REGULAR MEETING OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026, 6:00 P.M. AUSTIN CITY HALL, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS ROOM 1101 301 W. 2ND ST AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Human Rights Commission 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, call or email Ryan Sperling at ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov or 512-974-3568 CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Kolby Duhon, Chair (He/They) Muneeb “Meebs” Aslam (He/Him) Jeffrey Clemmons George Jambor Harriet Kirsh-Pozen Tannya Oliva Martínez Morgan Davis, Vice Chair (He/Him) Mindy Morgan Avitia Lila Igram Mariana Krueger (She/Her) Maryam Khawar AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 Human Rights Commission regular meeting on June 22, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding the Human Rights Impact Review. Briefing by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, and Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity & Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Presentation by the SAFE Alliance regarding their closing and at-risk programs. Presentation by Dani Fletcher, Director of Communications and Marketing, SAFE Austin. Discussion regarding the final submission of the 2025 Annual Report. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a recommendation regarding the Continuation and Expansion of Funding for Communities In School of Central Texas to Protect Equal Opportunity, Student Stability, and Access to Essential Support. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 6. Update from the Anti-Hate Working group regarding July meeting insights. 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 Ryan Sperling at Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-3568 or ryan.sperling@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Human Rights Commission, please contact Ryan Sperling at …
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2026 The Human Rights Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 301 W. 2nd St., Boards & Commissions Room, in Austin, Texas. Chair Duhon called the Human Rights Commission meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Kolby Duhon (Chair) Morgan Davis (Vice Chair) Lila Igram Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Meebs Aslam Harriet Kirsh Pozen Tannya Oliva Martinez Mindy Morgan Avitia Jeffrey Clemmons PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Susana Almanza- Land Acquisition APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Human Rights Commission regular meeting on April 26, 2026. The minutes were approved without objection on Chair Duhon’s motion on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Jambor, Khawar, and Krueger were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Briefing to provide updates on the Levers of Economic Mobility Index. Presentation by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity & Inclusion. The briefing was provided by Gary Aaron, Business Process Consultant Sr., and Shivani Datar, Business Process Specialist, Austin Equity & Inclusion. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1 3. 4. 5. Presentation regarding the work that Communities in Schools of Central Texas does for students and families of Austin. Presentation by Rebecca Gamboa Gomez, Chief Student Success Officer, Communities in Schools of Central Texas. Presentation by Rebecca Gamboa Gomez, Chief Student Success Officer, Communities in Schools of Central Texas. Discussion and updates on homelessness and foster care recommendation. Update by Commissioner Aslam. Discussion regarding the commission’s 2025 Annual Internal Review & Report. This item was postponed to July without objection on Chair Duhon’s motion. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Approve a recommendation to Council condemning hate-motivated attacks on houses of worship and urging enhanced City response to protect faith communities in Austin. Discussion was held. No action was taken. Approve a recommendation to Council for long term infrastructure for sexual assault forensic examination and survivor services. The recommendation to Council for long term infrastructure for sexual assault forensic examination and survivor services was approved as amended on Commissioner Aslam’s motion, Commissioner Clemmons’ second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Jambor, Khawar, and Krueger were absent. The following amendments were accepted without objection: In the first BE IT RESOLVED, strike “City Council, City Manager’s Office, and Austin Police Department” and insert “that City Council direct the City Manager’s Office and Austin Police Department to”. In the first BE IT …
Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities Human Rights Impact Review Austin Equity and Inclusion Human Rights Commission Monday, July 27, 2026, 6:00 PM (City Hall) What is a Human Rights Framework? A human rights framework evaluates government performance through the lens of residents’ rights, and equitable access to services. dignity, Rather than asking whether programs exist, it asks whether people's rights are being fulfilled and where barriers remain. Why is it necessary and how does it support the City? Policies and services can exist without reaching those who need them most. A human rights framework helps identify gaps, improve accountability, and ensure that city decisions advance dignity, equity, and access for all residents. 2 Co - Created Impact Review The City engaged Henekom Group, a human rights consulting firm, to conduct an independent Human Rights Impact Review. The review included research across sources , engagement with more than 160+ 300 stakeholders with 120 participants , and a community workshop to identify and prioritize human rights risks and opportunities across 12 key issue areas. The resulting recommendations were co created, reflecting community input and - best practice from international human rights standards. 3 City of Austin - Human Rights Framework "Design and implement a Human Rights framework for assessing existing City services and programs to improve accessibility and responsiveness for residents' needs." 