[International Women's Day and Women's History Proclamation ]
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IS THIS WORKING? GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UM, I THINK YOU CAN ALREADY TELL PART OF WHAT TODAY'S ABOUT IS TO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER AND JUST KIND OF BE TOGETHER.
UM, MY NAME IS ALISON AL ALTER.
I THINK I KNOW AND HAVE WORKED WITH MOST EVERYONE WHO'S IN THIS ROOM.
AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL, UM, THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US TODAY TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
ON BEHALF OF THE WOMEN OF COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS FUENTES HARPER, MADISON, ELLIS POOL, AND KELLY AND MYSELF, WE WANNA WELCOME YOU TO CITY HALL.
TODAY IS WHAT I HOPE WILL BE AN ANNUAL AFFAIR AT CITY HALL OR SOMEWHERE WE MAY HAVE TO EXPAND, UM, FOR A WOMEN'S DAY LUNCHEON.
THE PROGRAM AND THIS LUNCHEON ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO MAKE AUSTIN THE SPECIAL PLACE THAT WE LOVE, WHO CONTRIBUTE YOUR TIME AND YOUR TALENTS TO MAKE OUR CITY THRIVE FOR EVERYONE.
WE RECOGNIZE YOUR SERVICE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY CALLS ON US TO CELEBRATE WOMEN'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND TO REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY.
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALL THAT YOU DO.
BEFORE I GO FURTHER, I INVITE YOU TO LOOK AROUND, LOOK AROUND AT THE WOMEN IN THIS ROOM.
AS I LOOK AROUND, I AM IN AWE AND I THINK BACK.
AND I THINK BACK TO WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I COULD HAVE IMAGINED A ROOM FILLED WITH SO MANY WOMEN WHO WERE LEADING ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING OUR CITY FUNCTION ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
THIS IS AMAZING AND WE HAVE COME SO FAR.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
AND YOU KNOW, PART OF WHAT TODAY IS ABOUT, IN MY VIEW, IS BRINGING US TOGETHER TO KIND OF HARNESS OUR POWER, OUR ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGE THROUGH OUR CONNECTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, WITH COVID AND ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, THAT WE COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE SOMETHING, THAT WE COME TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE, UM, THAT WE COME TOGETHER IN A WAY WHERE WE CAN PAUSE, WHERE WE'RE NOT WORKING, BUT THAT WE CAN, UM, ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.
SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME TODAY TO BE WITH US.
UM, TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY LAST YEAR, WE HOSTED, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DIRECTOR LEVEL AND ABOVE.
WE HAD SOME HEALTH PRECAUTIONS THAT WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT AND I'M REALLY EXCITED.
THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LEVEL AND ABOVE, AS WELL AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OUR CITY HALL STAFF.
AND WE'VE TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF STAFF.
UM, I KNOW THAT 60 DOESN'T MAKE ONE 50, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE WOMEN ELECTEDS IN THERE.
UM, BUT WE'VE REALLY TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF STAFF WHO WE WERE ABLE, UM, TO INCLUDE TODAY.
AND REMEMBER, THAT'S REALLY HIGH UP IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND REALLY THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR CITY FUNCTION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING OUR CITY STAFF.
SO IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF AND DIRECTOR LEVEL OR ABOVE, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND NOW? PLEASE, PLEASE STAY STANDING NOW.
IF YOU ARE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OR ABOVE AND NOT CAN BE LOOSELY DEFINED, UM, PLEASE STAMP IN THIS ROOM, YOU WILL SEE OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, OUR AUDITOR, AND ACTUALLY NITA CHEAT SHEET CUZ IT'S REALLY LONG.
OUR CITY CLERK, OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE, AND MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK, OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, OUR CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER, OUR CONTROLLER LEADERS OF OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT, PUBLIC HEALTH PARKS, FLEET FINANCIAL SERVICES, E D D C T M, PIO O LIBRARY, INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, MUNICIPAL COURT, FORENSIC SCIENCES, THE CLERK'S OFFICE LAW DEPARTMENT, HESO, LABOR RELATIONS,
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AND OTHERS FROM OUR ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS.WE HAVE LEADERS FROM AUSTIN WATER FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, A R R WATERSHED, TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS CODE.
