Apr 13, 2023 City Council Proclamations

THOSE HE INSPIRED ALONG THE WAY.

AND ALTHOUGH FOR A BRIEF TIME, IT WAS EVER SO BRIEF BECAUSE LOUIS AND I, WE MET EYES ONE DAY.

HE SAID, YOU LOOK FAMILIAR.

AND SO I STARTED RUNNING DOWN MY FAMILY'S NAMES.

THAT'S THE FUNNY THING ABOUT BEING IN AUSTIN.

I RIGHT EVERYBODY KNOW EVERYBODY.

AND SO I STARTED RUNNING.

HE SAID, PERIS.

I SAID, YEAH.

HE SAID, NO WONDER .

I SAID, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? HE SAID, YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR BROTHER WITH A BEARD, .

AND SO THAT'S SAID, WE VERY QUICKLY DECIDED THAT WE WEREN'T OPPONENTS.

WE WERE TWO PEOPLE RUNNING FOR AN OFFICE TO REPRESENT A DISTRICT AND A CITY THAT WE DEEPLY LOVE, CARE ABOUT, AND ARE COMMITTED TO DESPITE ITS FLAWS LIKE HIM, LIKE ME, LIKE ALL OF US.

I'M IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT HE DID IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT HIS LEGACY WILL CONTINUE THROUGH HIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND ALL

[00:05:01]

I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION.

I DON'T NORMALLY GET MY FEELINGS, Y'ALL, BUT I GOTTA TELL YOU, LIKE WHEN WE, HONESTLY, WE WERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TOGETHER.

NOBODY KNEW WE WERE RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER CUZ WE WERE IN THERE CLOWNING AND JUST LIKE HAVING A GREAT TIME DANCING.

AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

AND IT'S WHAT POLITICS IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

IT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

WE COULD DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.

WE CAN HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS, POLAR DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON POLICY.

BUT THAT'S NOT ABOUT THE PERSON, Y'ALL.

SO SOMETIMES WE'RE WAY TOO QUICK TO ADMONISH THE HUMAN WHO HAS THEIR OWN STUFF THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.

MM-HMM.

AND SO WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY, HE AND I TO JUST KIND OF CHOP IT UP A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT OUR STUFF.

AND SO FROM THEN ON, WE WEREN'T OPPONENTS, WE WERE FRIENDS RUNNING FOR THE SAME OFFICE.

AND WISHING EACH OTHER WELL.

I'LL BE HONEST, IF HE HAD MADE IT TO THAT BALL, I WOULD'VE VOTED FOR HIM.

BUT HE WOULD'VE VOTED FOR ME.

YES HE WOULD'VE.

IT WAS LIKE THAT.

SO WITH THAT, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS LOUIS CONWAY JR.

WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, ACTIVIST, ORGANIZER AND ADVOCATE WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, VOTING RIGHTS, RESTORATION, MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS, DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP, AND BUILDING POWER AND DISENFRANCHISED COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS HIS ADVOCACY ON A LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF MANY, SO MANY SOCIAL JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS AND FRANKLY SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISTS, INCLUDING THE PASSAGE OF AUSTIN'S FAIR CHANCE HOUSING ORDINANCE.

AND WHEREAS IN 2018, LEWIS WAS THE FIRST.

Y'ALL GET YOUR SNAPS READY CUZ WE'RE ABOUT TO DO IT.

LEWIS WAS THE FIRST FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSON IN TEXAS TO HAVE THEIR NAME ON AN ELECTORAL BALLOT WHEN HE RAN FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

AND WHEREAS MR. CONWAY, WHO WAS ALSO AN ORDAINED MINISTER, PUBLISHED AUTHOR AND MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, BOTH FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY, CUZ HE MOTIVATED ME A LOT WHEN HE TOLD ME, GET UP AND DO IT.

ANYWAY.

CONTINUES TO SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR REDEMPTION.

I WANT Y'ALL TO LET THAT WORD SIT IN YOUR MOUTH FOR A MINUTE.

REDEMPTION.

WE'VE ALL DONE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REDEEM OURSELVES OF WHETHER WE ADMIT IT PUBLICLY, WHETHER IT WAS FORWARD FACING, LIKE LEWIS'S.

WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING WE NEED TO REDEEM OURSELVES OF.

SO FIGHT FOR REDEMPTION AND STRIVE TO BUILD ECOSYSTEMS OF RESILIENCE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I NOT KIRK WATSON , I, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, KIRK WATSON, ALONGSIDE ALSO MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 4TH, 2023 AS LEWIS CONWAY JUNIOR DAY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE, MS. NICOLE CONWAY, TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.

GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU BEING IN THIS ROOM FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED US WHILE WE RAN FOR OFFICE.

BECAUSE IF YOU WEREN'T SUPPORTING US, WE, I WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW.

BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, THE LEGACY WILL CONTINUE.

AND AS HE WOULD ALWAYS SAY, WHEN I SAY PEOPLE, YOU SAY POWER, PEOPLE POWER.

[00:10:01]

AND WITH THAT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO PRESENT THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

I THINK YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS AS WELL.

MAYOR KIRKIN.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND, AND THE, THE FEW WORDS, UH, I'M GONNA KEEP THEM FOR YOU BECAUSE I THINK THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS JUST READ TO YOU SAYS IT VERY CLEARLY.

