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IS IT JUST YOU UP HERE? UM, AND THEN THEY'LL COME.
AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE PREPARED TO SPEAK, JACKIE? WELL, OF COURSE.
I KNOW, I KNOW BETTER THAN ANYBODY.
WELL, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
[Proclamation – Austin Small Business Week – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson and to be accepted by Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the Economic Development Department ]
UM, WELCOME TO YOUR CITY HALL.I'M GLAD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE AND, UH, WE'LL START OFF OUR PROCLAMATIONS TODAY BY, UH, A PROCLAMATION RELATED TO AUSTIN'S SMALL BUSINESS WEEK.
AND, UH, BY THE WAY, MY NAME'S KIRK WATSON.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW, UH, MY NAME'S KIRK WATSON.
I'M MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND ONE OF THE GREAT PLEASURES OF BEING MAYORS, RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE AND, UH, THE, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE AUSTIN SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE.
SO I'LL START OFF, UH, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY IS RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION, IS HOSTING ITS ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF AUSTIN SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, MAY 1ST THROUGH FIFTH, 2023, TO PROVIDE BUSINESS TRAINING, EDUCATIONAL EVENTS, AND COACHING TO EMPOWER TRADITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS, CREATIVES, NONPROFITS, AND COOPERATIVES.
AND WHEREAS THE SMALL BUSINESS DIVISION IS PROUD OF ITS ENTREPRENEURIAL MARK ON OUR CAPITAL CITY, AND RECOGNIZES THAT LOCAL BUSINESSES POSITIVELY ADD TO THE VIBRANCY AND AUTHENTICITY OF AUSTIN WHILE PROMOTING JOB GROWTH.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY ONE THROUGH 5 20 23 AS AUSTIN'S SMALL BUSINESS WEEK IN AUSTIN.
AND I'VE SIGNED THIS PROCLAMATION TO DECLARE THAT AS AUSTIN'S SMALL BUSINESS WEEK, PLEASE, PLEASE AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR WA, KIRK WATSON.
I'M SI, NOVIA HOLT RA, THE DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND I AM EXCITED THAT SMALL BUSINESS WEEK IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, MAY 1ST THROUGH THE FIFTH, AND OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT HAS PUT TOGETHER VIRTUAL CLASSES AS WELL AS IN-PERSON CLASSES.
AND WHY, SO WE CAN STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESSES.
YOU'RE GONNA LEARN ABOUT FUNDING, FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS, ASSET PROTECTION, CREATING MARKETING PLANS, AND MUCH MORE.
ALL CLASSES AND EVENTS ARE NO COST FREE, FREE, LET ME SAY THAT.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SIGN UP.
UM, WE'RE GONNA KICK OFF THE WEEK WITH A BREAKFAST, AND OUR, UH, SPEAKER FOR THAT OCCASION IS SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR REGION FOUR ADMINISTRATOR TED JAMES.
AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED AND IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PANEL DISCUSSION.
AGAIN, SIGN UP FOR THESE FREE SAY IT AGAIN, MA'AM.
I'LL GET IT@SMALLBEDSAUSTIN.ORG ORG G AND CLICK ON THE CLASSES LINK.
LET ME GET ON THIS SIDE OF HERE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.
HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP WITH YOU? YES.
AND THEN, IS THAT COOL? THAT'S GREAT.
[Proclamation – Recognizing Ramadan and Eid – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri ]
MORNING, Y'ALL.UH, MY NAME IS, UH, COUNCILMAN MCC CAY.
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UH, AND I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY.UH, TODAY IS THE, UH, SO THE LAST DAY OF THE, THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN.
UH, SO FOR THOSE OF YOU IN IN CITY HALL, UH, I'VE, I'VE BEEN VERY TIRED FOR THE PAST 30 DAYS.
UH, BUT, BUT THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE HAS, HAS KEPT ME ENERGIZED.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, TODAY IS, IS IS THE DAY THAT 2 BILLION, UH, FOLKS, 2 BILLION MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD, UH, ARE OBSERVING THE FINAL DAYS OF RAMADAN.
AND THAT INCLUDES TENS OF THOUSANDS, UH, OF MUSLIMS HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
UH, RAMADAN IS A MONTH OF FASTING PRAYER AND REFLECTION.
