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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✨Join us for our November/December Combined EAT Meeting✨
Register here for the meeting or just come through!
Wednesday, December 4th from 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Agenda and topics are TBD!
We reserve room for community shout outs and updates, too!
The November/December Combined EAT Meeting will be at:
Street-Jones Building
1000 E 11th Street, Suite 120
4th Floor, Conference Room 400A
Austin, TX 78702
🍽️ Dinner will be provided and there will be vegan options.
💧 Please bring your reusable water bottle so that we can reduce waste.
🫱🏽🫲🏿 We look forward to being in community with you!
As always, you can reach out to the Equity Office at our team email: equity@austintexas.gov and we'll answer your questions or find someone who can answer them!
With gratitude for our amazing EAT,
-Natalie Hulsey, Equity Office Public Information Specialist, Sr. and the Equity Office team |
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In Case You Missed It...October 19th EAT Meeting Recap
- We learned about the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The City of Austin is a partner in the OGP - an international organization dedicated to making governments more open, inclusive, and responsive. It is a possibility for the EAT to be a community partner for some of the action plan commitments. Interested in being a part of the working group as a civil society partner? The EAT civil society partner working group will focus on the implementation of the Equity Assessment Tool.
- We discussed the history of police contracts in Austin, and discussed what was in the contract that ended up later being voted on and approved by Council on October 24th. Read more here about what happened and what the $218 Million dollar contract covers.
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The JIC wants to hear from you about your experience with the budget, and what services, programs, and needs your community has. Even though FY25 budget was just passed, it's important to understand what was funded and what was not funded to better plan for FY26.
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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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Diwali comes from the term “Deepavali,” meaning “a row of lights.” Those celebrating Diwali will string up lights, or light up rows of the traditional clay oil lamps outside their homes as a symbol of light overcoming darkness and knowledge overcoming ignorance.
Diwali is generally seen as a holiday and large religious festival for Hindus, but it is also celebrated by Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists alike. How the story of Diwali began is different depending on the region, but they all share a similar theme--the triumph of good over evil.
Check out the beautiful dancing from the Saloni Dance Group presenting Diwali Melody at the Round Rock Diwali Festival in 2023. They are dancing with lamps, spreading the Diwali lights. Artists: Saloni Shah, Hamsa Gejara, Kokila Tamiji, Rashmi Finavia, Soujanya murthy, Kavita singh, Rekha Sangam, Ratika Goyal, Supritha Srinivas, Mili Gupta
Music: Namaami Namaami by Aishwarya Rangarajan from Kabzaa, and Rajvaadi Odhni, Pritam from the original motion picture Kalank
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This month the Equity Office's recommended reading is
Happy Diwali and we also want to acknowledge Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, which is celebrated in India on October 14th and commemorates the day that Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar and thousands of his followers embraced Buddhism and renounced Hinduism (the caste hierarchy).
With these celebrations in mind, we hope you'll take time to explore the South Asian American stories highlighted in
Our Stories.
Book summary: "Our Stories: An Introduction to South Asian America is an anthology rooted in community. Bringing together the voices of sixty-four authors--ranging from artists to activists to academics--Our Stories weaves together the myriad histories, experiences, perspectives, and identities that make up the South Asian American community. The volume consists of ten chapters that explore both the history of South Asian America, spanning from the 1780s through present day, and various aspects of the South Asian American experience, from civic engagement to family. Each offers stories of struggle, of resistance, of inspiration, and of joy that disrupt dominant narratives that have erased South Asian Americans' role in U.S. history and made restrictions on their belonging. By combining these narratives, this volume serves as a community-driven reimagining of a reference resource and illustrates the diversity, vibrancy, and power of the South Asian American community" |
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SURVEYS + COMMUNITY INPUT |
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- INTERESTED IN JOINING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (AALI) 2025 FELLOWSHIP COHORT? Are you ready to take the next step in your leadership journey and make a lasting impact in your community? The African American Leadership Institute's 2025 Fellowship Cohort is now accepting interest forms! This transformative program is designed to empower and equip leaders with the tools they need to drive change across Central Texas. By submitting an interest form, you’ll be the first to receive updates, key dates, and more information about how this Fellowship can help you grow as a leader.
