REGULAR MEETING of the EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, August 6, 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) Anthony Martinez, Member (D-4) Noemi Castro, Member (D-2) Lynda Quintana, Member (D,6) Alexander “Al” Duarte, Member (D-7) Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member (D-1) John Estrada, Member (D-3) Selma Sanchez, Member (D-9) Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member (D-5) 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 June 4, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on staffing updates, June, July and August 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 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Presentation and recommendation on an updated budget request to support Academia Cuauhtli’s programming for fiscal year 25-26 budget. (Sponsors: Zamarripa-Saenz, Martinez) Presenter(s): Dr. María Del Carmen Unda, Academia Cuauhtli 5. Creation of Grand Opening Working Group. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from Music Hub Programming 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 …
EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at City Hall – Board and Commissions Room located at 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas 78701. (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 6:00pm. Board Members in Attendance: Angelica Navarro, Chair Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member Noemi Castro, Member Alexander “Al” Duarte, Member John Estrada, Member Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member (Arrived at 6:17pm) Lynda Quintana, Member Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member Board Members Absent: Anthony Martinez, Member Selma Sanchez, Member Staff in Attendance: 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 No sign-ups for public communication. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the Regular meeting of May 7, 2025, were approved on Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz motion. Member Reyna seconded. Unanimous vote (8.0). Motion passed. Members Herrera, Martinez and Sanchez absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1 2. Staff briefing on staffing updates, April and May programs, marketing and outreach efforts, and updates on signature event planning. Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative provided updates on their Holistic Wellness Programs (HWP), Education, Caminos Teen Leadership programming, and current and upcoming marketing and outreach events. Tamzarian reminded the board of their Awards of Excellence (AOE) event that would take place Saturday, June 28th from 3pm-5pm at the Long Center – Kodosky Lounge. She gave a summary of the event, informing everyone about what to expect, and requested that the winners not be publicly disclosed until an official announcement was made. She indicated the announcement would be shared on their social media platforms and through the City’s news release on June 20, 2025. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Update on the ESB-MACC Phase 2 Construction Project. Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager provided a brief overview of the current project timeline, announcements, scheduled milestones, as well as photos showing the construction progress. (Please see the Board and Commissions Website for backup material.) 4. Discussion on Annual Internal Review Report. Chair Navarro notified the board that the Annual Internal Review …
8.6.25 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: June & July 2025 Salsa & Bachata Basics Thursdays in June @ 6:30pm-7:30pm Pam Am Recreation Center Attendance: 14 – 17 / Session Learn basic steps and body movements that define these popular Latin American dances. No prior experience or partner is needed. Adult Beginner Swim Lessons Tuesdays and Thursdays June 10 - July 3 @ 6 - 6:40pm Mabel Davis Municipal Pool Attendance: 6 / Session ___________________________________________________________________________________ Youth Beginner Swim Lessons (concurrent) Attendance: 9 / Session Students will learn to feel comfortable in the water and basic skills to develop positive attitudes and safe practices in and around the water. Learn to Row June 5th @ 6-7:30pm (Make-up day) Austin Rowing Club Attendance:12 Join us on Lady Bird Lake to be introduced to sweep rowing (using one oar) in a training barge. Learn rowing stroke basics, how to stay safe on the water and handle the rowing equipment. Expect a fun, beginner friendly, and lively experience. All-Levels Yoga Saturdays @ 10:30-11:30am Southeast Library Attendance: 24 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 Wed of each month @ 10am Dove Springs Recreation Center Attendance: 5 ____________________________________________ 3rd Friday of each month @ 10am Windsor Park Branch Attendance: 7 A gentle form of yoga that can be done seated in a chair. These modifications make yoga accessible to people with various physical abilities. Cine de Oro Tuesday, June 24th @ 9-12pm Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center Attendance: 41 Join us for a screening of a film from the golden age of Mexican cinema. Lunch will be served. Healing Garden Workday Sunday, June 29th @ 8:30am – 10am Sunset Valley Community Garden Attendance: 8 At the ESB-MACC's Healing Garden, we grow herbs that can be used in everyday health. If you are interested in gardening or sharing in our harvest, join us for one of our workdays. Volunteers will be working hands on maintaining the garden and its infrastructure. Summer Solstice & Three Sisters Garden Sunday, June 29, 8:30am-10:00am Attendance: 10 In this sunny workshop we will celebrate the summer solstice by planting our traditional three sisters garden with beans, corn and …
