REGULAR MEETING of the ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION November 19, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W 2ND ST, AUSTIN, TX 78701 Some members of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Eric Anderson at (512) 974-2562 or eric.anderson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Hanna Huang, Chair Sarah Chen Zachary Dolling Pierre Nguyễn Alpha Shrestha Seonhye “Sonny” Sin Kuo Yang CALL TO ORDER Padmini Jambulapati, Vice Chair Sarah Xiyi Chen Hailey Easley Sabrina Sha Nayer Sikder Luan Tran AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on October 15, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Presentation regarding cultural arts funding from Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director, Economic Development Department. Presentation regarding a health assessment project focused on the Asian and Asian American community in Austin, with an emphasis on updating the current Quality of Life survey, from Dr. Shetal Vohra-Gupta and Cheng Chow of the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Discussion of past and upcoming Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) Community Input Sessions and Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission members attending. Presentation regarding the Central Texas Food Bank Food Access Community Needs Assessment (CNA) and a CNA focus group with Vietnamese community members experiencing food insecurity from Tracy Ayrhart, Vice President of Strategic Insights, Central Texas Food Bank. Approve the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission 2025 meeting location. Update from the food security working group regarding a review of the Austin-Travis County Food Plan and potential recommendations. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be …
ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY OF LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 15, 2024 The Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on October 15, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd St. in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Jambulapati called the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Padmini Jambulapati, Vice Chair Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Sarah Chen Sarah Xiyi Chen Zachary Dolling Hailey Easley Pierre Nguyễn Nayer Sikder Luan Tran Commissioners Absent: Hanna Huang, Chair Sabrina Sha Sonny Sin Kuo Yang PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission regular meeting on September 17, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of September 17, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Sarah Chen’s motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Huang, Commissioners Sha, Sin, and Yang were absent. None 1 STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding the Equity-Based Preservation Plan from Cara Bertron, Program Manager, Planning Department. The presentation was made by Cara Bertron, Program Manager, Planning Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a recommendation to Council to adopt the Equity-Based Preservation Plan. The motion to approve the recommendation to Council to adopt the Equity-Based Preservation Plan was approved on Commissioner Easley’s motion, Commissioner Sarah Chen’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Huang, Commissioners Sha, Sin, and Yang were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of the inclusion of the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission's approved budget recommendations in the City of Austin FY2025 Budget. Discussed. Discussion of upcoming Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) Community Input Sessions and Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission members attending. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS CONTINUED 6. Approve the creation of a City of Austin FY2026 Budget working group. The motion to approve the creation of a City of Austin FY2026 Budget working group was approved on Commissioner Nguyễn’s motion, Commissioner Sarah Chen’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Huang, Commissioners Sha, Sin, and Yang were absent. Chair Huang, Vice Chair Jambulapati, Commissioner Dolling, and Commissioner Sarah Chen were added to the working group without objection. Approve the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission 2025 meeting schedule. The motion to approve the Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission 2025 meeting schedule was approved on Commissioner Sarah Chen’s motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Huang, Commissioners …
Travis County Food Access Community Needs Assessment: Elevating Asian American Voices Dr. Tracy Ayrhart, Vice President of Strategic Insights November 19, 2024 AGENDA • About Central Texas Food Bank • Food Insecurity by the Numbers • Food Access Community Needs Assessments • Next Steps WHO WE ARE • We are the largest hunger-relief organization in Central Texas, and a member of Feeding Texas and Feeding America. • Founded in 1981, the Food Bank provides food and grocery products through a network of nearly 250 nonprofit community partners and direct-service programs, serving about 93,000 people every week • Headquartered in Austin, the Food Bank serves 21 counties in Central Texas, an area about twice the size of Massachusetts. THE FUTURE IS F.R.E.S.H. Our approach to ensure every Central Texan has equitable access to nutritious food. • Provide immediate access to nutritious food • Provide the resources necessary for all Central Texans to access food on their own F Food Access (Distribution and Systems) R Research E Economic Stability S Sustainability H Health (food is medicine) FOOD INSECURITY BY THE NUMBERS: TRAVIS COUNTY • 16.2% of the population is food insecure, or 208,411 individuals • 1 in 5 children are food insecure (55,908) • 1 in 8 older adults are food insecure (23,108) are older adults Racial/Ethnic Composition 65.0% 46.7% 47.7% 33.3% 34.3% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 0% 15.3% 11.7% 10% 6.8% 14.0% 12.2% 7.3% 5.8% Black or African American Hispanic or Latino White Other & 2 or More Races/Ethnicities PLACE-BASED