Item 4: Draft 2024-2025 Annual Internal Review — original pdf

Backup

Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 Asian American Quality-of-Life (AAQoL) Advisory Commission (Official Name of Board or Commission) The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: The Commission shall advise the City Council on issues related to the Asian American Resource Center and will provide ongoing guidance and support for the City's Asian American quality of life initiatives. 2023-2024 Accomplishments Long Term Accomplishments Continue to work with City staff on the Asian American Resource Center Developed and submitted budget recommendations to advance equity in ● (AARC) new performing arts center facility and bridge projects ● city services and other department activities ● transition of commissioner terms and vacancies ● resolutions on issues pertaining to diversity and inclusion Participate in the Joint Inclusion Commission in recommendations and Worked with the Commission Staff Liaison to navigate a significant Commission Actions Summary ● Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-004: Recommendation on the FY 2025-26 Budget for Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Customer and Front Desk Support  Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-005: Recommendation Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-008: Recommendation Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-007: Recommendation Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-006: Recommendation ● on the FY 2025-26 Budget for Asian American Resource Center (AARC) Senior Program Language Access ● on the FY 2025-26 Budget AARC Additional Staffing for Performance Pavillion ● on the FY 2025-26 Budget Marketing & Community Engagement Staff for Cultural Centers ● on the FY 2025-26 Budget related to Austin Public Health Immigrant Legal Services ● Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-009: Recommendation on the FY 2025-26 Budget related to APH Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Mental Health ● Community Health Navigators ● on the FY 2025-26 Budget for Expanding Equity & Inclusion Trainings ● on the FY 2025-26 Budget Culturally Appropriate and Medically Necessary Foods during Emergency Operations ● on the FY 2025-26 Budget Parks and Recreation Expansion of Senior Programming Language Access ● American Quality of Life Study Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-010: Asian American Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-015: Updated Asian Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-014: Recommendation Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-012: Recommendation Recommendation - Recommendation 20250318-013: Recommendation Briefings/Presentations to the Commission Our commission received key briefings from City staff, local organizations, or other governmental bodies that provided us insight into how programs and projects within the City and how they relate to Asian American Quality of Life. ● ○ June 18, 2024 – Food & Anti-Hate Initiatives Food Plan Presentation Amanda Rohlich, Food Policy Advisor (Office of Sustainability), reviewed the City’s Food Plan, with special emphasis on equitable access for AAPI communities. Demographic data was requested. ○ We All Belong Campaign Alicia Dean and Jessica King (Communications & Public Information Office) introduced the City’s anti-hate outreach initiative, focusing on inclusive messaging and community partnerships. David Magana (APD Community Liaison) introduced himself, Central Texas Food Bank shared insights into the food distribution UT Austin team led a Health Assessment Presentation, exploring health September 17, 2024 – Infrastructure & Equity Planning Lee Sherman and Sari Albornoz (Watershed Protection) briefed on October 15, 2024 – Cultural Funding & Food Security Presentation on City cultural arts funding and grant updates for FY 2024– ● ○ stormwater and pedestrian bridge improvements at the AARC, and presented the Rain to River strategic plan—highlighting equity-centered infrastructure strategies. ○ emphasizing public safety outreach to AAPI neighborhoods. ● ○ 25. ○ disparities in the AAPI community through recent survey findings. ○ network and opportunities for expanded collaboration with the AARC. November 19, 2024 – Pavilion & Equity Preservation ● AARC Pavilion update on construction, programming, and programming ○ logistics. ○ resource allocation for the AARC’s cultural spaces. ● ○ critical events at the AARC. ○ arrangements for increased accessibility. ● ○ workshops and equity training modules for City staff and community groups. March 18, 2025 – Budget & Workgroup Update ● May 20, 2025 – Arts & Culture Strategy ● Angela Means, Director of the Office of Arts, Culture, Music & ○ Entertainment, presented the new strategic plan, highlighting AAPI cultural programming, grant equity practices, and collaborative events. ● ○ February 18, 2025 – Equity & Inclusion Office Equity and Inclusion Office delivered a presentation outlining upcoming December 17, 2024 – Language Access & Facilities Emergency Language Access Plan, addressing translation needs during June 17, 2025 – History & Research Study Austin History Center: Pavilion logistics updates were provided, focusing on layout and staffing Equity-Based Preservation Plan was introduced—detailing equitable Marina Islas and Akiko Kodama discussed the expansion of Asian American archival collections, including new family archiving workshops and exhibition plans in the John Henry Faulk Building . ○ UT Austin AAQoL Study: Dr. Shetal Vohra methodology (interviews, surveys), domains (health, discrimination, telehealth), funding (~$50K), and timeline targeting Fall 2025 launch Gupta and Cheng Chow updated the Commission on the study’s ‑ Work Groups The AAQoL Advisory Commission accomplishes a large portion of its work through its work groups. The following section highlights work group activity over the past year. Per the City Clerk's direction, workgroups needed a definitive start and end, hence some workgroups did not run for the duration of the period reported on. Overall, topical workgroups aside from Budget and AARC will be started on a 6-month basis initially and then continued if a more defined scope and project is identified in the research and discovery process. Workgroups that are task-orientated will have a defined end at the completion of the goal discussed. 1. Budget Engagement Work Group Active Oct 2024 – present Members: Alpha Shrestha (Lead), Zachary Dolling, Nirali J. Thakkar, Hailey Easley Purpose: Strengthen the Commission’s role in the City’s annual budget cycle— especially community facing outreach—and consolidate budget requests across AAQoL, other Quality-of-Life (QoL) Commissions, and the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC). ‑ 2024-25 Highlights Led listening sessions with neighborhood AAPI groups ahead of the ● March 18, 2025, FY 25-26 budget vote. ● among all QoL Commissions before Council submission. Coordinated with the Equity Office to cross-share draft recommendations 2025-26 Goals Build a shared timeline and toolkit so every work group can insert data for ● next year’s budget proposal by January 2026. ● each council member Advocate for the AAPI community with targeted budget workshops for 2. Food Security Work Group Active Mar 2023 – present Members: Chair Sin, Vice Chair Padmini Jambulapati, Sabrina Sha, Sarah X. Chen Purpose: Identify and remove cultural- and language-based barriers in Austin/Travis County food-access programs. 2024-25 Highlights Got briefed by the Office of Sustainability (June 18 meeting) on culturally ● relevant foods and translation gaps in the forthcoming Austin-Travis County Food Plan. ● community Drafted budget recommendation related to food security in the AAPI 2025-26 Goals Continue advocating for culturally more appropriate food access for the ● AAPI community ● Research food desert areas within the City of Austin 3. AARC Oversight Work Group Active Oct 2023 – Sep 2025 Members: Hanna Huang (Lead), Alpha Shrestha, Lily Trieu, Kuo Yang, Anna Tran, Luan Tran Purpose: Guide Phase-2 (Outdoor Amphitheater) bond spending; advise programming, staffing, and long-term cultural arts funding for the Asian American Resource Center. 2024-25 Highlights ● and bond drawdown schedule. ● 501(c)(3). Worked with PARD on the amphitheater for a 100 % schematic design Initiated talks with local philanthropies to establish a Friends of AARC 2025-26 Goals ● ● an indoor performance pavilion Continue working with AARC staff to support their needs Draft budget recommendation for a 2026 bond package line-item to fund 4. Community Health Work Group Active Jul 2024 – Dec 2024 Members: Hailey Easley (Lead), Pierre H. Nguyen, Luan Tran, Kuo C. Yang Purpose: Bridge AAPI community voices with local health-care decision makers; ensure AAQoL priorities are reflected in Central Health and Integral Care programming. 2024-25 Highlights Facilitated the May 20 Central Health briefing on Cameron/Dessau Road ● services to AAQoL. ● on mental-health wait times for limited-English AAPI clients. Communicated with local health-care providers related to preliminary data 2025-26 Goals ● Continue collaborating with local health providers such as AACHI 5. City Manager’s Office (CMO) Liaison / AAPI Community Leaders Planning Work Group Active Jul 2024 – present Members: Hanna Huang (lead), Pierre H. Nguyen, Hailey Easley, Padmini Jambulapati Purpose: Coordinate quarterly dialogues between the City Manager’s Office and diverse AAPI sector leaders (business, nonprofit, youth, arts). 2024-25 Highlights ● (Small Business) slated for August 2024. ● ethnic sub-groups. Set the framework for quarterly sector-specific roundtables; first session Established a shared contact list of 60+ community leaders across 14 2025-26 Goals ● and the AAPI community leaders Continue supporting the quarterly dialogues with the City Manager’s Office 6. Commission Certificates & Awards Work Group Active Mar 2025 – present Members: Chair Sin, Sarah X. Chen, Alpha Shrestha Purpose: Design and vet recognition awards for individuals or groups who improve the Asian American quality of life in Austin. 2024-25 Highlights ● community Formed a working group to increase recognition within the AAPI 2025-26 Goals Develop standard certificate templates (English, Vietnamese, Hindi, Urdu, ● Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean). ● Draft criteria and scoring rubric; approved by the full Commission. 7. Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) Representation Continuous duty Delegates: Alpha Shrestha (primary), Nayer Sikder (secondary) Function: Ensure AAQoL priorities are coordinated with the Hispanic/Latino, African American, LGBTQIA+, and Women’s Commissions, and with the Equity Office. 2024-25 Highlights ● (adopted May 2025). Co-authored JIC cross-commission language-access recommendation 2025-26 Goals ● community Continue coordinating with other JIC commissions and represent the AAPI Determine if the board's actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. The AAQoL Advisory Commission did not conduct any actions during the year that did not comply with its mission statement. 2025-2026 AAQoL Goals & Objectives Request a semi-annual report on City staff demographics from the Human Identifying strategies to improve equity of AAPI employment and Expanding progress on language access to ensure limited English- Reconnecting with current leadership in the Asian American Employee EQUITY The AAQoL Advisory Commission will work to address structural inequities that are reflected in City staffing and budget allocation. ● promotion at the City of Austin ○ Resources Department, and request a presentation to better understand any department hiring gaps and goals ○ Network (AAEN) and learning about how to support their initiatives and goals ● speaking populations receive the translated documents and language interpretation they need to fully participate in government or receive direct services ○ translation/interpretation of Asian American languages, and obtain periodic reports on their progress, outcomes, and sustainability, including how public departments will be funded to meet language access needs in the future ○ language support (translation/interpretation) available to mainstream City-funded nonprofits ○ resources for City programs that are contracted out to vendors ○ Recommend and advocate for an Equity Office and programs in the City that are independent of departmental hierarchy and maintain access to City leadership and executives on issues regarding equity Food Security ● Advocating for and continuing to support, fiscal and otherwise, CPIO's Collaborating with the Community Action Network (CAN) to make Identify and research the gaps in direct services needing language access Advise organizations, agencies, and governmental bodies that are working Identify gaps in direct services for food security in Austin/Travis County ○ and develop relationships with organizations needing services to connect them with providers ○ on food security issues on cultural gaps and needs in current work processes that may be preventing parts of the AAPI community from using their services ● ○ players, agencies, and programs focused on financial learning and security services Financial Security Develop a Financial Security Workgroup focused on researching key Supporting initiatives around anti-hate and programs that advocate Advocating and increasing awareness of unmet mental health needs of Develop and maintain relationships with key community health leaders to PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY The Commission will continue to support direct services that address the needs of Asian Americans by: ● bystander training and awareness to help increase AAPI community safety. Advise the City on initiatives like the We Belong Austin campaign ● share the needs and gaps in service for the AAPI community ● Asian Americans, sensitizing available mental health resources in the City, such as Integral Care and its Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT), to the unique mental health needs of the AAPI community in Austin ● immigrants, such as Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA), Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI), and American Gateways, receive funding to serve our expanding population and improve their access to Integral Care, MCOT, and EMS to address unmet mental health needs ● population through the current provider network or expansion of funding Ensuring that existing agencies serving Asian Americans, refugees, and Advocating for social services for Asian Americans proportional to the Increasing participation in joint committees and collaboration with other Making recommendations and resolutions that take into account issues COLLABORATION The AAQoL Advisory Commission will seek to strengthen its ties with other City and community organizations by: ● Quality of Life Commissions ● and solutions that systemically affect communities of color ● leaders, especially those from ethnic groups not currently represented on the Commission ● ● ● Commission and its efforts Identifying strategies to standardize and improve Community Outreach Continuing to develop community dialogue opportunities Attending additional events and meetings to promote interest in the Expanding community outreach efforts by connecting with community Increasing collaboration and coordination with local Asian American ● organizations and collaboratives such as NAAO and the GAACC to reach the broader AAPI Community ● the Commission's network Seeking relationships with new community organizations that can broaden Work with groups like The New Philanthropists to develop more AAPI Address the needs of volunteer-run AAPI nonprofits Help build and increase the capacity of our current staffed AAPI nonprofits Direct resources in the local community to support or develop new OUR COMMUNITIES In addition to the goals and objectives presented above, the AAQoL Advisory Commission will work to support our communities and increase community dialogue by: ● Identify and develop resources and recommendations through the creation of a Capacity Building Workgroup to: ○ ○ ○ methodologies and increase funding to support AAPI-serving nonprofits ○ nonprofit board members ● new Asian immigrants, and other underserved populations ● development, and the identification of additional funding opportunities ● experiencing cultural erasure and marginalization. ● Communities, recognizing that both the "modern minority myth" and current anti-Asian racism incidents are intended to separate the minority communities facing common struggles Actively seeking opportunities to support communities in Austin that are Develop further relationships with Austin's Latine and African American Developing a network of contacts to understand and support refugees, Continuing to support the AARC facility and the AARC Plan, Phase 2