The Equity Action Team (EAT) is a coalition of community members and City of Austin staff focused on advancing racial equity in our communities through partnerships with City departments, non-profits, philanthropic entities and community-based groups.
The EAT meetings are dedicated to critical discussions and strategizing on how to best improve the quality of life for most directly impacted communities in Austin. Join the EAT and find more information on the dashboard.
Everyone is welcome to join the EAT! As a member, your responsibility is to attend and bring your community with you. During our meetings, we hear from community members and City staff to understand community needs and City projects and work together to produce better outcomes for all.
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EQUITY OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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Have something you'd like to share, or want to connect with the Equity Office?
Email us anytime at equity@austintexas.gov
We hope to see you at an EAT meeting in 2025! |
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The 89th Texas Legislature Kicks Off on January 14, 2025
The Texas Legislature convenes every two years, and this session promises to be as impactful as ever. Beginning January 14, 2025, state lawmakers will debate and pass legislation that shapes policies affecting education, healthcare, public safety, infrastructure, and many other areas critical to our state and local communities.
Early reports suggest key focuses for this session include property tax reform, school funding, water resource management, and energy grid reliability. Additionally, several controversial bills targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and stricter immigration measures are gaining attention. These proposals could have significant implications for our work as a City department and for the residents we serve.
Our team is actively monitoring the progress of these bills and assessing their potential impact on our programs, policies, and community partnerships. We are committed to advocating for legislation that supports equitable opportunities and strengthens our ability to serve all residents effectively.
Stay tuned for updates throughout the session as we continue to engage in the legislative process and work to ensure the best outcomes for our City.
Wondering what you can do and how you can stay involved?
See below for some resources and ways to look up and keep track of bills being filed.
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What is a Bill? How are they filed and how do they become law?
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You can register an account with the Texas Legislature Online and keep track of bills. You can also look up a specific bill (even without a login). Or, you can set up an account and have an area of interest where you want to see what bills are being filed sent straight to your email. |
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Are you passionate about growing our local democracy? And helping to make local government more accessible? Then apply to become an Equity Fellow with The Austin Common! The Austin Common is a local news source and civic education organization that uses art and social media to make learning about local government easy-to-understand and even a little bit fun!
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The City of Austin encourages you to prepare for winter weather. Don’t wait for the extreme cold, get ready now!
Anyone seeking a cold weather shelter who does not have the means to pay the fare will still be given a ride.
Cold Weather Shelter Hotline: 512-972-5055
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Todas las personas buscando un albergue nocturno de tiempo frĂo, hasta los que no puedan pagar el pasaje, se llevaran al albergue.
Llame a la lĂnea directa de albergues nocturnos: 512-972-5055 |
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WHAT'S IN THE NEWSLETTER? |
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Click one of the buttons below to go to that section's content |
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Let's look back at early 2020--in this newsletter, we're sharing a short video:
It's important for us to hear the stories of people that are directly impacted by housing issues in Austin. Through these stories we humanize the data, and we better understand how to work in solidarity to close racial disparity gaps.
The PIT (Point in Time Count) will happen later this month on January 25th, and this is one night annually where volunteers come together to count folx that are unhoused on the streets. Volunteers also hand out needed supplies and provide other resources to unhoused folx during the PIT.
The last PIT was done in 2023, and it was the first PIT done since 2020. In 2020, the data on racial disparities in homelessness was very clear. The way that we talk about housing issues and disparities through a racial equity lens leads to more impactful structural and systemic changes to addressing homelessness. One example of systemic adjustments, such as reducing criminal barriers for housing, directly benefits communities of color and also benefits white people with criminal records who are experiencing homelessness. We hope you'll take about 5 minutes of your day to hear Rickey Johnson's story.
Photo: Rickey Johnson, 62, poses for a portrait in his new apartment after receiving housing for the first time in years on March 10, 2020. Johnson said he was so overwhelmed that he slept on the floor for two days before going into his bed. -Ana Ramirez, Story of Rickey Johnson |
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This month, we're recommending
"Through personal essays, criticism, interviews, testimonials, poetry, and visual art, this collection expores, as coeditor Cherrie Moraga writes, 'the complex confluence of identities--race, class, gender, sexuality--systemic to women of color oppression and liberation.'" --Back cover summary from Austin Public Library.
We're highlighting one of Cherrie Moranga's Poems below,
The Welder...enjoy! |
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The Welder | Cherrie Moraga
I am a welder.
Not an alchemist.
I am interested in the blend
of common elements to make
a common thing.
No magic here.
Only the heat of my desire to fuse
what I already know
exists. Is possible.
We plead to each other,
we all come from the same rock
we all come from the same rock
ignoring the fact that we bend
at different temperatures
that each of us is malleable
up to a point.
