Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette

On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, the LBJ Library’s Future Forum held a discussion of the Austin Mayor’s Task Force Report on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities. The discussion explored the impetus behind the report, how it was created, what it recommends, and the next steps. Participants included Austin Mayor Steve Adler; Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, president and chief executive officer of Huston-Tillotson University and co-chair of the Mayor’s Task Force; Alba Sereno, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Texas School of Social Work and a project manager for the Task Force; and Brion Oaks, chief equity officer for the City of Austin. The discussion was moderated by Alberta Phillips, editorial writer and columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. Mayor Adler formed a task force of local leaders in November 2016 to explore how to ensure equity throughout the city. The group released its suggestions on March 31, 2017, in a final report with five sections: education, real estate and housing, health, finance, and criminal justice.