COMMISSION FOR WOMEN WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2025, AT 12:00 P.M. CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 301 WEST 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Commission for Women 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 remotely, contact Christi Vitela at christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2792. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Becky Bullard, Chair Alexandria Anderson Vanessa Bissereth Angela Harris Diana Melendez AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Jocelyn Tau, Vice Chair Katrina Scheihing Rabia Shaik Fernanda Veloz Salas Shaimaa Zayan 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 for Women regular meeting on October 1, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on the Quality of Life Study on Austin’s Women and Girls. Presentation by Dr. Jessica Calderon-Mora, Assistant Professor, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin. 3. Discussion of the Texas Legislature’s Bathroom Bill and Abortion Pill Ban. 4. Update on an SBA Grant through the Better Business Bureau for Women’s Entrepreneurship DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding the Office of Community Liaison. 6. Formation of a working group to focus on maternal health in the Austin area. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 7. Update from the Recognition Working Group on the most recent meetings and progress towards the 2026 event. 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 Christi Vitela at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission for Women, please contact Christi Vitela at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Commission for Women Regular Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 1, 2025 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, October 1st, 2025, at City Hall, 301 W 2nd Street, Austin, TX. Chair Bullard called the Commission for Women regular meeting to order at 12:21 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Becky Bullard, Chair Katrina Scheihing Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Angela Harris Diana Melendez Jocelyn Tau, Vice Chair Fernanda Veloz-Salas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on September 3, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of September 3, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Scheihing’s motion, Commissioner Veloz Salas’ second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Anderson, Bissereth, Shaik, and Zayan were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding an introduction and an overview of Austin Equity and Inclusion by the Commission’s new Executive Liaison Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Austin Equity and Inclusion, and Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. 1 COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 1, 2025 The presentation was made by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Austin Equity and Inclusion, and Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation by Michael Ward Jr., President and CEO, Universal Tech Movement, regarding an updated mission, digital inclusion efforts and ways in which the commission can support UTM's pathways into technology. The presentation was made by Michael Ward Jr., President and CEO, Universal Tech Movement. 4. Update on an SBA Grant through the Better Business Bureau for Women’s Entrepreneurship. Withdrawn. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve the formation of a Working Group to focus on Maternal Health in the Austin area. The motion to postpone was approved on Commissioner Scheihing’s motion, Commissioner Melendez’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Anderson, Bissereth, Shaik, and Zayan were absent. 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the Office of Community Liaison. Discussed. 7. Approve the Commission for Women 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule. The motion to approve the regular meeting schedule as amended below was approved on Commissioner Veloz Salas’ motion, Commissioner Scheihing’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Anderson, Bissereth, Shaik, and Zayan were absent. The amendment was to replace July 1, 2026, with July 8, 2026. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Update from the Quality of Life Study researchers Update from the Recognition Working Group Formation of a …
N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 5 U P D A T E Quality of Life Study Women and Girls Presented by: Jessica Calderón-Mora, DrPH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | POPULATION HEALTH DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | CANCER CONTROL AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS | UT AUSTIN CANCER CENTER Gratitude to… Commission for Women Community Members UT Austin Undergrad Students Community Organizations UT Austin Dell Med Staff Overview of Quality of Life Study November 2024 – May 2025 Environmental Scan: Community Organization Interviews Community Organization Purpose AFSSA Latinitas SAFE Provides culturally specific support and advocacy for Asian and immigrant survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking in Central Texas Empowers girls through culturally tailored STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education, digital literacy, and career exploration and mentoring programs. Works to stop and prevent abuse through shelter, counseling, advocacy, and prevention programs for survivors of violence. Foundation Communities Offers affordable housing and on-site support services to help low-income families and individuals achieve stability and success. Equidad ATX Focuses on equitable, sustainable neighborhood revitalization and breaking the cycle of generational poverty in Austin’s Eastern Crescent. Texas Advocacy Project Provides free legal services and advocacy to end domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. GirlForward Mama Sana Supports refugee girls through mentoring, education, and safe spaces to help them thrive in their new communities. Provides free and holistic pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support, resourced, and education to communities of color in Central Texas. Key Findings: Four Core Domains of Service Medical and Mental Health Services Safety and Legal Services Education and Family Engagement Housing Availability and Stability Overarching Themes Emphasis on Holistic Support and Interorganizational Collaboration Impact Measurement of Services Service Needs Identification, Prioritization, and Outreach City Coordination December 2024 – June 2025 Surveys Measures Sociodemographics Transportation Access to and quality of health care Quality of Life and Well-being Neighborhood and Housing Life satisfaction and Stress Distribution by Events Date Location Counts 1/18/2025 Del Valle Equidad ATX 2/7/2025 Turner Roberts 2/12/2025 Northeast Middle School 2/12/2025 Con Mi Madre 2/14/2025 Webber Middle School 2/15/2025 2/18/2025 2/20/2025 2/24/2025 2/25/2025 2/25/2025 2/27/2025 Del Valle Equidad ATX Creedmoor Equidad ATX Dobie Middle School Zilker Studios Foundation Communities Crocket High School Garden Terrace Foundation Communities Turner Roberts LWVB 3/30/2025 I Slay 5/6/2025 iAct 5/30/2025 Burmese Total 47 22 13 39 13 47 31 11 30 4 15 56 43 24 40 435 Distribution by …
