REGULAR MEETING of the EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD Wednesday, October 1, 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 September 10, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on staffing updates, September and October 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): Heidi Tse, Capital Delivery Project Manager 4. Update on the permanent pocket park. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Daniel Yen, Capital Delivery Project Manager 5. Presentation on the updated guidelines and process resulting from the Creative Reset phase I. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Morgan Messick, Asst. Director Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment Department 6. Presentation on Academia Cuauhtli’s fall rubric and plans. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenters(s): Angela Valenzuela, Ph.D., Co-founder, Academia Cuauhtli; Emilio Zamora, Ph.D., Co-founder, Academia Cuauhtli; María Del Carmen Unda, Ph.D., Researcher, Academia Cuauhtli; Patricia Núñez, UT student, La Colaborativa Cuauhtli DISCUSSION AND …
EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Permitting and Development Center – Event Center, First Floor, Room 1405 located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas 78752. (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 6:19pm. Board Members in Attendance: Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Angelica Navarro, Chair Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member (Arrived at 6:36pm) Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member Noemi Castro, Member Alexander “Al” Duarte, Member John Estrada, Member Board Members Absent: Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member Anthony Martinez, Member Lynda Quintana, Member Selma Sanchez, Member Staff in Attendance: Marjorie Flanagan, ACME Division Manager of Cultural Education & 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 Speaker 1: Michael Mendoza, founder of Augzoo LLC introduced himself and shared details about his current project titled Bilingual Dinosaurs. A play involving interviewing cultural leaders with imaginative and metaphorical questions. Mendoza expressed interest in presenting a staged reading of the play at the MACC when an opportunity becomes available. He proposed scheduling the event in either the black box theater or the auditorium as a 1- or 3-day collaboration. Speaker 2: Mateo Hernandez, Board Member of Teatro Vivo, provided remarks on the organization’s longstanding relationship with the MACC. He shared a brief history of Teatro Vivo’s engagement with the 1 Center, highlighting the facilities role as a cultural home to them. As a long-time participant in the Latino Artist Access Program (LAAP), Hernandez expressed enthusiasm about the reopening of the Center but voiced concern about the lack of clear communication regarding the return of LAAP participants. He stated that Teatro Vivo has not received information about when-or if-they will be able to resume performances at the MACC. Additionally, he pointed out that although the MACC website indicated the LAAP application would open in August with decisions expected in October, the application had yet to be made available. He questioned how the MACC can effectively serve as a hub for a thriving Latino artist ecosystem if certain artists are unable to apply. He emphasized that artist require consistency and, …
10.1.25 MACC Staff Report – Website - Facebook – Instagram Please share our social media posts, sign up for our newsleter, and check out our upcoming events! Casa de la Cultura Past: All-Levels Yoga: Saturdays @ 10:30-11:30am Southeast Library Attendance: 66 Focuses on body awareness, connection with the breath, with gentle movement, and time for meditation and relaxation. The library has mats to share. Sunset Kayaking: Every Second Wednesday @ 6pm-7:30pm Austin Rowing Club Attendance: 20 Join us on Lady Bird Lake and paddle through the heart of Downtown Austin or paddleboard. . Choose a single or double kayak Chair Yoga: 3rd Wed of each month @ 10am Dove Springs Recreation Center Attendance: est. 5 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 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. Upcoming: All-Levels Yoga: Saturdays @ 10:30-11:30am Southeast Library Focuses on body awareness, connection with the breath, with gentle movement, and time for meditation and relaxation. The library has mats to share. Sunset Kayaking: Every Second Wednesday @ 6pm-7:30pm Aus�n Rowing Club Join us on Lady Bird Lake and paddle through the heart of Downtown Aus�n. Choose a single or double kayak or paddleboard. Chair Yoga: 3rd Wed of each month @ 10am Dove Springs