TO SAY THAT WE TOGETHER HAVE BEEN THROUGH AN AMAZING AMOUNT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
AND WE, AS THE WOMEN OF COUNCIL WANTS TO SAY THANK YOU.
UM, I'D INVITE THOSE WHO ARE LEADING OUR UNIONS TO STAND.
I THINK WE HAVE, UH, CAROL AND CHRISTIE FROM ASME AND SELENA FROM EMS, A THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO TAKE CARE OF OUR WORKERS AND TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL STAFF TO STAND UP.
WE HAVE, I THINK WE HAVE EVERY OFFICE REPRESENTED.
YOU REALLY DO MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MINA SHAK ON MY STAFF WHO DID MOST OF THE WORK TODAY, TOGETHER WITH KAY GOODDAY, AND ALSO WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM CARRIE AND ASHLEY AND MELISSA AND KURT, UM, WHO'S GONNA BE AN HONORARY MEMBER TODAY.
UM, ALTHOUGH IF YOU'VE SEEN HIS OFFICE, I THINK THAT'S WELL, WELL DESERVED.
UM, THE LAST SIX PLUS YEARS I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ALONG SOME TRUE ALONGSIDE SOME REALLY TRULY REMARKABLE WOMEN ON COUNCIL, ON A MAJORITY FEMALE COUNCIL.
I'VE ALSO BEEN PRIVILEGED TO GET TO KNOW SOME SUPERB WOMEN WHO DARE TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND WHO ARE LEADING OUR CITY AT EVERY LEVEL.
IT IS A REAL MARK OF PROGRESS THAT HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, WE HAVE OVER 50 FEMALE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE HAVE OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, WHICH IS MAJORITY FEMALE, THE A I S D AND THE DELL VALLEY.
I S D SCHOOL BOARDS ARE MAJORITY FEMALE.
WE HAVE OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD, WHICH IS MAJORITY FEMALE.
OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TOO.
OUR DISTRICT AND COUNTY JUDICIAL BENCHES ARE MAJORITY OR EVEN OUR DISTRICT CLERK, OUR COUNTY CLERK, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND OUR SHERIFF R TWO.
SO PLEASE RISE IF YOU ARE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
IT TAKES GUTS TO RUN FOR OFFICE, AS I JUST SAID.
AND IT ALSO TAKES A LOT OF GUTS TO SERVE.
SO THANK YOU, UM, VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
WE'VE DESIGNED TODAY'S PROGRAM TO BE SHORT AND SWEET SO THAT WE CAN REALLY GET DOWN TO SPENDING TIME TOGETHER, MEETING NEW PEOPLE, AND BEING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.
UM, WE ARE GONNA HEAR QUICKLY FROM ACM BRANO, UM, WHO'S OVER GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM SENATOR ECKERT.
AND THEN MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL OFFER A PROCLAMATION AFTER WHICH, UM, I WILL SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LUNCH LOGISTICS, AND WE WILL TAKE A PHOTO AND GO INTO THE ATRIUM TO EAT.
I AM HONORED TO BE HERE ADDRESSING ALL OF YOU PHENOMENAL WOMEN ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.
ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUE STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, RIGHT OVER THERE, UH, THE WOMEN CITY OF AUSTIN, DIRECTORS AND AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO CITY HALL TODAY.
I'M AM GONNA SHARE SOME NAMES AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THINK OF HOW THESE WOMEN INFLUENCED CHANGE IN OUR VERY OWN CITY.
I WANNA START WITH LADY BIRD JOHNSON.
TEXAS'S FIRST, FIRST LADY ANNE RICHARDS, THE SECOND WOMAN GOVERNMENT, SECOND WOMAN, TEXAS GOVERNOR CAROL KEATON RELANDER, THE FIRST AND ONLY WOMAN MAYOR OF AUSTIN.
BARBARA JORDAN, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO TEXAS SENATE SENATOR SARAH ECKHART, WHO'S GONNA SPEAK SHORTLY.
