What We Do
Programs and Initiatives
The Equity Division offers grants intended to help grassroots and local community organizations access funding.
The EAT is a coalition of community members and City of Austin staff focused on advancing racial equity in our communities through partnerships with City departments, non-profits, philanthropic entities and community-based groups. The EAT meetings are dedicated to critical discussions and strategizing on how to best improve the quality of life for most directly impacted communities in Austin.
The EAT is composed of the individuals who organized and pushed for the creation of the Equity Office back in 2015. Their first goal was helping the Office co-create the Equity Assessment Tool. Now, in monthly meetings the EAT functions as a compass for the Office, ensuring we remain accountable to the community.
Quality of life studies in Austin help the City and community partners understand how residents experience key areas such as housing, health, access, belonging, and other factors that influence economic mobility. Centered in community voices and data, these studies identify challenges and highlight opportunities to improve services, programs, andstrategies that support a more inclusive Austin.
The findings from these studies help the City shape programs and monitor progress toward closing gaps in services and opportunities. They were also fundamental in informing the development of the City’s Levers of Economic Mobility Index.
Read the Reports:
- Austin Older Adult Quality of Life Study 2025
- Bright Beginnings: Experiences of Families with Young Children in Austin, TX
- Quality of Life: Women and Girls of Austin
- Austin's Black Population: A History of Disparity & Dislocation - August 2025
Previous Quality of Life Studies:
- Immigrant Quality of Life Study – In Progress
- 2021-22 LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Study
- 2021-2022 City of Austin Disability Quality of Life Study
- 2016 Asian American Quality of Life Report on the Survey
- 2013 Hispanic Latino Quality of Life Study: Ciudad de Austin Hispano-Latino Iniciativa para la Calidad de Vida
- 2008 African American Quality of Life Final Report: Addressing Community Needs Together
The City's Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) are hosting budget input sessions for community to prepare for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. These community budget input sessions are an opportunity to share your community's needs, interests, and influence priorities for all commissions. By attending these sessions, you can help shape fiscal year 2025-2026 budget recommendations.
To learn more about upcoming JIC budget engagement opportunities, go to austintexas.gov/communityvoices
The Equity Division has administered many reports on the City's programs and initiatives. They also supported the process of Quality of Life Studies with the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC).
- Local Government Structures for Civil Rights Enforcement report by GARE (Government Alliance on Race & Equity)—The City of Austin is charged through Resolution No. 20180628-062 to review possible structures for civil rights enforcement. The purpose of this study is to understand how jurisdictions across the country are structured to accomplish similar work. The findings will inform recommendations to structure and position civil rights enforcement in the City of Austin for future success.
- Whose Streets? Our Streets! The Historical Documentation of Confederate-Named City Assets in Austin, Texas and Considerations for Their (Re-) Naming—'Whose Streets? Our Streets!' details the Confederate-named assets on City property. Through the Council initiated resolution to rename confederate assets, our office launched a SpeakUp page to collect suggested names from Austin residents.
- Analysis of Racial Profiling—The report analyzing the Austin Police Department's Racial Profiling Data.
- APD Equity Assessment Reports—The report analyzing the first wave of Austin Police Department divisions to complete the Equity Assessment Tool.
- Equity COVID19 Guide—The toolkit distributed to help build a racial equity analysis in the City's COVID-19 response
- CodeNEXT Assessment Report—The report on the CodeNEXT Equity Assessment
- Bond Projects Equity Analysis—The Equity Office's analysis of the 2018 Bond Projects.
- Equity Assessment Tool Pilot (2018)—The report on the first group of departments to complete the Tool.
- Equity Assessment Tool 2nd Pilot Completion (2019)—The report on the second group of departments to complete the Tool. The report is also available in Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Vietnamese.
The Equity Forum is a free event designed to bring Austin-area organizers, community members, and City employees together to share information and resources on racial equity. The heart of the event will include breakout sessions addressing how different organizations normalize, organize, and operationalize equity, and includes a lunch keynote speaker. The intent of the forum is to showcase how and where equity work is being done in and around Austin, and to have conversations about working together on equity related issues and initiatives.