Improving the Odds: Increasing Opportunities in Austin

The City of Austin has a history of attempting to address equity, starting with the Austin Equity Commission, led by Chair Ray Marshall, which delivered a report in 2001 titled, “Improving the Odds: Increasing Opportunities in Austin.”3 The Austin Equity Commission (AEC) was created by the Austin City Council and appointed by Mayor Kirk Watson in May 2000. The Commission's mandate was to “build consensus around a strategic vision for long-range economic prosperity and social equity for all.” The commission examined seven highly interrelated subjects in depth: wages, education, workforce development, affordable housing, early education and care, community health, and transportation.