Meet the chief equity officer candidates

In the search for a new chief equity officer, the city has winnowed down a field of 83 candidates to four finalists, all of whom will be available to meet with the public at a town hall meeting this week. Whoever lands the position, according to a press statement from the city, will then work to “identify gaps and disparities in services and programs and help create a plan for each department.” It is also the equity officer’s job to “work with community groups to help them navigate the City organization to ensure equal access to City programs and services.” The four finalists are: Parisa Fatehi-Weeks, head of community impact programs and investments at Google Fiber; Veronica Briseño Lara, director of the Small Minority Business Resources Department at the city of Austin; Brion Oaks, vice president of health equity at the Southwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association; and Kazique Prince, senior policy adviser and education coordinator for Mayor Steve Adler. The meeting will be held Thursday, Aug. 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road.