Item 2. Staff Report — original pdf

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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 Paid Workshop Leaders, Activity Leaders 30 Vendors (not paid by the MACC - conducted their own sales at the event) 30 Volunteers (not paid by the MACC - signed up on Givepulse) Quotes: “This beautiful sunny morning, I walked a few blocks from Sánchez Elementary to the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center just in time to join friends and community members in celebrating its grand reopening. It was wonderful to see so many people gathered together, enjoying the beautifully renovated center and honoring the culture, history, creativity, and traditions that continue to shape our city. Moments like these remind us how important it is to invest in spaces that bring people together and celebrate who we are. The MACC plays a vital role in keeping Mexican American culture vibrant and accessible for future generations, ensuring that our stories, art, and traditions continue to thrive in Austin. Congratulations to...the entire team on a beautiful event, and thank you to everyone whose vision, dedication, and hard work made this reopening possible. This is a space our community can be proud to call its own.” - Gloria Bedolla, AISD “We were part of the Juntos de Nuevo regrant opening at the @esbmacc and the energy said it all. Families, laughter, community gathered in a space that belongs to us. Sana Yoga had the honor of bringing ancestral movement to this special event. Seeing so many families move together, breathe together, connect with their roots through their bodies that is exactly why we do this work. The energy was powerful. The community was beautiful. And we were reminded once again that wellness is not a luxury it is a right that belongs to all of us.” Sana Yoga.” “Although CM Laine wasn’t able to be there on Saturday, I attended with my middle-schooler. I figured we’d stay for an hour or two. Instead, we spent over six hours at the MACC! We ate food from the vendors, learned some zapateado (and my daughter performed in front of the audience!), spent a good hour in the main art gallery, and left after the Danza Azteca group finished. My daughter repeatedly commented on how friendly everyone was. This was my first time at the MACC, and I was floored by the extent of the programs and services that are already being provided, knowing that there’s even more to come. Especially in these times, Austin is lucky to have the MACC uplifting and amplifying Mexican-Americans and Mexican-American culture, without which this city would be a very different place.” - Robyn Honig, Special Assistant to the Council Member Krista Laine, District 6. Comment sent through email on 6/8/26. Outreach and Marketing Outreach and marketing focused on creating excitement and “buzz” ahead of the Grand Reopening. The MACC ran a “30 Days of Cultura” social media campaign that highlighted MACC programs, MACC history, and the excitement of preparing to reopen to the public. “Media Days” were held from May 19-22, during which time local news reporters were invited to the MACC for a first-look at the space. MACC Staff conducted over 20 interviews leading up to the Grand Reopening with local influencers, historians, collaborative partners, reporters, and cultural amplifiers. This resulted in excellent media coverage leading up to and during the event including the COVER STORY on the Austin Chronicle! Links to Some of the Media Coverage: COVER of the Austin Chronicle 6.5.26 Statesman Article 6.8.26 Austin Vida Article 5.28.26 KXAN 6.7.26 KVUE: Pre-Event, During Event FOX Live News Segment 5.21.26 Popular Social Media Posts: KUT (on Facebook) MACC Recap (Instagram) MACC Invitation Reel with Gonzalo Barrientos, (Paid Boost) Statesman (Instagram) Lulu Flores Buenas Loterias Club Other Outreach and Advertising Efforts Included: MACC Outreach Table at the Long Center’s Drop In, 6.28.25 Outreach at the BarrioFest, 6.22.26 Paid Advertisement in La Prensa/ La Voz- June 2026 issue Radio Promotion: KAZI (English) Radio Promotion: Hola News/ Norsan Media (Spanish) Radio Promotion: KOOP 91.7 (English) Radio Promotion: Latino 97.1 (Spanish) Podcast: Platicando Austin (Spanish) Photo Galleries: Photos by Roj Rodriguez Photos by Juan Vargas Photos by Mari Hernandez Post-Reopening Outreach: Presentation to the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber – Enrique Castro and Monica Andry 6.20.26 Networking - Mexican Consulate, Ofrenda, 6.22.26 (photo) Outreach at Fiesta Gardens Race with Si Se Puede, 6.28.26 Tours We are offering tours of the new building upon request. We have a tour request form on our website to collect information from interested parties. We recently