Recreation Center 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 Friday of each month @ 10am Windsor Park Branch A gentle form of yoga that can be done seated in a chair. These modifications make yoga accessible to people with various physical abilities. Youth and Family Educa�on Past: El Grito – Fiesta de la Independencia de Mexico: Sept 15, 6:00pm - 9:00pm Republic Square The ESB-MACC provided children’s arts and cra�s ac�vi�es at the Aus�n Sister Ci�es El Grito celebra�on. Families created colorful jewelry, �ssue paper flags, and flower crowns, or picked up one of our coloring books highligh�ng the history of Mexican Independence Day. Approximately 80 families visited the ESB-MACC ac�vi�es throughout the evening. Peruvian Fes�val – Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept 19, 4:00am - 7:00pm South East Branch Library …
Academia Cuauhtli Summer & Fall 2025 Accomplishments and Plans Funding by City of Austin (one-time) Summer 2025 ● $106,000 allocated to support Academia Cuauhtli’s culturally and linguistically diverse arts programs (2025-2026) ● $80,000 allocated to establish a new, full-time Culture and Arts Education Supervisor role, to ensure program sustainability and growth (2025-2026) Funding by the Austin Independent School District ● Provision of transportation for participating students. ● Provision of meals during program activities. Biliteracy Curriculum Development with La Collaborativa Cuahtli and Manor ISD (see Appendix A) ● Lead by Patricia Nuñez (Academia Cuauthli, UT Austin College of Education Doctoral Student), Julia Hernandez (Academia Cuauhtli and Dual Language Coordinator at Manor ISD) and Maribel Robles (STREAM Bilingual Museum Education Harvard University and Blanton Museum of Art) ● Date: Tuesday June 10, 2025 9am-3:30 ● Total of 20 public school educators ● Location: Benson Latin American Collection, 2nd Floor Nepohualtzintzin Workshop (see Appendix B) From July 23–25, 2025, a hands-on workshop on the Nepohualtzintzin—an Indigenous Mesoamerican mathematical tool—will be held at the Cepeda Austin Public Library (651 N Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78702). The sessions will run daily from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. In total, we had 20 adults and 15 children in attendance (we capped it at 35 due to funding). The Nepohualtzintzin, rooted in the symbolism of 20 fingers and toes, embodies completeness and the worldview that the universe resides within us. The workshop is designed to provide participants with both historical knowledge and practical application of this ancestral mathematical instrument. Workshop objectives include: ● Exploring the historical and cultural significance of the Nepohualtzintzin. ● Examining its physical structure, functions, and mathematical principles. 1 ● Offering guidance for classroom implementation. The program is free of charge, and it welcomes teachers, caretakers, and children (with an accompanying adult). Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/nepo2025 This event is presented in collaboration with Academia Cuauhtli, the Tánko Institute, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, LILAS Benson Latin American Collection, and the University of Texas at Austin Department of History. Research - Publications in preparation and press 1. Martinez, A. (2025). The Effect of Academia, A Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, on English Language Learner Achievement [Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin]. Note: Dr. Anthony Martinez defended his dissertation on March 31, 2025 at the University of Texas at Austin, College of Education and was supervised by Dr. Pedro Reyes. His dissertation should …
Summer 2025 Accomplishments and Fall 2025 Plans Summer 2025: Biliteracy Curriculum Development with La Colaborativa Cuauhtli and Manor ISD ● Patricia Nuñez, La Colaborativa Cuauhtli Project Director, Academia Cuauhtli, Tānko Circle Educator ICI, UT Austin College of Education Doctoral Student ● Julia Hernandez, La Colaborativa Cuauhtli facilitator and Dual Language Coordinator at Manor ISD ● Maribel Robles, STREAM Bilingual Museum Education Harvard University and Blanton Museum of Art) ● La Colaborativa Cuauhtli Teachers ● Total of 20 public school educators Design and showcase of standards based bilingual/ biliteracy units to implement across K-5th grade. Nepohualtzintzin A Mesoamerican mathematical tool Summer 2025 Collaboration of La corriente, a collaboration effort between various organizations including La Colaborativa Cuauhtli, Academia Cuauhtli, Indigenous Culture Institute of San Marcos, The DREAM UT STEM Education and MAS UT San Antonio, and the LILLAS Benson Center Intergenerational