[00:00:02]
[Proclamations]
AND THEN WHOEVER IS NEXT, COME UP BEHIND US AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.UM, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE IN THE 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING STARTS AT 10.
SO CROSS OUR FINGERS AND LET ME KNOW WHEN WE'RE READY TO GO.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE STANDING ALONGSIDE ME THIS MORNING FOR OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH PROCLAMATION.
AND Y'ALL KIND OF SCOOCH IN A LITTLE BIT MORE AND LOOK UP HERE SO YOU CAN SEE IF YOU'RE IN THE FRAME.
THERE WE GO TODAY WITH US AMONG THE WARRIORS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WE HAVE.
AND IF YOU WILL KIND OF RAISE YOUR HAND AND INDICATE, UM, STEPHANIE BURGESS, WHO'S THE VICTIM SUPERVISE VICTIM SERVICES SUPERVISOR AT ABD.
UH, TWO OF OUR HONORABLE JUDGES, UM, AURORA MARTINEZ JONES AND DIMPLE.
MALHOTRA FROM TRAVIS COUNTY, JULIUS SPANN, WHO IS THE CO CEO FROM SAFE AND CRYSTAL JUSTICE, CHIEF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER AT THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
I'M REALLY, I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE YOU WHILE ALSO JOINING US COUNCIL MEMBER, ALISON ALTER.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, MICHELLE MILES AT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AT APH FOR HER IMPORTANT WORK TO ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE IMMENSE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT TAKES A COORDINATED COMMUNITY EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEMIC RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND EMPOWERING VICTIMS. WE URGE YOU ALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MONTH'S ACTIVITIES WITH THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, FAMILY VIOLENCE TASK FORCE, THE SAFE ALLIANCE AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
DURING THIS TIME, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE AUSTINITES TO LIGHT UP YOUR HOMES WITH PURPLE LIGHTS AND YOU CAN SEE WE ARE ALL WEARING A SHADE OF PURPLE THIS MORNING, HERE TODAY TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TO REMIND US ALL OF HOPE AND TO BE THE VOICE WHERE THEIR OWN VOICE MAY HAVE BEEN SILENCED.
AND NOW WITH GREAT HONOR, I PRESENT THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH PROCLAMATION TO OUR VICTIMS SERVICES SUPERVISOR AT APD STEPHANIE BURGESS.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RE, SHOULD I RE DO WE HAVE TIME FOR ME TO READ THIS OR NOT? WE DO HAVE TIME.
PROCLAMATION BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT CONFINED TO ANY GROUP OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT CROSSES ALL ECONOMIC, RACIAL, GENDER, EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND SOCIETAL BARRIERS.
AND WHEREAS KEY PARTNERSHIPS WITH AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE DIVISION OF VICTIM SERVICES HELP ELIMINATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PROMOTE JUSTICE AND ENHANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY.
AND WHEREAS ONLY A COORDINATED COMMUNITY EFFORT CAN IMPROVE THE SYSTEMIC RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DECREASE ITS PREVALENCE IN THE FUTURE.
AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT PREVENTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND WE URGE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES WITH THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, FAMILY VIOLENCE TASK FORCE, THE SAFE ALLIANCE AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND LET US COME TOGETHER TO ELIMINATE VIOLENCE FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.
NOW, THEREFORE I, LESLIE POOLE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, STEVE ADLER, AND THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2021 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME FOLKS WHO WILL BE SAYING A FEW WORDS.
HI EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY AND RECOGNIZING THIS VERY IMPORTANT MONTH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
I'M A SUPERVISOR WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT VICTIM SERVICES UNIT, AND I'M SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
[00:05:01]
UNIT.IT'S ALSO MY HONOR TO SERVE AS THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CHAIR FOR THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY FAMILY VIOLENCE TASK FORCE.
AS PART OF THAT ROLE, I'D BEEN WORKING WITH AN, A LARGE NET OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PREVENTATIVE METHOD, UH, PREVENTIVE AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ORGANIZE EVENTS FOR THIS MONTH.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON ASIDE FROM ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO REPLACE THEIR LIGHTING PURPLE FOR THE MONTH IS THAT WE'VE ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE TEXAS STARS HOCKEY TEAM WHERE THEY'LL BE USING PURPLE LIGHTING.
