Versión en español a continuación. Commission for Women Meeting Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Commission for Women be held Wednesday, May 5, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Tuesday, May 4, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the May 5, 2021 Commission for Women Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-3203 or jonathan.babiak@austintexas.gov no later than noon, on May 4, 2021. The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to jonathan.babiak@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Reunión del Commission for Women la junta en Miércoles, May 5, 2021 a 9:00 a.m. La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (Martes, May 4, 2021 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de (512) 974-3203 or jonathan.babiak@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que se utilizará para …
Understanding the Needs of Women in Central Texas What We’ll Discuss Today / About the Women’s Fund / Our evolution of understanding our community’s needs / What we’ve learned & how this has informed our grant-making / Recommendations for the Commission / Questions ABOUT US The Women’s Fund / We are a collective giving network that annually grants out $400,000 to nonprofits advancing women’s economic security. / Founded in 2004 to address the needs of women and children in Central Texas - since founding we have granted out over $2.4 million. / At the time, there was a lack of philanthropic support targeting the unique needs of women and no comprehensive data tracking their well-being. / Since then, we’ve seen that the most pressing issues in our community are the racial wealth and health divide faced by women of color. Our Strategies The Women’s Fund invests in programs and organization that … Housing – Support affordable housing for women that includes a network of support and/or opportunities for long-term wealth building. Child Care – Expand access to safe, quality, culturally competent, and affordable child care that is conveniently located for families with low-incomes. Education – Provide access to an ecosystem of support – financial, emotional, and academic – for women pursing educational dreams. Women’s Health Tackling Health Disparities – Reduce health disparities faced by women of color. Unintended Pregnancy Prevention – Increase access to consumable, unbiased, pregnancy prevention resources. UNDERSTANDING NEEDS Strategy Evolution / Committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that benefited women and/or children / There was not a defined strategic focus beyond intended beneficiaries Women’s Fund Grantmaking Grants funded needs & solutions as defined by NPOs that addressed a myriad of issues Strategy Evolution / Committed to supporting the economic security of women in Central Texas / Used data and Investor input to define strategies in 4 areas of impact: / Housing / Child Care / Education / Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Community Level Data Women’s Fund Strategic Grantmaking Investor Input Strategy Evolution / Recognition that focus on the economic security of women must be explicit in its focus on women of color / Acknowledgement that processes can favor larger, white-led nonprofits and that leaders of color are often best positioned to serve communities of color / Incorporate community voice and nonprofit leader input, along with data and Investor input to refine grant policies and strategies Community Member Input Women’s …
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, April 7, 2021 REGULER MEETING Wednesday, April 7, 2021 COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MINUTES The Commission for Women convened for a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 via videoconference. Chair Austen called the Commission Meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Rebecca Austen, Chair Flannery Bope, Vice Chair Tanya Athar-Jogee Julia Cuba Lewis Juliana Gonzales Amanda Lewis Diana Melendez Hemali Patel Josie Serrata Commissioners Absent: Neva Fernandez Sarah Tober Vacant: None Staff in Attendance: April Shaw, Human Resources Department 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Commission for Women regular meeting on March 3, 2021. The minutes from the regular meeting on March 3, 2021 were approved on Commissioner Gonzales’ motion, Commissioner Cuba Lewis’ second on a vote of 9-0, with Commissioners Fernandez and Tober absent. COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES 2. OLD BUSINESS Wednesday, April 7, 2021 a. Discussion and possible action regarding updated from the following working groups: i. Homelessness Discussion was held. No action was taken. ii. Safety iii. Health Discussion was held. No action was taken. Discussion was held. No action was taken. iv. Recognition of Equity for Women and Girls Discussion was held. No action was taken. Committee. Discussion was held. No action was taken. FY2021 budget. Discussion was held. No action was taken. b. Discussion and possible action regarding updates from the Joint Inclusion c. Discussion and possible action regarding the recommendation for the City of Austin d. Discussion and possible action regarding Commission for Women Working Groups. The motion to add Commissioner Patel to the Health Working Group was made on Chair Austen’s motion, Vice Chair Bope’s second on a vote of 8-0, with Commissioner Serrata off the dais, and Commissioners Fernandez and Tober absent. 3. NEW BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action regarding election of a Chair of the Commission for Women. The motion to re-elect Chair Austen as Chair of the Commission for Women was approved on Commissioner Gonzales’ motion, Commissioner Cuba Lewis’ second, on a COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, April 7, 2021 vote of 8-0 with Commissioner Serrata off the dais, and Commissioners Fernandez and Tober absent. b. Discussion and possible action regarding election of a Vice-Chair of the Commission for Women. The motion to re-elect Vice-Chair Bope as Vice-Chair of the Commission for Women was approved on Commissioner Gonzales’ motion, Commissioner Cuba Lewis’ second, …