UH, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS JOB IS TO MEET PEOPLE.

MM-HMM.

IS TO COME IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE AND LEARN FROM THEM.

UH, AND AS, AS WAS POINTED OUT BY THE COUNCIL MEMBER AS PART OF CAMPAIGNS, AND, UH, BEING ABLE TO, TO LEARN, BEING ABLE TO SEE, UH, BEING ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THINGS THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE APPROACH LIFE.

IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS IS THAT WE GET TO STOP EVERY NOW AND THEN PAUSE FOR A MINUTE AND RECOGNIZE THAT MM-HMM.

AND RECOGNIZE THE, THE ROLE THAT PEOPLE PLAY IN THINGS LIKE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND MAKING OUR CITY, OUR STATE, OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US.

MM-HMM.

UH, AND THEN AS PART OF THAT PAUSING, WE SOMETIMES GET TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AND SO IT'S MY GREAT HONOR NOT ONLY AS, UH, TO BE UP HERE WITH YOU AND BE PART OF THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT TO PRESENT TO YOU, UH, A KEY TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

AND, AND I WANNA SAY TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT.

ONE IS, THAT'S AN UNUSUAL THING TO, TO BE DONE, BUT IT'S FOR AN UNUSUAL PERSON.

IT IS AND, AND SOME THAT MAN IS FOR AN UNUSUAL PERSON THAT WE ALL BENEFITED, UH, BENEFITED FROM IN, IN, IN WAYS THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW.

AND THE SECOND THING I'LL SAY IS IF YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT UNLOCKS MM-HMM.

, LET ME KNOW.

, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.

RIGHT.

YOU'LL BE THE FIRST PERSON I CALL .

UM, BUT, BUT THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE A, A SMALL PART OF THIS.

SO WE'LL GATHER FOR A GROUP PHOTO.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE TRY TO CROWD INTO THIS CORNER.

BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN DO IT.

WE CAN DO IT RIGHT HERE.

I'M THINKING WE SHOULD PROBABLY STAY FOOT.

[00:16:06]

COME ON UP.

OH, THIS DOES NOT WORK.

LIKE I TALKED IN.

WHO ELSE WE GOT HERE? THAT'S WE'LL BOOK END.

EVERYBODY WITH THE TALL GUYS.

WE HAVE EVERYBODY ALMOST.

IF YOU GOT BLUE OR GREEN, COME ON UP.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT WITH US.

WE'RE ONE.

WE GOT, WE GOT ROOM ON EACH SIDE.

GOT ME AND JEFF ARE USUALLY THE ONLY ONES.

WE BROUGHT FOLKS WITH US TODAY.

GOOD

[2. Proclamation – Donate Life Month – To be presented by Council Member Ryan Alter and to be accepted by Lemuel Bradshaw of United Tissue Resources]

MORNING.

I AM, UH, COUNCILMAN RYAN AL ALTER, AND I AM HERE BE TO PROCLAIM APRIL AS DONATE LIFE MONTH AND FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE NEED FOR MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO REGISTER AS ORGAN DONORS.

WITH THE HELP OF ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZATIONS HERE, WE HOPE TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMMENSE NEED AND THE LIFE-SAVING IMPACT OF ORGAN I AND TISSUE DONATION.

REGISTERING AS AN ORGAN DONOR MEANS THAT IN THE CASE OF AN UNTIMELY DEATH, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT I AS A REGISTERED ORGAN DONOR MAY BE ABLE TO HELP OTHERS LIVING WITH DISEASES THAT REQUIRE AN ORGAN TRANSPLANT.

IN 2022, OVER 40,000 PEOPLE RECEIVED LIFESAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANTS IN THE US 40,000 AND JUST ONE EYE, ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR CAN SAVE OR HEAL 75 OR MORE PEOPLE.

CURRENTLY OVER 10,000 TEXANS AWAIT A LIFESAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT AND THAT NEED GROWS DAILY.

BUT DESPITE THE LIFESAVING IMPACT, TEXAS RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM NATIONALLY IN DONOR REGISTRATION.

WHILE THE IMPACT IS VERY LARGE, THE PROCESS IS VERY SMALL.

REGISTERING AS AN ORGAN DONOR CAN BE DONE QUICKLY AND EASILY@DONATELIFETEXAS.ORG OR WHEN YOU GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE JUST LIKE I DID.

AND THEY'LL GIVE YOU THE LITTLE HEART ON YOUR, ON YOUR LICENSE.

BUT TODAY I'M ASKING ALL OF AUSTIN TO JOIN ME IN SIGNING UP TO BE A REGISTERED DONOR.

AND WITH THAT I'LL INVITE LEAL BRADSHAW OF UNITED TISSUE RESOURCE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS.

THE FOLKS STANDING WITH ME KNOW THAT, UH, THE WORDS LEAL BRADSHAW AND A COUPLE OF WORDS HAVE NEVER BEEN SAID TOGETHER.

BUT I'LL REMEMBER TO TRY TO DO THAT.

HERE I AM, A HUSBAND, FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER OF NINE.

UH, AND ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE TWO LIFESAVING HEART TRANSPLANTS BOTH PERFORMED RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

AND I STAND HERE.

YEAH, YOU CAN SAY WHOOP TO THAT.

WHOOP.

BE TOLD BY MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS GROUP.

