REGULAR MEETING OF THE EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER ADVISORY BOARD WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2026, AT 6:00 P.M. EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER 600 RIVER STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center 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, contact Michelle Rojas, 512-974-3771, Michelle.Rojas@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Angelica Navarro (D-8), Chair Hilario “Larry” Amaro (D-10), Member Lynda Quintana (D-6), Member Noemi Castro (D-2), Member Raul “Roy” Reyna (D-1), Member Alexander “Al” Duarte (D-7), Member Selma Sanchez (D-9), Member John Estrada (D-3), Member Vacant (D-4), Member Cynthia “Cy” Herrera (D-5), Member Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz (Mayor), Vice Chair 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 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 (ESB- MACC) regular meeting of June 3, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on June and July programs, marketing and outreach efforts, signature event planning, and staffing updates. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Marketing & Outreach Representative, Austin Arts Culture, Music, and Entertainment & Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager, Austin Arts Culture, Music, and Entertainment DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Financial Report for the ESB MACC by Acting Division Manager Michelle Rojas. (Sponsors: Herrera, Zamarripa-Saenz) Presenter(s): Michelle Rojas, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Education Manager, Austin Arts Culture, Music, and Entertainment 4. Discussion on Annual Internal Review Report. (Sponsors: Navarro, Zamarripa-Saenz) WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from the Strategic Planning Working Group (Sponsors: Herrera, Zamarripa-Saenz) 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 …
ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JUNE 3, 2026 EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2026 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) convened in a Regular meeting on June 3, 2026, at 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. (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 6:10 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Angelica Navarro, Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Hilario “Larry” Amaro, Alexander “Al” Duarte, John Estrada, Cynthia “Cy” Herrera. Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Noemi Castro (arrived at 6:32 p.m.). Board Members Absent: Lynda Quintana, Raul “Roy” Reyna, Selma Sanchez. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speaker 1: Anita Quintanilla, an Austin resident, addressed the board, emphasizing the historical significance of Indigenous, Mexican, and Mexican Americans in Texas. She expressed her belief that the terms “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and Latinx” do not accurately reflect history. Ms. Quintanilla stated that she believed the center’s focus should remain on Mexican American history and culture. Speaker 2: Hector Ordaz Gutiérrez, a member of the Arts and Culture Working Group with the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission and Arts Commission, addressed the board to share information from the commission’s most recent meeting. He explained that a proposed cross-commission working group was discussed but ultimately tabled due to restrictions preventing commissioners from serving on multiple commissions simultaneously. He noted that the Chair of the Arts Commission supported exploring alternative pathways, including the potential formation of a City Council-authorized working group composed of commissioners. Mr. Ordaz encouraged the Advisory Board to support the concept through City Council engagement or by adding the item to a future agenda for discussion. Speaker 3: Luis Ordaz Gutiérrez, Co-founder and Artistic Director of ProyectoTeatro provided comments in support of the proposed cross-commission working group, stressing the need for formal structure to streamline communication and align recommendations across commissions on shared cultural priorities. He stated there was support from multiple commissions for establishing a working group and encouraged the board to place the item on a future agenda for further discussion. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of May 6, 2026. 1 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JUNE 3, 2026 The minutes from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of May …
