July Steering Committee Action
The Steering Committee passed a resolution in their July meeting making recommendations to the City’s LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission regarding the Quality of Life Study. The recommendations (below) reflected the Steering Committee’s view of the importance of this study as a milestone in our community’s history that should be celebrated and those that participated in this accomplishment gratefully acknowledged. The recommendations further urged the Commission to commit to an open and transparent implementation process with established measurable goals and regular reporting to the community.
Resolution
Whereas the LGBTQ population of Austin has long sought recognition and culturally appropriate assistance from the City of Austin, and
Whereas, the 2016 Community Conversation for LGBTQ Austin seniors identified how the lack of a communication platform, meeting space, and analysis of our populations demographics are all challenges to forming and maintaining a cohesive community, and
Whereas the establishment of the LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission and the funding of a LGBTQ Quality of Life Study were two significant achievements in our development story whose importance depends in part on how well they are understood and owned by the community as a whole,
Now therefore be it resolved that the Austin LGBT Coalition on Aging urges the City of Austin LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission to make a public commitment to an open and transparent process for implementing the Quality of Life Study as a cornerstone for bringing our community together, and
Be it further resolved that the Coalition Secretary is hereby authorized to provide this resolution to the members of the City of Austin LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission along with the more comprehensive letter outlining the rationale for our action.
Letter
To: City of Austin LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission
The Austin LGBT Coalition on Aging has great interest in the work of the City’s Quality of Life Commission. As a volunteer organization, established in a community townhall meeting, the ALGBTCOA speaks for the needs and concerns of LGBTQ seniors. The Coalition has been an active participant in the work of the Commission, especially regarding the current Quality of Life Study.
We understand we will soon see the Quality of Life Study findings. As senior members of the community, we have a personal understanding of all the work that it has taken over the years to bring us to this point. This is an historic occasion, a big deal, a cause for celebration.
One of the intended benefits we have hoped for from such a study is that it would bring us together as a community. To do that it must be an open and transparent process with clear and measurable goals that are reported on and updated regularly. We owe a report to those who participated by volunteering their input; they should be acknowledged, celebrated, and provided access to the study.
The Coalition on Aging Steering Committee encourages the Commission to make a commitment now for an inclusive, open and transparent implementation and to take this opportunity to bring the community together in another townhall-like meeting to present the findings.
We recognize that it will take time and resources to produce such an event, and so we urge you now to develop a plan for presenting the findings and recommendations of the Commission. We think you need to engage the community, including the nonprofits and allies, and offer them the opportunity to financially support the celebration and publicize both the Study and the Implementation.
The LGBTQ Quality of Life Commission is something we have worked long and hard for. Now that its work is bringing results, we need to see you step out and lead.
Steering Committee
LGBT Coalition on Aging
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