160+ 300+ Sources and commissions reviewed Stakeholders identified and engaged 120 Registered workshop attendees 92 Issues identified 69 Proposed mitigation for salience s 4 Steps to Conduct a Human Rights Impact Review Issue Identification → Mitigation Identification → Stakeholder Engagement → Implementation 1 Desk Research Dec 2025 - Jan 2026: 12 issue areas, 160+ sources 2 3 4 5 6 Issue & Mitigation Identification Defined salient human rights issues and potential mitigations Mapping Stakeholder Built 300+ stakeholder list with community and City Council recommendations Assessment Landscape Reviewed existing programs, initiatives, ordinances, and laws informed by community and City Council - identified issues and mitigations, Activity Set - Up Designed with pre with blank tabs available for write Facilitator Trained facilitators with landscape insights to avoid duplicating existing mitigations Training - ins 7 Human Rights Workshop Multi - stakeholder dialogue at March 23 workshop, approximately 120 attendees - Building Consensus 8 9 HeneKom’s Activity Analysis Scored and identified salient issues and mitigations for priority action Post Workshop Survey Sent to all registered stakeholders unable to attend 10 Human Rights Post …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number: [YYYYMMDD-XXX]: Continuation and Expansion of Funding for Communities In Schools of Central Texas to Protect Equal Opportunity, Student Stability, and Access to Essential Supports WHEREAS, the Human Rights Commission is charged with advising the City Council on matters involving discrimination, promoting equal opportunity, and recommending measures that help ensure Austin is a city where all persons and groups are protected, treated with dignity, and able to fully participate in civic, educational, economic, and community life; and WHEREAS, Communities In Schools of Central Texas provides school-based, prevention-oriented services that help students and families overcome barriers related to poverty, housing instability, behavioral health needs, food insecurity, family crisis, and other circumstances that can impede equal access to education and opportunity; and WHEREAS, these barriers disproportionately affect students from low-income households, students of color, emergent bilingual students, students receiving special education services, and students experiencing family or housing instability, making continued access to campus-based support a matter directly connected to equity and human rights; and WHEREAS, Communities In Schools of Central Texas embeds trained professionals directly in schools to provide integrated student supports, including case management, behavioral health support, basic needs assistance, family engagement, crisis intervention, and referrals to community resources; and WHEREAS, in Austin, Communities In Schools of Central Texas provides school-based supports across Austin-area campuses, including direct services to students and families through intensive case management, behavioral health support, basic needs assistance, home visits, family engagement, and coordinated referrals to community partners; and WHEREAS, Communities In Schools of Central Texas’ 2024–2025 outcomes show that 99.9% of case- managed students stayed in school, 98.7% graduated or were promoted to the next grade level, and 90.2% improved in one or more of their individual academic, attendance, or behavior need areas; and WHEREAS, the Harvard EdRedesign Lab and Opportunity Insights study, When Resources Meet Relationships: The Returns to Personalized Supports for Low-Income Students, found that access to the Communities In Schools model improves academic achievement, increases high school graduation and college enrollment, and improves long-term earnings for students from low-income families; and WHEREAS, current municipal budget pressures threaten the continuity of critical youth, family, and behavioral health services, and reductions to school-based supports would place additional strain on students and families already facing systemic barriers to stability and opportunity; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Human Rights Commission affirms that continued City investment in …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Human Rights Commission Recommendation Number: 20260727-005: Continuation and Expansion of Funding for Communities In Schools of Central Texas to Protect Equal Opportunity, Student Stability, and Access to Essential Supports WHEREAS, the Human Rights Commission is charged with advising the City Council on matters involving discrimination, promoting equal opportunity, and recommending measures that help ensure Austin is a city where all persons and groups are protected, treated with dignity, and able to fully participate in civic, educational, economic, and community life; and WHEREAS, Communities In Schools of Central Texas provides school-based, prevention-oriented services that help students and families overcome barriers related to poverty, housing instability, behavioral health needs, food insecurity, family crisis, and other circumstances that can impede equal access to education and opportunity; and WHEREAS, these barriers disproportionately affect students from low-income households, students of color, emergent bilingual students, students receiving special education services, and students experiencing family or housing instability, making continued access to campus-based support a matter directly connected to equity and human rights; and WHEREAS, Communities In Schools of Central Texas embeds trained professionals directly in schools to provide integrated student supports, including case management, behavioral health support, basic needs assistance, family engagement, crisis intervention, and referrals to community resources; and WHEREAS, in Austin, Communities In Schools of Central Texas provides school-based supports across Austin-area campuses, including direct services to students and families through intensive case management, behavioral health support, basic needs assistance, home visits, family engagement, and coordinated referrals to community partners; and WHEREAS, Communities In Schools of Central Texas’ 2024–2025 outcomes show that 99.9% of case-managed students stayed in school, 98.7% graduated or were promoted to the next grade level, and 90.2% improved in one or more of their individual academic, attendance, or behavior need areas; and WHEREAS, the Harvard EdRedesign Lab and Opportunity Insights study, When Resources Meet Relationships: The Returns to Personalized Supports for Low-Income Students, found that access to the Communities In Schools model improves academic achievement, increases high school graduation and college enrollment, and improves long-term earnings for students from low-income families; and WHEREAS, current municipal budget pressures threaten the continuity of critical youth, family, and behavioral health services, and reductions to school-based supports would place additional strain on students and families already facing systemic barriers to stability and opportunity; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Human Rights Commission affirms that continued City investment in Communities …