IT'S A TIME FOR US TO BRING OURSELVES CLOSER TO GOD AND CULTIVATE COMPASSION FOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.
AND ONE OF THE KEYSTONE COMMUNITIES FOR MUSLIMS IN CENTRAL TEXAS IS RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, AND THAT'S NOSIS MOSQUE, UH, IN WEST CAMPUS.
UH, IT'S THE OLDEST MOSQUE IN AUSTIN AND HAS SERVED AS A NEXUS OF FAITH AND COMMUNITY FOR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS SINCE 1977.
UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID AS A, AS A UT STUDENT, UH, WAS GO TO NOSIS MOSQUE.
I WOULD, UH, OFTEN STUDY IN THE, IN THE LIBRARY THERE AND, AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A BOARD MEMBER, UH, MANY YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS, UH, MUCH YOUNGER AND, AND HAD MORE HAIR.
UM, AS WE TRANSITIONED FROM RAMADAN, UH, TO EL FITTER, WHICH IS THE, UH, HOLIDAY THAT WILL BE TOMORROW, UH, I'M PROUD TO STAND BY THE INVALUABLE PIECE OF OUR LOCAL TAPESTRY AND PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO THEM.
UH, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PASS THE MIC, UM, FOR YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UH, IT'S A BLESSING AND HONOR, UH, AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
UH, AN IMAM BASICALLY IS A MUSLIM PASTOR.
WE LEAD PRAYERS, UH, WE LEAD THE CONGREGATION.
UH, MY NAME HAPPENS TO BE IMAM, SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHY I DO WHAT I DO, I WOULD JUST SAY I WAS BORN FOR THIS JOB.
UM, BUT MOST OF MY CONGREGATION ARE UT STUDENTS, LIKE THE COUNCILMAN MENTIONED.
UH, SO THERE ARE A BUNCH OF NERDS.
UH, THAT'S A MATH JOKE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T GET IT.
UH, IF YOU DON'T GET IT, THEN YOU CAN PROBABLY RE-ENROLL TO UT AND, UH,
UH, AT NU ASIS MOSQUE IS NOT ONLY THE OLDEST MOSQUE IN AUSTIN, UH, BUT I'M A BIT BIASED.
I ALSO BELIEVE IT'S THE MOST SIGNIFICANT, UH, MOSQUE IN THE CITY.
UH, AND IT'S REPRESENTATION OF, UH, THE GROWING TAPESTRY OF DIVERSITY, UH, IN THE CITY.
AND ONCE AGAIN, IT'S A BLESSING, HONOR AND PRIVILEGE, UH, TO BE HERE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR PATIENCE, UH, SADAM.
UH, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UH, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION, UH, BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS ISLAM IS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND HERE IN AUSTIN, THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS ESTIMATES THAT 15,000 PRACTICING MUSLIMS CALL CENTRAL TEXAS THEIR HOME.
AND WHEREAS NOSIS MOSQUE IN THE HEART OF AUSTIN WAS THE FIRST MOSQUE ESTABLISHED IN THE CITY, AND HAS SINCE 1977 SERVED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN CENTRAL CITY RESIDENTS AS A PLACE TO BUILD LONG-LASTING CONNECTIONS WHERE THEIR FAITH, IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE NU ASIS MOSQUE COMMUNITY IS JOINING BILLIONS OF MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE TO MARK THE END OF THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN ON APRIL 20TH, AND IS TAKING PART IN THE FIRST EVER CITYWIDE YOUTH FESTIVAL ON APRIL 22ND TO CELEBRATE THE BREAKING OF THE FAST.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, UH, COUNCIL MARK GORIE ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE MAYOR OF OF AUSTIN KIRK WATSON, UH, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 20TH, 2023, UH, AS NOISES MOK.
SO WHAT DO YOU SAY THAT KATHY
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SORRY.DO YOU WANT EVERYBODY OR JUST THE TWO OF, AND THEN I THINK IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US.
SO WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE IT EASY.
YOU DON'T WANNA SAY ANYTHING? OKAY.
