Why I Give: Celeste Quesada

Celeste Quesada is an event architect, maker of creative magic and real estate agent specializing in unique, historic and affordable homes. Known for creating community by weaving together her 25 years of working within the cultural arts, social impact, home-building worlds, she loves to inspire, educate, and share her expertise with others.

Why is giving back important to you personally?

I came from humble beginnings; I had a teenage mom and we were not middle-class or wealthy by any stretch. But my parents taught me to work hard and to volunteer and help others. Throughout the course of my life there have been a number of people that have held the door open for me to walk through, welcoming me into a better space. For that reason, now more than ever I firmly believe it is our job to hold the door open for others so they can move forward,

Sometimes, being called generous implies that you have money or that you have married into money. But, in reality, it is just a value system that allows you to give back AND is very rewarding. 

What are some of the issues that are important for you?

It is interesting because, to a certain degree, I feel like we have come full circle. We are supposed to evolve, but it doesn’t seem like we are moving forward with real humanity. 

I started Cine Las Americas in my 20s because I believed that one good way to fight for social justice was through storytelling and the arts. It was providing a means for underserved stories to see the light of day. But look where we are now—there is still a great need to listen and learn from diverse voices in our community. When I created that, I wondered if the work would still be relevant in 30 years, and look where we are. I will continue to do social justice work in a way that is entertaining so that it is educating, too. 

Environmental issues are also close to my heart, and I believe greatly in taking care of planet Earth, in lifting up and protecting wild animals and Mother Earth.

How did you get into giving back?

When I was a young person, my parents told me the same thing that I now tell my own kids - just give back and volunteer! I believe that time is more valuable than money in that you can make more money but you cannot make more money. If someone is going through a life change, a career change, I tell them to go volunteer and have a new experience - work at a gallery opening, or pet puppies in shelters, or clean up the trail. Because when you volunteer you meet great people and you can learn from it. There is so much life that can be seen through volunteering.

In terms of finding the amazing organizations for which you can volunteer, social media is a great way to find opportunities. Amplifyatx.org also has a fantastic rolodex of Central Texas nonprofits for you to search. 

What are some of your favorite nonprofits?

Different nonprofits are enjoyable at different phases of your life. When I was younger, I really enjoyed working with emerging nonprofits that needed help just implementing new ideas. But the more that I have grown and learned in the nonprofit arena, the more I have enjoyed working with well-oiled nonprofits that really know how to run and measure their success.

Austin Film Society is one group that I love, in great part because they helped Cine Las Americas and many other film festivals and filmmakers get started.

We have so many immigration issues in our country, so I am on the Leadership Council for American Gateways. Their mission has had to change because of the tumultuous rules coming down from the federal level.

And there are also so many great nonprofits in the music space, which is why I am a Music Commissioner for the City of Austin. You can also volunteer for the city; you can get involved in so many ways.

How do you and your husband and your girls approach giving back together?

We very much believe in leading with love and leading by example. It is a nonnegotiable in our household that you need to volunteer within your community. Whether you are starting a career or thinking about what you want to do, volunteering is a great way to start.

Also, when you have been blessed with any measure of success or others have opened doors for you, it is imperative to give back.

How do you mix up the ways you give back?

I am inspired by people who give back, like the women in their 80s who give $5 each week to a grandchild or to the church. 

Life ebbs and flows. That has a big impact on how we give back. Some years you can make more of a financial impact, some years you can contribute more hours, some years your friends have exciting new resources and you can ask them to give.

When you have built up enough experience and can share your wisdom with an organization, that is also a powerful gift.

Or when you have a strong community network with a giving mindset, sharing a mission is also a great way to give back.

Authenticity is huge, and the giving has to be a natural fit.

As leaders in the local giving space, how are you approaching others to join you in giving back?

A lot of times, it is about a really cool event that people just want to be a part of. We have so many opportunities to have fun together and do good work together. Because Austin is not this small little hippie-dippie place anymore, we are a cosmopolitan force. For that reason, I am now extremely attracted to small Texas towns and bringing what I have learned in Austin to those smaller communities. There is not one that is better than the other; rather, it is best to listen and learn from various experiences that can and should be enjoyed and certainly not underestimated.

I have a lot of hope and a lot of gratitude for the complexities of life, and I believe that we are all better for it.

My closing statement about giving back is…

One of the easiest things that everyone needs to do is get out there and vote. I cannot tell you how to vote, but do it - cast your vote.

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Thank you, Celeste, for all that you have done for I Live Here I Give Here, for the arts and for the many unheard voices in Central Texas. We are lucky to have you in our community!