FIRST WOMAN, TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE.
REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL COLE, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DELIA GARZA, THE FIRST LATINA AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
FIRST LATINA ME PROTE AND FIRST LATINA TRAVIS COUNTY ATTORNEY AND FELLOW SAN ANTONIO.
THESE WOMEN ARE AMONG, AMONG MANY WHO HAVE INSPIRED ME AS A WOMAN LEADER HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GENERATIONS OF STRONG LATINAS FROM SOUTH TEXAS AND MEXICO.
MY MOM WAS MY ROLE MODEL PURSUING A DEGREE AS A SINGLE MOM.
IT TOOK HER 16 YEARS, BUT SHE GRADUATED THE SAME YEAR I DID FROM COLLEGE.
SHE STARTED AS A RECEPTIONIST.
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SAW WHEN YOU WALK INTO WILLOW ENERGY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND RETIRED AS A HUMAN RESOURCES SENIOR MANAGER.SHE TAUGHT ME NOT ONLY THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TENACITY IN CHASING YOUR DREAMS, BUT ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF FIERCE INDEPENDENCE.
NOT ONLY HAVE I BROUGHT THESE VALUES TO MY, MY LIFE AND MY CAREER, I STRIVE TO BRING THEM TO THE CITY AS AN ORGANIZATION BY SUPPORTING WHO WOMEN, BY SUPPORTING WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY PROUDLY.
ONE OF THE WAYS I HAVE DONE THIS IS THROUGH THE CREATION OF WOMAN AND WITH WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH ROSIE TRUE LOVE OUR HOUSING AND PLANNING DIRECTOR 14 YEARS AGO.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THAT ORGANIZATION'S STILL GOING STRONG EACH YEAR.
THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS THEMES THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FO DAY HAS FOCUSED ON THIS YEAR.
THE THEME, THE THEME IS EMBRACE EQUITY AT THE CITY.
WE ARE REPRESENTED BY A DIVERSE GROUP OF STRONG WOMEN, AND I'M GLAD THAT OUR COUNCILS MEMBER MENTIONED THE DEPARTMENTS AND DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE WE LEAD.
DID YOU REALIZE THAT HALF OF OUR CITY DIRECTORS ARE WOMEN? AND WE HAD TO DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECK THAT NUMBER.
BUT WE ARE NOW OVER HALF OF OUR DIRECTORS.
AND AS A SHAMELESS PLUG FOR GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL FIVE OF MY EIGHT DIRECT REPORTS ARE WOMEN.
WHILE WE STILL WORK, WE STILL HAVE WORK AHEAD OF US TO INCREASE DIVERSITY AND EQUITY ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE CERTAINLY ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
SO WHAT WE CAN WE DO TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION? WE ALL HAVE THE POWER AND ABILITY TO EMBRACE EQUITY AS LEADERS.
WE CAN EMPOWER THE WOMEN AROUND US AND HELP EVERYONE IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO LOOK AT PROGRAMS, CHALLENGES AND IDEAS THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS.
AS WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES, WE SHOULD LOOK EVERY DAY FOR WAYS TO LIFT ONE ANOTHER UP AND WAYS TO CREATE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
WHEN I WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE WAY BEFORE, IT WAS COOL TO LOVE FRIDA.
MY AUNT TAUGHT ME ABOUT FRIA GAO, A MEXICAN ARTIST AND FEMINIST.
AND I HAVE BEEN FASCINATED WITH HER SINCE FRIDA ONCE SAID, ONLY ONE MOUNTAIN CAN KNOW THE CORE OF ANOTHER MOUNTAIN.
THIS IS TRUE FOR US AS WOMEN LEADERS.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE HAVE SIMILAR CORES, SIMILAR FOUNDATIONS, WHICH BRINGS ME TO THANKING THESE, THOSE WHO PUT THIS EVENT TOGETHER.
FIRST OF ALL, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR HOST, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLI AL ALTER, MAYOR PROTE PAGE ELLIS COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES.
AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MINA KAY AND SAMMY WHO MADE MAGIC HAPPEN TODAY.
IN CLOSING, MAYA ANGELOU THE PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL WOMAN HERSELF SAID, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE A WOMAN.
I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING GREAT IN ANOTHER LIFE.
AND HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.
SHE'S, I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE.
OH, SHE'S JUST LEAVING THE SENATE FLOOR, SO MAYBE WE'LL DO, SHE'S JUST LEAVING THE SENATE FLOOR.
SO LET'S DO OUR PROCLAMATION AND HOPEFULLY SHE'LL BE THERE.
AND UM, SO IF I COULD INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO, TO COME UP AND JOIN ME.
UM, AND DO WE WANNA HAVE THE, THE EXECUTIVE TEAM UP HERE AS WELL? AND THAT CAN BE HOWEVER YOU DEFINE EXECUTIVE TEAM.
I THINK IT'S DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS.
YOU JUST REMEMBER Y'ALL SENT OUT AN EMAIL? THOSE YEAH.
ANYONE WHO GOT THE EMAIL? THAT'S STAR
WELL, OR WAS TOLD THEY GOT ALL YES, BUT ANYONE WHO REALLY, WE'RE GONNA GET EVERYONE UP HERE AND, AND, AND JUST A MINUTE.
UM, SO, OKAY, YOU'RE GONNA KICK IT OFF AND YOU, YOU AND YOU AND ME.
I'M GONNA START WITH, YOU CAN START WITH CONFIRMATIONS YOU WANT.
WHEREAS MARCH 8TH IS RECOGNIZED AROUND THE WORLD AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND MARCH IS CELEBRATED NATIONALLY AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.
AND WHEREAS WOMEN ELECTED OFFICIALS HOLD A MAJORITY OF SEATS IN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WITH WOMEN SERVING IN LEADERSHIP ROLES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS 2023 MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EQUAL PAY ACT AND THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RELEASE OF THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION
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ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN'S REPORT.AND WHEREAS WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE FIGHT FOR GENDER EQUITY CONTINUES THROUGH OUR WORK TO ADVANCE EQUAL PAY, EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN OF COLOR, ELIMINATE SEXUAL HARASSMENT, IMPLEMENT PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, AND ADVOCATE FOR COMPENSATION OF CARE WORK.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN CELEBRATES THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN AND JOINS WITH WOMEN ACROSS THE GLOBE FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2023.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTAR ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM.
AND I GOT THREE HERE, SO BEAR WITH ME.
MARCH 8TH, 2023 AS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, MARCH 14TH, 2023 AS EQUAL PAY DAY AND MARCH OF 2023 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH IN AUSTIN.
SO, UM, SINCE SENATOR ECKERT IS NOT HERE YET, HERE'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE ONE QUICK PICTURE WITH THIS GROUP, THEN I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE LUNCH LOGISTICS AND HOPE THAT SHE'S, IS SHE HERE? NO, I WAS NOTICING THERE WAS SOME JUDGES RAID UP THERE AND THEY NEED TO COME ON DOWN.
UM, SO WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PICTURE WITH THIS GROUP, THEN WE'LL DO THE LUNCH LOGISTICS AND HOPEFULLY SENATOR ECKER WILL, UM, BE HERE BY THEN.
SO MAYBE, UM, EVERYBODY WE'RE GONNA NEED TO KEEP THIS SCREEN SCREEN.
SO MAYBE, UM, IF WE CAN MOVE, CAN I GO A LITTLE? WE CAN.
DO YOU WANT US TO SHARE PICTURES? I CAN, YEAH.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE LUNCH INSTRUCTIONS AND IF WE HAVE TO DO OUR PHOTO AND WE WILL, WE WILL, WE WILL ROLL WITH THIS.
THIS IS PART OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE IN THE SENATE.
WHERE AM I? SO, UM, WHEN WE BREAK FOR LUNCH, I HAVE A COUPLE ASKS OF EACH OF YOU.
UM, FIRST IS THAT WE, THE WOMEN OF THE COUNCIL WANT TO INVITE YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EACH OF US.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH US, UM, WE'D LOVE THE CHANCE, UM, TO GET TO KNOW YOU, UM, AND SPEAK WITH YOU.