[Proclamation – PowerTalk 21 Day – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter and to be accepted by representatives from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) ]
I'M ALLISON AL ALTER AND IT'S MY HONOR TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.I'M JOINED TODAY BY CAMIE KELLY FROM MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING, OR MAD TOMORROW.
APRIL 21ST IS POWER TALK 21 DAY, AN ANNUAL DAY TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO INITIATE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR KIDS ABOUT THEIR DECISIONS AROUND DRINKING ALCOHOL AND USING OTHER DRUGS.
THIS YEAR, POWER TALK 21 DAY HAS SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME.
I'M A MOM AND MY SON WILL BE GOING TO SENIOR PROM THIS WEEKEND.
I RECENTLY READ IN THE NEWS ABOUT HOW TEEN TRAFFIC FATALITIES INCREASED DURING PROM IN GRADUATION SEASON.
AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HUG YOUR CHILD FOR THE LAST TIME WHEN THEY HEAD OUT TO A CELEBRATION OR MILESTONE SUCH AS PROM.
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, WE WILL BE HAVING THEM, UM, THIS WEEKEND AS WELL.
HAVING HONEST CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR KIDS CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT AS A PARENT, I KNOW THAT THEY ARE NECESSARY.
STUDIES SHOW THAT THESE CONVERSATIONS CAN HELP PREVENT DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE.
THESE CONVERSATIONS ALSO LET OUR KIDS KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME TO US IF THEY NEED HELP.
SO IF YOU'RE A PARENT, A GRANDPARENT, A FOSTER PARENT, STEPPARENT, OTHER SIBLING, AUNT OR UNCLE, OR FAMILY FRIEND TO A TEENAGER, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT MAD.ORG FOR RESOURCES TO HELP INITIATE A CONVERSATION ABOUT DRUG AND ALCOHOL SAFETY.
I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION, AND I'M GONNA SHOW THE PROCLAMATION HERE.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTS TALKING WITH THEIR TEENS ABOUT ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISKS AND DANGERS POSED TO TEENS AND COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO USE ALCOHOL OR OTHER SUBSTANCES ARE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL OR BELIEVE GOOD GRADES ARE NOT IMPORTANT.
AND WHEREAS 27% OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TRY ALCOHOL BEFORE GRADUATING FROM EIGHTH GRADE, SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE RISK THAT THEY WILL DEVELOP ALCOHOL PROBLEMS LATER IN LIFE.
AND WHEREAS UNDERAGE DRINKING CONTRIBUTES TO MORE THAN 4,300 DEATHS AMONG PEOPLE BELOW THE AGE OF 21 IN THE US EACH YEAR, AND WHEREAS THE MAJORITY OF KIDS SAY THEIR PARENTS ARE THE PRIMARY INFLUENCE WHEN IT COMES TO
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DECISIONS ABOUT DRINKING ALCOHOL.AND WHEREAS POWER TALK 21 STARTED BY MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING MAD IN 2011, IS ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO EMBRACE THEIR IMPORTANT ROLE IN INFLUENCING AMERICA'S YOUTH AND THEIR DECISIONS ABOUT DRINKING ALCOHOL AND USING OTHER DRUGS.
AND WHEREAS IN 2023, MAD ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO USE POWER TALK 21 AS PART OF POWER OF PARENTS' PROGRAM TO CREATE A SUSTAINED AND PROLONGED CONVERSATION ABOUT UNDERAGE DRINKING AND OTHER DRUGS AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
AND WHEREAS TO EQUIP PARENTS TO TALK WITH THEIR TEENS ABOUT ALCOHOL, MAD AUSTIN ON APRIL 1ST THROUGH MAY 31ST WILL STRIVE TO GIVE PARENTS THE TOOLS TO EFFECTIVELY TALK TO THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS TO PROTECT THEM.
AND WHEREAS I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTS AND TEENS TALKING TOGETHER ABOUT ALCOHOL TO REDUCE THE RISKS AND DANGERS POSED TO TEENS AND COMMUNITIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON ALTER ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 21ST.
2023 IS POWER TALK 21 DAY IN AUSTIN.
UM, SO WE'LL JUST TAKE A, A PICTURE AND WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP PROCEEDING.