Yes, fusion is possible
but only if things get hot enough –
all else is temporary adhesion,
patching up.
It is the intimacy of steel melting
into steel, the fire of your individual
passion to take hold of ourselves
that makes sculpture of your lives,
builds buildings.
And I am not talking about skyscrapers,
merely structures that can support us
of trembling.
for too long a time
the heat of my heavy hands
has been smoldering
in the pockets of other
people’s business-
they need oxygen to make fire.
I am now
coming up for air
Yes, I am
picking up the torch.
I am the welder.
I understand the capacity of heat
to change the shape of things.
I am suited to work
within the realm of sparks
out of control.
I am the welder.
I am taking the power
into my own hands. |
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SURVEYS + COMMUNITY INPUT |
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There are a couple of ways to get involved--
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January 16th: Austin Light Rail Public Meeting at Lively Middle School, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
January 22nd: Austin Light Rail Public Meeting at Baker Center Cafetorium, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
January 25th: Austin Light Rail Public Meeting at Montopolis Rec Center Gymnasium, 2:30pm to 5:30pm
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Attention Central Texas Social Service Providers
- Kinda Tropical at 3501 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
- January 3rd, 2025
- 5pm to 9pm
As we look toward a new year, the focus for CHWs and many of us will need to be on values. The Texas legislature and the federal government will challenge many aspects of CHW work, and work on racial equity, which impacts all of us. These monthly meetings will help CHWs organize and support each other. Join fellow CHWs, organizers, and allies to create and foster a community of radical care. |
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đź“…Sunday January 12th
đź•›3:30pm to 5:30pm
đź“ŤThe Center for Arts + Healing, 10202 Wommack Rd, Austin, TX 78748
Join us to share in
plática (heart-centered conversation), self-care practices, and
canto (song). This is a time to connect with others, nurture yourself, and refill your cup during the full moon. Pre-registration requested by Wed, Dec. 11 for the December date. Please email Lorie Martinez at maccwellness@austintexas.gov. |
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Community Provider Series Meetings
Every 2nd Wednesday of the Month
Next meeting: January 8th, 2025
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Thursday, October 17, 2024 - Sunday, January 12, 2025
Central Library - 710 W. César Chávez St.
Gallery (2nd Floor)
Plants sustained our ancestors and they continue to sustain us—through food, medicine, clothing, housing, to providing the very oxygen we breathe. Every plant is sacred and we could not survive without them. Plantcestors depicts the portraits of artists, activists, and culture workers based in Yanaguana / San Antonio, TX that bring inspiration to the community through their art, leadership, and social justice work.Within each painted portrait are natural plant materials that the person is connected to. The plants hold meaning based on ancestral connections, childhood memories, cultural roots, or the lessons that they bring. Some enjoy the plants in their gardens, herbal practices, spirituality, as food, or for their beauty alone. As we connect with our relative that is the land, we remember, we appreciate, and we reciprocate the gifts that she gives us.The process of creating these works includes photography, discussion, gardening, foraging, pressing, dehydrating, gluing, resining layers, and painting. The figures sit on the surface, in the present. Their Plantcestors are behind them but remain a part of them. |
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Monday, January 20th, 2025
9:30am on the south steps of the State Capitol for a rally
At the end of the program all will march to Huston-Tillotson University for the MLK Festival
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Visit this major exhibition at the Blanton Museum of Art--Closes January 5, 2025
Native America: In Translation, was curated by artist Wendy Red Star. They curated the work of nine indigenous artists covering contemporary perspectives on memory, identity, and the history of photography.
The exhibit showcases influential intergenerational artists who represent various Native nations and affiliations. Their work in photography, installation, multimedia assemblage, and video confronts the historic and often tense relationship between photography and how Native Americans are represented, and it also reimagines what it means to be a citizen today in North America.
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GRANTS + TRAINING + SERVICES |
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Applications open for 2025 Summer Fellowship
3-month virtual fellowship runs May 14 to August 14. Deadline to apply is January 12.
Applications for the Othering & Belonging Institute's 2025 Summer Fellowship are now open! The fellowship is a paid research experience for individuals seeking to develop their research skills by engaging with OBI’s multidisciplinary research, analysis, policy, and strategic narrative work. The fellowship is a great opportunity for undergraduates, Master's students, and early Ph.D. candidates to work on a research project with an OBI mentor. The fellowship will be entirely virtual.
Learn more / Apply here!