AND I STAND HERE TODAY WITH THEIR, WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES WERE EITHER SAVED OR TOUCHED IN SOME CAPACITY BY ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONATION.

I ALSO GET, I SAY GET, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS.

THE THEME WAS SET WITH THE EARLIER GROUP REDEMPTION AND SECOND CHANCES.

I GET A CHANCE TO DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND TO BE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

BECAUSE OF TWO FAMILIES OF DONOR HEROES WHO SAID YES.

AND EITHER AT THE TIME THAT THEY WERE LOSING THEIR LOVED ONES OR BEFORE THAT EVEN HAPPENED, THEY MADE THE DECISION TO ALLOW DONATION.

AND BECAUSE OF IT, KIDS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT GET TO SEE THEIR GRANDFATHER LIKE I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SEE THEM.

SIMILAR STORIES CAN

[00:20:01]

AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT 14 MILLION PLUS TEXANS HAVE REGISTERED THEIR INTENT TO BE ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONORS, OTHER PEOPLE WILL GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.

TRAVIS COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO LEAD IN THINGS.

WE ARE LEADERS.

THERE ARE NEARLY 80% OF US THAT ARE ALREADY REGISTERED AS ORGAN EYE AND TISSUE DONORS, WHICH PUTS US AMONG THE HIGHEST RATES OF REGISTRATION IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEX OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.

THE THEME FOR THIS MONTH'S NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH CELEBRATION IS MAKE A SPLASH.

AND THE THEME WAS CHOSEN TO RECALL IMAGES OF A POND IN SPRING COMING TO LIFE WHEN ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF THAT POND, PLANTS AND ANIMALS WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE LIFE BLOOM.

DONATION IS BUILT ON THE SAME FOUNDATION.

IT IS NOT A THEM THING, IT IS A WE THING.

AND AS I LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, THERE'S A LOT OF WES, THERE'S PEOPLE OF ALL ETHNICITIES, GENDERS, THERE'S A LOT OF US HERE.

ABOUT 60% OF THE 104,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING FOR A LIFE-SAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT IN THE UNITED STATES ARE PEOPLE FROM MULTIETHNIC COMMUNITIES OR AS I LIKE TO SAY, ALL SHADES OF BROWN MINE AND SOME OF THE OTHERS REPRESENTED HERE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T LEAVE OUT OUR CAUCASIAN FRIENDS AND RELATIVES CUZ THE OTHER 40 SOME ODD PERCENT ARE THEM.

IT IS A WE THING AND IT IS SOMETHING FOR US TO CONSIDER.

I'D LIKE TO CLOSE WITH SOME MORE NUMBERS THAT ARE BOTH SOBERING AND LIFE-AFFIRMING.

IN TWENTY TWENTY TWO, TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY PEOPLE, DONOR HEROES, WE REFER TO THEM, DECIDED TO ALLOW ORGAN DONATION TO HAPPEN OR THEIR FAMILIES DID.

AND THOSE 280 PEOPLES MADE 829 ORGANS AVAILABLE TO SAVE LIVES THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AREA OF OUR OREGON PROCUREMENT ORGANIZATION PARTNERS, THE TEXAS OREGON SHARING ALLIANCE IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH TEXAS.

UNITED TISSUE RESOURCES.

THE ORGANIZATION THAT I ONCE AGAIN GET TO WORK FOR MADE OVER 11,000 GRAPHS AVAILABLE FOR HOSPITALS AND SURGERY CENTERS IN OUR AREA TO RESTORE HEALING AND SAVE LIVES FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICE AREA.

FROM WACO TO SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE STATION TO SAN ANGELO.

AND THOSE GRAPHS IN 2022, 5,524 OF THEM WERE ACTUALLY IMPLANTED TO CHANGE LIVES.

AND THINK OF ALL THE OTHER LIVES THAT THOSE LIVES IMPACTED.

WE'RE ALREADY AT ALMOST 1500 GRAPHS FOR JUST 2023 ALONE.

IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE IMPACT.

SO EVEN THOUGH I'VE SAID 80,000, UH, FOLKS, OR I'M SORRY, 80% OF THE PEOPLE IN TRAVIS COUNTY HAVE REGISTERED, I'D LIKE TO GET THAT OTHER 20% AS WELL.

AND OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS THE ONE AFFORDED TO ME BY COUNCILMAN RYAN AL ALTER AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, GIVE ME A CHANCE TO APPEAL DIRECTLY TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE HERE AND THOSE WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING.

AND NOW I'M LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE CAMERA AND TALKING TO ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT I'VE TOLD CUZ WE TWEETED AND OR EMAILED EVERYONE WE KNEW TO WATCH US TODAY.

AND WE HOPE THAT OTHERS ARE WATCHING AS WELL.

GO TO DONATE LIFE TEXAS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE.

DONATE LIFE TEXAS.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL YOU GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE TO ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST OF TEXAS LIFESAVERS.

DONATE LIFE.

TEXAS IS THE REGISTRY THAT BELONGS TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND EVERYONE LISTENING TO US TEXANS.

IT IS OUR REGISTRY.

IT IS THE WAY THAT WE CAN REGISTER TO SAVE LIVES.

AND HERE'S THE LAST THING I GET TO DO, GET TO DO.

I'M A GRANDFATHER OF EIGHT NOW, BUT IN AUGUST, WE'LL WELCOME GRANDCHILD NUMBER NINE.

NONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN, EVEN THE 21 YEAR OLD, FORGIVE ME IF I'VE FORGOTTEN JAYLEN, EXACTLY HOW OLD YOU ARE WHEN YOU HAVE NINE GRANDCHILDREN.

YOU FORGET SOMETIMES .

RECEIVED THE GIFT OF LIFE 11 YEARS AGO.

FORGIVE ME FROM HIM IN COLLEGE DOWN TO THE ALMOST BORN NEW ONE THAT'S COMING IN AUGUST.

UH, I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW ANY OF THEM IF TWO FAMILIES OF HEROES HAD NOT MADE A DECISION TO ALLOW ME TO GET TO SEE THEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMAN.

THANK YOU EVERYONE IN ATTENDANCE TODAY AND VERY MUCH THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY WHO CAME HERE TODAY, EARLY MORNING BEFORE THE COFFEE HAD EVEN DONE ITS JOB SO THAT WE CAN STAND BEFORE YOU AND DELIVER OUR MESSAGE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU LIM.

AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN HALTER.

UH, MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE KNOW ME, UH, SOMETIMES AS A NUISANCE, SOMETIMES AS A BLESSING.

UH, MY NAME IS PAT BTA.

I RUN THE AUSTIN TEXAS MUSICIANS, UH, ADVOCACY NONPROFIT.

WE ACTUALLY, UH, ADVOCATE FOR MUSICIANS ON CITY, STATE AND FEDERAL POLICY.

AND, UH, THE ONLY REASON I'M ABLE TO DO THIS WORK, UH, AND GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY IS BECAUSE I, UH,

[00:25:01]

I WAS BORN, UH, WITH RARE LIVER DISEASE AND, UH, BATTLED THAT FOR 41 YEARS OF MY LIFE, UH, UNTIL I FINALLY RECEIVED, UH, THE GIFT OF LIFE.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY HAD TO DIE FOR ME TO LIVE.

AND THAT'S A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WHEN I WOKE UP, I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT I HAD TO PAY IT FORWARD.

UH, I DON'T KNOW WHO MY, UH, DONOR FAMILY IS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT ANY OF YOU HERE TODAY, UH, I CONSIDER YOU ALL, UH, POTENTIALLY THOSE PEOPLE.

AND I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO EACH OF YOU TO DO THE BEST I CAN IN MY COMMUNITY.

UM, SO I'M JUST REALLY HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY, UH, HONORED TO DO THE GOOD WORK WITH OUR WONDERFUL COUNCIL PEOPLE.

AND, UM, YEAH, THANK YOU GUYS.

UH, IF YOU WILL JUST SIGN UP, DONATE LIVE OR DONATE LIVE.COM.

AND, UM, IT'S A REAL BLESSING AND IT'S AN ANATA AND, UH, WE'LL KEEP DOING THE GOOD WORK.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

TO BE HERE WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WITH ALL OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH HEROES.

WELL THANK Y'ALL.

AND NOW I'D LIKE TO READ THE PROCLAMATION.

SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS APRIL IS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH, AND WHEREAS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND AMERICANS CURRENTLY AWAIT A LIFESAVING ORGAN TRANSPLANT INCLUDING 10,000 TEXANS.

AND WHEREAS JUST ONE ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONOR CAN SAVE OR HEAL 75 OR MORE PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS OVER 14 MILLION TEXANS HAVE ADDED THEIR THEIR NAMES TO THE DONATE LIFE TEXAS REGISTRY, THE OFFICIAL REGISTRY FOR ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONATION IN OUR STATE.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT.

YOU CAN DO IT TODAY.

AND WHEREAS WE ENCOURAGE ALL AUSTINITES TO ADD THEIR NAME TO THE DONATE LIFE TEXAS REGISTRY.

AND SO NOW THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 13TH AS DONATE LIFE DAY.

AND WE'RE A PRETTY LARGE GROUP, SO WE CAN DO PICTURE JUST RIGHT HERE.

SURE.

RIGHT HERE IF I CAN HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH HEROES TO THE FRONT.

AWESOME.

HI.

COME ON IN.

COME ON IN, COME ON IN.

IT'S ON.

LET'S, THERE WE GO.

I'M CLEAN.

HI, HOW ARE YOU? JOIN YOU.

YES, YES PLEASE.

HI EVERYONE.

GOOD

[3. Proclamation – National Public Health Week – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes and to be accepted by Austin Public Health staff]

MORNING.

MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILWOMAN AND PROUD CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.

I'M HERE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK IS A TIME FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR HARDWORKING PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF.

I'M SO PROUD TO BE WITH OUR PUBLIC HEALTH HEROES WHO, WHO WERE IMPORTANT IN IMPROVING NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND WELLBEING, BUT DOING SO MUCH TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THE REASON WHY I RAN FOR OFFICE WAS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH DIVIDE THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN.

SO I'M TRULY HONORED

[00:30:01]

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, BEFORE I TOSS IT OVER TO A VIDEO, THERE'S A VIDEO THAT WILL SHOWCASE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM IN ACTION.

UM, BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THIS TEAM STANDING ALONGSIDE ME WERE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL DURING THE PANDEMIC AND DISTRIBUTING P P E AND ADMINISTERING VACCINES AND HELPING US IN TIMES OF DISASTER.

