REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 12:00 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM, #1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Commission for Women may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 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 Chelsea Pfeifer at chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2498. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Becky Bullard, Chair Alexandria Anderson Vanessa Bissereth Angela Harris Diana Melendez Alicia Ramirez CALL TO ORDER Jocelyn Tau, Vice Chair Katrina Scheihing Rabia Shaik Shaimaa Zayan PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 March 4, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff Briefing regarding 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 AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 3. 4. Update from the Collective Sex Crime Response Model Working Group regarding updates from the last meeting. Update from the Quality of Life Working Group regarding updates from last working group meeting. 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 Chelsea Pfeifer at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2498 or chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission for Women please contact Chelsea Pfeifer at 512-974- 2498 or chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Commission for Women Regular Meeting Minutes Wednesday, March 4, 2026 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Bullard called the Commission for Women Meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Becky Bullard, Chair Alexandria Anderson Alicia Ramirez Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jocelyn Tau, Vice Chair Angela Harris Diana Melendez Rabia Shaik Shaimaa Zayan PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Shan Schaffer- TX Access to Abortion + Healthcare APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women Regular Meeting on February 4, 2026. The minutes from the Commission for Women regular meeting on February 4, 2026 were approved on Commissioner Anderson’s motion, Commissioner Ramirez’s second on a 7-0 vote. Vice Chair Tau was off the dais. Commissioners Bissereth and Scheihing were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation regarding women’s wellness by Noor Collective. Withdrawn without objection. 1 COMMISSION FOR WOMEN MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, March 4, 2026 3. 4. Presentation by Mama Sana Vibrant Woman regarding FY 2026-2027 budget recommendations. The presentation was made by Cherelle VanBrakle, Co-Executive Director of Development, Mama Sana Vibrant Woman. Presentation by American Gateways regarding successes with the City of Austin and a request for the prioritization of immigration funding in the FY 2026-2027 budget. The presentation was made by Edna Yang, Co-Executive Director, American Gateways. Items 5, 9, and 10 were taken up together. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from the Budget Working Group and discussion of possible recommendations. Update was given by Commissioner Anderson. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 9. Recommendation by the Budget Working Group regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. Commissioner Anderson provided a final update and read the recommendation into the record. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. The motion to approve the recommendation to Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2026- 2027 Budget as follows was approved on Chair Bullard’s motion, Commissioner Anderson’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Ramirez was off the dais. Commissioners Bissereth and Scheihing were absent. “Organization: Mama Sana Vibrant Woman Subject: Maternal Health & Housing Stabilization Description of Recommendation to Council (1 of 2): Being a City of Austin partner since 2016, Mama Sana Vibrant Woman delivers culturally responsive maternal health care to Black and Latinx …
Economic Mobility Austin Equity & Inclusion Our Time Together • Economic Mobility Overview • Quality-of-Life Studies: Key Connections • Building the Economic Mobility Index • Turning the Index Into Action • Upcoming Event 2 What Drives Economic Mobility Economic mobility is shaped by our systems, policies, and investments — not just individual effort. Mobility includes building wealth and long-term stability for future generations. Education, health, housing, childcare, and strong social conditions enable families to thrive. In Austin, persistent disparities limit opportunities, but a person’s future shouldn’t be determined by their neighborhood or systemic barriers. Beyond Wages Quality of Life We Shape Systems 3 Quality-of-Life Studies: Key Connections High-Level Themes Financial Progress & Economic Outcomes • Deeply affordable housing • • Utility assistance and energy relief Job pipelines and employment access programs Quality of Life & Well-Being • Pop-up clinics in high-need areas • Culturally competent healthcare training Inclusive planning processes for older • adults Opportunities & Access Teen job search portal • • Strengthen multilingual outreach • Partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and public agencies Families, Communities, & Systems • Neighborhood safety audits • Greening and beautification initiatives • Strengthen family-support systems through childcare access and wraparound services 4 Definition Economic mobility addresses systems to improve unfair conditions that influence whether individuals, families, and communities can prosper over time and across generations. It means access to opportunities and resources needed for basic needs, financial security, and a dignified, high quality of life — regardless of race, place, gender, or ability. 5 Economic Mobility Index Human-centered, place-based tool for understanding conditions that shape residents’ ability to thrive in Austin. Visualizes neighborhood- level disparities as defined by economic mobility. Focuses on underlying conditions to guide service delivery and decision- making using data and community insights. Provides a common lens to support coordination, planning, and shared outcomes—without replacing existing tools. 6 Our Approach: Identifying Levers National Frameworks & Local Tools • Drivers of Poverty • Social Vulnerable Index • Justice 40 • Neighborhood Prosperity Dashboard etc. Hybrid Engagement Process • Quality of Life Studies • CoA Commissions • Internal & External Stakeholders • Every Texan Peer Cities Review 10 cities similar in: • State • Size • Demographics • Product CoA Levers of Economic Mobility • 3 Themes • 6 Sub-themes • 18 Levers of Economic Mobility 7 Building the Index Together Early childhood foundations shape mobility • Indicator: Enrollment in early education (public …
