[00:00:05]
IF YOU'RE HERE FOR LEADERSHIP, AUSTIN, IF YOU WANNA COME UP HERE, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND FIT IN THE SPACE.
WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME FOLKS ON THIS SIDE.
OH, I CAN MOVE ON THE OTHER SIDE TOO.
YOU DON'T GET TO GO LIKE RIGHT BEHIND ANYONE ELSE FOR LEADERSHIP BOSTON.
SHE BROUGHT HER HUSBAND, BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IS A T XN READY? TELL YOU 15 SHOWED UP.
[Proclamations]
MORNING EVERYONE.NOW I GET GET RESPONDENT RESPONSES HERE TODAY.
UM, MY NAME IS ALISON ALTAR AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO HONOR CHRISTOPHER T. KENNEDY WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, WHICH IS VERY MUCH DESERVED.
CHRISTOPHER SERVED AS CEO OF LEADERSHIP AUSTIN FOR NINE YEARS AFTER SERVING THREE DIFFERENT TERMS ON THE LEADERSHIP AUSTIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 1996, 2001 AND 2009, INCLUDING BOARD CHAIR.
THE MISSION OF LEADERSHIP AUSTIN IS TO CONNECT AND DEVELOP LEADERS TO COURAGEOUSLY ENGAGE AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES.
I'M AN ALUM OF THE 2015 ESSENTIAL CLASS, AND I THINK I HAVE SEVERAL CLASSMATES WHO ARE HERE WITH ME, UH, TODAY, UM, INCLUDING THE NEW CEO, JILL GOODMAN.
UM, SO LEADERSHIP AUSTIN REALLY HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH US AT CITY HALL, WHO WORK WITHIN THE CITY ORGANIZATION WHO ARE JOINING US TO CELEBRATE CHRISTOPHER TODAY.
WITHOUT LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, I CAN HONESTLY SAY I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY.
I WOULD NOT BE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 2011 AND RAN FOR OFFICE, NOT HAVING BEEN HERE EVEN FIVE YEARS.
THAT WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE, THE CONNECTIONS, THE SENSE OF THERE WAS SO MUCH TO DO HERE IN AUSTIN THAT I GOT FROM GOING THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP AUSTIN CLASS.
LEADERSHIP AUSTIN INTRODUCED ME TO AUSTIN.
IT INTRODUCED ME TO THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE OPPORTUNITIES AND WHAT DESPERATELY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED.
I LEARNED THE INS AND OUTS OF HOW THE CITY WORKED AND WHERE IT DIDN'T.
UM, AND AS I RAN AND IT THREW MY YEARS ON COUNCIL, CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY WAS ALWAYS THERE AS A MENTOR.
HE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS TO HELP ME GET THAT REALITY CHECK, UM, THAT YOU NEED.
HE GAVE ME PEP TALKS AND HE ALWAYS REMINDED ME ABOUT HOW VALUABLE THAT SERVICE WAS AND HOW IMPORTANT WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE AT CITY HALL WAS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND I WANNA THANK CHRISTOPHER.
I'M HONORED TO OFFER THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
SO TOGETHER WITH MY FELLOW LEADERSHIP, AUSTIN COUNCIL MEMBER ALUMS FROM VARIOUS YEARS, MAYOR KIRK WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, AND LESLIE POOLE.
SO IF YOU WANNA RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD BET IF YOU DO, UH, LEADERSHIP AUSTIN.
UM, AND ALSO ON BEHALF OF THE MANY CITY STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, CHRIS, COME UP OVER HERE.
IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO PRESENT CHRISTOPHER WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS MORE, FOR HIS MORE THAN NINE YEARS OF SERVICE AND COMMITMENT AS CEO AND BOARD CHAIR TO LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, WHICH EQUIPS LEADERS TO MAKE LASTING COMMUNITY IMPACT ACROSS THE REGION.
CHRISTOPHER T. KENNEDY IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS NINTH DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR 2023.