- YOUR FEEDBACK WILL HELP US EMPOWER FATHERS | DAD NEEDS ASSESSMENT: ManinMe is conducting a Dad's Needs Assessment. If you're a father with parenting responsibilities, your participation in this survey is essential. Fill out the assessment here. Questions or want to learn more? Contact ManinMe at 737-336-0702 or email them at info@maninme.org
- CALL FOR FIREFIGHTERS', POLICE OFFICERS' AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL'S CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION APPLICATIONS: The City of Austin is seeking applications from qualified individuals to serve on the three member City of Austin Firefighters’, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Services Personnel’s Civil Service Commission. The opening is to fill a three-year term beginning November 1, 2024, and ending October 31, 2027. The time commitment for Commission business is anticipated at 1 - 3 hours a month. Commissioners serve on a voluntary basis. Interested applicants may complete a City of Austin Boards and Commissions application online at https://austintexas.granicus.com/boards/forms/385/apply. Please include a resume and cover letter with your application. This position will remain open until filled. Questions: Contact the Office of the City Clerk at bc@austintexas.gov Apply online!
- CAPMETRO TRANSIT PLAN 2035 COMMUNITY FEEDBACK: Fill out this survey if you live in Central Texas (not just for Austinites); want to help your community; do OR do not take public transportation; want to possibly win a $100 H-E-B gift card! Tell them you heard about the survey from 'Community Connector Samantha' so she can win a friendly competition with the other organizers 😉 Questions? Email transitplan2035@capmetro.org
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Join the City and the League of Women Voters Austin Area for live panels in September and October to meet the 2024 Austin City Council and Mayoral candidates. Attend in-person or watch live on www.ATXN.tv and KAZI FM 88.7 to hear directly from the candidates and make informed decisions. For more details, visit Voter Resources or call 3-1-1. |
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Held at Georgetown Community Center, 445 E. Morrow St. Georgetown, Texas
11 am to 5 pm on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024
DCPD commemorates the day that Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar and thousands of his followers embraced Buddhism and renounced Hinduism (the caste hierarchy). |
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✨ Celebrate Diwali with Mozart’s! ✨
Saturday, November 2nd from 2 PM to Midnight for a FREE magical festival of lights, blending Diwali traditions with the cozy warmth of lakeside coffee.
Enjoy special Diwali-inspired drinks, traditional snacks, live cultural performances, and so much more! 🎶💃 Workshops include Bhangra and Bollywood dance, a Bollywood DJ, Tea Light painting, shopping, face painting, henna art, Bollywood movie screenings, and a spectacular Diwali Drone Light Show to brighten up the night!
Gather your friends and family for an unforgettable evening of joy and celebration🎉
RSVP for the Diwali celebration at Mozarts here! |
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In partnership with the local non-profit Peerbagh, join the Oak Hill Library for a festival of light and knowledge! Register for Diwali Storytelling at https://tinyurl.com/DiwaliStorytelling
The event will include a storytelling session (Hanuman and Jatayu’s stories), writing prompts, coloring and mindfulness activities, and a Kathak dance performance. Children’s magazine Bento will be showcased and available at the event. We'll have special prizes for kiddos and also have a few questions answered by local South-Asian writers. Enjoy free ice-cream from our local India-inspired Lotus Creamery and even a little popup by Batwa Boutique. All ages are welcome! Saturday, November 2 - 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd.Free and open to the public | Gratis y abierto al públicoFor accessibility accommodations: 512-974-7400 |
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This month's Community Health Worker Social will tag along with the annual
The Community Health Worker Social Events seek to:
- Participate in community events to learn and grow in our work
- Listen to those most affected by marginalization
- Advocate & organize for change
Monthly socials continue to serve as an opportunity to connect and strategize around various issues. We continue to see new faces each month and uncover new opportunities to expand. We hope this month we include family members and neighbors that support us. May we also honor the memory of those that have left this physical world. This will be a special opportunity to connect and celebrate our humanity. |
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Dia de Los Muertos & MexAmeriCon!