completed these tours: - Tour- Austin Housing Department, June 10, 2026 - Tour- Hermelinda Zamarripa & Jill Coronado, June 22, 2026 - Tour- HABLA, Stephanie Gattica, Paul Saldana, June 22, 2026 - Tour- Greater and Greener Conference, Tuesday, June 16, 2026 (photo on the Zocalo) - Tour, Dr Desirée Pallais and Faculty from the Spanish Department at UT Austin, June 23, 2026 - Tour, Con Mi Madre Tour and Cumbia Class - Tour, Lamar Senior Activity Center- Tour and Arts Activity Casa de la Cultura Past: During the Grand Re-Opening, the Casa de la Cultura team activated multiple new spaces providing an opportunity to share and welcome the community into new rooms in the building. In addition to hosting workshops in our new spaces, we placed interactive boards in each space where community members could vote on activities/workshops they’d like to see in our new spaces. Workshops During Reopening: - Blackbox Theatre with a Primitive Jam session -Dance Studio hosted Cumbia lessons and Son Jarocho: Jarana y Zapateado -Cocina had an interactive edible guest signing book -Multipurpose room hosted Loteria and Yoga -Art Studio included an “intro to sewing” demo, screen printing, and mosaic workshop. Data from our Interactive voting boards during the grand re-opening: Cocina Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 Workshop Pastry baking Tamalada Mexican Veggie Dishes Traditional Dishes Nutritional Dishes Drinks (Coffee/Aguas) Dance Studio Rank 1 2 3 4 5 Workshop Social Partner Dancing Cumbia Lessons Fitness and Movement Reggaeton & Latin Urban Healing/Bodywork Multi-Purpose Room Rank 1 1 3 4 Workshop Storytelling Loteria Other suggestions Educational Lectures Art Studio Rank 1 2 3 4 Music Lab Rank 1 2 3 4 Workshop Clay Making Sewing/ Stitching Beadwork/ Jewelry Making Educational Lectures Workshop Instrument Classes Vocal Lessons Beat Making Community Choir Votes Votes Votes Votes Votes 61 45 36 35 34 10 18 15 14 13 11 6 6 5 3 28 26 18 7 32 11 9 7 Media Lab Rank 1 2 3 4 Workshop Book Clubs Computer Basics Educational Lectures Story time Votes 21 13 11 10 Casa de la Cultura had 6 programs running during the month of June with high attendance and engagement. “Cumbia para MACC” - Mondays 7:00 -8:30 PM Attendance 25-50 a weekly cumbia dance class inviting people to learn how to dance cumbia and connect. This class ranged from 25- 50 participants and was hosted in our dance studio and outdoor zocalo, inviting people from the trail to join! “Movimiento Ancestral” - Tuesdays 5:00 – 6:00 PM Attendance: 20 a Toltec- inspired yoga class that allows participants to experience ancestral connection through movement. This weekly series brought community connections while enjoying the gift of movement. “Colorin Colorado”- Wednesdays 10:30 AM – 12PM Attendance: 18 our family story time was a success, each week families gathered in our black box theatre for story time including a bilingual story and music with Sirena, the indigenous mermaid. Toddlers learned about meditation, dance and family. Participants enjoyed the hands-on instruments and interactive storytelling. Photos below. “Son Jarocho: Jarana y Zapateado” - Thursday 6-8 PM Saturday 11-1PM This weekly series included knowledge on the music and dance of Veracruz, Mexico. Participants learned to play the Jarana and dance Zapateado in addition to learning to sing some of the traditional fandango songs. Each week participants could drop in with no prior experience needed. “Dulces a Traves del Tiempo” - Saturday 10:30 – 12:00PM Attendance: 15 This workshop built on skill and was hosted every Saturday. Participants learned traditional baking and decorating techniques and shared cultural recipes. “Raices Vivas” - Monthly in our Jardin 6:00 – 7:30 PM Growing families, Growing Roots at the MACC! This month participants planted staples of a salsa garden, including tomatillos, tomatoes, serrano, and jalapeno! We learned about the rich culture and traditions of each ingredient and tips on how to grow your own salsa garden. This workshop ended with a salsa demo in our cocina, participants shared and enjoyed salsa and chips. Upcoming: Entre Hilos – Stitching course Tuesdays July 7 – August 4 6:00 – 8:30 PM Each Tuesday, participants will have the opportunity to experience Stitch Lab’s signature Crash Course, a beginner-friendly sewing class focused on creativity, confidence-building, and hands-on learning in a welcoming community environment. Participants will learn how to confidently use a sewing machine, understand essential sewing tools and techniques, practice beginner sewing exercises, and complete a simple sewing project while exploring creativity and self-expression through sewing. This program is designed for complete beginners with no prior sewing experience