I HAVE, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE DR.
HARDAWAY CHAIR OF THE LEADERSHIP AUSTIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO
[00:05:01]
SPEAK.WE WILL THEN HEAR BRIEFLY FROM CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY AND TAKE A QUICK PHOTO.
Y'ALL, I CAN'T BELIEVE LIKE WE ACTUALLY GOT CHRISTOPHER TO COME AND ACCEPT SOME FORM OF RECOGNITION, SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
UM, ANYONE WHO KNOWS CHRISTOPHER KNOWS THAT HE IS SO DESERVING OF RECOGNITION, BUT REALLY THE LAST PERSON TO ACCEPT IT.
AND THAT'S WHY TODAY YOU SEE SO MANY FOLKS STANDING UP HERE, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THANK HIM FOR ALL HE'S DONE FOR LEADERSHIP AUSTIN.
SO I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING AND WORKING WITH CHRISTOPHER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
FIRST AS A PARTICIPANT OF LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, UM, A BOARD MEMBER AND THEN AS BOARD CHAIR.
UM, AND REALLY HAD BEEN IMPRESSED WITH HIS LEADERSHIP, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
CHRISTOPHER IS THE FOURTH CEO OF LEADERSHIP BOSTON.
UH, BUT FIRST HE WAS IN THE LEARNING SEAT AND HE HAILS FROM THE ESSENTIAL CLASS OF 1995.
UM, AND YEAH, FEW OF THOSE FOLKS ARE HERE TODAY.
I KNOW, RIGHT? HOW FANTASTIC IS THAT THE BEST CLASS EVER? I'LL LET YOU HAVE THAT TODAY.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, UM, HE JOINED LEADERSHIP AUSTIN AND REALLY, UH, STUCK WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR SO, SO LONG.
SO, UM, STARTED IN THE LEARNING SEAT AND, UH, COUNCIL ART COUNCIL MEMBER AL ALTER ALREADY WENT THROUGH A FEW OTHER THINGS.
BUT THE COOL THING, UH, SHE TALKED ABOUT OUR MISSION ABOUT CONNECTING AND TRANSFORMING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH YOU LIVE.
UM, HIS CLASS 28 YEARS LATER STILL MEETS EVERY SINGLE MONTH, RIGHT, FOR A STANDING DINNER.
SO THAT CONNECTION IS STILL THERE AND HE'S STILL LIVING OUR VALUES.
UH, SO THANK YOU CHRISTOPHER, FOR YOUR STEADFAST LEADERSHIP.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER HIS TIME WITH US.
SO NUMBER ONE, HE TRANSITIONED LEADERSHIP AUSTIN TO A STANDALONE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
UM, HE HELPED US WITH OUR NEW MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES.
UM, HE LED THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
UM, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT WAS LIKE, RIGHT? UM, AND FOR SURE FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, HE DID A WONDERFUL JOB GETTING US THROUGH THAT, THINKING OF NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE OUR LEADERSHIP, UM, BRINGING FORTH NEW PROGRAMS. AND IN ADDITION, ALSO WORKING WITH THE CITY TO BRING FORTH, UM, BEYOND DIVERSITY IS ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HE BROUGHT TO US AS WELL.
SO, BEHALF ON, ON BEHALF OF THE LEADERSHIP AUSTIN BOARD, WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHRISTOPHER, FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO CELEBRATE YOU.
UM, AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE, UM, WE WILL HAVE PHOTOS AND COFFEE OUTSIDE, BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE CHRISTOPHER TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
YEAH, JUST WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR AND OF COURSE ALL THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS GREAT HONOR.
AND ALSO JUST THANKING THE BOARD.
SOME OF THEM ARE HERE, SOME ARE NOT FOR OVER THE EIGHT YEARS AS WELL AS STAFF.
WE HAVE THE CURRENT STAFF HERE AND SOME FORMER STAFF.
