AUSTIN, Texas – June 2, 2023 – ULI Austin, an education, research and resource organization focused on shaping the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide, today announced that Ashton Cumberbatch, President and Co-Founder of Equidad ATX and Special Counsel at McGinnis Lochridge, LLP, has been named the recipient of its prestigious annual Vision Award.

The ULI Austin Vision Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in his or her lifetime within the Austin region. Winners are selected annually by the ULI Austin Governance Committee and represent a diverse range of sectors, including real estate, finance, public service, not-for-profit and education. Previous recipients of the award include Phyllis Snodgrass of Austin Habitat for Humanity (2022); Walter Moreau of Foundation Communities (2021); Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette of Huston-Tillotson University (2019); Gary Farmer of Heritage Title (2018); Kirk Watson, former Texas Senator and current Austin Mayor (2017); Alan Graham of Mobile Loaves & Fishes (2016); and Tom Stacy of CapRidge Partners (2015).

“I am beyond excited to hear that Ashton is being recognized for his generous contributions to our community,” said Jess Rollason, Development Associate, Suburban Rental for Brookfield Properties. “Ashton is an inspiring mentor, dear friend, and tenacious leader who serves with his whole heart. He looks for the best in people, elevating the mindsets of those who work with him. He holds courageous conversations with grace and compassion. I am so grateful for the immense privilege of working alongside Ashton to create a more equitable and inclusive Austin.”

Cumberbatch has played an active role in the betterment of Central Texas throughout his entire career, including his work at Equidad ATX, the City of Austin, Ascension Health and numerous non-profit organizations throughout the region.

At Equidad ATX, Cumberbatch leads the organization’s mission to achieve holistic, equitable, and transformative neighborhood revitalization and the disruption of systemic poverty in Austin’s Eastern Crescent through the use of world-class education – cradle to career, mixed-income housing and community health and wellness. In addition to equity, Equidad also values placed-based planning, strengths-based focus, cultural competency and preservation, and listening to, learning from and co-creating with neighborhood residents.

Cumberbatch was a partner at McGinnis Lochridge, LLP, before serving the community as Austin Police Monitor. He also held the title of Vice-President of Advocacy and Community Engagement at Ascension Health, where he built strategic partnerships that addressed health and wellness for underserved populations and communities. Cumberbatch acted as a volunteer Policy Advisor for Austin Mayor Steve Adler, and co-led an initiative to spur equitable and holistic development in the Eastern Crescent – Austin’s historically underserved region and was a co-project manager for the Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities. This work led to his role as a co-founder of the Central Texas Collective for Racial Equity.

Other examples of Cumberbatch’s commitment to the well-being of the Central Texas region includes past work as Chair of the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO); Chair of the Board of Directors of the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce; Executive Board of 100 Black Men of Austin; Co-Chair of the AISD Bond Oversight Committee; Board of Directors of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of the Education Committee; an advisory board member of the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce; board and advisory board member of I Live Here, I Give Here; steering committee member of the  Austin/Travis County Sobering Center; a member of the Travis County District Attorney’s Civil Rights Advisory Council; and board member for Transit for Austin.

Currently, Cumberbatch is a member of Austin Area Research Organization (AARO) and a board member of HousingWorks Austin and E3 Alliance (a regional, data-driven education collaborative). He also serves on The University of Texas Dell Medical School’s Admissions Committee. And for the past several years, Cumberbatch has operated as the executive pastor for Agape Christian Ministries.

Cumberbatch’s efforts in serving the greater Austin community have resulted in many honors, including the Austin Bar Association Distinguished Lawyer Award; Austin Black Lawyers Legacy Award; Austin First Tee Judgement Award; Austin NAACP Outstanding Services Award and Life Achievement Award; The University of Texas at Austin Dr. James Hill Leadership Award; E3 Catalyst for Educational Change Award; American Heart Association Power Award; Austin ISD Charles Akins Award; The University of Texas Thurgood Marshall Legal Society’s Distinguished Alumni Award; Interfaith Action of Central Texas Hope Award; City of Austin Distinguished Service Award; and the Austin Metropolitan YMCA Will W. Miller Volunteer Leadership Award.

Ashton has an A.B. in Economics from Brown University and a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law. He and his anointed wife, Jennifer Cumberbatch, MHC, a pastoral counselor, preacher, teacher, playwright, actress, vocalist and baker, have been married for 43 years to date and are blessed with four children: A. Graham, Virginia, Benjamin (deceased) and Elizabeth.

“We are pleased to recognize Ashton as the recipient of the 2023 Vision Award and have had the privilege of witnessing his positive impact firsthand through his work on our Housing Preservation TAP and one of our Gentrification Fishbowls,” said Paulette Gibbins, Executive Director of ULI Austin. “His work towards racial equity and racial reconciliation represents some of his most impactful efforts for the betterment of Austin, and it should be noted that his reach expands beyond the real estate sector. He is also noteworthy for his initiatives in the healthcare sector and in conjunction with religious leaders across Central Texas. His demeanor – always calm and thoughtful – helps bring people in to listen and learn, and that allows us to all move forward together in a positive manner.”

“When I spoke with Ashton shortly after he was informed of his selection as the recipient of the Vision Award, he said he did not feel worthy of the award, including the fact that he was new to the real estate development community,” said Jay Hailey, Co-Founder, Secretary and Director at Equidad ATX. “I explained to him that was exactly the reason he was so enthusiastically selected for the award. For decades, Ashton has worked tirelessly, mostly behind the scenes, to expand the meaning of “community”, so that historically marginalized people can become co-creators of their communities, and to stretch the meaning of development to more than bricks and mortar. I can’t think of a more worthy person to recognize for advancing the ULI mission to “shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact” in Austin’s Eastern Crescent.”

The Vision Award will be presented to Cumberbatch at ULI Austin’s 2023 Impact Awards event, to be held on Tuesday, August 29 at The Topfer at ZACH Theatre. Recipients of other competitive built project and individual award categories will also be recognized. For more information regarding sponsorship, registration and award entry and nomination, visit https://austin.uli.org/events/uli-austin-awards/.

About ULI Austin:

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a member-led organization shaping the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. ULI is a network of people in every profession and sector in real estate development and land use from all over the world and in every career stage. While global in scope, ULI is local in impact through sharing knowledge and making connections. The Austin District Council was founded in 1994 and now includes over 1100 members. Our members are involved in all aspects of the development and city planning process – private, public, and nonprofit. For more information, visit Austin.ULI.org.