UH, WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL GUESTING IN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, ENCOURAGING FANS WEAR PURPLE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAVING RESOURCE AND COUNSELING SPACE FOR FOLKS AT THE GAME WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED OR IN NEED THAT'S ON OCTOBER 28TH, THURSDAY AT 7:00 PM.
YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, WWW.SAFE AUSTIN.ORG/D V A N TO BUY TICKETS TO THAT GAME.
AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE WHOLE LIST OF OTHER THINGS WE'LL BE DOING THIS MONTH.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US, UM, FOR ADDRESSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE MILES AND I'M THE MANAGER OF THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
AND EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE SAFE WITHIN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.
THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION SEEKS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND WE KNOW THAT 67% OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FATALITIES ARE CAUSED BY FIREARMS AND FIREARMS INCREASES FATALITIES BY 500% AND THE MEXICAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES DURING OUR FIRST YEAR IN THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WE SEEK TO ADDRESS THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN FIREARMS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND TO THAT END, WE'RE LOOKING TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STANDARDIZED FIREARM SURRENDER PROTOCOLS, WHICH WILL KEEP VICTIMS SAFE, PERPETRATOR SAFE, AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK A COUNCIL WOMAN PULLED FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE THIS MORNING, AND THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND MAYOR ADLER, UH, FOR RECOGNIZING AND PROCLAIMING OCTOBER AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
I'M JUDGE DIMPLE MALHOTRA AND I PRESIDE OVER COUNTY COURT AT LAW FOR OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT.
AS A YOUNG CHILD, I WAS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND I MADE IT MY MISSION TO DEDICATE MY ENTIRE CAREER TO THIS ISSUE.
I'VE DONE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORK FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE AND STAFF ATTORNEY AT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY ABUSE.
I WAS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY VIOLENCE UNIT FOR TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE HEAD OF OUR COUNTY'S PROTECTIVE ORDER DIVISION FOR OVER A DECADE.
I'VE BEEN THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THIS COURT SINCE 2019.
AND I'M SO PROUD TO WORK IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE IS A COORDINATED AND MULTIFACETED RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
THOUSANDS OF CASES ARE FILED IN MY COURT EVERY YEAR.
AND I HEAR HUNDREDS OF REQUESTS FOR PROTECTIVE ORDERS EVERY YEAR.
AND EVEN THOUGH TRAVIS COUNTY IN 2019 AND IN 2020 HAD THE LOWEST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE RATE OF ANY OTHER MAJOR URBAN COUNTY IN TEXAS, WE LOST 228 TEXANS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
LAST YEAR AND 67% OF THOSE WERE KILLED BY FIREARMS. KEEPING GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF ABUSERS IS CRITICAL IN MAINTAINING THE SAFETY OF VICTIMS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S BITTERSWEET THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY, KNOWING THAT JUST TWO DAYS AGO IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED MURDER, SUICIDE THREE LIVES WERE LOST INCLUDING A YOUNG CHILD, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT IF WE, AS A COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS ISSUE A PRIORITY, WE CAN SAVE LIVES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
I'M THE 1 26 STATE DISTRICT COURT JUDGE HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND BY LOCAL AGREEMENT, I'M ALSO THE STATE DISTRICT JUDGE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT OF ALL OF OUR CHILD WELFARE CASES HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS CRITICAL IN MY COURT.
ONE OF THE TOP REASONS THAT I SEE FAMILIES COME
[00:10:01]
BEFORE ME IS BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND AS WE THINK ABOUT THE AWARENESS OF THIS MONTH AND WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MEANS, NOT ONLY BETWEEN PARENTS, BUT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, THE PARENT CHILD RELATIONSHIPS SUFFERS WHEN WE HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THE COMMUNITY IS CHARGED WITH RALLYING AROUND THESE FAMILIES WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM.SO THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER IMPACT, NOT JUST ON PARENTS, BUT ON CHILDREN AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INVOLVED, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND OUR MAYOR.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY AND HAVING US HERE.
