Advocate for a City of Austin Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative!

Friends of United Way Capital Area & Hands On Central Texas,

As many of you know, we started working on the Hispanic/Latino Community Engagement Initiative last year. We've taken some great first steps in learning from the Hispanic/Latino community and are in the process of gathering information from this community to publish our study and engagement tool, Making the Connection: An Examination of Volunteering & Community Engagement in the Greater Austin Hispanic/Latino Community.

With that said, we have been working with Council Member Mike Martinez's office to support a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative. On Thursday, May 8th, Council Member Mike Martinez is leading the efforts by sponsoring an Austin City Council Resolution (Item#50) to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative and directing the City Manager to incorporate into the Fiscal Year 08-09 Budget specific line items to support this effort.

We ask that you help us advocate in the following ways...

Attend the Press Conference, tomorrow Thursday, May 8th - At approximately 9:30am, Council Member Martinez will be hosting a press conference at City Hall to formally announce this new community initiative. We need your attendance and participation at the press event.

1. Attend the Austin City Council meeting at 10am (following the press conference) - At approximately 10am on Thursday, May 8th (also at City Hall), the Austin City Council will address Item#50 during their consent agenda deliberations. We need your action and attendance to encourage the Austin City Council to vote in favor of Item#50.
   
2. Spread the word to help fill the Chambers - Forward this email to your networks!
   
3. Email Austin City Council members asking asking for their vote on this important item. Included is the link and directions to successfully send one email to the entire Council.
   
4. Go to http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council/groupemail.htm
   Once on the website, please include your email address. The subject line should read: Subject: “Support Item#50 to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative"
   Incorporate your own comments or simply ask the Council to: Please vote in favor of Item#50 to initiate a Hispanic Quality of Life Initiative.

Let me know if you have any questions. I hope to see you there!

Si Se Puede!
Mando

Armando Rayo
Director, Hands On Central Texas
UNITED WAY CAPITAL AREA
www.handsoncentraltexas.org

tel 512.225.0360 : fax 512.482.8309 : cell 512.785-0447
Be the Change. Volunteer.