Austin Eras
Improving the Vision of Austin’s Underserved Communities
Key Takeaways
- 🦸 Overcoming Vision Loss – How Chelsea’s personal journey shaped her mission
- 👓 The Hidden Crisis in Eye Care – Why so many children & seniors go untreated
- 🚑 Taking Healthcare to the People – How mobile clinics bridge the access gap
- 📜 Advocating for Change – Working with policymakers to improve vision care
- 🔍 Building the Next Generation of Eye Doctors – Training future professionals in optometry
Meet the Guest
Chelsea Elliott
Chelsea Elliott is the founder and executive director of half Helen (hH), a groundbreaking organization dedicated to helping people see the world clearly. With over a decade of leadership experience, Chelsea has successfully guided hH through remarkable growth, including surpassing the $1M fundraising milestone in 2023 and achieving unprecedented operational successes. Under her leadership, half Helen expanded to a permanent location, exceeded patient encounter goals, and solidified Chelsea as a passionate advocate for women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
As a social entrepreneur, Chelsea exemplifies the grit, resilience, and vision needed to lead with purpose through challenges and triumphs alike. Her unwavering commitment to half Helen’s mission is matched by her dedication to empowering those who join her in the journey. Chelsea's work has been recognized by prestigious organizations such as the CNN Heroes program, the Texas State Board of Education, Texas Women in Business, Lions Clubs of Texas, the Austin and Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Austin Woman, and Austin Under 40. In 2024, she was named the KXAN Austin Remarkable Woman by Nexstar Media Group, further highlighting her impact as a transformative leader in the community.
Show Notes
How does one person’s journey through vision loss transform into a mission to provide eye care for thousands? Today’s guest turned a life-changing diagnosis into a nonprofit organization that’s changing lives in underserved communities. Join us for a conversation with Chelsea Elliott, Founder and Executive Director of half Helen, who shares her inspiring story of overcoming adversity and creating an organization dedicated to making vision care accessible for underserved communities.
Chelsea discusses her personal experience with vision loss, the moment she realized how many children go without proper eye care, and how she turned that into a movement that has helped over 68,000 people. From launching a mobile optometry clinic to opening a full-service vision center, half Helen is changing lives every day.
She also shared her hopes for the future of Austin, advocating for a more inclusive city that welcomes families and individuals of all backgrounds. She envisions a community where clear eyesight is recognized as a basic human right, and she is determined to make that a reality.
Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn more about Chelsea’s journey, the impact of half Helen, and how we can all contribute to making healthcare accessible for everyone in our communities.
About the Podcast
Austin Eras is a podcast that unravels Austin’s transformation into a 21st-century boomtown and explores its potential future. We invite listeners to explore the ever-changing landscape of this dynamic city through a unique format where each episode of Austin Eras unfolds a story of the city dissected through time.
We’ll explore the roots of vital topics, step into the present to take the current pulse of the city’s heartbeat, and leap into the future to envision the potential that awaits. Topics will range from BBQ to transportation, professional sports to land development – and everything in between.