I'M THE CO CEO OF THE SAFE ALLIANCE.
I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THE HOMICIDE REPORT THAT JUST CAME OUT FROM THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE TO BE SPECIFIC IN AUSTIN.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD FIVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, HOMICIDES, FIVE PEOPLE WHO DIED THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN MOST OTHER, ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY IN OUR, IN OUR STATE AND PROBABLY NATIONWIDE.
AND IT IS STILL TOO MANY, BUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS IS ABSOLUTELY A TESTIMONY TO ALL THE PEOPLE BEHIND TO ME AND TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A COORDINATED RESPONSE AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT IT TOGETHER FOR YEARS AND YEARS, AND WE ARE DEDICATED AND WE KEEP IMPROVING ON IT.
THE ADDITION OF THE CITY WITH VIOLENCE PREVENTION HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
SO WE THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT CARES WE CAN DO BETTER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CELEBRATE OUR GREAT SUCCESSES.
I'M WITH THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE, AND WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE HEADQUARTERED RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WE PROVIDE TWENTY FOUR SEVEN CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES VIA PHONE CHAT AND TEXT TO EVERYONE WHO'S AFFECTED BY RELATIONSHIP ABUSE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
THIS YEAR, WE ARE COMMEMORATING OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND OVER 5.8 MILLION CONTACTS ANSWERED SINCE 1996, ESPECIALLY DURING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE LONG-TERM SAFETY OF SURVIVORS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF THIS PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING HOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE THANKFUL TO MAYOR ADLER, THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OF THOSE BEHIND ME AND WHO AREN'T BEHIND ME, WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES, RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS.
AND LASTLY, TOGETHER, I THINK WE CAN BOLDLY GO TO A PLACE OF ENVISIONING A WORLD WHERE ALL RELATIONSHIPS ARE HEALTHY AND FREE FROM VIOLENCE.
OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE NO LESS.
THE NEXT GROUP IS, OH, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT'S, RIGHT? OH, REALLY? WE'RE SAYING, SHOULD WE GET AWAY FROM THIS AND BE SURE YOU GUYS, WHY DON'T WE DO OVER HERE?
AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WANT TO COME AND JOIN US, PLEASE DO ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO JOIN US A LITTLE BIT THIS WAY? YEAH.
[00:15:09]
I'D LOVE FOR THEM TO COME JOIN US.
COME JOIN US IF YOU WANT, CAN TAKE PICTURES.
SO YOU CAN STAND YOU STAND NEXT TO
ALL RIGHT, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I'M JOINED HERE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER AND KITCHEN BESIDE ME.
WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE COMMANDER MICHAEL FILES, AND HE IS JOINING US HERE TODAY AS LONG AS WELL AS HIS FAMILY AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS COMMANDER MICHAEL D FILES AN AUSTIN NATIVE RECEIVED HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE U S NAVAL ACADEMY FROM REPRESENTATIVE JJ PICKLE GRADUATED IN 1998 WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HOLDS A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN MANAGEMENT FROM TROY UNIVERSITY.
AND WHEREAS COMMANDER FILES HAS SERVED THE NAVY ABROAD IN GUAM, JAPAN, AND IRAQ, DOMESTICALLY AT MULTIPLE BASES, MANAGING MILITARY RESOURCES AND LEADING TO THE ASSIGNMENT AS EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR NAVY RECRUITING DISTRICT SAN ANTONIO.
AND WHEREAS COMMANDER FILES HAS COMPLETED TWO INDIVIDUAL AUGMENTATION ASSIGNMENTS, UNITED NATIONS, MILITARY OBSERVER FOR UN MISSION TO ETHIOPIA, ETHIOPIA, AND ERITREA AND MILITARY STAFF OFFICER FOR UN STABILIZATION MISSION IN HAITI.
AND WHEREAS HIS PERSONAL DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE DEFENSE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL JOINT SERVICE, COMMENDATION MEDAL, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS, COMMENDATION MEDAL NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL.
UNITED NATIONS MEDAL AND CONTRIBUTION OF 23 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE NAVY AND OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND NOW THEREFORE I PAY JEALOUS ON BEHALF OF STEVE ADLER, MAYOR OF AUSTIN OF THE CITY CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEAR BRI PROCLAIM, OCTOBER 21ST, 2021 AS MICHAEL D FILE'S DAY.