AND I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW YOUR HARD WORK DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.

SO WITH THAT, CAN WE KICK OFF THE, THE VIDEO LOOKING FOR A CLINIC? YOU'RE IN LUCK.

OUR SHOTS FOR TOTS AND BIG SHOTS.

CLINICS WILL GET YOUR KIDS THE VACCINES THEY NEED FOR SCHOOL.

WE ALSO OFFER VACCINES FOR ADULTS, INCLUDING HEPATITIS A AND B H P V, TDAP AND MORE.

WOO, OUR TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS MAKE SURE THAT EVERY RESTAURANT, FOOD, TRUCK, EVENT, AND FOOD VENUE WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN OPERATES IN A WAY THAT SAFEGUARDS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.

HEY, IT'S AARON WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL VECTOR CONTROL UNIT.

ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MOSQUITOES IN YOUR AREA? IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE FOUR D'S DRAIN.

ANY STANDING WATER.

WEAR A PRODUCT THAT HAS DEEP STAY INSIDE DURING DAWN AND DUSK AND DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE OCCASION.

THESE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS AND TRUSTED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HELP BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THEIR COMMUNITY AND AVAILABLE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SOCIAL SERVICES.

A P H'S MATERNAL INFANT OUTREACH PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS MAYA LOOKS TO SUPPORT AUSTIN'S BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN.

WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY FROM DISEASED OUTBREAKS AND PREPARING THE PUBLIC FOR EMERGENCIES, THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS DIVISION IS OFF THE JOB.

AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE LOOK TO OFFER A HELPING HAND IN MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITY HAS ALL OF ITS BASIC NEEDS THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.

THE TEAM WITH AUSTIN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EMPOWERS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY PROVIDING SKILL-BASED TRAINING AND EDUCATION THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

AT OUR SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC, WE OFFER EXAMINATION TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS.

WE ALSO TEST FOR H HIV AND REFER PATIENTS WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR H HIV V TO COMMUNITY HIV V CARE PROVIDERS.

THE TB CLINIC OFFERS SCREENINGS AND EVALUATIONS AS WELL AS TREATMENT AND COMPLETE CASE MANAGEMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH TB DISEASE.

OUR SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO OUR PATIENTS, SUCH AS REFERRALS FOR FOLLOW-UP CARE, FIND INFORMATION ON THESE SERVICES, AND MORE@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV SLASH HEALTH.

WE ARE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

THAT WAS SO GREAT.

I LOVE THAT.

AND IT JUST, I MEAN THAT'S, I LOVE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THIS VIDEO CUZ THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TEAM DOES, IS THAT THEY'RE CONSTANTLY WANTING TO EDUCATE AND FORM EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK Y'ALL FOR, FOR HAVING THAT.

SO TODAY'S PROCLAMATION BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE WEEK OF APRIL 3RD THROUGH THE NINTH IS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK, AND THE THEME IS CENTERING AND CELEBRATING CULTURES AND HEALTH.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRESS, RECOMMIT TO THE WORK THAT REMAINS AND RECOGNIZE THE REMARK.

REMARKABLE PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHOSE ACTS OF SERVICE SEEK, SEEK TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS ENGAGE COMMUNITIES TO EDUCATE, PREVENT DISEASE, PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES, AND REDUCE THE INCIDENTS OF COMMUNICABLE AND CHRONIC DISEASE.

AND WHEREAS AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN REALIZING THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S VISION OF MAKING AUSTIN THE MOST LIVABLE CITY IN THIS COUNTRY, AND ENSURING THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE AN OPTIMAL QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING.

NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, ALONGSIDE MEMBERS OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 3RD THROUGH THE NINTH AS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK.

EXCEPT ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IS DIRECTOR ADRIAN STR.

A WONDERFUL MOTHER TO TWO KIDS AND THE DIRECTOR OF THIS AWESOME GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DO GOOD WORK IN COMMUNITY.

GOOD MORNING, UH, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR SPONSORING THIS PROCLAMATION.

UM, I WISH THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD BE WITH US IN THIS SPACE.

THE SPIRIT IS ALMOST PALPABLE AND I'M SO GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BE IN THE LINEUP, UM, TO TALK ABOUT VALUES, UH, SERVICE REDEMPTION AND, AND PRIVILEGE, GETTING TO DO SOMETHING.

SO EVERY MORNING I WAKE UP, I GET TO BE

[00:35:01]

MY SON WAS GOING THROUGH A PHASE WHERE HE WAS SO FOCUSED ON NINJA TURTLES.

HE LOVED THE IDEA THAT THEY WORKED TO SAVE THE CITY, THAT THERE WAS FELLOWSHIP AND COMRADERY, RIGHT? SEE WHERE I'M GOING? .

BUT THE THING THAT REALLY MADE HIM FEEL SAD ABOUT IT WAS THE FACT THAT THE TURTLES HAD TO STAY IN THE SEWER BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE GOOD THAT THEY TRIED TO DO TO KEEP THE CITY SAFE, .

AND SO I WOULD SAY TO HIM, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S THE VALUE OF DOING SOMETHING GOOD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE RECOGNIZED, BUT BEING A GOOD PERSON AND DOING THE RIGHT THING, THAT'S WHAT IT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND SO THESE FOLKS BEHIND ME AND THE 800 OR SO OTHER STAFF WHO ARE OUT THERE DOING THEIR JOBS, AS YOU JUST SAW IN THE VIDEO, I AM SO THANKFUL THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY DO, EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES WE'RE MISUNDERSTOOD.

