Meet Cary Capece

Written By Desirae Pierce

Keeping our Parks and Streets Clean Everyday

Austin’s rapid growth has made keeping its streets, creeks, and parks clean a challenge. That’s where Cary Capece steps in. As the founder of Make Austin Clean (MAC), a 100% volunteer-driven group, Cary leads efforts to remove litter and restore natural spaces.

A Passion for Bouldin Creek

Since moving to Bouldin Creek in 2017, Cary has embraced the neighborhood, focusing on East Bouldin Creek, where volunteers have removed over 20,000 lbs. of trash from Oltorf to South Congress.

The Birth of Make Austin Clean

Walking the city in 2020-21, Cary saw Austin’s growing litter problem. Frustrated by the lack of action, they launched MAC, a grassroots effort to clean streets, creeks, and parks.

Transforming Green Spaces

MAC has made a big impact with weekly cleanups. “With neighbors’ support, our parks are much cleaner,” Cary says. Their work extends citywide, with over 50,000 lbs. of trash removed.

Expanding the Vision

Cary aims to grow MAC’s reach by partnering with Zilker, Galindo, Dawson, and East Cesar Chavez neighborhood associations. “The goal is broader community involvement.”

Get Involved

MAC hosts weekday morning cleanups and larger Saturday events. Volunteers can sign up at makeaustinclean.org/volunteer or through GivePulse.

Building Community

Cary’s superpower is connection. Through MAC, he’s not only cleaned Austin and Bouldin Creek but also built a movement to protect and restore its beauty.

To Volunteer or Donate to Make Austin Clean click here

 
Desirae Pierce

Director of Breath and Body Yoga, E-RYT 500

Shining in ballet from the age of three, Desirae took a lead role in the Nutcracker by the age of six with the Fort Worth City Ballet Company. Through high school and college, she continued a path of competitive sports mixed with the arts. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she followed a creative marketing path and in 1993 opened her own graphic design studio American Pie Design, Inc. Desirae discovered that yoga provided a counter to the stress of the corporate world. Traveling the country for major corporations, she experienced many yoga styles, but found Bikram Yoga, Baptiste Power Vinyasa, Anusara Yoga and  Bowspring styles provided a spiritual aspect, the missing puzzle piece to her life. In 2006, she opened Breath and Body Yoga on Burnet Road and in September of 2015 she opened the second location on Exposition in Austin, Texas. She established the leading 200 and 500-hour teacher training school in Austin plus produces online classes and yoga videos. The University of Texas’s Women’s Volleyball, Softball, Golf and Men’s Baseball and Women’s Basketball teams hire her to bring strength, flexibility, breath and alignment to their collegiate sports. At present she teaches, tours and trains, bringing a new dynamic to the practice where vinyasa flow meets alignment.

http://www.breathandbodyyoga.com
Next

Meet Chris Bell