I, UM, HELPED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR COMMANDER FILES BECAUSE HE'S BEEN A GREAT CONTRIBUTOR TO THE COMMUNITY AND HE LIVES HERE IN AUSTIN AND GOES BACK WAY BACK TO JAKE PICKLE, WHO MANY OF YOU WILL REMEMBER.
UM, SO I HOPE YOU WILL ALL WILL CONGRATULATE HIM ON HIS RETIREMENT AND A GREAT FUTURE AHEAD.
I WANTED TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER, KITCHEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN TODAY.
[00:20:04]
OKAY.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER, MACKENZIE KELLY, AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE AUSTIN HINDU COMMUNITY.
I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT THE HINDU COMMUNITY DOES HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY GIVE US HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WILL BE PRESENTING THIS PROCLAMATION.
SO I'M GOING TO READ IT OUT LOUD.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE NATION HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE EXTRAORDINARY CULTURAL, ETHNIC, LINGUISTIC AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY OF ITS RESIDENTS.
AND WHEREAS HINDU AMERICANS IN AUSTIN, TEXAS REPRESENT DIVERSE ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS OF INDIAN, INDIAN, PAKISTANI, BANGLADESHI, MALAYSIAN INDONESIAN, AFGHANY NEPALI SRI LANKAN, FIJIAN, CARIBBEAN, AND EUROPEAN DESCENT.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND OUR NATION HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED FROM HINDU AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH MEDICINE, CLASSICAL INDIAN ART, DANCE, MUSIC, MEDITATION, YOGA LITERATURE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS THERE ARE NOW AT LEAST 50 HINDU TEMPLES RELIGIOUS CENTERS AND CULTURAL CENTERS THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHEREAS HINDU AMERICANS HAVE GREATLY ENRICHED AUSTIN, TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS BY TEACHING NUMEROUS STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE ACADEMIC FIELDS OF ASTROPHYSICS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, LAW, PLANETARY SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, AND NEUROSCIENCE, AND A MAJORITY OF HINDU AMERICANS ARE IN HIGH SKILL OCCUPATIONS.
AND NOW THEREFORE I COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MAYOR STEVE ADLER AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2021 AS HINDU HERITAGE MONTH ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
I WANT TO PRESENT THIS, BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO HEAR SOME OR HAVE DUSHANT HERE, PRESENT A FEW WORDS AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S DIVERSITY REPRESENTED BEHIND ME, AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN EVER DONE.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO PAVE THE WAY FOR HINDU HERITAGE MONTH TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHINE.
AND I MUST SAY, AND, UH, GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO MAYOR STEVE ADLER, AUSTIN CITY, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND DISTRICT SIX COUNCIL MEMBER, MCKINSEY KELLY, AND HER CHIEF OF STAFF THOMAS MCGREGOR FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
THIS PROCLAMATION IS HISTORIC INDEED, AND WE SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE RECENT RECOGNITION.
THE HINDU COMMUNITY HAS INTERLACED ITSELF INTO THE FABRIC OF AUSTIN'S MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
AND THOSE HAVE ALWAYS EXPERIENCED IT, COMPASSION AND SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
IN THIS FRIENDLY CITY OF AUSTIN TODAY, ALL OF THE MAJOR CITIES IN US LOOK UP TO AUSTIN AS AN INNOVATIVE AND A THRIVING METROPOLIS.
WE FEEL PROUD TO HAVE MOVED HERE AND MADE THIS OUR HOME AND THOSE LIKE US MOVED FROM INDIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO AMERICA CHERISH THE FREEDOM, SAFETY AND OPPORTUNITY PROVIDED BY THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE REMIND OURSELVES TO VALUE HUMAN LIFE, DIGNITY AND FREEDOM.
THE CORE AMERICAN VALUES THAT ARE ALSO EMPHASIZED IN HINDU PHILOSOPHIES AND SCRIPTURES.
