REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026, AT 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, ROOM 1101 301 W 2nd STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs 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, contact Nekaybaw Watson, 512-974-2562, nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS : Miriam Dorantes, Chair Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Diane Kanawati Melissa Ortega Yohana Saucedo AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Azeem Edwin Jeanne “Canan” Kaba Wilson Ramirez Meghna Roy Caroline Solis 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 Commission on Immigrant Affairs regular meeting on May 4, 2026. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding an update to the Levers of Economic Mobility Index. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation from Communities in Schools discussing the programmatic impact. Presentation by Lauren Woods, Chief Student Success Officer, Communities in Schools and Rebecca Gamboa Gomez, Chief Student Success Officer, Communities in Schools. 4. Discussion on future priorities and goals of the commission. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from the JIC representative regarding May meeting of the JIC. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT 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 the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Nekaybaw Watson at Austin City Clerk’s Office Department, at 512-974-2562 or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission on Immigrant Affairs please contact Nekaybaw Watson at 512-974-2562 or nekaybaw.watson@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 310 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Dorantes called the meeting to order at 6:40pm. Commissioners in Attendance: Miriam Dorantes, Chair Azeem Edwin Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Alondra Johnson, Vice-Chair Adrian De La Rosa Aditi Joshi Jeanne Kaba Diane Kanawati Caroline Solis Yohanna Saucedo Commissioners Absent: Melissa Ortega Meghana Roy PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting on April 6, 2026. The minutes of the April 6, 2026, regular meeting of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs were approved during the regular meeting on May 4, 2026, on Commissioner Kanawati’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on a 7-0 vote. Vice Chair Johnson and Commissioner Saucedo were off dais. Commissioners Ortega and Roy were absent. 1 STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing from Austin Police Victim Services Unit regarding the services they provide specifically to their immigrant community. Presentation by Kachina Clark, Victim Services and Employee Wellness Division Manager, Tracy Morris, Victim Services Manager, and Stephanie Gonzales, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator. Briefing was given by Tracy Morris, Victim Services Manager and Stephanie Gonzales, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update from Quality-of-Life Study Working Group regarding study timeline and progress made. (Commissioners: Johnson, Ortega, Joshi, Kaba, Kanawati, Edwin). Update was given by Commissioner Kanawati. Discussion on future priorities and goals of the commission. Discussion was held. 4. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a letter of support from the Commission on Immigrant Affairs for funding and staffing support for Academia Cuauhtli. The motion to approve the letter of support with the relevant recommendation number was approved on Vice Chair Johnson’s motion, Chair Dorantes’ second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Ortega and Roy were absent. 6. 7. Create a Budget Working Group to track the FY 2026-2027 approved recommendations of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. The motion to approve the creation of a Budget Working group that tracks the Fy2026- 2027 approved recommendations of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs with Chair Dorantes and Commissioners Kanawati, Saucedo, and Solis as members was approved on Vice Chair Johnson’s motion, Commissioner Kanawati’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Ortega and Roy were absent. Discussion to review and revise the scope and priorities of the U-Visa, T-Visa Working …
CIS in Austin Services and Outcomes Immigrant Affairs Commission June 1st, 2026 Integrated Student Support (ISS) Model Tier 3: Individualized Support • Working one-on-one with students • Intensive mental health supports • Providing basic needs • Home visits Tier 2: Targeted Programs • College campus tours • Self-esteem groups • Leadership groups • Friendship skill development Tier 1: Schoolwide Services • Attendance challenge • Red Ribbon Week • Kindness Week • Career Fairs • Basic Needs 2 Menu of Case Management Services Enrichment: Mental & Behavioral Health: • Behavior Intervention, Skill Building Activities, Conflict Resolution, Crisis Intervention • Mentoring • Professional Mental Health Services • Safety Intervention Student /Teacher Conferences • Field Trips Summer Camps and activities • • Creative Arts/ Recreation activities • Before and after school activities • School Climate activities Case Management/ Academics & Attendance: Goal Setting & Monitoring: • Individual goal setting for academic, attendance, and behavior needs • Goal-related intervention planning with student; monitoring check-ins • Case consultation, staffing, service coordination 3 • Tutoring and Homework Assistance Student / Teacher Conferences • • Attendance Interventions • Language Acquisition Support (Emergent Bilingual) Parent/ Family Engagement: • Home visits • Parent Conferences • Family referrals to community resources • Care Coordination & ASPIRE multi-generational learning programs Health & Human Services: • Basic Needs Assistance: (food, clothing, household, rental assistance, utilities) • Transportation assistance • Independent Living Skills Development • Agency Referrals CIS in Austin: 2025-26 Students and Services 72 Schools served 40,100 Students receive school-wide supports 6,525 Students receive intensive case management $433,000 Direct assistance to students & families 94% Qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch 21% Emergent Bilingual (English Language Learners) 17% Experience Family Conflict or Crisis 16% Special Education Program 5% Experiencing Homelessness 3% Have an incarcerated parent/guardian 94% of student body receiving school- wide supports 4 2024-25 Total Unique Services Provided: 188,173 ➢ 61,657 Behavior/mental health supports ➢ 70,923 Individual case management check-ins ➢ 20,931 Basic Needs Assistance ➢ 5,012 Tutoring/ Homework Assistance Sessions ➢ 3,023 Attendance Interventions ➢ 14,277 Parent/Family Engagement Activities 93,981 5 1,438 Intensive Home Visits 9,557 Community Partner-provided Services, totaling 6,815 Hours Closing Achievement Gaps for Emergent Bilingual Students 56% of Asian American CIS students served in Austin are “Emergent Bilingual” along with 27% of Hispanic students ➢ These students began the schoolyear with lower average course grades in core subjects. ➢ By the end of the school year, they …