I'M GONNA STAY UP HERE FOR ANOTHER PROC.
DO WE HAVE THE, SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE ALL THE SURVIVORS AND ADVOCATES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE HERE FOR THE SEXUAL ASSAULT, UM, AWARENESS MONTH AND PREVENTION MONTH PROCLAMATION TO JOIN ME.
AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO'D LIKE TO JOIN AS WELL.
WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO DO OUT THERE FOR EARTH DAY CUZ WE HAD TOO MANY AND THEN WHATEVER.
SO SQUISH, WE'RE GONNA SQUISH.
WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE OURS OUT THERE TOO.
OR YOU JUST GET TOO CLOSE WHEN I DO THE, WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER PRETTY WELL.
YEAH, WE CAN DO, CAN WE DO A, AFTER THE CRIME ONE, CAN WE DO ONE OUTSIDE TOO? YES.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GET EVERYONE UP HERE.
SO WE'LL TALK TO NOBODY, UM, OVER THERE.
WE'LL JUST TALK TO PEOPLE OUT THERE.
UM, AND THEN AFTER WE HAVE TWO PROCS THAT ARE, ARE RELATED.
UM, AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL DO BOTH OF THOSE PROCS AND THEN IF EVERYONE WOULDN'T MIND, IF IT'S NOT POURING OUTSIDE, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING OUR EARTH DAY RECEPTION IN THE ATRIUM, IF WE CAN GO OUTSIDE AND GET A PHOTO OUT THERE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, YOU'RE, YOU'RE WELCOME.
WE HAVE, WE HAVEN'T STARTED YET.
WE'RE WE, WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE MANY PEOPLE.
[Proclamation – Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter and to be accepted by SAFE Austin]
MORNING.THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
I'M ALLISON ALTAR AND IT'S MY HONOR TO RENT PRESENT CENTRAL NORTHWEST AUSTIN, DISTRICT 10 ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I'M JOINED HERE THIS MORNING BY SURVIVORS, BY POLICYMAKERS, NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM A P D, THE COUNTY AND THE DA'S OFFICE.
I HAVE MY COLLEAGUES, MAYOR PROTE ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER OF FUENTES COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, WHO ARE ALSO UP HERE WITH US TODAY.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE AND THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW FAR REACHING THE IMPACTS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WOULD VENTURE THAT EACH OF US CAME TO THIS WORK FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
HOWEVER, EVERYONE HERE HAS EITHER PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED OR KNOWS SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
SOME OF US HAVE REPORTED OR HELPED OTHERS TO REPORT ON AN ASSAULT.
MANY IN OUR GROUP HAVE RETOLD THEIR STORIES OVER AND OVER.
STILL, MORE OF US MAY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO REPORT AN ASSAULT, FEARING STIGMA, RETALIATION, OR SIMPLY THAT WE WOULDN'T BE BELIEVED PERSONALLY.
I FIRST CAME TO THIS WORK AS A MOTHER AFTER HEARING FROM SOME BRAVE SURVIVORS WHO CAME FORWARD TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES SEEKING JUSTICE AND HEALING AND THE FRUSTRATIONS THAT THEY HAD.
I IMAGINED MY OWN DAUGHTER TRYING TO
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NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS. SINCE THEN, I'VE WORKED WITH SURVIVORS TO REFORM AUSTIN'S SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM THROUGH BUDGET INCREASES FOR VICTIM SERVICES, TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING FOR A P D IMPROVEMENTS TO AUSTIN'S DNA, A TESTING AND COLLECTION POLICY CHANGES AND IMPROVED DATA ANALYSIS, THE CHANGES WE HAVE SET IN MOTION AND THE INVESTMENTS.SEVERAL WOMEN BRAVELY TOLD THEIR STORIES OVER AND OVER.
SOME OF THOSE STANDING HERE SUED THE CITY.
WE PUSHED AND WE ADVOCATED AT EVERY TURN.
AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, WE COMMISSIONED A THIRD PARTY EVALUATION OF THE WAY SEXUAL ASSAULTS ARE INVESTIGATED AND PROCESSED IN AUSTIN.
THE FINAL REPORT WAS RELEASED IN NOVEMBER BY THE POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM.
