Leading up to this Mother’s Day, members of Mama Sana/Vibrant Woman and our partner organizations will release the first in a series of reports entitled Austin – A “Family-Friendly” City: Perspectives and Solutions from Mothers in the City, which calls into question Austin’s family-friendly reputation. Check out the full report here:
https://mamasanaclinic.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/mamasana-book-final.pdf

Mama Sana/Vibrant Woman, in partnership with allgo and Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition (AIRC), will hold a press conference at City Hall on Thursday, May 7, 9 – 10 am to launch the report and provide recommendations for city government to address current racial and socio-economic inequities in Austin. Members of our groups, Mayor Steve Adler, City Council Member Delia Garza, and others will speak.

Also on Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 pm, the Austin City Council will have a public hearing to discuss whether city government should implement an EQUITY ASSESSMENT TOOL, as recommended in the report. This is an effort to encourage the city to prioritize those policies and decisions that make Austin MORE EQUITABLE. Mama Sana/Vibrant Woman, Austin Immigrant Rights Coalition, and allgo are working together to move this forward. COME OUT AND TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION. If you are not interested in speaking, please come, be counted, and stand in solidarity with us! Help us make sure that Austin policies do not continue to increase the racial and economic divide in the city. PLEASE JOIN US AT 6:30 PM AT CITY HALL TO TESTIFY AND SHARE YOUR STORY!!! (We will provide childcare and light snacks in city hall lobby)

Please join us in wearing white tops so that our numbers can be represented there. Follow us on twitter at @mamasanaclinic or check our FB page Mama Sana/Vibrant Woman to see real time updates of Thursday’s hearing.

HERE IS HOW TO SUPPORT WHEREVER YOU ARE:

-If not in Austin- Make Calls and Send Emails to City Council Members to let them know you support the report recommendations.

In Austin–Testify at the public hearing at city hall Thursday May 7th 6:30pm. Share your stories about whether Austin is truly a “Family-Friendly” city for all. Please join us in wearing a white top so our numbers can be represented there.
—Attend the press conference May 7th 9-10 am at City Hall. 

Talking Points for calls/emails to City Hall:

–Share your name and what district you live in
–Let them know that you agree with the findings in the report and support it’s recommendations, including:

1) Develop and implement an equity assessment tool to guide all policy-making endeavors of the city; and
2) support demonstration projects that directly address health inequities affecting pregnant women individually and collectively in Austin.

–Ask them to take action to ensure these recommendations are implemented in 2015.

Contact Info for Mayor and City Council Members:

Mayor Stephen Adler, 512-978-2100, steve.adler@austintexas.gov
District 1 Council Member Ora Houston, 512-978-2101, ora.houston@austintexas.gov
District 2 Council Member Delia Garza, 512-978-2102, delia.garza@austintexas.gov
District 3 Council Member Sabino “Pio” Renteria, 512-978-2103, sabino.renteria@austintexas.gov
District 4 Council Member Gregorio “Greg” Casar, 512-978-2104, gregorio.casar@austintexas.gov
District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen, 512-978-2105, ann.kitchen@austintexas.gov
District 6 Council Member Don Zimmerman, 512-978-2106, don.zimmerman@austintexas.gov
District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool, 512-978-2107, leslie.pool@austintexas.gov
District 8 Council Member Ellen Troxclair, 512-978-2108, ellen.troxlcair@austintexas.gov
District 9 Council Member Kathie Tovo, 512-978-2109, kathie.tovo@austintexas.gov
District 10 Council Member Sheri Gallo, 512-978-2110, sheri.gallo@austintexas.gov