CEO Reflections on a Year of Transition

Looking back on 2025, it’s clear this was a year unlike any we’ve faced before. We began the year building on the momentum of a strong 2024 as After-School Opportunity Lab (A-SOL), and we ended it as By The Hand Club For Kids Dallas, the first national affiliate of By The Hand USA, a proven organization based in Chicago, IL. Through this partnership, we changed our name, tripled our operating budget, and quadrupled the number of students we serve.

The transition stretched our team more than any season before, but it also shaped how we will care for children in the years ahead. It was both the hardest and most fruitful year in our organization’s history, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to reflect on it with you.

Why This Letter

Like last year, I felt compelled to write a more personal reflection on the year. What follows is my own perspective as CEO, founder, husband, and follower of Christ. It’s not meant to speak for the organization as a whole, but to share honestly what this season has looked like from where I stand.

In 2021, inspired by Seth Godin, I began a daily practice of writing for five to ten minutes each morning. It’s a discipline that helps me reflect on decisions, process pressure in real time, and stay grounded in my faith. Over time (and 1,500+ entries), a few people encouraged me to share more of that internal journey, and this is a way for me to do that.

This letter is not a replacement for our organizational year in review. If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to do so. This reflection is simply a glimpse into how I’m learning, growing, and being shaped as I steward this calling.

Why This Partnership

As shared in our year-in-review, A-SOL is now By The Hand Dallas. This partnership has been one of the most exciting journeys of my life, but it has not been easy. When conversations with By The Hand began to get serious in mid-2024, there was a lot to wrestle with. A-SOL was finally building meaningful momentum. We had two full-time staff members, an improving program, engaged volunteers, and a growing local brand.

The opportunity in front of us was compelling, but it came with real costs. It meant laying down a name we had worked hard to build, learning new ways of operating, and investing significant time and energy into changing our organizational structure. It required trust, humility, and a willingness to submit our vision to something larger.

Looking back now, I can say with confidence that it was worth the cost. God’s hand was evident throughout the process. Our season as A-SOL was not wasted; it built the foundation that made this partnership possible. I’m deeply grateful for what came before and excited to continue building on that foundation as we pursue the vision ahead.

The Cost, Opportunity, and Prerequisites of Growth

This year’s growth came at a real cost. In a short period of time, we tripled our staff and annual budget, enrolled more than 60 new students, launched employee benefits, onboarded to a business operating system (EOS), built new partnerships, and navigated obstacles we had never faced before. The pace was intense, and at times the sheer volume of responsibility could feel overwhelming. I intentionally pulled back from some areas to be more present with our team as we worked to stabilize after the transition.

Growth also brought complexity. We learned what it takes to operate bus routes, open new classroom space, navigate HR challenges, and lead through spiritual and emotional pressure. As organizations grow, the natural pull is toward increased complexity, and we felt that weight firsthand. I’m proud of how our team stepped into those challenges with resilience, humility, and a willingness to learn.

At the same time, this season brought tremendous opportunity. Being stretched beyond our capacity forced us to grow personally and professionally. While that pace wasn't sustainable in the long term, it produced meaningful fruit. For the first time, I was able to truly delegate and invest in a growing team rather than wearing way too many hats. The growth also created exciting momentum that we’re carrying forward into 2026.

As I look ahead, I spend a lot of time thinking about growth and scale. My personality is naturally ambitious, and the need for our work has never been greater. Yet I’ve learned that sustainable growth has prerequisites. The need for our mission will always exceed our capacity, so we must be intentional about when and how we grow. For us, organizational health and excellence must come first. We will never perfect either, but by measuring and prioritizing them, we can discern when growth is faithful or when patience is wiser.

What I Learned

One of the great privileges of my role is the opportunity to learn. I’m naturally curious and deeply committed to growth. This year sharpened a few lessons in particular that I'd love to share.

1. Building culture is easy. Building the right culture is hard.

When we relaunched as By The Hand Dallas and grew our staff, we hired people aligned with our values and talked often about culture. Over time, without realizing it, we grew comfortable, and our culture drifted. By the end of the semester, it was clear we weren’t showing up the way we intended. Our leadership team paused, listened, and took responsibility. We studied organizations with strong cultures, including Watermark Community Church and Netflix (not trying to copy their cultures, but learning from their approach to culture building). We then built a clear, shared framework for how we want our team to show up. We are still early in that process, but the fruit has already been encouraging.

2. Learning can become a comfortable distraction.

Learning has served me well, but I’ve also seen how it can delay action. There’s a temptation to "stay in the huddle,” reading and preparing, rather than stepping out in faith. Some of my most important growth has come not from another book or podcast, but from trying, reflecting, adjusting, and trying again. That process requires courage, but it’s where real growth happens.

3. Sabbath is non-negotiable.

The work we do is meaningful, but it’s also heavy. There will always be more to do, more needs to meet, and more opportunities to chase. Early in our marriage, my wife Alyssa and I committed to practicing Sabbath together, and it has become one of our most life-giving disciplines. From Saturday evening to Sunday evening, we stop. We rest, unplug, enjoy community, and remember that this work ultimately belongs to God. It’s a weekly reminder that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

A Verse That’s Been on My Heart

“Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.”

— Hebrews 12:1b–2a (NLT)

God has clearly called me to this mission. At the same time, I’m learning how much pacing matters. If I push too hard or lead from the wrong place, I risk burnout or neglecting my own soul. If I pull back too much, I risk missing opportunities God has placed before me. I don’t always navigate that tension well, but as I keep my eyes on Jesus, I trust He will guide my steps, give me wisdom, and provide rest along the way.

Closing

I hope these reflections offer a clearer picture of what this past year has been like and encourage you in some small way. I’m deeply grateful for the people who have walked alongside us through this season, for your prayers, generosity, encouragement, and trust.

I plan to continue sharing periodic reflections through a monthly personal update, including what I’m learning and specific prayer requests. If you want to receive those updates, I'd be honored if you sign up here. While these notes are personal, my commitment remains the same: this work is not about me. God deserves the glory, and my role is simply to steward what He has entrusted to us.

Prayer Requests

• Thank God for His provision this year and for the people He has used to make this work possible.

• Pray for our frontline staff, who faithfully walk with students through trauma, poverty, and complex challenges.

• Pray for continued faithful support, that God would raise up donors and partners who feel called to support this work and help bring abundant life to children in South Dallas.

• Pray for high-capacity volunteers to support strategic needs in IT, marketing, and administration.

Sincerely,

Austin Bowyer

By The Hand Dallas

Co-Founder & CEO