AUSTIN HINDUS RESIDENTS HAVE ALWAYS SERVED THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY IN ALL TIMES WILL NEED, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THROUGH VARIOUS OTHER SERVICE PROJECTS, SWAMI, VIVEKANANDA, UH, HINDU MONK, SPIRITUAL GENIUS IS BEST KNOWN IN THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS GROUNDBREAKING SPEECH IN 1893 PARLIAMENT OF WORLD RELIGION IN CHICAGO, I WILL QUOTE JUST ONE LINE FROM HIS SPEECH THAT STILL REPRESENTS AUSTIN COMMUNITY'S ETHOS.
HE SAID, I AM PROUD TO BELONG TO RELIGION THAT HAS TAUGHT THE WORLD BOTH TOLERANCE AND UNIVERSAL ACCEPTANCE IN CONCLUSION.
WE, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS UPLIFTING PROCLAMATION AND FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL FURTHER PROPEL OUR COMMITMENT TOWARDS PROGRESS AND BETTERMENT OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
KENZIE, CAN YOU WANT TO OPEN THAT UP? OH, YOU DID.
[00:25:01]
THIS WAY YOU GET THERE WITH A WHITE MASS.IS THAT GOOD? OR DO WE NEED ONE? I'M GOING TO GET YOU IN THE CENTER.
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING THIS WAY.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU CAN SEE ME.
MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU AS A THRIVING BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR.
SO IT COMES WITH A GREAT DEAL OF PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL HONOR THAT I GET TO PRESENT THIS NEXT PROCLAMATION.
UM, THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION AND OUR FAIR CITY CALLED THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER.
AND IT IS THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION THAT YOU WANT TO SAY IS A RESOURCE CENTER BECAUSE IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING, BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT.
IT'S THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION WHERE EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WORKS BEHIND THE DOORS KNOWS THE JOURNEY OF BREAST CANCER.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WORKS BEHIND THOSE DOORS KNOWS THAT, UH, MIKE ME, UM, I'M VERY FORTUNATE.
THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR BEING A SURVIVOR WITH NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE.
UM, THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY FOLKS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO DON'T GET TO SAY THAT.
AND SO ON THEIR BEHALF, I HONOR I TREASURE AND I CELEBRATE ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES AND THE REST OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER, UM, THAT BRINGS PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS, EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
AND SO, UM, WITH THAT, BEFORE I GET TOO SAPPY, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, A TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT BREAST CANCER AND INCREASED SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH INTO CAUSES, CURES, PREVENTIONS, AND TREATMENTS.
AND WHEREAS THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER OF TEXAS IS AN AUSTIN BASED NON-PROFIT THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL PATIENT NAVIGATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS FOR 26 YEARS, THE BCRC HAS PLAYED A VITAL AND INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN THE JOURNEYS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE NAVIGATING BREAST CANCER.
AND WHEREAS THE BCRC IS THE ONLY COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT IN THE NATION TO RECEIVE THE MULTIPLE APPROACHES TO SUPPORT YOUNG BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS AND METASTATIC BREAST CANCER PATIENTS GRANT FROM THE CDC, A RECOGNITION OF THE GROUP'S EXEMPLARY SERVICE MODEL.
NOW, THEREFORE I MAYOR PRO TEM NATASHA HARPER, MADISON, ALONG WITH MAYOR STEVE ADLER AND THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 21ST, THE YEAR 2021 AS BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER OF TEXAS DAY.
AND RAEANN IS HERE TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.
I'M SO HAPPY TO HAND THIS OVER TO YOU.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET A PHOTO OF US HOLDING IT
[00:30:05]
MORE HERE.DID YOU WANT TO SHARE ANYWHERE JUST TO THANK YOU.
WE'RE SO HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS, UM, PROCLAMATION TODAY FOR BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER.
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO DO THE WORK WE DO, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HELP THE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WE HELP EACH YEAR AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO ON BEHALF OF BCRC WHERE TO GET IT FROM A FRIEND, SO MEANINGFUL.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PROVIDE HELP HOPE HERE.
I'M BRINGING MY LITTLE FANCY MATH.
KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE'LL THINK ABOUT.
WE'LL SEE THESE PHOTOS 20 YEARS, 30 YEARS.