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Phase 2 Improvements Project Update August 6, 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 August. Topping Out – Topmost structural beam was lifted into place on 9/11/24. CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS: • • • Zocalo paver installation 80% complete. Sculpture garden granite path in progress. Landscape installation underway. • Windows & doors being tested for water seal and airtightness. • Dividing partitions installed in classrooms. • • Interior flooring installation in progress. Interior shelving and cabinetry installed. • Exterior and interior lighting installation in progress. ANNOUNCEMENTS: • Large hauls and concrete pours will continue. Work hours will adhere to the City’s noise ordinance. 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 found here. • The MACC round-about and driveways continue to experience elevated traffic and congestion due to the volume of work in the area and by other developers. Please exercise caution in this district and check for road closures. • Drone video illustrating ESB MACC site work can be found here. SCHEDULED MILESTONES: • Construction began – August 28, 2023 • Anticipated completion of all major construction activity – Late Summer 2025 • Anticipated reopening – November 1, 2025 Please note that as in any construction project, schedules are projected as accurately as possible, but all dates are subject to change due to the nature of construction and weather. For information on ESB MACC programs and staff relocations during construction, visit the MACC webpage: www.austintexas.gov/department/emma-s-barrientos-mexican-american-cultural-center For project updates, visit the project website: www.austintexas.gov/MaccPhase2 Zocalo: Paver …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250707-012: Support of Academia Cuauhtli Programming and Expansion WHEREAS, since its founding in 2013, Academia Cuauhtli (founded by Nuestro Grupo, a community-based volunteer organization) was established at the ESB-MACC as a free Saturday culture and language revitalization academy for elementary school children and their parents, with a curriculum focused on Indigeneity, social justice, Tejano history, traditional arts, and danza Mexica and since July 2014, Academia Cuauhtli has served as an official educational enterprise partnered with the Austin Independent School District (AISD) and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center (ESB-MACC); and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli, administered through a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Austin, Austin Independent School District (AISD), and Nuestro Grupo embraces and fulfills the purpose of “making Austin a place where its high quality of life is available to and accessible for all its citizens” by advocating for educational equity and well-being for Austin Independent School District students in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its vision statement expressed as “a future where children live with a thinking heart and the courage to pursue their aspirations within the liberating and sacred learning spaces” by overseeing the administrative operations for multiple year long projects which include: Saturday Esquelita (September-March), Summer STEM School (June-August), La Collaborativa Cuauhtli, Cuauhtli Teacher Curriculum Workshops, and a research team comprised of 11 qualitative and quantitative education scholars; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauhtli fulfills its mission expressed as “to honor our communities' cultural heritage, foster social justice, and reclaim our collective identities in pursuit of educational freedom” by serving as a means for the comprehensive advancement of the students and their parents—via its strong partnership with students’ parents—by providing a supportive and uplifting learning environment, as well as for providing for the social, and economic needs, including the extensive COVID-related assistance extended to its participant Latino families during the pandemic in Austin, Texas; and WHEREAS, Academia Cuauthli fulfills its mission by enrolling from 2014-2024 over 800 AISD emergent bilingual students, trained over 250 Indigenous/Latinx public school teachers, hosted over 25 professional development workshops, initiated Cuauhtli’s Grow Your Own bilingual leadership development program for AISD teachers of color, and successfully implemented a research-university-community partnership between AISD, UT Austin’s College of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy faculty and graduate student researchers, the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies …
Subject: A Community Letter of Support for Academia Cuauhtli June 18, 2025 Austin City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701 Dear Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin City Council Members: We write to you as parents, teachers, alumni, and community members who have directly and indirectly benefited from and deeply believe in the mission of Academia Cuauhtli (pronounced KWOWT-lee, meaning Eagle Academy). For more than a decade, this community-rooted program has transformed the educational experiences of hundreds of emergent bilingual students across Austin. We thank you for your past support and endorsement of our work. Today, we respectfully urge you to fully fund Academia Cuauhtli’s FY 2025–2026 $106,000 request put forward by the ESB-MACC for operations, alongside additional funding support for the establishment of a full-time Culture and Arts Education Supervisor position. Located at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC), Academia Cuauhtli is more than a Saturday school—it is a lifeline. It provides free, high-quality, culturally sustaining education to our children in Spanish, English, and Nahuatl. It connects us as families, uplifts our heritage, and helps our children develop pride in who they are. The program has shown us that culturally relevant teaching is not only possible but powerful. Our children come home speaking about Tejano history, environmental justice, and ancestral knowledge—and they are excited to learn. The program has supported over 800 AISD students, trained over 250 teachers, and generated more than 18 original curricular units. It has also helped parents access resources during the pandemic and created leadership opportunities for our youth. It has also become a pathway to master’s and doctoral degrees in educational careers at the University of Texas at Austin with whom we also partnered. Though we are also partnered with the Austin Independent School District, we lament that not a single dollar will go toward Academia Cuauhtli this coming school year. Our community-driven, volunteer-based model ensures that every dollar goes directly into instruction, mentorship, and support for our families. However, we cannot sustain neither this impact nor our anticipated growth as we move back into our home at the ESB-MACC this November without your support. A full-time coordinator is urgently needed to manage and grow the program. For years, this work has been carried on the shoulders of volunteers and part-time staff. As the needs of our community grow, so must our ability to meet them. The funding request—part of …