UH, FOR MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT I'M STARTING A NEW LITTLE SMALL BUSINESS.
I'VE BEEN TRAVELING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO I WAS IN DALLAS THIS WEEK AND CAME BACK LAST NIGHT AND, AND JUST WHEN I GOT HOME, I KNEW THIS IS WHY I LIVE IN AUSTIN.
UH, AND I LOOK AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN MY LIFE.
I CALL THEM LEGACY POINTS OF MY LIFE.
I THINK THERE WERE SEVEN THAT REALLY WERE TRAJECTORY DRIVERS FOR ME.
AND ONE OF THOSE WAS LEADERSHIP AUSTIN, NOT A CEO, NOT AS BOARD CHAIR, NOT AS BOARD MEMBER, BUT GETTING INTO THE CLASS BECAUSE THAT OPENED UP THE NETWORK OF THE 3,500 FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY LEADING IN EVERY PLACE.
SO NO MATTER WHERE I WAS OVER THESE YEARS SINCE 95, I WOULD WALK INTO AN EVENT OR A MEETING OR JUST A COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER ALUM IN THE ROOM.
AND SO THE QUESTION IS, WHEN I WALK IN THOSE BOARDROOMS, EVEN IF WE HAVE OPPOSING APPROACHES OF HOW TO SOLVE A SOLUTION, THE VALUE OF THEM GIVING THEIR TIME AND THEIR CIVIC PARTICIPATION TAKES AWAY THE ARGUMENT.
WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES HOW TO SOLVE IT, BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY ALL THERE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER.
AS WE COME FROM THAT POST PANDEMIC ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR THAT NEW WORLD.
SO I ASK ALL OF US, ALL 3,500 LEADERSHIP AUSTIN ALUM TO CONTINUE TO LEAN IN, LEAD FROM THE DINNER TABLE, LEAD FROM THE ELECTED POSITION, CUZ THEY'RE ALL NEEDED.
THANK Y'ALL FOR THIS GRAIN OTTER, AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING BUILD THIS CITY THE WAY I LOVE IT, WHERE I LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
AND WHETHER YOU'RE AT CITY HALL OR SOMEWHERE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE, PLEASE CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED IN ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT LEADERSHIP AUSTIN OFFERS.
YOU CAN JUST FIND THEM ON THE WEB AND HEAR ALL ABOUT, UM, THE GREAT PROGRAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[00:11:25]
HEY, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? GOOD MORNING.UH, IF I CAN CALL UP THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE FOR THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER.
I PROMISE I DON'T BITE Y'ALL,
I MEAN, IF I, IF I SMELL FUNNY, I'LL LET ME KNOW, BUT I, I I DON'T, I MEAN, I GUESS YOU WERE OKAY AT THE FIRST.
YOU WANT ME TO GO? DON'T I? I'LL SAY THAT I DON'T BUY
HOW ARE Y'ALL? MY NAME IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND IT IS AN HONOR TO READ, UH, A PROCLAMATION, UH, FOR THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS FROM TWO, UH, 2011 THROUGH 2020, HIV INCIDENCE RATES FOR BLACKS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY HIRED COMPARED WITH RATES FOR HISPANICS, WHITES AND OTHER RACIAL, RACIAL ETHNIC GROUPS WITH BLACK WOMEN BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED.
BLACK WOMEN ARE 9.1% OF THE FEMALE POPULATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
HOWEVER, BLACK WOMEN ARE 44.9% OF TRAVIS COUNTY WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV V AND NEARLY ONE IN FOUR BLACK WOMEN LEAVE LIVING WITH HIV V IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS THERE'S A WEALTH OF RESEARCH THAT REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS IN REDUCING STIGMA AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION, TESTING AND TREATMENT.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS PLANNING COLLABORATIVE GROUP AND OUR LOYAL PARTNERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHURCHES TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY WITH RESPECT TO HIV AIDS.
AND WHEREAS THE HEALTH EQUITY UNIT OF THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMMEMORATES THE 2023 NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CONTINUALLY ADVOCATING FOR HEALTH EQUITY.
AND WHEREAS PREVENTION, EDUCATION, TREATMENT, CONTINUITY OF CARE, AND HAVING A, UH, MEDICAL HOME ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LI HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND DECREASING THE NUMBER OF NEW DIAGNOSIS OF AIDS H UH, HIV AIDS AND ULTIMATELY AN UNTIMELY DEATH.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR KIRK WATSON, UH, FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HERE HEREBY BRIT CLAIM MARCH 5TH THROUGH 12TH 2023 AS THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS.
WHO IS TAKING, I THINK WE HAVE A PASTOR WHO WAS SURE.
I'M NOT GONNA HOLD THAT UP FOR YOU.
WE JUST WANNA SAY TO THIS COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR, UH, MAKING THIS PROCLAMATION.
UH, HIV HAS BEEN, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR SOME TIME, AND SO WE WANT TO THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO THE FAITH COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S THE FAITH COMMUNITY THAT NOT ONLY WORSHIP, BUT WE
[00:15:01]
MINISTER TO FAMILIES.AND OUR GOAL IS TO BREAK THE STIGMA, TO EDUCATE AND TO INFORM OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE WILL LIVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO AGAIN, WE WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
OH, BUT Y'ALL COULD BRING 'EM UP FOR THE PHOTOS WHEN WE TAKE 'EM.
IF Y'ALL WANTED TO BRING 'EM UP, PUT 'EM RIGHT HERE.
OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WOULD BE DOPE.
WE COULD PUT 'EM RIGHT HERE ON THE TABLE.
HOW YOU DOING? YOU NERVOUS? THEY DON'T NERVOUS.
IN FACT, I WAS JUST TELLING THEM ABOUT A STORY WHEN I WAS A KID AND, UH, I HAD TO SPEAK IN PUBLIC WHEN I WAS IN SIXTH GRADE.
AND, UH, I LIKE READ LIKE WE HAD SPEECHES UP THERE, SO I HAD TWO SEPARATE SPEECHES.
OKAY, NOW THIS IS A REAL HONOR.
UH, I USED TO HAVE A FAVORITE BOXER.
HIS NAME WAS, UH, OSCAR DELOYA, AND I HAVE A NEW FAVORITE BOXER FROM EAST AUSTIN NAMED PAULINA MILES DAY, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS PAULINA MILES, A PROUD EAST AUSTIN LATINA RESIDENT STARTED BOXING AT THE AGE OF 10 FROM MONOPOLI BOXING AT THE MONOPOLI BOX AT THE MONOPOLI RECREATION CENTER UNDER THE EXPERTISE IN COACHING OF ZACK MARTINEZ AND WHERE, WHEREAS BY THE AGE OF 15, PALINA IS NOW A REGISTERED BOXER WITH THE, WITH U USA BOXING AND EARNED A SPOT ON THE USA BOXING HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAM IN 2022 AND 2023, GIVING HER THE PRIVILEGE TO TRAIN AT TEAM USA'S OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER AND REPRESENT T TEAM USA AT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS.
AND WHEREAS PAUL HAS RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE USA FOR EVERY YEAR OF HER BOXING CAREER, AND IS A FIVE TIME NATIONAL CHAMP AND THREE TIME NATIONAL SILVER MEDALIST.
A THREE TIMES A THREE TIMES TEXAS WOMEN'S CHAMPION AND HAS EARNED GOLD IN BOTH THE USA BOXING NATIONAL TOURNAMENT AND NATIONAL JUNIOR OLYMPICS TOURNAMENT AS AND IS IN ROUTE TO QUALIFY FOR THE USA OLYMPIC TEAM.
AND WHEREAS PAL PAULINA IS THE HIGHEST DECORATED AMATEUR CHAMPION IN AUSTIN AND CONTINUES TO, TO MAKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROUD.
