REGULAR MEETING of the EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 6:00 PM City Hall – Boards and Commissions Room 301 W. Second St. Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Advisory Board may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. To speak in person, registration is required at least 10 min prior to the start of the meeting. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register call or email the board liaison at 512-974-3771 or michelle.rojas@austintexas.gov BOARD MEMBERS Angelica Navarro, Chair (D-8) Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair (Mayor) Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member (D-10) Noemi Castro, Member (D-2) John Estrada, Member (D-3) Gerardo Gandy, Member (D-7) Vacant, Member (D-9) Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member (D-5) Mónica Siañez, Member (D-6) Anthony Martinez, Member (D-4) Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member (D-1) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a (3) three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Regular Meeting of January 8, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on staffing updates, December and January programs, marketing and outreach efforts, and updates on signature event planning. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative and Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update on Phase 2 Construction Project. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager 4. Presentation from Cassie Smith on Ethnographic dissertation, working group background and current status. Presenter(s): Cassie Smith, ESB-MACC Temp Staff Instructor (Sponsors: Zamarripa-Saenz, Estrada) DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Creation of Music Hub Working Group. (Sponsors Herrera, Navarro) WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from Budget Working Group FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters …
EMMA S. BARRIENROS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at Austin Energy Headquarters – Mueller Assembly Room 1111A located at 4815 Mueller Blvd in Austin, Texas 78723. (Some members of the ESB-MACC Advisory Board participated via videoconference.) Chair Navarro called the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Meeting to order at 6:11pm. Board Members in Attendance: Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Angelica Navarro, Chair Gerardo Gandy, Member Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Anthony Martinez, Member Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member (Arrived at 6:28pm) Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member Noemi Castro, Member John Estrada, Member Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member Staff in Attendance: Marjorie Flanagan, PARD Division Manager of Museums and Cultural Programs Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager Marie Ortiz, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Supervisor Tina Davila, ESB-MACC Administrative Specialist PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Cassie Smith, Member of the Ethnographic Research Working Group, PhD student at the University of New Mexico, and ESB-MACC Education Instructor let the board know that she had recently completed the draft of the Ethnographic dissertation research and had gone through several rounds of comments with her committee. Smith requested that she be placed on the February agenda so that she could provide the board with a presentation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the Regular meeting of December 4, 2024, were approved on Vice Chair Zamarripa- Saenz’s motion. Member Herrera seconded the motion. Unanimous vote (8.0). Motion passed. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on staffing updates, December and January programs, marketing and outreach efforts, and updates on signature event planning. Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative reported on the Holistic Wellness programs, Education, Academia Cuauhtli, Caminos Teen Leadership programming, and current and upcoming marketing and outreach events. Tamzarian reminded the board 1 of the dates for their signature events and provided an update on potential themes for La Mujer. She also announced nominations for their Awards of Excellence event would be opening January 27th and would close March 23rd. She made it clear that board members were not allowed to nominate anyone themselves, but they could encourage others by spreading the word. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update on Phase 2 Construction Project. Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and …
2.5.25 MACC Staff Report – Website - Facebook - Instagram Please share our social media posts, sign up for our newsletter, and check out our upcoming events! Holistic Wellness Programming Past: All-Levels Yoga: Saturdays @ 10:30-11:30am (No class Jan 4,11) Southeast Library Attendance: 30 Focuses on body awareness, connection with the breath. with gentle movement, and time for meditation and relaxation. The library has mats to share. Chair Yoga: 3rd Friday of each month starting January (Jan 31 and Feb 21)@ 10am Yarborough Library Attendance: 6 A gentle form of yoga that can be done seated in a chair. These modifications make yoga accessible to people with various physical abilities Chair Yoga: 3rd Wednesday of each month starting January @ 10am Dove Springs Recreation Center Attendance: 6 A gentle form of yoga that can be done seated in a chair. These modifications make yoga accessible to people with various physical abilities. Women’s Circle (16+): Sunday, Jan 12 @ 3:30-5pm The Center for Arts + Healing Attendance:10 Join us to share in plática (heart-centered conversation), self-care practices, and canto (song). This is a time to connect with others, nurture yourself, and refill your cup under the light of the full moon. Taller Abierto: Painting/Drawing Workshop (18+): Tuesdays, January 14, 28 @ 9-11am Dove Springs Recreation Center Attendance:15 Art classes for all levels. Includes exploration of different techniques. All materials provided! Pre-registration required. Slow Flow + Sound Healing: 4th Saturdays of each month starting Jan. 25 @ 1:30-2:30pm My Vinyasa Practice- Highland Studio Attendance: 5 Join us for a serene and rejuvenating yoga experience. Designed to melt away stress and tension, this class combines gentle yoga poses, breathing techniques, and guided relaxation. The final relaxation includes sound healing bowls to help calm the mind, ease the body, and enhance overall well-being. Great for all levels. Pre-registration required. Voice/Guitar/Songwriting Lessons: Beginner/Intermediate (15+): Mondays, starting Jan. 27 @ 4-5pm Windsor Park Library Attendance: 7 Join award winning song-writer Javier Jara for voice, guitar and songwriting lessons. Skills addressed: left and right hand technique, chords, arpeggios, strumming patterns, vocal technique, and songwriting approaches. Please bring your own guitar. Pre-registration required. Guitar Lessons (15+): Tuesdays, starting January 28 George Washington Carver Museum Beginner 1:45-2:15pm Intermediate 2:45-3:30pm Attendance: 8 Join accomplished musician Mauricio Callejas for guitar lessons for beginners (finger placement, strumming, sight-reading) and intermediate (chord progressions, ear training, reading sheet music) students. Please bring your own …