AND THE PERF REPORT PROVIDES A ROADMAP TO FURTHER IMPROVE THESE SYSTEMS, TO BE MORE SURVIVOR FOCUSED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE.
I'M PLEASED THAT THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE TO MAKE SYSTEMIC CHANGE ARE THERE.
THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE THE ECOSYSTEM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT THAT SURVIVORS DESERVE.
PURSUING A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH A SHARED GOAL TO DELIVER HEALING AND JUSTICE.
I WANNA THANK THE BRAVE SURVIVORS WHO CAME FORWARD AND RELIVE THEIR TRAUMAS SO THAT THE OTHERS, SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT NOT HAVE TO, AND TO THE ADVOCATES WHO SUPPORTED THEM AS A COMMUNITY, WE COULD NOT HAVE COME THIS FAR WITHOUT YOU.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD, LET US REMEMBER THAT WE BEGAN THIS PROCESS WITH A VERY SIMPLE IDEA.
NO ONE DESERVES TO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT.
AND WHEN SEXUAL ASSAULT DOES HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, SURVIVORS DESERVE ACCESS TO HEALING AND JUSTICE.
YOU'LL HEAR MORE FROM SAFE AUSTIN IN A MINUTE.
BUT IF YOU'RE A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE, THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE.
I BELIEVE THAT IF WE PERSIST AND COLLABORATE, AUSTIN CAN BECOME A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES SEEKING TO IMPROVE THEIR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND ENDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN, THAT WHEREAS ONE IN THREE WOMEN AND ONE IN FOUR MEN WILL EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THEIR LIFETIME.
AND WHEREAS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS WIDESPREAD AND HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER.
AND WHEREAS SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ABUSE ARE LINKED TO SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION SUCH AS RACISM, SEXISM, CLASSISM, HETEROSEXISM, AGEISM, AND ABLEISM.
AND WHEREAS THE 2023 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH CAMPAIGN IS DRAWING CONNECTIONS, PREVENTION DEMANDS, EQUITY, AND THE CAMPAIGN CALLS ON INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INSTITUTIONS TO STAND AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THE SYSTEMS OF OPPRESSION THAT ENABLE IT.
AND WHEREAS ALL COMMUNITIES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN TO SURVIVORS ESTABLISH EFFECTIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEMS AND PROMOTE EDUCATION AND PREVENTION EFFORTS.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, TOGETHER WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS FUENTES ELLIS AND KADRI ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2023, A SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH IN AUSTIN.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE LESLIE VAGA, PRESIDENT OF SAFE.
I'M ACTUALLY GONNA INVITE JULIANA GONZALEZ IS OUR SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HEALTH SERVICES.
UM, WE WANNA THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER COUNCILMAN CADRE, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PER ELLIS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR THE PROCLAMATION OF THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
THIS MAY BE THE MONTH FOR THIS, BUT THIS IS A PROBLEM YEAR ROUND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ACRO AROUND THE WORLD.
I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THIS COMMUNITY IF SOMEONE EX HAS AN UNWANTED SEXUAL EXPERIENCE THAT INCLUDES OUR SAFE LINE, WHICH IS 24 7.
AND I'M GONNA MENTION OUR TEXTING AND CHAT AS WELL BECAUSE THOSE ARE GETTING MORE POPULAR.
THE NUMBER TO CALL IS FIVE ONE TWO TWO SIX SEVEN SAFE.
UM, AND THE TEXT IS 7 3 7 8 8 8 7 2 3 3.
UM, I'M NOW GONNA INTRODUCE JULIA JOANNA GONZALEZ, IF YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS, YOU KNOW, I'LL JUST ADD THAT WE'RE SENDING, ALL OF US ARE SENDING, UM, SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY AND HEALING AND JUSTICE TO ALL SURVIVORS IN THIS MONTH.
AND WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT AND OFFER RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM.
UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BE A PARTNER WITH THE CITY ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, BOTH INTERVENTION AS WELL AS PREVENTION.
[Additional Item]
[00:25:01]
STAYING FOR THE NEXT PROC, SO MAYBE WE'LL DO THE NEXT PROC AND THEN WE CAN DO A PICTURE HERE.PICTURES AT THE, AT THE PICTURES AT THE END.
MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN FOR DISTRICT TWO REPRESENTING SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
TODAY I'M HONORED TO STAND ALONGSIDE SO MANY PUBLIC SERVANTS AND ADVOCATES WHO ALL HAVE GATHERED TODAY TO HONOR THE RIGHTS OF CRIME SURVIVORS ALL ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS WEEK IS A TIME WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THE CRITICAL NEED FOR CARE AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INJUSTICES.
REHABILITATION IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED WHEN WE THINK OF HOW TO BUILD A THRIVING SOCIETY.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, IF WE WANNA CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO LEAD WITH EMPATHY.
SURVIVORS OF CRIME DON'T JUST NEED BUT DESERVE SERVICES AND SAFE SPACES TO HEAL IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER, WHICH IS WHY I'M SO PROUD THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST CITY IN TEXAS TO BRING A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER TO OUR CITY.
AND LATER TODAY, TRAVIS COUNTY WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERING FUNDING A TRAUMA RECOVERY CITY TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER ALONGSIDE US.
IT IS UP TO US, OUR ADVOCATES, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A COMMUNITY THAT CARES ABOUT OUR MOST VULNERABLE VICTIMS. AND I, FOR ONE, COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER GROUP OF PASSIONATE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK ALONGSIDE WITH.
I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO TARA TUCKER, CLARENCE WATSON WITH THE CRIME SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE AND ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
THEY WERE STRONG LEADERS IN BRINGING THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
AND WITH THIS, I WILL, UH, NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE TERM VICTIM IS MORE THAN JUST A LABEL AND HAS LEGAL STANDING AND PROTECTIONS THAT GO ALONGSIDE WITH IT.
AND WHEREAS INCLUDING AND ELEVATING THE VOICES OF SURVIVORS AND MAKING CERTAIN THEY ARE HEARD AND SEEN CREATES A PATH OF FORGING AND SUSTAINING COMMUNITY TRUST.
AND WHEREAS ENGAGING SURVIVORS CREATES RESPONSES AND SERVICES THAT ARE CREDIBLE, MEANINGFUL, AND CENTERED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALISON AL ALTER AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND THE REST OF CITY COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 23RD THROUGH THE 29TH OF 2023 AS NATIONAL CRIME VICTIM'S RIGHTS WEEK.
I WILL NOW PASS IT ON TO ADRIAN O'KEEFE, WHO WILL PROVIDE, WHO WILL ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN SAY ANYTHING, UM, ELSE THAT'S HASN'T BEEN SAID BETTER.
UM, BUT I WILL REITERATE THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE WORKED WITH THESE PARTNERS IN ADDRESSING VIOLENCE AND CRIME IN OUR CITY AND PROVIDING SERVICES TO SURVIVORS.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR GIVING US THIS MOMENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO CHECK OUT THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY SART, WHICH IS STANDS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE AND RESOURCE TEAM FACEBOOK PAGE, AND ALSO THE NATIONAL CRIME RIGHTS NATIONAL
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR EVENTS NEXT WEEK, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND TO TAKE A MOMENT AND, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE SURVIVORS IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ALSO TAKE SOME ACTION TO SUPPORT THEM.
SO I THINK THAT WAS OUR LAST PROCLAMATION.
MAYBE YOU WANNA TRY AND DO ONE IN HERE AND THEN GO OUT WHILE, LIKE, DO IT.
I'LL DO ONE IN RIGHT? LIKE MAYBE, YEAH.
BUT I CAN DO YOU GUYS BEHIND HERE, BUT I NEED YOU TO SQUISH.
SO WHO IS ADRIAN? A LOT OF, UM, PEOPLE ARE EDUCATED ON CONSENSUAL TOUCHING.
OKAY, I THINK I GOT EVERYBODY NOW.
AND IF YOU GO OUTSIDE, I WILL MEET YOU.
SO WE'RE GONNA JUST, YOU'LL HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH, THROUGH SECURITY ON THE WAY BACK, BUT, UM, I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH OF US, WE SHOULD DO ONE OUTSIDE AND RIGHT.
[00:30:03]
VANESSA, DID YOU WANT.