AND NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HERE BY PROCLAIM MARCH 9TH, 2023 AS BINA MILES DAY HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND HER, UH, HER, HER COACH, AND MY DEAR FRIEND IS GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, I WASN'T PLANNING ON REALLY SAYING A LOT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
I KNOW WE GET A, A LOT OF SUPPORT HERE IN AUSTIN FOR PAULINA, AND SHE'S
[00:20:01]
BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD AT IT AND, UH, MAKING ALL OF US PROUD.UH, SHE PUTS A LOT OF TIME INTO IT, AND WE GET THE HONOR TO TRAIN AT MONAS RECREATION CENTER, WHICH IS PART OF THE CITY ALSO.
SO, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT ONLY HER, BUT FOR MANY YOUTH THAT ARE ALSO TRAINED THERE, UH, IS A, IS AN AWESOME JOB.
AND THEN ALSO TO MY FRIEND JOSE VELAZQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE IN SUPPORTING PAUL AND THE REST OF THE KIDS AT TOP, HIS RECREATION CENTER AND FOR OUR BOXING COMMUNITY.
YOU WANNA TAKE A PHOTO RIGHT HERE? YEAH, I'M GONNA TAKE A PHOTO OF THE CORNER THERE.
DO YOU WANNA BE WEARING SOME OF THESE OR NOT?
IF I CAN GET MY LULAC FOLKS UP HERE.
WE, WE'LL EACH SAY SOMETHING SHORT AFTER.
IT IS NOW MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO HONOR MY FRIENDS FROM LULAC, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS 94 YEARS AGO, THE FOUNDERS OF THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, BETTER KNOWN AS LULAC, ESTABLISHED AN ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST, OLDEST AND MOST SUC SUCCESSFUL HISPANIC CIVIL RIGHTS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 1929 IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, LULAC HAS CHAMPIONED THE CAUSE OF HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CIVIL RIGHTS IN ITS MISSION TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS OVER A THOUSAND LULAC COUNCILS THROUGHOUT THIS NATION IN PUERTO RICO HAS SUCCESS, HAVE A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD OF ADVANCING CHANGES FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES LOCALLY, LULAC HAS LITIGATED AND ADVOCATED FOR SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS AND DEMOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION AT ALL LEVELS.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR, THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS CELEBRATES A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL ARENAS THROUGH ITS, UH, CREATED ENTITIES SUCH AS THE MEXICAN AMERICAN DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION, SET JOBS FOR PROGRESS, LULAC, NATIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS, AND OTHER NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS MAR MARKED BY INCREASED EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW THEREFORE, I VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HERE BY, BY PROCLAIM MARCH 9TH, 2023 AS LULAC DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
MY NAME IS PEGGY VASQUEZ, AND I'VE BEEN A LULAC MEMBER, I BELIEVE SINCE THE
[00:25:01]
1970S.LULAC, UH, SOUNDS STANDS FOR LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS.
WE'RE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN LULAC, AND WE WOR WE WORK TOWARD HAVING JUSTICE FOR OUR, OUR PEOPLE, AND ALSO A GREAT EMPHASIS ON SCHOLARSHIP, THE FUTURE FOR OUR INDIVIDUALS IN THE SOCIETY.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, JOSE AND KIRK WATSON FOR THIS GREAT HONOR.
LIKE THEY, LIKE THEY SAY
SO ANYBODY WHO'S A SENIOR AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL CHARTER SCHOOL CAN APPLY TO NATIONAL LULAC FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT.
UH, IT'S CALLED, SUPPOSED TO BE CINCO MAYO, BUT IT'S MAY 8TH DONE AT LIONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE.
WE NORMALLY RAISE 12, $15,000.
THAT'S OUR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR NEXT YEAR.
THIS PAST YEAR WE DONATED 14,000, $1,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO OUR KIDS HERE IN, IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, THE AMIGOS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'RE PART OF OUR, OUR GROUP IN FUNDING OUR STUDENTS ALSO.
SO WITH THAT, WE HAVE FRANK, OUR PAST DISTRICT DIRECTOR.
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRONATION.
I, UM, AM NOT A RESIDENT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT A MEMBER OF, UH, LULAC IN ROUND ROCK.
ALSO THE, UH, CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OF ROUND ROCK.
WE NOT ONLY ENCOURAGE OUR, OUR CITIZENS OF HISPANIC DESCENT TO BE ACTIVE, BUT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FROM OUR ORGANIZATION, ALSO TAKE UP IN LEADERSHIP ROLE.
SO JOSE AND MYSELF ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
OH, I WATCHED THIS YOUNG MAN GROW UP
UH, WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO THIS TOWN IN 1973 AS A STUDENT AT UT, I DIDN'T LAST.
I BECAME WHAT YOU CALL A ROAD SCHOLAR.
THAT MEANS I LEARNED MY LESSONS ON THE STREETS.
YOU VOTE, YOU VOTE EVERY ELECTION, AND YOU STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE WILL RAISE EACH AND EVERY PERSON UP IN THE COMMUNITY TO THE SAME LEVEL THAT THEY CAN BE AT, AT A MAXIMUM TO MAKE APPROPRIATE AND INFORMED DECISIONS.
MY NAME IS CYNTHIA VALEZ, AND I'M PROUD TO BE THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR LULAC IN THE TEXAS STATE OF TEXAS DISTRICT SEVEN.
I DIDN'T START OUT IN LULAC, I STARTED OUT WITH RAITA, WITH MAYO.
WITH ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE WERE GONNA TAKE ON THE STRUCTURES THAT HAD KEPT US OUT AS MAOS, AS NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS, AS MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? MY STKS, SO NOT ONLY ARE WE OUR, NOT ONLY ARE WE MEXICANOS, BUT WE WERE ALSO PART OF THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION, WHICH WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT BY MANY OF OUR FAMILIES HISTORICALLY THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM.
WE, IN LULAC, STRIVE VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ROOTS ARE REMEMBERED, THAT WE ARE COURAGEOUS ENOUGH AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY NO.
AND STOP, STOP THE INTIMIDATION AND STOP THE INSANITY THAT EXISTS IN THIS WORLD TODAY.
WE ASK YOU TO JOIN US, TO SUPPORT US, AND TO NOT BE AFRAID TO STAND UP FOR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU BELIEVE IN, BECAUSE WE ALL WANT THE SAME THINGS.
AND I DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR YOU ARE, WHAT LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, OR FROM WHERE YOU CAME, WE DO HAVE THE SAME VALUE SYSTEMS. WE BELIEVE IN EDUCATION.
WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE THAN WE DID.
AND YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ANYBODY REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH YOU PUT THEM DOWN.
SO I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
[00:30:02]
MR. VELAZQUEZ, UH, AND HIS MOM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO, I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO YOLANDA AS A MOTHER, UH, FOR HAVING RAISED HIM AND GIVEN HIM THE STRENGTH AND THE SUPPORT THAT HE NEEDED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO MAKE A DECISION TO RUN FOR OFFICE.UM, BUT ANYWAY, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD AT LEAST TRY THAT ONCE IN OUR LIVES.
UH, IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU, IN WHAT YOUR PRINCIPLES ARE AND WHAT YOU ESPOUSE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUPPORT LULAC, SUPPORT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THEIR DECISIONS.
UH, BUT, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE.
KELLY AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
JUST GONNA WAIT A MINUTE FOR THE, THE QUIETNESS TO COME BACK.
AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIVILEGES IS BEING ABLE TO PUBLICLY RECOGNIZE THOSE THAT HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND TODAY I HAVE THE IMMENSE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE MATT HARK FOR HIS 28 YEARS OF SERVICE AS AN OFFICER WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY HE SERVED HAVE INCLUDED MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY, RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, INVESTIGATING CRIMES, AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY.
