Item 12: Draft Recommendation — original pdf

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ASIAN AMERICAN QUALITY-OF-LIFE ADVISORY COMMISSION (AAQoL) RECOMMENDATION 20250318-12 Date: March 18, 2025 Subject: Recommendation on the FY 2025-26 Budget for Expanding Equity & Inclusion Trainings Motioned by: Drafted by: Hanna Huang (Chair), Padmini Jambulapati (Vice Chair) Seconded By: Expanding Equity & Inclusion Trainings Description The City continues to see an increase in reported hate crimes and hate incidents year to year since 2021. Currently, City initiatives around anti-hate are housed in a variety of different offices and departments. The We All Belong Campaign is housed in the Corporate Public Information Office, the Safe Place program is housed in the Austin Police Department, and Undoing Racism trainings are housed in the Office of Equity & Inclusion. While each program has varying degrees of public engagement and participation, City staff and public citizens would benefit from expanded access and visibility about these services. Additionally, the commission would like to suggest the addition of training around Bystander Intervention that equips staff and citizens on how to safely intervene and respond in situations of hate-based discrimination or violence. Recommendation The Commission recommends that Anti-hate campaigns and programs are adequately funded to have a hub for staff and citizens to easily access information about reporting hate-based incidents, current program offerings, and trainings the public can attend. Additionally, along with an expansion to the Undoing Racism training available to the public, we recommend that staff and citizens have access to Bystander Intervention training. Department Office of Equity & Inclusion, Communications & Public Information, Human Resources Alignment with Council Strategic Priorities Culture & Lifelong Learning: Appreciation, respect, and welcoming of all people and cultures; Lifelong Learning Opportunities Safety: Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Recovery Government that Works for All: Employee engagement; Stakeholder engagement and participation; Equity of City programs and resource allocation; Transparency and ethical practices Vote For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: