Items 2-7: Working Group Updates — original pdf

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Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commisison Nov. 18, 2025 6pm Thriving Wellness Virtual Room AAQOL WORKGROUP UPDATES Agenda Items 2-6 Prepared by Commissioners Hanna Huang & Nirali Thakkar 2. CITY MANAGER & AAPI LEADERS MTGS Arts Leaders Community Leaders Direct Services Leaders Rec for future Challenges/Strengths Oct. 16, 2024 @ ArtUsCo, ~16 attended, 3 commissioners, mod: HH Jun. 26, 2025 @ Virtual (rescheduled from earlier), 13 attended, 2 commissioners mod: PJ Nov. 7, 2025 @ City Hall, 13 attended, 4 commissioners, mod: HH Maintain topical meetings in Community Engagement workgroup & invite City Executives and/or City Manager Meet directly 1-2x a year with City Manager about priority recommendations Challenges - Scheduling, Commissioner & Community avail for weekday daytime meetings, workgroup engagement for planning, ownership of followup engagement w/ AAPI leaders & groups City Manager open to direct mtgs w/ AAQoL commisisoners, provides connection & learning opportunities between AAQoL and AAPI leaders and communities 2 3. AARC WORKGROUP UPDATES AACME related updates Creative Reset II - World Cafes & Online Survey, Marion Sanchez assisting Reorg taking time to iron out some details including maintenance Temp reorg - Tony Vo acting Division Mgr over Cultural Center, Marjorie Flanagan over DAC & smaller museums, Leila Grace Pandy acting Mgr over AARC Capital Improvement Projects Pavilion - finalizing construction contract w/ Flintco for a Q1 start Watershed - out to bid in Dec, projected mid/late Q1 start NAAO Donor Wall - awaiting approval after submission late Oct. 3 3. AARC WORKGROUP UPDATES CONT. Challenges Reorg during a budget deficit Current hiring freeze 2 of 3 commissioners also have significant other workgroup or JIC roles Opportunities AARC recognition & attendance is high, starting to hit its stride in AAPI-forward programs Friends of AARC group to be hosted as a program of AAAFF Growing workgroup to include committee members or leaders from the new Friends groups Would have ability to fundraise for CIP or program enhancement through AAAFF 4 4. JOINT INCLUSION COMMISSION UPDATES Get to know your Commissioners event Hosted by Office of Equity and Inclusion Traditionally hosted in tandem with budget input sessions, but Due to TRE, this process was paused for the year. 4 events (3 in person, 1 virtual) held at different rec centers or libraries in the CIty. AAQOL JIC rep attended most recent event on 11/12, where 4 commissioners and 4 community members were present. Overall theme from discussion reflected a need for more communication from the City, and given older adults in attendance, specific need for information to be available in person, in addition to online resources for this age group 5 5. BUDGET REC FY2025 budget recs for reference: PRIORITIES DISCUSSION Budget priorities brainstorm: AARC Customer and Front Desk Support AARC Senior Program Language Access AARC Performance Pavilion Staffing Marketing & Community Engagement Staff for Cultural Centers Austin Public Health Immigrant Legal Services Austin Public Health AAPI Mental & Behavioral Health Services AAPI Community Health Navigators Expanding Equity & Inclusion Trainings Culturally Relevant Foods in Emergency Operations Parks and Recreation Expansion of Senior Programming Language Access Updated Asian American Quality of Life Study 6 6. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKING GROUP FORMATION DISCUSSION Purpose(s): Priorities for new workgroup brainstorm: Workgroup Time Period Other Discussion 7