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Phase 2 Improvements Project Update February 5, 2025 Heidi Tse, Capital Delivery Project Manager PROJECT TIMELINE: ESB MACC Groundbreaking for Phase 2 Improvements / Move-Out Began– 12/10/22. • • Parking Lot Closure – 3/10/23. • Contractor Mobilization/Pre-construction Inspections – Began 3/11/23. • Permitting (Site) – Approved on 7/25/23. • Bidding & Negotiation (GMP1/Site) – Executed contract on 8/28/23. • Construction (Site) – Underway since 8/28/23. • Permitting (Building) – Approved on 3/4/24. • Bidding & Negotiation (GMP2/Building) – Executed contract on 3/7/24. • Construction (Site + Building) – Currently underway. • AIPP ESB-MACC Phase 2 – Artist(s) selection approval by Austin City Council on 8/29/24 • • Building dry-in – Process of ensuring the building envelope is weather sealed is expected mid-February. Topping Out – Topmost structural beam was lifted into place on 9/11/24. CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS: • Site retaining wall at Zocalo is 75% complete. • Brick installation is ongoing and progressing to the north addition. • New electrical panels energized for the new building additions. • Test cleaning of exterior precast panels. • Installation of major mechanical equipment. • Preparing interior exposed concrete floors for final finish. • Framing interior soffits, doors, and windows. Site Tour: ANNOUNCEMENTS: • The City of Austin invites the MACC Advisory Board to a construction tour on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at noon (12:00pm) to witness the progress firsthand. The building is projected to be completely enclosed with climate control. The site is still very active but the City wants to offer this last opportunity for a tour to show how the building and grounds have transformed from a vision to a reality. • City Council approved artists, Katherine Telley and Ruben Esquivel, to design and fabricate artwork for the ESB MACC Phase 2, Art in Public Places (AIPP) project. The artists are working on the conceptual design during the first quarter of the year. Please visit AIPP website for more announcements regarding the planned community • Concrete pours and large deliveries will continue. Work hours will adhere to the City’s noise ordinance. engagement for this project. Ordinance information can be found here. • The Confluence, a separate public/private partnership project has increased activities at the ESB MACC. The parking lot is the construction access point for the east side of the creek delta. There are trail detours because of the trail enhancements. Additional information can be …
Making the MACC: Communities of Practice and Latinx Cultural Citizenship Cassie Lynn Smith PhD Candidate University of New Mexico Overview Introduction to the Research Project History of the Community of Practice Contemporary Community of Practice Future of the Community of Practice Findings Applied Research Projects Introduction to the Project Conceptual Framework Community of Practice Cultural Citizenship “…the right to be different (in terms of race, ethnicity, or native language) with respect to the norms of the dominant national community, without compromising one's right to belong, in the sense of participating in the nation-state's democratic processes…. These demands can range from legal, political, and economic issues to matters of human dignity, well-being, and respect” (Rosaldo 1994, 57). Inequality in Austin • Segregation • Lack of Political Self Determination • Unequal Educational Opportunity Barrioization/Barriology (Villa 2000) 1) “the physical regulation and content constitution of space (via land-use decisions and the built environment) Landscape Effect (2) the social control of space via legal/juridical state apparatuses and police authority Law Effect (3) the ideological control of space (via the interpellation of citizen- subjects through educational and informational apparatuses” Media Effect Research Questions 1) What is the role of a community of practice in a publicly managed cultural center? 2) What is the role of a public cultural center in advancing cultural citizenship (Rosaldo 1994) for minoritized communities? 3) What resources, strategies, and techniques did the MACC CoP develop to respond to societal, political, and institutional pressures and if/how are they used in contemporary settings? 4) How did the MACC’s CoP influence the Latinx communities’ relationships with the COA and the future of decision making for and by cultural arts institutions in the city? Methods • Participant Observation • Interviews • Surveys • Archival Data • Photos and Videos Establishing a Community of Practice Segregation Political Self Determination Educational Opportunity Hillside Theater at the Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center Mural by Raúl Valdez Community of Practice Activism • Visibility • Legibility • Accessibility • Ingenuity • Possibility “Repertoire of Resources” (Wenger-Traynor and Wenger-Traynor 2015) Narratives Organizing Networks Praxis Projects Rasquache or Make Do Attitude Intergenerational Learning and Mentorship Contemporary Community of Practice • City of Austin Staff • Artists • Advocates • Art Educators • Participants • Collaborators Contemporary Barrioization in Austin Gentrification Legislation Culturally Relevant Educational Opportunities Community of Practice Activism Visibility Legibility Accessibility Ingenuity Possibility “Repertoire of Resources” (Wenger-Traynor and Wenger-Traynor 2015) …