Local Menstrual Equity Policy Proposals Written by Andrea Elizondo This brief is meant to show examples of menstrual equity policies that have been implemented in different municipalities across the United States. The most common theme among municipal menstrual equity policies is providing free menstrual products within municipal properties especially properties that are frequently visited by the public like libraries, parks, recreation centers, and healthcare clinics. The beginning of implementing municipal menstrual equity policies started through a discussion that led to a proclamation, which later led to conducting feasibility studies on the fiscal impact of providing free menstrual products in all or certain public buildings. After conducting feasibility studies, the municipality would implement an ordinance to provide free menstrual products in all or certain public buildings. Municipal Menstrual Equity Policies Around the U.S. Maryland. MD Code, Hous. & Cmty. Dev § 4-2401 "Feminine hygiene products" means tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. "Local administering agency" means the agency designated by the Department or a local government to manage the programs for transitional housing services, including the Homeless Women - Crisis Shelter Home Program, and to provide a service directly or by contract with a service provider. "Service provider" means a public or private nonprofit that contracts with the Department or a local administering agency to provide shelter services for homeless individuals. The Department shall make available to: service providers and local administering agencies for service providers a supply of feminine hygiene products sufficient to meet the needs of female residents in shelters… The feminine hygiene products provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be made available free to: service providers, local administering agencies for service providers, and female residents in shelters… New York City Code § 12-207 Availability of feminine hygiene products Feminine hygiene products: The term “feminine hygiene products” means tampons and sanitary napkins for use in connection with the menstrual cycle. Temporary shelters: The term “temporary shelters” means department of homeless services family with children shelters, adult family shelters, single adult women shelters and single adult men shelters; and human resources administration domestic violence shelters and HIV/AIDS services administration (HASA) shelters. The department of citywide administrative services shall make available to agencies operating or having oversight of providers operating temporary shelters a supply of feminine hygiene products sufficient to meet the needs of residents. …
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN RECOMMENDATION 20210505-02a Date: May 5, 2021 Subject: Local Menstrual Health Equity Motioned By: Flannery Bope Seconded By: Juliana Gonzales Recommendation to Council WHEREAS, the Commission for Women (“Commission”) of the City of Austin (“City”) serves as an advisory body that advocates for and inspires the City Council (“Council”) and City Manager to prioritize women’s quality of life, so that Austin becomes the most equitable city in the nation for women and girls; and WHEREAS, the average woman has her period for 2,535 days of her life, which is about seven years, and will spend about $18,000 on menstrual products. Tampons and pads are subject to sales tax and not covered by food stamps. For women below the poverty line, this means they may go without menstrual products, which may lead to missed work and school; and WHEREAS, the commission requested, via recommendation 20190814-0303 on July 10, 2019, funding be put in place for the development and enactment of a menstrual equity program in all City facilities, and worked with Austin Public Health to launch a menstrual equity pilot program at several City facilities, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Commission recommends that Council expand Austin Public Health’s original initiative through the following: 1. Providing free menstrual products in the following spaces: a. Showers and bathrooms accessible to people experiencing homelessness, such as those listed in the COA COVID-19 Basic Needs Map b. Austin Public Health facilities like the Neighborhood Centers and Sexual Health Clinic. c. All Austin Public Library Facilities d. All community recreation centers and summer camps 2. Providing period care kits through: a. Partnerships with nonprofits like The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF), extending hygiene services to include menstrual products. b. For people experiencing homelessness via the Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) and Austin Public Health facilities. c. The Mobile Van Program from the Health Equity Unit d. The Austin Shelter for Women and Children (ASWC) 1 3. Providing educational programming and awareness: a. Developing materials (ex: brochures) about menstruation and menstrual disorders. b. Reference list of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that accept indigent clients in Austin/Travis County area. c. Austin Public Library grow its inventory re: materials about menstruation and menstrual disorders Date of Approval: May 5, 2021 Record of the vote: Unanimous on a 6-0 vote, with four commissioners absent, and one district vacant. Attest: Jonathan Babiak Jonathan Babiak, Staff Liaison 2
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, May 5, 2021 COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MINUTES The Commission for Women convened for a regular meeting on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 via videoconference. REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, May 5, 2021 Chair Austen called the Commission Meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Rebecca Austen, Chair Flannery Bope, Vice Chair Julia Cuba Lewis Neva Fernandez Juliana Gonzales Diana Melendez Hemali Patel Josie Serrata Sarah Tober Commissioners Absent: Vanessa Bissereth Vacant: District 6 Staff in Attendance: Jonathan Babiak, Office of Civil Rights 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES on April 7, 2021. 2. OLD BUSINESS groups: i. Homelessness a. Consider approval of the minutes from the Commission for Women regular meeting The minutes from the regular meeting on April 7, 2021 were approved on Chair Austen’s motion, Vice Chair Bope’s second on a vote of 9-0, with Commissioner Bissereth absent. a. Discussion and possible action regarding updated from the following working Discussion was held. No action was taken. COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES ii. Safety iii. Health Discussion was held. No action was taken. Wednesday, May 5, 2021 The motion to approve a recommendation to the City Council regarding Local Menstrual Health Equity was made on Vice Chair Bope’s, Commissioner Gonzales’ second on a vote of 6-0 with Commissioners Bissereth, Cuba Lewis, Serrata, and Tober absent. iv. Recognition of Equity for Women and Girls Discussion was held. No action was taken. b. Discussion and possible action regarding updates from the Joint Inclusion Discussion was held. No action was taken. c. Discussion and possible action regarding updates from the Winter Storm Review Discussion was held. No action was taken. d. Discussion and possible action regarding 2021 Commission for Women Working Committee. Task Force Groups. e. Discussion and possible action regarding the recommendation for the City of Austin Discussion was held. No action was taken. FY2022 budget. Discussion was held. No action was taken. f. Discussion regarding transition of Commissions to the Civil Rights Office. Discussion was held. No action was taken. 3. NEW BUSINESS Women. a. Discussion and possible action regarding appointments to the Commission for Discussion was held. No action was taken. b. Presentation by Kimberly Theodore Sidey, Program Manager, Austin Community Foundation, and discussion and possible action regarding the Women’s Fund, including research and grant making on addressing the escalating opportunity gap faced by women and especially women of color in the region. Discussion was held. …