workshop for parents, teachers, and youth July 23–25, 2025, Cepeda Austin Public Library 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. In attendance 20 adults and 15 children in attendance. Capacity 20 due to funding). La Colaborativa SY 25-26 Tentative Programming ● Four Nepo workshops to be facilitated by La Colaborativa teachers and DREAM team members. Public library- open to the public ○ K'iche in Schools ○ Local school campus- open to the public ● Nahuatl in the Classroom workshop by Maestro Carlos Aveces from Raíces del Saber (in collaboration with ICI) ● Exhibits of student work in local venues ● Publishing student writing through Bookspring ● Teaching Community Languages in Public Schools- partnership with the Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca (Feb. 2026) ● End-of-Year showcase of all the work in the classrooms Research Martinez, A. (2025). The Effect of Academia, A Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, on English Language Learner Achievement [Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin]. Abstract: The public school system in the United States continues to witness a rise in English Language Learners (ELLs). An ELL student is defined as one whose native language differs from English. Best practices identify Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP) as an effective approach for working with ELLs, potentially contributing to the academic achievement of students from diverse backgrounds. While researchers have explored the implementation of CRP programs, few studies have concentrated on elementary-age students, and even fewer on ELLs within elementary education. This emphasizes the idea that early interventions can lead to higher success rates among students. This ex-post facto independent measures research study represents …
EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center convened in a Regular meeting on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Permitting and Development Center – Event Center, First Floor, Room 1405 located at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas 78752. (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 6:19pm. Board Members in Attendance: Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Angelica Navarro, Chair Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Member (Arrived at 6:36pm) Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Vice Chair Raul “Roy” Reyna, Member Noemi Castro, Member Alexander “Al” Duarte, Member John Estrada, Member Board Members Absent: Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Member Anthony Martinez, Member Lynda Quintana, Member Selma Sanchez, Member Staff in Attendance: Marjorie Flanagan, ACME Division Manager of Cultural Education & 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 Speaker 1: Michael Mendoza, founder of Augzoo LLC introduced himself and shared details about his current project titled Bilingual Dinosaurs. A play involving interviewing cultural leaders with imaginative and metaphorical questions. Mendoza expressed interest in presenting a staged reading of the play at the MACC when an opportunity becomes available. He proposed scheduling the event in either the black box theater or the auditorium as a 1- or 3-day collaboration. Speaker 2: Mateo Hernandez, Board Member of Teatro Vivo, provided remarks on the organization’s longstanding relationship with the MACC. He shared a brief history of Teatro Vivo’s engagement with the 1 Center, highlighting the facilities role as a cultural home to them. As a long-time participant in the Latino Artist Access Program (LAAP), Hernandez expressed enthusiasm about the reopening of the Center but voiced concern about the lack of clear communication regarding the return of LAAP participants. He stated that Teatro Vivo has not received information about when-or if-they will be able to resume performances at the MACC. Additionally, he pointed out that although the MACC website indicated the LAAP application would open in August with decisions expected in October, the application had yet to be made available. He questioned how the MACC can effectively serve as a hub for a thriving Latino artist ecosystem if certain artists are unable to apply. He emphasized that artist require consistency and, …