BEFORE I WAS ELECTED TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IN 2020, I WAS ABLE TO MEET OFFICER HARM WHEN I ATTENDED THE 100TH CLASS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMMUNITY POLICE ACADEMY, AFTER ONE OF THE SCENARIOS WHERE I HAPPENED TO DIE, UM, HE TOOK ME OUTSIDE AND WALKED ME THROUGH WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
IT WAS AT THAT TIME HE SAID SOMETHING THAT STUCK WITH ME, THAT LASTED THROUGHOUT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.
HE TOLD ME, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TRAINS ORDINARY HUMAN BEINGS LIKE YOU AND ME TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS IN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND TO THAT NOTE, ONE OF THE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT HE TAUGHT ME AT THAT TIME WAS THAT IF WE TREAT EACH OTHER, NOT JUST IN THIS ROOM, BUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WE WOULD OUR FAMILY, THERE'S NO LIMIT TO OUR IMPACT ON THE WORLD IN WHICH OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILY MEMBERS WILL GROW UP IN.
IT'S WORTH ACKNOWLEDGING AND APPRECIATING THE COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CHOOSE TO SERVE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AS THEIR WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY IS MAINTAINED.
OFFICER HARMA TECH IS THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT PUBLIC SERVICE REALLY IS ALL ABOUT AND WHAT AUSTIN CAN BE PROUD OF.
SO TODAY WE'RE SAYING THANK YOU TO OFFICER EK WITH THE HIGHEST HONOR THE CITY HAS WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIM, WHICH I WILL NOW READ.
IT SAYS SUPER FANCY RIGHT
MATT HARMIT TUCK HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED A DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, OFTEN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY TO HELP THOSE IN NEED AND HAS SERVED AS A MODEL OF LEADERSHIP FOR ALL WHO HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
[00:35:01]
OF WORKING WITH HIM.THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF ON THIS NINTH DAY OF MARCH IN A YEAR 2023.
AND IT IS SIGNED BY MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE, YOUR SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY TODAY.
NOT ONLY FOR THIS, UH, PRESTIGIOUS HONOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR US.
UM, IT, IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE YOU IN THAT CLASS, BY THE WAY.
SO, BUT, UM, IT WAS TRULY MY HONOR TO SPEND 28 YEARS WORKING WITH, UH, THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF, UM, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT CHOOSE TO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I, I COULDN'T ASK FOR A A A BETTER RIDE.
AND AS A CAREER, AS A, AS SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP AT 15 YEARS OLD, SHOOTING HOOPS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE, MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE COPS GOING, I WANNA BE THOSE GUYS ONE DAY.
AND, UH, AND TO GROW UP AND DO THAT, UH, PRESTIGIOUS HONOR.
UM, ALL I ASK, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SCRUTINY AND DECISIONS AND OPINIONS ABOUT HOW WE DO POLICE WORK, AND MY RESPONSE TO THAT WOULD BE, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO IT BETTER, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HIRING.
BUT, UM, I, I, I GOT TO LIVE OUT MY DREAM AND I, UH, I CAN SAY THAT I, UH, I DID SOME STUFF AND, UM, YEAH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, TRULY AN HONOR.
IT IS, UH, MY PLEASURE, UH, TO PRESENT A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO LUCY THOMPSON.
YOU KNOW, UH, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE, UH, JUST, UH, THIS IS MY THIRD WEEK.
UH, SO I HAVEN'T GOTTEN A CHANCE TO WORK WITH LUCY FOR VERY LONG, BUT I KNOW OF HER BECAUSE MY GOOD FRIEND JUAN GARZA AND LUCY WORK TOGETHER AT AUSTIN ENERGY.
AND BEHIND, UH, ALL THE EXECUTIVES, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO MAKE THOSE EXECUTIVES LOOK GOOD.
AND LUCY WAS ONE OF THOSE EXECUTIVES, ONE OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS.