SO PLEASE, UM, THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR US TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS AND, AND TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
UH, PLEASE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO AT LEAST THREE WOMEN THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHO ARE HERE.
I KNOW SEVERAL FOLKS CAME, UM, WITH GROUPS OR, OR FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE.
UM, PLEASE TRY AND PUSH YOURSELF OUTTA YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND MEET A COUPLE OTHER WOMEN.
I KNOW LAST YEAR THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS THAT REALLY HELPED PEOPLE.
UM, LOTS OF DEPARTMENTS HAVE SIMILAR CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY FOUND INTERESTING THINGS OR ELECTED WHO DIDN'T KNOW PEOPLE AT THE CITY FOUND SOMEBODY TO WORK WITH TO HELP THEM ADVANCE, UM, SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON.
AND THEN AFTER OUR PHOTOS, UM, OKAY, GREAT.
AFTER OUR PHOTOS, UM, LUNCH WILL BE SERVED IN THE ATRIUM.
UM, WE HAVE SOME OVERLOAD SEATING IN THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM IF NECESSARY.
THE FOOD IS ON THE NORTH END OF THE BUILDING WHERE THE VENDING MACHINES ARE.
SO YOU JUST SORT OF FOLLOW WHERE EVERYONE IS.
UM, WE'VE TRIED TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE'S DIETARY RESTRICTIONS, BUT, UM,
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ASK THE SERVERS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.UM, WE DID HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, RSVP SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THE LINE.
UM, AND THEN, UM, IF YOU NEED PARKING VALIDATION, UH, THERE'S PARKING VALIDATION AT THAT TABLE.
UM, IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE SENATOR ECKERT.
IT IS SO GOOD TO BE IN CITY HALL.
I'M JUST COMING FROM THE SENATE FLOOR
SO AS YOU, UH, AS I KNOW, UM, YOU ALL FEEL, CUZ I CERTAINLY FEEL IT.
UH, WE ARE IN A FRUSTRATING TIME.
UM, BUT WE'VE GOT FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IF YOU, YOU CAN BEAR CHILDREN, YOU'VE GOT FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE, RIGHT?
SO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 20 23 3 THEME IS EMBRACING EQUITY.
AND THAT STARTS WITH EVENTS LIKE THIS, UH, TO CELEBRATE WOMEN FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
UH, CIS AND TRANSGENDER WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, UH, YOUNG AND OLDER LIKE MYSELF AND FROM ALL NATIONALITIES.
UM, I WANNA JUST TAKE A STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT.
I HAVE SOME PREPARED REMARKS, BUT INSTEAD I WANTED TO JUST TALK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
UH, UM, IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, UM, LESS THAN 30% OF LEGISLATORS ARE WOMEN.
UM, IN THE 254 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS, LESS THAN 15% OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES, UH, THE THE COUNTY JUDGE ARE WOMEN.
AND WHEN I STARTED AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AT TRAVIS COUNTY, WE WERE A MAJORITY MALE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND A MAJORITY MALE, UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE STAFF.
UM, WHEN I LEFT AS COUNTY JUDGE, WE WERE A MAJORITY FEMALE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND HAD ACHIEVED FULL PARODY WITH REGARD TO WOMEN EXECUTIVES, TO MEN EXECUTIVES UNDER THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
BUT I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS WOMAN BEHIND THE MAN SYNDROME FOR A MOMENT.
UH, AS WITH SO MANY DISENFRANCHISED GROUPS, UH, WOMEN, AFRICAN AMERICAN, LATINOS, UH, L G B T QIA A SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER TO BE THE POWER BEHIND SOMEBODY ELSE.
UM, SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER IN MANY RESPECTS AND I COMPLETELY RESPECT THAT.
AND WHEN YOU DO SEE AN OPENING TO ACTUALLY HOLD THE TITLE OF LEADER, TAKE IT DURING MY TIME.