DISPARITIES • Disproportionately high food insecurity along the I-35 corridor, in the Eastern Crescent, and in rural corners of the county • Despite representing only 44% of Travis County’s overall population, these high need areas make up: • 59% of Travis County’s food insecure population • 61% of Travis County’s Black/African American population • 59% of Travis County’s Hispanic/Latino population MISSING VOICES: ASIAN POPULATION • Small sample size in public datasets • Small percentage (2%) of neighbors accessing CTFB services • May face unique barriers, including those related to cultural or dietary needs ELEVATING COMMUNITY VOICES: COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS Bell County Launch Feb 2025 Waco July 2023-Feb 2024 Williamson County March – Sept 2024 Travis County Sept 2024 – April 2025 Del Valle May – Nov 2023 Bastrop County June 2024 – Jan 2025 Hays County Jan – July 2024 METHODOLOGY (TRAVIS COUNTY) Create Initial Community Profile Community Discussion …
Cultural Arts Funding Update Economic Development Department November 19, 2024 Agenda Cultural Funding Review Process History Overview (FY24 Funding Requests/Distribution) 1. FY25 Launch Calendar 2. Past and Planned Promotion/Marketing of Programs 3. 4. Highlights of Awardees from AAPI led organizations 5. Questions Noting: All Cultural Funding programs are funded via Hotel Occupancy Tax. There are other programs run in our department, and with Rally Austin (a Local Government Corporation) utilizing other funding sources. Examples: - Creative Space Assistance Fund (General Fund, EDD) - Iconic Venue Fund (Managed by Rally Austin) C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding Review Process History Cultural Funding – Reminders 2017: Cultural Funding Program Responsiveness Working Group 2018: Funding cuts for the first time (11%) COA Equity Statement: Strategic Direction 2023 Problem: Address 50 years of inequitable funding distribution. C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding Review Process — Community Led C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding Review Process – MJR Partners Report https://www.austintexas.gov/department/cultural-funding C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding Review Process – Pilot Programs Approved by Arts Commission June 29, 2022 Solution: Holistic Funding Ecosystem addressing past disparities in funding. Note: Current Guidelines for these Pilot programs do not prevent awardees from being eligible in the following year of funding opportunities. C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding – Pilot Program Investment Outcomes Grantee Investment by Demographics FY2015 - 2021 C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding – Pilot Program Investment Outcomes Grantee Investment by Demographics FY2015 - 2021 Grantee Investment by Demographics FY 2023 - 2024 C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding – Pilot Program Investment Outcomes Note: 2015-2021 Investment was 18% Majority Diverse; 25% Equally Led; 57% Majority White/Prefer not to answer. C I T Y O F A U S T I N Cultural Funding Program Overview – FY 2024 Awards $17,475,000 Awarded (FY 25-26 Thrive, FY24 Elevate, FY24 Nexus) $3.3M Increase from previous cycle (FY23-FY24 Thrive, FY23 Elevate, FY23 Nexus) $63 Million In Total Requested Funds 366 Total Awards (FY 25-26 Thrive, FY24 Elevate, FY24 Nexus) 190 New to COA Cultural Funding Awardees 77% Majority Diverse Led 66% Women/Non-Binary …
Health Assessment on the Asian and Asian American Community in Austin Asian American Quality of Life Shetal Vohra-Gupta, Ph.D., MSW, Assistant Professor Cheng Chow, MPhil, PhD Student Steve Hicks School of Social Work The University of Texas at Austin Chinese Americans: 24% (5.4 million) Indian Americans: 21% (4.6 million) Filipinos:19% (4.2 million) Roots in Vietnam (2.2 million), Korea (1.9 million) and Japan (1.5 million) each have a population of at least 1 million. Asian population is on the rise in Texas The number of Asian Americans in Texas increased by 91,921 people from 2022 to 2023, amounting to over 1.7 million people in total. The fastest growing numbers were in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metro area, with 10.5% increase from 2022 to 2023 – First among U.S. metro areas. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Credit: Elijah Nicholson-Messmer Older age groups – the sharpest increase Social services? Healthcare access? Affordability? Chronic health conditions? Caregiver resources? Transportation? Social isolation? Support infrastructure? Source: U.S. Census Bureau Credit: Elijah Nicholson-Messmer Diversity of Asian population in Austin Ethnicity Total Asian Asian Indian Chinese Vietnamese Korean Filipino Pakistani Taiwanese Japanese Nepalese Two or more Asian groups Population 80,245 30,361 15,246 9,659 6,738 4,790 2,135 1,943 1,507 1,412 1,344 1,212 Share 100.0% 37.8% 19.0% 12.0% 8.4% 6.0% 2.7% 2.4% 1.9% 1.8% 1.7% Other Central Asian 1.5% Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2022 5-Year Estimates Asian American Health Assessment Health issues identified Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, Behavioral Health, Healthcare Access Barriers Recommendations suggested Improve OUTREACH to subpopulations Focus on PREVENTION Increase ACCESS to health care Provide CULTURALLY SENSITIVE health care Asian American Quality of Life Survey Asian American Quality of Life Survey Major findings (N=2,609) • A majority of the survey participants (90.8%) were foreign-born immigrants • More than 28% of the overall sample had at least one chronic disease • Tobacco use more prevalent among Korean and Vietnamese while Koreans and Filipinos were least likely to engage in physical exercise and a healthy diet. • More than 11% reported an experience of unmet health care needs during the past 12 months (particularly in Koreans [15.4%] and Vietnamese [17.1%]) -inconsistent with the findings from national data (2.8% among Asians) • 20% of the sample reported the need for transportation and interpretation (particularly high in Koreans [29.5%], Chinese [24.0%], and Vietnamese [22.4%]) • The prevalence of mental distress and serve mental illness was 44.2% …