and encourages participants to learn at their own pace while connecting with others. Caminata con Calma Monthly, Last Saturday of the month – July 25th 10:00 – 12:00 PM Join us for “Caminata con Calma” a walking group highlighting our outdoor art installations and history before taking a walk with friends on the trail. Each walk will end with refreshments in our cocina. Casa de la Cultura is planning an end-of-season celebration to bring together participants from all of our summer workshops and celebrate their accomplishments. The event is tentatively scheduled for August 8 and will invite all Casa program participants, their families, and the broader community. The celebration will highlight the diverse programming offered through Casa de la Cultura. Activities will include a community Fandango in the Zócalo, hosted by Los Fandangueros, featuring participants showcasing the jarana music and zapateado dance skills they have developed throughout the season. Additional programming will include a family story time in the Black Box Theatre, as well as a cumbia lesson followed by a community dance social. The event will be open to the public and is intended to celebrate participant achievements while providing an opportunity for the community to experience and engage with Casa de la Cultura’s programs. Youth and Family Education Raices Summer Camp The first 3-week Camp Session ended on June 26th with an Open House for parents and families. The campers showed off their art projects exploring visual mediums such as collage and urban murals alongside improv performances and hip hop dance skills. These art forms have long been historical and current day expressions of cultural resistance for our community. Participants learned about key Latino/a/e/x figures and influences in these art movements. We are now halfway through the second session of camp. Themes this week include the Incan Empire/ Andean Region and Indigenous Futurisms through the discipline of anthropology and its sub fields. The MACC also hosted the Academia Cuauhtli Summer Camp. The MACC hosted the Academia Cuauhtli Summer Camp from June 15-25. It‘s a bilingual camp with emphasis on Mesoamerican Culture, Movement, and Math. Camp hours were 9am - 3pm, and it served students from 4th-8th grade. Photos - Raices Open House 6.26 Caminos Teen Leadership Program Past: Caminos 9th class of 2026 Graduated at the ESB-Macc on June 13th. Several of the Teens have stayed on over the summer through ACME filling support roles at the front desk, Gallery, Camps and Casa de Cultura programs! Congratulations to Caminos Class of 2026! Upcoming: Caminos Applications for 2026 are currently closed. Caminos Teen Leadership program has 50 applicants and Interviews will begin in July to hire the 10th class of 2027. Awards of Excellence We received 56 nominations across all the award categories, totaling to 38 nominees for the 2026 Awards of Excellence. Our selection review committee was chosen and had their kickoff meeting with MACC staff on June 26th. Our panel is comprised of 5 individuals who come from a variety of artistic and professional backgrounds in the Latino/a/e cultural arts. The committee had to submit their final scores on Monday, July 6th. The 2026 Awards of Excellence ceremony is set to take place on Saturday, August 1st, 2026, from 1- 3:30pm. We plan to begin the event with refreshments and a performance, followed by a meal during the ceremony. We hope to announce our 2026 award recipients by Friday July 10th, 2026. Save the dates! Viva Mexico- Saturday, Sept 12, 4-9pm. Partnering with Univision. Dia de los Muertos- Sunday, Nov 1st, 12-6pm Collaborations Visibilizing a Freedom Fighter, Silvia Hector Webber: A Legacy of Resistance & Black Freedom in North America Saturday, July 25, 2026 10:00am – 7:00pm MACC Auditorium This symposium will not only highlight the Webber Family history in Texas but other descendants who have taken the lead in the preservation and restoration of their history, culture, and sites. Join us for a day of learning, empowering, and sharing. This symposium is part of the Webber Family Preservation Project’s ongoing work with funding provided by the Mellon Foundation. Our partners and sponsors in this symposium are the City Of Austin, The Emma S. Barrientos Center For Mexican America Culture, Academia Cuauhtli, Tejano Genealogy Society of Austin, and The League Of United Latin American Citizens. Pan Am Hillside Summer Concert Series Tuesdays: July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28 6:00pm-9:00pm Oswaldo AB Cantu Pan American Recreation Center- 2300 East 3rd St. The Pan Am Hillside Summer Concert Series is a beloved East Austin tradition. Now in its 66th year, it is Austin’s longest-running free