7.8.26 MACC Staff Report Website - Facebook – Instagram Please share our social media posts, sign up for our newsletter, and check out our upcoming events! Juntos de Nuevo: The Grand Reopening Approximately 3,000 people attended the ESB Mexican American Cultural Center’s large-scale reopening celebration on June 6th. This free, family-friendly event marked the facility's grand return following over three years of extensive renovations and expansions. The June 6th festivities were incredibly joyful, vibrant, and well-received by the public. It marked the official unveiling of the newly upgraded spaces and welcoming back into the building after more than 3 years. The reopening event included all-day entertainment including two Mariachi groups, two Ballet Folklorico groups, two Danza Azteca Groups, and five Latine musical groups. MACC staff ran the event with support from volunteers and ACME staff. MACC Staff and members of the Project Team gave facility tours, giving visitors an inside look at the facility's expansions, which include a new teaching kitchen, gallery, musical rehearsal rooms, classrooms, dance studio, art studio, and multipurpose room. The new spaces were activated with hands-on workshops like sewing, mosaic, dance, yoga, and music classes. Attendees were able to browse a local artisan market featuring over 20 local vendors, get food from 3 food trucks, 2 coffee stands, and 6 snack vendors. They visited with 10 non-profits including booths from ACME/ AIPP, Equity & Inclusion, the Austin History Center, and 4 Austin Planning departments. City leaders participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony and official welcoming ceremony at 11:00am. Speeches and official welcomes were given by officials and local leaders including: Gonzalo Barrientos, former Democratic member of the Texas Senate. Congressman Greg Casar, who served on Austin’s City Council when the bond to expand the MACC was approved in 2018 Susana Carbajal, Assistant City Manager Council Members Ryan Alter and Mike Siegel MACC Advisory Board Members Al Duarte, Larry Amaro, Lily Zamarripa, John Estrada, Angelica Navarro Honorable Humberto Hernández-Haddad, Mexican Consulate in Austin Angela Means, Director of ACME- Arts, Culture, Music, Entertainment Michelle Rojas, Manager of the MACC and Acting Division Manager Gloria Pennington, Legacy Speaker on MACC History Martha Cotera, Legacy Speaker on MACC History Delia Perez Meyer, Legacy Speaker on MACC History Phase 2 Project Team: Architects from Miro Rivera and Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, and Heidi Tse, Project Manager, Capital Delivery Services. Artists Engaged/ Paid: Over 100 Paid Performing Artists (musicians, dancers- all local) 16 …
ESB MACC FY26 Budget Update Austin Arts Culture Music and Entertainment | 7/8/26 ESB MACC FY26 Budget ESB MACC FY26 Operating Expense Budget 3 City of Austin Budget Process Annual Budget Process • Proposed Budget – July 16 • City Manager releases proposed budget for the City Council's consideration • City Council begins district-level community meetings on proposed budget • Approved Budget – August • City Council conducts public hearings • City Council considers and votes on the proposed budget, including any tax rate changes New Fiscal Year Begins – October 4 5 6 https://www.austintexas.gov/budget-excellence/city-budget Questions? 7
ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 8, 2026 EMMA S. BARRIENTOS MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2026 The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) convened in a Regular meeting on July 8, 2026, at 600 River Street in Austin, Texas. (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 6:12 p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Angelica Navarro, Lillian “Lily” Zamarripa-Saenz, Hilario “Larry” Amaro, John Estrada, Cynthia “Cy” Herrera, Lynda Quintana, Raul “Roy” Reyna, Selma Sanchez. Board Members Absent: Noemi Castro, Alexander “Al” Duarte. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speaker 1: Barbara Mojica shared her opinion on the MACC’s grand reopening. She described the MACC as a place where artists, families, and community members gather to share stories and celebrate the rich diversity of Austin’s Mexican American and Latinx communities. She remarked that the center not only preserves culture but also fosters its continued growth and evolution. Ms. Mojica encouraged the City to continue prioritizing equitable access by ensuring the facility remains welcoming and accessible to community members and local arts organizations. She concluded by thanking staff for bringing live theater back to the center and for its ongoing commitment to providing cultural programming and events. Speaker 2: Valerie Guillén, family member of the late U.S. Army Soldier Vanessa Guillén, requested to be placed on the August meeting agenda to discuss renaming a room within the MACC in her honor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of June 3, 2026. The minutes from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center regular meeting of June 3, 2026, were approved on Vice Chair Zamarripa-Saenz’s motion. Board Member Herrera seconded. Motion passed on an 8-0 vote. Board Members Castro and Duarte absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on June and July programs, marketing and outreach efforts, signature event planning, and staffing updates. Olivia Tamzarian, ESB-MACC Culture and Arts Marketing & Outreach Representative with Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME), provided an update on the Grand 1 ESB-MACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 8, 2026 Reopening, reporting that the event welcomed approximately 3,000 attendees. She highlighted the MACC’s outreach efforts, including guided tours, and shared updates on programming for Casa de la Cultura, Youth and Family Education, the Camino Teen …