Dia de los Muertos & Mexamericon
When: Saturday, November 2, 2:00-8:00pm
Where: Oswaldo AB Cantu Pan American Park
2100 East 3rd Street, Austin Texas 78702
Get ready for our biggest event of the year! Celebrate Day of the Dead/ Dia de los Muertos in East Austin. Guests can enjoy live music and dance performances, hands-on children’s activities, art activations, vendors, food trucks, and a collective community altar.
We are happy to partner with MexAmeriCon to bring you Austin’s own Mexican-American Comic-Con! The events are held together, both are 2-8pm at the Pan Am Park, and are free and open to the public
The event will feature art installations by Las Piñatas ATX!
VENDORS- Would you like to sell artwork, goods, or food? Please fill out this form. All food trucks will be asked for a photo of their up-to-date Travis Co/Austin Public health permit.
NON-PROFITS- To sign up to have an information table for your non-profit organization, fill out this form.
Headliner: The Tiarras! We are happy to announce The Tiarras as our headliner for Day of the Dead/ MexAmeriCon! Austin’s favorite 3-sister band will be taking the Pan Am Stage!
Check out the Tiarras’ music and get ready to dance!
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Virtual Session: November 9th | 11am – 2:30pm
In-Person Networking Event: Nov 16th | 11am -2pm
Stipends for Teen Moms / Parenting Youth Available: For those needing to find childcare or similar to attend event. Limited funds available. Please request Childcare Stipend form!
Arriba Las Mujeres believes in building a network of civically engaged Latina women in Texas through an immersive personal development and leadership training program. We invest in empowering women to harness their creativity and leadership skills to become powerful professionals in their communities.
This is a virtual professional development and leadership program open to young Latina women and people who self-identify as women, who are preferably between 16-26 years old, across Texas. Arriba Las Mujeres gives young women the opportunity to engage Jolt Initiative’s advocacy.At the end of the program, all participants will have the opportunity to meet and network in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio with members of other organizations across the state that are working directly on the issues impacting the Latino community. |
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The City of Austin will host a Veterans Day Celebration & Resource Fair on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Austin Central Public Library. Veterans and their families are invited to attend this free event to connect with local resources, learn about important benefits like Disability Compensation and Healthcare, and enjoy a free lunch. Parking will be validated for registered attendees.
Don't miss out! Parking will be validated with registration.
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GRANTS + TRAINING + SERVICES |
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Apply November 1st through November 7th at 5pm
The
I Belong in Austin program provides tenant rental assistance to residents vulnerable to eviction. The Housing Department’s goal is to provide financial assistance with rent, moving, storage, and relocation costs to avoid eviction and keep families in their homes. El Buen Samaritano continues to serve as program administrator.
Learn more about the program and how to apply here.
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The ACLT creates permanently affordable homeownership opportunities in Austin.
The rising costs of land today can make buying a home more difficult. Land trust homes are more affordable because the organization covers the cost of the land beneath it. When you partner with ACLT to buy a home, you own the house and lease the land.
Benefits to Austin Community Land Trust Homeowners
Community land trusts make homeownership possible through greater affordability. Benefits to land trust homeownership include:
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Lower costs to own a home
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Better housing security than renting
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Payments you can afford
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Opportunity to build equity
We have stunning renovated homes for sale. These homes are affordable and move-in ready for families with limited incomes.
Learn how ACLT works here!
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Triple WIC is back and now here to stay year-round ONLY at Sustainable Food Center's Farmers’ Markets!
💸 Join SFC for a Dia de los Muertos kick-off celebration of Triple WIC season on Saturday Nov. 2nd at SFC Farmers’ Market Downtown! 🕯️💀
SFC is excited to offer SFC Farmers’ Market customers shopping with WIC the chance to TRIPLE benefits to buy fresh, local fruits and veggies at both the Downtown and Sunset Valley SFC Farmers Markets locations. Thanks to funding from Travis County, they are now offering Triple WIC all year long starting Nov. 2nd.
