in the downtown entertainment district near Red River Street, but business leaders in the area are not just sitting around waiting to see changes. District leaders have been partnering with groups like the nonprofit SIMS Foundation to provide free training to staff about mental illness, substance use disorders, and sexual harassment.

SIMS Executive Director Patsy Dolan Bouressa, Adrienne Lake at Heard Presents, and Cody Cowan of Red River Cultural District spoke with Culture Map Austin about Safer Venues Fest, happening Saturday, September 7 2019.

On Sept. 7, six venues in the Red River Cultural District will band together to present the inaugural Safer Venues Festival. The single-day minifestival is dedicated to raising awareness around safety issues — such as sexual misconduct and harassment — that artists, venue employees and music fans experience at or on the way to shows in the district. The fest will also aim to forge connections among people looking to combat those issues.

The Austin City Council approved a plan to speed up some improvements for the Red River Cultural District at its meeting on Aug. 8.

Queer nightlife gets a new clubhouse, SIMS Foundation faces spiked membership, Spoon’s greatest hits, and more

This week on the Sun Radio Regional Report, Kevin Connor talks with SIMS Interim Executive Director, Patsy Bouressa, about the work SIMS does and the support that is needed.

Local music nonprofit the SIMS Foundation, which provides mental health and substance abuse recovery services to musicians and music industry professionals in the Austin area, is experiencing financial difficulties caused by an influx of new clients.