outdoor concert series. It celebrates the heritage of East Austin’s Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, and Latino communities. This concert series is organized by several City of Austin departments and sites: the Oswaldo A.B. Cantu Pan American Recreation Center, Austin Parks and Recreation, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB MACC), and Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment (ACME). Austintexas.gov/hillsideconcerts July 7th DJ Old Skool Los Cuatro Exitos Conjunto Los Pinkys Tejano Badd Boyzz Master of Ceremonies: Judge Bob Perkins July 14th DJ Roberto Ligues John Michael Colunga Angel Y Vimana Cinco Doce Master of Ceremonies: Judge Bob Perkins July 21st DJ Chris Tristan Jorge Tamayo & Friends Jessica Ramos Los Funky Monkeys Master of Ceremonies: Senator Gonzalo Barrientos July 28th DJ Flaco NCS Motown George Mercado Ruben Ramos Master of Ceremonies: Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Exhibits On View: There are 3 exhibits on view which are free and open to the public during operating hours. The exhibit viewing hours are Monday-Friday 10am-9pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. Mitote: Amigos Gathering. Selections from the Gilberto Cardenas & Dolores Carillo Garcia Collection. Location: Sam Z. Coronado Gallery, 2nd Floor. Exhibit Dates June 6- December 5, 2026. Imagination Knows No Borders: The Story of the ESB MACC Location: Community Gallery, 1st Floor Loteriafest: Paintings by Courtney Enriquez Location: Auditorium Lobby, 1st Floor MACC Staff Welcome to these staff members who have either recently joined the MACC or have moved into a new position! Isabella Hernandez is excited to join the ESB MACC as its new Special Events Coordinator! She feels deeply honored to embrace the re- opening of the building with the community and her MACC familia. Isabella brings an informed, diligent, and compassionate approach to everything she does. Most recently, she served as Program Coordinator for Youth Initiatives with the City of Austin, where she led the annual Youth Career Fest and High School Summer Internship Program. Fueled by a love of learning and community impact, Isabella earned her Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from UT Austin's RGK Center. When she's not at the MACC, you'll find her birding at Roy G. Guerrero Park, savoring a sweet treat, or finding her new favorite spot for an iced latte. Ulises Garcia Vela has accepted the position of Public Event Leader at the MACC. Ulises is a legendary MACC staffer who holds the record of MACC employment- he's been with the MACC for 19 years! Ulises is an accomplished photographer who has captured priceless moments in MACC history and has also done extensive photography for other ACME sites. He was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico and he has a BS in Communications from the Tecnológico de Monterrey. Ulises brings an informed, community-based approach to this full-time position. He will oversee event production, communicate with workshops leaders and featured artists, and serve to enhance the Center's connection with the Latine artists who bring their craft and talent to MACC programming. Congrats, Ulises! The exhibit coordinator hiring is in process. ACME News Grants Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment's Thrive program offers focused investment to sustain and grow local arts nonprofit organizations deeply rooted in and reflective of Austin’s diverse cultures. Recently awarded grants ranged from $85,000 to $150,000 per year for the 2-year contract. Thrive is for non-profits, and there will be about 35 grants awarded. There are Grant Workshops coming up, working with their Ambassadors program. Spanish language workshops will be offered. https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/acme-grant-funding-workshops-4717213 The FY27 Thrive Grant is accepting applications from July 7 – August 18th, 2026. There will be $3 million available in funding just for the Thrive Grants. A total of $23 million will be invested through Elevate, Thrive, Austin Live Music Fund, and Heritage Preservation Grant- strengthening Austin’s creative ecosystem in every district. Austintexas.gov/arts-culture/funding-programs Rancho Alegre Conjunto Music Festival July 10-12, 2026 Doris Miller Auditorium, 2300 Rosewood Ave Austin’s Conjunto and Tejano Music Festival. Free, all-age event indoors. Highlights include collaborations with Gary Hobbs and Gilberto Perez Jr y Sus Compadres. The festival celebrates the culture and community that have shaped the genre, honoring Austin icons including Joe’s Bakery, Augustin Ramirez, and Leonard and Toni Davila. This Project is supported in part by an Elevate Grant. RanchoAlegre.Org.