At the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), Austin Hicks’ role is to identify and build strategic partnerships with traditional food actors and nontraditional partners including corporations, investors, community-based organizations focused on financial literacy, skill-building, health, & housing, coalitions, and governmental agencies to further CAFB’s impact; Engage Ward leaders, agency heads, food county members and educate the community on hunger issues; Austin manages the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and oversees a team that manages relationships with over 143 DC non-profit organizations and distributes over 9 million meals annually.
Originally from Memphis, TN, Austin has resided and worked in the District of Columbia for over 11 years. She has an undergraduate degree from The University of Memphis after being displaced in Hurricane Katrina and completed graduate work at Marymount University. Austin’s studies led her down a path of service. Austin has a track record in developing and executing nonprofit programs centered on creating opportunities for communities that may lack access to critical needs such as mental health, education, and food. Austin spent 10 years with a national behavioral health organization where she progressed through the ranks. Her hard work led to her being chosen to lead expansion into a new market. After contributing for several years in the workforce development space with the Department of Human Services, Austin is currently Senior Director at Capital Area Food Bank, our region’s leader in hunger relief efforts. Austin leads the team responsible for the partnership with over 130 non-profit organizations and the food security strategy for all 8 wards of the District.
In 2018, Austin truly began leaning into her passion to help others. Merging her love of fitness and service, Austin earned her AAFA Group Fitness Certification and launched Infit360 (Inclusive Fitness). One of the core principles of Austin’s Infit360 is service. Hicks’s Inclusive Fitness targets, but is not limited to, young mothers, returning citizens, and juveniles in committed or suspended status. In addition to fitness, this network of women cultivated by Hicks conducts quarterly service projects.
In addition to instructing group fitness classes and hosting service projects, Austin is a proud active member of Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, enjoys live music, and trying new plant-based foods. She loves dogs and more recently, cats!
Capital Area Food Bank