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Grant for Technology Opportunities Program (GTOPs) Now Accepting Applications
The letter of interest period for GTOPs Core funding is open now through January 10. This matching grant supports Austin organizations working to expand digital access and provide technology training in underserved communities, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $35,000. Community members passionate about digital equity can also apply to serve as review panelists—stipends are available! Learn more:
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On August 8, 2024, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-46 requiring the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to direct public hospitals and acute care facilities that accept Medicaid and/or CHIP funding to collect demographic information on patients. Under Executive Order GA-46, hospital staff are directed to ask about patients’ immigration status. Moreover, the Order requires HHSC to direct hospitals to collect and report the healthcare costs associated with undocumented patients. Hospitals are to begin collecting this information on November 1, 2024.
Although hospitals are required to ask you for this information, it DOES NOT require you to answer.
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Austin Area Heritage Council is proud to continue the academic legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr by awarding scholarships to Austin area high school seniors. Our sponsors represent organizations that are committed to carrying out the dream of Dr. King.
The AAHC and corporate sponsors, in partnership, will ensure that each year’s class of YLA scholarship recipients is culturally, economically, and academically diverse.
The MLK Youth Scholarship Awards were created to recognize youth in the Austin community for their outstanding commitment and achievement, as well as inspire the next generation.
Learn more here--applications accepted until January 8th!
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The AARC’s Community Exhibits Program displays year-round exhibitions that celebrate the diverse and dynamic cultural heritage, history, identity and creativity of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. The AARC's Community Exhibits Program invites artists and curators based in Central Texas to submit a proposal for exhibits for our 2025-2026 Exhibit Calendars. The AARC’s Community Exhibits Program aims to foster and promote exhibits that embody the AARC's mission, vision, and values to create spaces of belonging and healing for Asian American communities in Austin and beyond.
Selected Artists and Curators will be provided with support to showcase their work and research, with access to AARC exhibiting spaces, facilities, funded community outreach/professional development opportunities, marketing and other resources.
The application will open on Monday, October 7, 2024. The deadline to apply is January 12, 2025 at 11:59pm.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the application, please email AARC@AustinTexas.gov.
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact (512) 974-3914
or Relay Texas 7-1-1.
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Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is excited to announce a new partnership with GoodMaps, introducing an AI-driven digital wayfinding tool designed to make navigating the airport easier and more accessible for all travelers.
The pilot program leverages cutting-edge indoor mapping technology, providing turn-by-turn directions and contextual information throughout the airport. GoodMaps is especially beneficial for travelers with visual impairments, enabling them to move through AUS with greater independence and confidence.
Using the GoodMaps app, travelers can access detailed audio instructions that guide them to gates, restrooms, restaurants, and other key airport locations. The technology relies on advanced mapping and precise positioning, ensuring users receive accurate and up-to-date navigation assistance. Travelers interested in trying GoodMaps can download the app from their device's app store and experience seamless navigation during their next AUS visit. Download GoodMaps for free via the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.
Feedback on the tool’s performance is encouraged to help shape the future of accessible travel at the airport. Please contact the airport's 24/7 customer service phone number at 512-530-2242 or send an email to airportinfo@FlyAustin.com to be connected to the appropriate team.
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The Point-in-Time (PIT) count is an annual census of people experiencing homelessness. It is occurring in Austin overnight on January 25 and ECHO is looking for volunteers. The link to the PIT page gives an overview. Essentially, this occurs nationally, and the survey and census is used to inform policy and secure resources. |
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Volunteer for Youth Career Fest!
The City of Austin’s Youth Initiatives Office is hosting our 12th Annual Youth Career Fest on January 22nd, 2025 (9am-12pm). The event will take place at the Palmer Event Center, where we expect to host 3,500+ students and 150+ companies/universities/organizations.
We are still looking fantastic individuals to assist us as volunteers, with shifts from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM, on the day of the event.
Tasks will include:
- Registration/ sign-in for schools, vendors, and students
- Handing out swag bags to students near the main entrance
- Assisting with bus loop drop/pick up and traffic safety.
- Providing navigational assistance / support with student supervision
If you are interested in lending us a hand, please fill out this year’s Volunteer Registration link below. https://airtable.com/appIDZ9CN8zBNHbov/pagbKCDNEBbfqUvme/form
All volunteers will receive a Youth Career Fest T-Shirt!
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at YouthCareerFest@austintexas.gov, our office greatly appreciates the support!
Donate Swag to the Youth Career Fest!
The City of Austin’s Youth Initiatives Office will be hosting the 12th Annual Youth Career Fest on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 9am-12pm at the Palmer Events Center.
We are looking for some appealing and attractive SWAG items for our high school attendees!
If your organization/department would like to DONATE any giveaway items, please complete our brief Swag donation form here: https://airtable.com/appIDZ9CN8zBNHbov/shrFNaYTupc2PbzyH
Last year, we hosted over 4500 students, so we greatly appreciate any and all donations.
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