DURING MY TIME AT THE COUNTY, I SPENT 20 YEARS AT THE COUNTY BEFORE GOING TO THE STATE AND DURING MY TIME AT THE COUNTY, UM, UH, WOMEN CONSIDERED FOR PROMOTION, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS STILL OKAY AND IT WAS NEVER REALLY OKAY, BUT APPARENTLY IT WAS STILL OKAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW MANY CHILDREN OF CHILDBEARING, UH, OF, UH, SCHOOL AGE SHE HAD AT HOME AND WHAT HER HUSBAND'S PROFESSIONAL PROSPECTS WERE BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO PROMOTE HER.
IT WAS STILL COMMON, UH, WHEN I BEGAN AT THE COUNTY, UH, TO RECOMMEND, UH, TO WOMEN WHO WERE LOOKING TO MOVE UP IN THEIR CAREERS, TO FIND PLACES WHERE THEY COULD BE USEFUL BEHIND SOMEONE ELSE AND TO BUILD THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS UNDERNEATH SOMEONE ELSE'S TITLE.
EVEN WHEN I CONSIDERED RUNNING FOR TRAVIS COUNTY JUDGE TO BE THE FIRST FEMALE COUNTY JUDGE, ALL OF MY MALE MENTORS SUGGESTED I STAY IN PLACE AS A COMMISSIONER AND BE A HELPMATE TO THE NEXT MALE COUNTY JUDGE FOR WHOM WE HAVE HAD MANY EXCELLENT AND CURRENTLY HAVE EXCELLENT MALE COUNTY JUDGES.
IT'S NOT THAT IT'S THAT TOO OFTEN THE WOMAN BEHIND THE LEADERSHIP IS OVERLOOKED.
SO IF YOU'RE WAITING TO BE ASKED TO STEP UP, YOU'RE GONNA BE WAITING A LONG TIME.
SO ENSURING WOMEN WIN AND CONTINUE WORKING IN POSITIONS OF POWER IS HALF THE BATTLE.
BUT ENSURING ACCESS TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES IS WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS.
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LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE FULL PARODY IS REACHED, BUT I KNOW IT IS WITHIN OUR GRASP AND I CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE DOING THIS WORK WITH ALL OF Y'ALL.UM, SO, UH, THE FREEDOM OF OUR MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS, UH, TODAY IS SHRINKING, BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS GONNA BE THAT WAY BECAUSE OF ALL THE WOMEN IN THIS ROOM, ALL THE WOMEN ACROSS THE STATE, AND ALL THE WOMEN IN THIS NATION WHO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK FOR THE LONG HAUL AND TO PERSIST.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE PODIUM, WE'RE GONNA DO PHOTOS, WE NEED PEOPLE TO GO THE SECOND LEVEL.
I'M GONNA ASK THAT IF THE, THE COUNCIL AND THE SENATOR, WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE FRONT.
SO IF YOU GUYS WANNA GO IN THE FRONT AND SAVE ME A SPOT, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL MOVE THIS.
AND THEN IF EVERYBODY CAN COME OVER HERE, WE'RE GONNA TRY, WE GOT A STOOL AND EVERYTHING.
UM, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND GET A PICTURE OF ALL OF THE WOMEN.
AND THIS IS FOR THE WOMEN IN THE PICTURE ONLY.
WE APPRECIATE THE ALLIES IN THE ROOM.
SO, UM, IF I CAN HAVE YOUR ATTENTION FOR ONE MORE SECOND WHEN WE MOVE, IS IT NOT WORKING? I LADIES, IF I CAN HAVE YOUR ATTENTION FOR ONE MORE SECOND.
UM, IN ORDER FOR US TO MOVE THE PODIUM, I NEED, I NEED EVERYONE TO, TO LISTEN FOR A SECOND.
I NEED EVERYONE TO LISTEN FOR A SECOND CAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET HURT.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE PODIUM SO IT'S NOT IN THE PICTURE, BUT IT IS GONNA LEAVE SOME STUFF ON THE FLOOR THAT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO TRIP ON.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU WATCH THE FLOOR WHEN WE EXIT THE PHOTO, PLEASE.