AUSTIN CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO: ESB MACC Advisory Board FROM: Heidi Tse, Capital Delivery Services Project Manager DATE: September 29, 2025 SUBJECT: Mexican American Cultural Center Substantial Completion Delay ___________________________________________________________________________ This memo provides an update following our September 10, 2025, announcement regarding the delay in reopening the ESB Mexican American Cultural Center, originally scheduled for November 1, 2025. Summary of Contractor Notices and Responses • May 21, 2025: The City issued a notice to the contractor for missing the milestone to enclose the building. In response, the contractor committed to increasing workforce capacity and maintaining a six-day workweek. These efforts led to a noticeable uptick in onsite activity and trade partner engagement. • August 19, 2025: A second notice was sent due to continued issues with incomplete building enclosure (missing glass and doors) and deviations from construction documentation. The contractor requested that certain corrections be deferred to the final completion phase and sought assistance resolving an Austin Fire Department comment regarding the fire system tie-in. They also proposed using a Temporary Certificate for Stocking to allow preliminary preparations by the Office of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME). • September 9, 2025: During a regularly scheduled project meeting, the contractor, informed the Capital Delivery Services (CDS) Project Manager that the contractor’s internal building envelope test failed. This test is a fundamental benchmark for a fully enclosed building and an important prerequisite to obtaining a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for furniture installation and staff move-in. • September 10,2025: Announcement to the MACC Advisory Board, completion of construction has been delayed. • September 12, 2025: Following our announcement to the Board, the City formally notified the contractor that substantial completion had not been achieved and requested a revised schedule and a plan of action. The contractor submitted a proposed revised timeline on September 19, 2025. The contractor has represented to the City a substantial completion of November 3, 2025. The contractor is committed to increasing the workforce capacity and maintaining a seven-day workweek. Due to failure in meeting the contract Substantial Completion date, liquidated damages (LD) is a means of recovering losses. Damages will be determined during close-out period / post construction. We understand and share your concern regarding this delay. Our team remains committed to working diligently and collaboratively to return this cherished cultural space to the community as soon as possible. We appreciate your continued support and patience as …
ESB MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER Phase 2 Improvements Heidi Tse Capital Delivery Services Project Manager October 1, 2025 Estimated Re-opening • The Re-opening may occur sometime between the project’s substantial completion and final completion. • Substantial Completion is when the facility is deemed ready to be occupied by the owner, but other minor work still needs to be completed by the contractor. • The exact date or alignment of the Re- opening will not be known until construction has significantly progressed. • The anticipated project completion timeline is: A. B. 1. Substantial Completion (estimated November 3, 2025) 2. Re-opening (estimated January –March 2026) Project Milestones • Ceremonial Groundbreaking: December 10, 2022 • GMP 1 (Site Work) Notice to Proceed issued: August 28, 2023 • GMP 2 (Building / Landscape) Notice to Proceed issued: March 7, 2024 • Steel “Topping Out”: September 11, 2024 • Target Construction Ends: November 2025 • Target Stocking: December 2025 – January 2026 • Target Staff Move-In: January – February 2026 • Target Soft Re-Opening: February 2026 • Target Grand Re-Opening: Spring 2026 Questions ?
October 1, 2025 Mexican American Cultural Cener Rainey Street Pocket Park • Austin Capital Delivery Services Department • 64 Rainey Street • Temporary Pocket Park • Anticipated timeline Austin Capital Delivery Services Department • Collaborates with various City departments • Builds public projects that support the community • Parks and libraries • Fire/EMS stations • More 64 Rainey Street Temporary Pocket Park • Temporary park improvements at the park have been installed as of Spring 2024 with donated benches. • The murals are painted on the installed benches by students in the Caminos Teen Leadership Program. • The murals reflect and honor the students’ internship experiences and connections throughout the course of their time with the Mexican American Cultural Center. • On 5/31/2025, the Mexican American Cultural Center held a dedication ceremony for the new murals. Anticipated Timeline Planning: Fall 2025 to Spring 2026 Consultant selection Bid/Award: Summer 2027 to Fall 2027 Advertising, Bidding and Award 2026 2028 2025 2027 Design: Spring 2026 to Spring 2027 Design and Permitting Construction: Spring to Fall 2028 Construction Questions?
Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment 2025 - 2026 Funding Guidelines Presented by Morgan Messick Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) ESB-MACC Board| October 1, 2025 The Creative Reset: Phase I - Engagement Major Enhancements, Based on Feedback Guidelines User Experience Single guideline document, with standardized definitions, formatting, and department processes/policies More funding levels are available for individual artists across all programs Universal Appeals process for ACME programs Established policies on double dipping/conflict of interest, in response to Audit concerns Stacked application launch, with a single intake form entry point Measuring Program Impacts Category What the City Measures Metrics Reach & Engagement Community reach and public participation Attendance counts, demographic data Promotion Visibility and marketing efforts Event flyers, social media screenshots, VisitAustin.org listings, marketing plan analytics Impact Access Expression Resiliency Economic and cultural benefits for the creative workforce Number of jobs supported, amount of funding distributed Accessibility and inclusion for audiences and participants Diverse locations, ADA features, free/low-cost tickets/creative space, multilingual options Support for authentic artistic and cultural expression Artist reflections, new work created, creative risks taken Organizational growth, adaptability, or long- term community benefit beyond City funding New partnerships, diversified revenue, business training and professional development Thrive Grant Applications open every two years; 24-month grant agreement term Applicant Maximum Total Award Annual Award Cap Nonprofit Arts Organization with Creative Space Non-Profit Arts Organization without Creative / Cultural Space Up to $250,000 total over 2 years Up to $125,000 per year Up to $170,000 total over 2 years Up to $85,000 per year Elevate Grant Applications open on a year; 12-month grant agreement term Applicant Award Amount 501(c)(3) Arts Nonprofit operating budget greater than $300,000 Award up to $80,000 operating budget of $100,001 to $299,999 Award up to $60,000 operating budget of $50,001 to $100,000 Award up to $50,000 operating budget under $50,000 Award up to $30,000 State of Texas Nonprofits/Arts Group operating budget of $50,001 to $299,999 Award up to $40,000 operating budget under $50,000 Award up to $30,000 Individual Artist Minimum two-year production history in Austin Award up to $30,000 Nexus Grant Applications open twice a year; 12-month grant agreement term Applicant Award Amount Individual Artists/Arts Groups (Min 1 year Experience) $5,000 OR $10,000 Austin Live Music Fund Applications open every year; grant agreement term varies from 12 to 24-months For-Profit Applicant Award Amount Professional Musician & Independent Promoter $20,000 with 24-month Grant Agreement term …
10.1.25 MACC Staff Report – Website - Facebook – Instagram Please share our social media posts, sign up for our newsletter, and check out our upcoming events! Casa de la Cultura Past: All-Levels Yoga: Saturdays @ 10:30-11:30am Southeast Library Attendance: 66 Focuses on body awareness, connection with the breath, with gentle movement, and time for meditation and relaxation. The library has mats to share. Sunset Kayaking: Every Second Wednesday @ 6pm-7:30pm Austin Rowing Club Attendance: 20 Join us on Lady Bird Lake and paddle through the heart of Downtown Austin or paddleboard. . Choose a single or double kayak Chair Yoga: 3rd Wed of each month @ 10am Dove Springs Recreation Center Attendance: est. 5 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 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. Upcoming: All-Levels Yoga: Saturdays @ 10:30-11:30am Southeast Library Focuses on body awareness, connection with the breath, with gentle movement, and time for meditation and relaxation. The library has mats to share. Sunset Kayaking: Every Second Wednesday @ 6pm-7:30pm Austin Rowing Club Join us on Lady Bird Lake and paddle through the heart of Downtown Austin. Choose a single or double kayak or paddleboard. Chair Yoga: 3rd Wed of each month @ 10am Dove Springs Recreation Center 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 Friday of each month @ 10am Windsor Park Branch A gentle form of yoga that can be done seated in a chair. These modifications make yoga accessible to people with various physical abilities. Latino/a/e Artist Access Program (LAAP) MACC Staff held a LAAP information session on Monday, September 22, from 6 to 8 pm at the Twin Oaks Library where 9 community members were in attendance. In order to prepare for the upcoming LAAP relaunch, a workgroup comprised of MACC staff at all levels of the organization from different work teams (Production, Education, Administration, Marketing, etc) was created in August of 2024 and has since met bi-weekly. It includes both Temp and Full Time Staff. The task was to work …