AND SO FOR HER UN, UH, OR THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD READS AS FOLLOWS FOR UN HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING HER 23 YEAR TENURE AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, LUCY THOMPSON IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF ON THIS NINTH DAY OF MARCH IN THE YEAR 2023, AND IT IS SIGNED BY THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WATSON.
SO, UH, LUCY, AS I SAID TO YOU, WE, UH, WE EXPECT YOU IN THE OFFICE ON MONDAY.
AND, UH, AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT YOU THIS CERTIFICATE AND, UH, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WELL, I'M, I'M, I'M REALLY TRYING NOT TO GET EMOTIONAL
I MET LUCY, GOLLY, I, I KNOW I'VE PROBABLY KNOWN YOU MAYBE ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW, BUT LUCY WORKED AT AUSTIN ENERGY, SHE WORKED AT AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND SHE CAME DOWN AND SHE HELPED OUT AT CITY HALL.
[00:40:01]
UM, AND THEN SHE CAME OVER TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND WORKED WITH ME IN THE OFFICE OVER THERE WHEN I WAS THE DIRECTOR.AND A LOT OF FOLKS WILL SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS HER TITLE? WHAT IS SHE GONNA DO? AND I'M LIKE, SHE'S MY CHIEF OF STAFF.
SO WHEN I, UM, WHEN I CAME DOWNTOWN, UM, ROSE WAS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND SHE CALLED AND SAID, WELL, WELL CAN LUCY COME DOWNTOWN? AND SO I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, I ALREADY KNEW I HAD THE JOB, SO I WAS LIKE, OH YES, ABSOLUTELY
SO LUCY CAME DOWNTOWN WITH ME AND SHE DECIDED TO STAY, WHICH MADE ME REALLY HAPPY.
LUCY IS SOMETIMES I'M, YOU KNOW, I ASK HER TO DO SOMETHING AND SHE DOES IT SO FAST.
AND SO I'M LIKE, I CALL HER SPEEDY.
SHE HAS A LOT OF NAMES, SPEEDY ZIPPY.
I MEAN, CUZ SHE DOES STUFF SO FAST AND SHE'S REAL THOROUGH AND THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT REALLY, REALLY LOVE HER CUZ SHE HAS SUCH A PERSONALITY AND, YOU KNOW, SHE LISTENS TO FOLKS AND SHE'S JUST SPOT ON.
AND SO I'M GONNA MISS HER TREMENDOUSLY, BUT I DO KNOW WHERE SHE LIVES AND SHE'S NOT CHANGING HER PHONE NUMBER.
SO I WILL DEFINITELY KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HER.
SO I THOUGHT NOW SHE CAN BE MY FRIEND
SO I'M, I'M, I'M, I HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS, BUT I AM VERY EXCITED.
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU, UM, YOUR SIGN AS WELL TODAY, LUCY THOMPSON WAY, BECAUSE WE KNOW SHE'S GONNA DO IT LUCY'S WAY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND WE ALSO WANT Y'ALL ALL TO END UP COMING UP HERE FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE BECAUSE YOU ALL JOINED US AND ALSO FROM WATERSHED.
LUCY WANTS TO SAY, OH, LET YES, LET LUCY SPEAK.
YOU, YOU CAN DO THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH NOW.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE EMPLOYEES, THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I HAVE SO MANY FOND MEMORIES AND FRIENDSHIPS AND I'M SO THANKFUL, LIKE STEPHANIE SAID, THAT ROSE WAS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND THANKFUL THAT MY PATHS CROSSED WITH STEPHANIE AND OF COURSE WITH MY HUSBAND OVER THERE WHO'S HIDING.
UM, AND ALL OF YOU OUT THERE, I I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
IT, IT'S, IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING JOURNEY.
I FEEL SO BLESSED TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF IT.
GROUP PHOTO, COME EVERYBODY PICTURES.
SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY DRESS UP FOR THIS PICTURE.