UM, WE'RE GONNA KEEP WORKING IN THE SHADOWS TO MAKE SURE THAT AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY IS THE BEST CITY AND PLACE TO BE.

AND SO THANK YOU AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, UM, YOUR SUPPORT, UH, SERVING ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE A GIFT FOR YOU.

WHAT? NO, I LOVE IT.

AND SO IT'S A BAG TO HELP KEEP YOUR, UH, FOOD AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE.

, THERE'S, THERE'S A DOCUMENT BAG IN THERE BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO KEEP ALL OF YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS SAFE IN ONE PLACE IN, IN YOUR FREEZER, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

SO IF SOMETHING'S GOING ON, YOU JUST RUN TO THE FREEZER AND EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET YOUR LIFE BACK ON TRACK IS IN THAT BAG.

WE HAVE A HAND CRANK FLASHLIGHT IF YOU NEED TO SEE YOUR WAY TO THE FREEZER.

AND SO WE ARE HELPING HER BE PREPARED.

AND IF YOU WERE A PARTICIPANT IN OUR EVENTS LAST WEEK, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE SEVERAL FAMILIES AND GIVE THEM A PACK JUST LIKE THIS.

AND SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 10TH THROUGH 14TH 2023 AS NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK.

WE'LL, WE'LL DO A QUICK TEAM PHOTO.

YOU WANNA SEND?

[00:41:22]

YAY.

GOOD MORNING

[4. Proclamation – National Wildlife Week – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly and to be accepted by Austin Zoo staff]

EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MACKENZIE KELLY AND I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN AS OBSERVE NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK IN APRIL OF 2023.

IT'S CRUCIAL TO REFLECT ON THE VITAL ROLE THAT WILDLIFE PLAYS IN THE AUSTIN ECOSYSTEM.

IN MY DISTRICT.

WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE AN ABUNDANT WILDLIFE SPACE THAT IS HOME TO VARIOUS PLANTS AND ANIMAL SPECIES.

THIS WEEK SPECIFICALLY SERVES AS A REMINDER OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE THESE PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES THAT MAKE AUSTIN UNIQUE.

DURING NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK, IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

ONE SUCH ORGANIZATION THAT DESERVES OUR APPRECIATION IS THE AUSTIN ZOO WHO'S HERE WITH ME TODAY.

LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, THE AUSTIN ZOO HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN THROUGH ITS OUTSTANDING ANIMAL RESCUE AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS.

AND WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE BLESSED TODAY WITH SOME OF OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE DIFFERENT ANIMAL SPECIES HERE TODAY.

THE AUSTIN ZOO NOT ONLY RESCUES AND REHABILITATES ANIMALS IN NEED, BUT THEY ALSO PLAY THAT CRUCIAL ROLE OF EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND THE NEED TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES.

THEIR OUTREACH PROGRAMS HAVE RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACING MANY SPECIES AND HAVE INSPIRED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THIS CITY TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT WILDLIFE.

TODAY I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED BY HOPE CAR, EMILY REICHARD, TONY ALBERTI, ANDREA O' DANIELS, ANGELA DORSEY, AND PATTY CLARK FROM THE AUSTIN ZOO, WHO CAN SPEAK MORE ABOUT THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK DURING NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK.

LET'S CELEBRATE THE AUSTIN ZOOS UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AS THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ANIMALS AND THE COMMUNITY.

AND I WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO JAZZY WHO'S NOT INTERRUPTED ME YET.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE BECAUSE JAZZY IS SUPER TALKATIVE .

SO I'M GONNA READ, THE PROCLAMATION WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE AUSTIN ZOO TODAY.

IT SAYS, BE IT NAT.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING AND PROTECTING WILDLIFE WITH NATURAL RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WHEREAS THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FED FEDERATION HAS DESIGNATED APRIL 10TH THROUGH 14TH 2023 AS NATIONAL WILDLIFE WEEK TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND HABITAT PRESERVATION.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS HOME TO A DIVERSE ARRAY OF WILDLIFE SPECIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE MEXICAN FREE TAILED BAT, WHO WE COULD NOT GET HERE TODAY, SADLY, SORRY.

UM, THE BLACK CAPPED VJO .

I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HEARD THAT, BUT JAZZY JUST INTERRUPTED WITH HIS OWN COMMENTS COMMENTARY, WHICH WAS GREAT.

ALTHOUGH JAZZY COULD HAVE BEEN MOCKING ME, WHICH IS ALSO OKAY, AT LEAST I CAN TAKE HUMOR IN THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

JAZZY , THE THE MARTIN SPRINGS SALAMANDER IS ALSO A TAKE HOME HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND WHEREAS THE MISSION OF THE AUSTIN ZOO IS TO ASSIST ANIMALS IN NEED THROUGH RESCUE, CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN ZOO IS A SANCTUARY STYLE NONPROFIT RESCUE ZOO WHERE VISITORS CAN LEARN ABOUT TEXAS NATIVE ANIMALS.

AND TO HAVE FUN, I'VE TAKEN MY DAUGHTER THERE SEVERAL TIMES AND I'VE BEEN A CHAPERONE FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT FIELD TRIPS.

AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN SUPPORTS THE WORK OF THE AUSTIN ZOO AND OTHER CONSERVATORS OF AUSTIN'S AMAZING AND RICH WILDLIFE.

AND NOW THE THEREFORE I AUSTIN

[00:45:01]

CONGRATULATIONS AUSTIN ZOO.

AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE SOMEONE FROM THE AUSTIN ZOO TO COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M PATTY CLARK.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN ZOO.

A PRIVILEGE THAT I'VE HAD NOW FOR 15 AND A HALF YEARS.

UM, THE PEOPLE AROUND ME ARE, UH, JUST A PORTION OF OUR AMAZING TEAM.

AUSTIN ZOO STARTED BACK IN 1990, WE'RE IN OUR 33RD YEAR.

UH, IT STARTED AS A GOAT RANCH, GOOD DAY RANCH, UM, DOING RESCUING OF, UH, DOMESTIC HOOFSTOCK, UM, FARM ANIMALS.

UM, SINCE THAT TIME, BY 1994, THE FOUNDERS OF THE ZOO HAD AMASSED ENOUGH EXOTIC ANIMALS THAT THEY CHANGED THE NAME TO AUSTIN ZOO.

IT BECAME A NONPROFIT IN 1990 AND, AND I'M SORRY, IN 2000.

AND AT SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE HAD AN AMAZING ARRAY OF ANIMALS COME TO CALL AUSTIN ZOO THEIR FOREVER HOME.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND 300 ANIMALS REPRESENTING OVER 110 DIFFERENT SPECIES.

WE HAVE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ANIMALS AMONG THE ANIMAL COLLECTION, AND WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF ANIMAL CARE STAFF, VETERINARY STAFF, AND THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT ALL OF OUR MANY GUESTS, OUR GUEST RELATIONS TEAM AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, AND OUR FACILITIES GUYS WHO TAKE CARE OF THE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO VISIT US EVERY YEAR.

AND OUR AMAZING EDUCATORS HERE HAVE, ARE HOLDING SOME OF THESE ANIMALS.

UM, DO COME SEE US.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU VISIT OUR WONDERFUL ANIMAL COLLECTION.

NOW WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.

UM, GOOD

[5. Certificates of Recognition – UT Austin’s Healthy Student Organizations – To be presented by Council Member Qadri and to be accepted by various members of the UT Austin Healthy Student Organization programs]

MORNING EVERYONE.

UM, MY NAME IS, UH, ZO KARI.

UH, I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED TO REPRESENT, UH, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND DISTRICT

[00:50:01]

NINE.

UH, TODAY WE ARE HONORED, UH, TO HAVE UT AUSTIN'S HEALTH HEALTHY STUDENT ORGANIZATION PROGRAM AT THEIR CITY HALL, UH, TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR PROMOTING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG UT STUDENTS.

UH, THE HEALTHY STUDENT ORGANIZATION PROGRAM FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, SUPPORT STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS AND LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR RETAINING HAPPY, THRIVING, AND ENGAGED MEMBERS.

THE WORK THEY DO GOES FAR BEYOND THE 40 ACRES AND THEN THE WORK THEY DO, UH, THE, THE IMPACT IS SEEN FOR GENERATIONS.

UM, I, I GRADUATED FROM, FROM UT A DECADE AGO, UH, THIS YEAR.

UH, AND WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE LIST, A LOT OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS THAT I CAME IN TOUCH WITH, UH, AS A UT STUDENT, UM, AND THEY LEFT AN AN IMPRESSION ON ON ME AND, AND A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND, AND CLASSMATES AT THE TIME.

AND I, I KNOW THEY'LL, THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

UM, SO THIS MAY SOUND LIKE THE MOST CLICHE LINE I COULD USE, BUT WHAT STARTS WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS? UH, SHIRLEY DOES.

SHIRLEY DOES CHANGE THE WORLD.

UM, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SARAH FRAY, UH, WHO'S THE HEALTH PROMOTION COORDINATOR, SAY A FEW WORDS, UH, BEFORE UH, WE GET INTO THE PROCLAMATION AND BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME AWARDS, SARAH, SORRY.

MY NAME IS SARAH FRAY AND I SERVE AS A HEALTH PROMOTION COORDINATOR AT UT AUSTIN, AND I HELP OVERSEE THE HEALTHY STUDENT ORG PROGRAM ALONGSIDE MY WONDERFUL STUDENT ASSISTANT.

UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO Y'ALL, UM, AND PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS AND FOLKS HERE TODAY REPRESENTING YOUR ORG.

THESE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR LEADERS HAVE DEMONSTRATED INTEGRATING HEALTHIER GROUP PRACTICES AND REACHING THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL WELLNESS GOALS.

THESE STUDENTS REALLY ARE SHIFTING THE ON AND OFF CAMPUS CULTURE OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING, STARTING WITH THEIR MEMBERS AND EXTENDING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH PHILANTHROPIC EVENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND SO MUCH MORE.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THIS PLATFORM THIS MORNING TO HONOR YOU ALL WITH THE CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT AND PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS HEALTH AND WELLBEING ENDEAVOR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GIVE A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM MANAGER OF H S O P WHO'S STANDING TO MY LEFT, UM, THAT THOSE WHO WILL BE GRADUATING A FEW WEEKS HAS, OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST ACADEMIC YEAR, WORKED CLOSELY WITH THESE GROUPS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR INTERNAL DYNAMICS, THEIR HISTORY, AND REALLY THEIR CURRENT NEEDS IN ORDER TO TAILOR THE PROGRAM TO THE UNIQUENESS OF EACH GROUP.

AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE WILLINGNESS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR PROGRAM AND TO CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THIS EFFORT AS A PART OF YOUR DISTRICT.

IT IS A REALLY PROUD MOMENT FOR US, UM, TO HAVE OUR STUDENTS RECOGNIZED BY THE CHAMBER ENTITY OF AUSTIN.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR FUTURE CONVERSATIONS AROUND EXPANSION, UM, AND OR AMPLIFICATION OF PROGRAM AREAS AND SERVICES THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR UT STUDENTS.

WELL, UH, WITHOUT, UH, FURTHER ADO, UM, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS SINCE 2015, THE HEALTHY STUDENT ORGANIZATION PROGRAM, A PROGRAM OF THE LONGHORN WELLNESS CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, HAS RECOGNIZED AND EMPOWERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLBEING WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS, UH, AT THE UT COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS ANY REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATION IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HEALTHY STUDENT ORGANIZATION PROGRAM AND RECEIVE SUPPORT TO REACH THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL WELLNESS GOALS, STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A HEALTHY COMMITMENT TOOLKIT, SORRY, HEALTHY COMMUNITY TOOLKIT AND ACTIVITY TRACKER CONSULTATIONS ON CAPACITY BUILDING AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND RESOURCE SHARE WITH LIKE-MINDED STUDENTS WHO SEEK TO SHIFT THEIR GROUP'S CULTURE TOWARDS ONE, UH, WELLBEING.

AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THE ACADEMIC, YOU'RE PARTICIPATING STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM ALL AROUND THE 40 ACRES TRACK THEIR JOURNEY AND MAKE CHANGES IN THEIR GROUPS TO IMPACT MENTAL, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL WELLBEING.

AND WHEREAS WE ARE PLEASED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THE STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE JOINED US TODAY, THEIR COMMITMENT TO INCORPORATING HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND TO ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE WILL FOLLOW THEM AFTER GRADUATION AND INTO THEIR FUTURE WORKPLACES WHERE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE WELLNESS.

LIKE THE MOTTO, U UT AUSTIN SAYS, WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD.

NOW.

THEREFORE, I ZO KARE COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DISTRICT NINE ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, KIRK WATSON DE HEREBY DECLARE, PROCLAIM APRIL 13TH, 2023 AS THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN HEALTHY STUDENT ORGANIZATION DAY.

YEAH, YOU THANK YOU.

UM, AND BEFORE WE WRAP THINGS UP FOR A PICTURE, UH, I DO WANT TO GIVE, UH, SOME AWARDS OUT.

SO IF YOUR GROUP IS HERE, UM, PLEASE ACCEPT THE AWARD AND IF NOT, I WILL PASS IT OFF TO YOU, SARAH.

UH, SO THE FIRST AWARD, UM, WHICH IS A, UH, A GOLD AWARD IS FOR THE WOMEN IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM THERE? I'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU.

UM, THE NEXT ONE IS FOR TEXAS TAEKWONDO.

[00:55:03]

UM, THE NEXT ONE, IT'S CAMPUS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER.

NOPE.

NEXT ONE IS ENGINEERS FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD.

NOPE, I GO.

STUDENT HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

UH, NEXT ONE IS STUDENT HEALTH OF, SORRY.

YEP.

AND NEXT ONE IS GLOBAL MEDICAL TRAINING.

THERE WE GO.

NEXT ONE IS THE, IS SMILEY MUSLIM STUDENT ASSOCIATION.

YEP.

AND NEXT ONE IS THE TEXAS PUBLIC HEALTH.

OH, THERE YOU GO.

UM, NEXT ONE IS THE UT AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION.

OH, GREAT.

IS IT BOTH OF Y'ALL? YES.

THANK YOU ALL.

UM, THE NEXT ONE IS THE TEXAS PRE-DENTAL SOCIETY.

I FORGOT TO GRAB HER.

OH.

DO YOU MIND IF WE DO A PICTURE REALLY QUICK? THEY, WE, WE DID NOT GET EVERYONE.

IT WAS JUST THE TWO US.

WE DIDN'T WANNA YEAH, SURE.

YEAH, OF COURSE.

I THOUGHT WE WEREN'T WAITING FOR TO GRAB ONE CAUSE.

UM, THE NEXT ONE IS THE YEAH, THE TEXAS PRE-DENTAL SOCIETY.

AND THE NEXT ONE AFTER THAT IS, AND I'M GONNA, I APOLOGIZE IF I MISPRONOUNCE THIS ZU CHI UH, COLLEGIATE ASSOCIATION.

AUSTIN CHAPTER.

WE'RE NOT HERE EITHER.

NEXT ONE IS NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS ON CAMPUS.

NOPE.

THERE WE GO.

NEXT ONE IS TEXAS ALPHA EPSILON DELTA PRE-HEALTH HONOR SOCIETY.

NOPE.

NEXT ONE IS STUDENTS IN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE.

UM, AND NOW I THINK WE'RE GOOD FOR THE PICTURE.

YEAH, I THINK WE CAN DO FROM THIS CORNER.