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Austin is growing!
Thurs., Nov. 7, 2024
6:30-8 p.m.
To meet the city's expanding needs, Capital Delivery Services is managing over $10 billion in new and improved infrastructure. From new Fire/EMS stations to parks , libraries , roads , trails and more, these enhancements support Austin’s vibrant community. Join us for the next session of the Building Austin info series to learn about exciting changes coming to the neighborhood. Each session in the traveling series will focus on local projects and how they will benefit the area.
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¡Austin está creciendo!
Juev., 7 de nov., 2024
6:30-8 p.m.
La nueva facilidad de salud pública de Dove Springs, 5811 Palo Blanco Ln, Austin, TX 78744
El departamento de Servicios de Entrega de la Capital de la Ciudad de Austin administra billones para satisfacer las necesidades de los residentes. Nuevas estaciones de bomberos y servicios medicos , parques , bibliotecas , caminos y senderos – estas mejoras apoyan a la comunidad de Austin. Asiste a al evento Building Austin para conocer los cambios emocionantes llegando a su vecindario. Cada sessión de la serie intinerante se centará en los proyectos locales, y los beneficios que se esperan. |
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The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) will host its quarterly Police Oversight Implementation Workgroup meeting on November 14, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We invite community members to attend for an overview of quarterly complaints data, as mandated by Resolution 99.
The meeting is open to the public and will be hosted at the
Cepeda Branch Library, located at 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78702.
Accessibility and Accommodation Information: The event will be presented in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL). Additional interpretation services and accessibility accommodations are available upon request.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email OPO.Outreach@AustinTexas.gov
or call (512) 974-9090
RSVP here for the November 14 OPO meeting
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Do you want to be the first Austin Poet Laureate?
First-ever Austin Poet Laureate Program Now Accepting Applications
The Austin Poet Laureate Program is now accepting applications from local poets interested in becoming Austin’s first-ever Poet Laureate. Applications are open from October 1, 2024 through November 30, 2024. The selected Austin Poet Laureate will be announced in April 2025 and will serve a two-year term from April 2025 until April 2027.
The application portal is available at the Austin Poet Laureate Program’s page on the Austin Public Library website: library.austintexas.gov/poet
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Convocatoria abierta para el primer programa de Poetas Laureados de Austin
El Programa de Poetas Laureados de Austin tiene la convocatoria abierta para aquellos poetas locales interesados en convertirse en el primer Poeta Laureado de Austin. Las solicitudes están abiertas desde el 1 de octubre de 2024 hasta el 30 de noviembre de 2024. El Poeta Laureado de Austin seleccionado se anunciará en abril de 2025 y cumplirá un mandato de dos años desde abril de 2025 hasta abril de 2027.
El portal de solicitud está disponible en la página del Programa de Poetas Laureados de Austin en el sitio web de la Biblioteca Pública de Austin: library.austintexas.gov/poet
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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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It’s My Park Day is Austin Parks Foundation’s biannual, community-led day of service occurring every Spring and Fall.
Volunteers work in parks and green spaces all across the city on projects such as litter cleanup, tree mulching, invasive species management, riparian zone restoration, trail management, and more. It’s My Park Day is a great way to build community, foster relationships, and connect with other park lovers.
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TreeFolks works with Austin communities, planting over a thousand saplings around creeks and rivers during each event. This helps improve riparian health, which means less flooding and less erosion around these waterways.
This work is made possible in part through our partnership with the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department and Keep Austin Beautiful.Every all-ages planting event is a chance to meet new people and make new friends while learning about trees and tree health. TreeFolks provides all the equipment necessary, from gloves to shovels, with light snacks and drinks to keep you going.
We have the following events coming up, all from 9 am - 1 pm:
- Saturday, 11/09 | Volma Overton Shores
- Saturday, 11/16 | Dixie Drive
- Thursday,11/21 | Onion Creek Metro Park
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