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Y'ALL READY? HOW ARE YOU, BY THE WAY? I'M DOING WELL.
COME ON IN, Y'ALL, Y'ALL, YOU CAN STAND BEHIND ME.
[Proclamation – YSEALI Week – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson and to be accepted by Alaina Mendoza of The Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative]
MORNING EVERYBODY.UH, I'M, I'M VERY HONORED, UH, TO GET THE KICKOFF THIS, UH, DAY BY, UH, A RECOGNITION OF A GROUP THAT'S KNOWN AS THE YOUNG SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE.
UH, THIS INITIATIVE IS A, A MAJOR PLATFORM IN, UH, THE, THE GOVERNMENT OF OUR UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IN ITS INITIATIVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND, AND INCREASED NETWORKING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA.
AND SO IT'S A PARTICULAR HONOR FOR ME TO BE, UH, ABLE THIS MORNING TO MAKE THIS PROCLAMATION, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND WITH THAT, LET ME READ THE PROCLAMATION.
AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE THAT I'M JOINED BY A LOT OF, UH, FOLKS THIS MORNING.
AND I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT EVERYONE'S HERE BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE YOUNG SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE, UH, ALSO KNOWN AS WHY CELIA, I THINK IS THE WAY IT'S DONE, IS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S SIGNATURE PROGRAM TO STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING AND SOUTHEAST ASIA BY HARNESSING THE EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL OF YOUTH IN THE REGION TO ADDRESS CRITICAL ISSUES SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND EDUCATION.
AND WHEREAS THIS WEEK, WHY SEALY PROFESSIONAL FELLOWS FROM THE NATION'S OF CAMBODIA, INDONESIA, LAOS, MALAYSIA, MYANMAR, THE PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, TIM OR LESS, AND VIETNAM, ARE VISITING AUSTIN TO CONNECT WITH CITY GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP IN FURTHER FURTHERANCE OF Y CELIA'S PURPOSES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN WISHES TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE Y CLIA ATTENDEES, AND WE HOPE THAT OUR GUESTS WILL FIND THEIR TIME FOR ENJOYABLE, INFORMATIVE, AND INSPIRING ACTIVITIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 18TH THROUGH 20 JULY, 2220 IN 2023 AS Y CLY WEEK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND ELENA MENDOZA OF Y CLY IS GOING TO ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF ALL, ALL, ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS.
AND YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE COME UP.
THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THIS RECOGNITION, AND THANK YOU TO THOMAS AND ELISE FOR HOSTING US.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN SUCH AN EXPERIENCE, UH, FOR OUR Y C L E FELLOWS.
THE INTERNATIONAL CITY COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION WITH FUNDING FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT THEME OF THE SOUTHEAST YOUNG SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEADERS INITIATIVE.
THE PROGRAM GIVES YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND NONPROFITS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
THIS GROUP OF 15, AS MAYOR WATSON MENTIONED, UM, REPRESENTS 10 COUNTRIES AND WERE SLATED TO ARRIVE IN 2020, BUT HAD TO WAIT THREE YEARS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
UM, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS HOSTED A NUMBER OF FELLOWS IN THE PAST AND HAS KINDLY AGREED TO HOST OUR STUDY TOUR GROUP.
UM, WE THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE Y CLI PROGRAM, AND WE HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY TO GIVE Y C L E PROFESSIONALS, UH, MORE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CITY TO AND THE YEARS TO COME.
WHY DON'T WE ALL KIND OF CROWD IN HERE AND LET HER GET A PICTURE OF US.
YOU GUYS CAN HAVE TO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, YOU GET, YOU GET UP FRONT SO THEY CAN SEE THE, THE PROCLAMATION COME IN AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT GO DOWN.
COULD I GET THE INTERNS THAT ARE WITH, UH, PAPA UP HERE? THANK YOU, MA'AM.
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GOOD MORNING.[Certificates of Completion – APAPA Interns – To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson]
IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO BRING UP ANOTHER GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF AND RECOGNIZE, UH, THIS GROUP FOR COMPLETING A SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.UH, THIS PROGRAM, UH, PROVIDES COLLEGE, UH, I MEAN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, UH, COLLEGE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE INTERN WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR A PERIOD OF SIX WEEKS.
AND THROUGHOUT THAT PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS, UH, GET TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY, THEY HONE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS.
THEY GET TO, UH, GAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HOW, UH, PUBLIC POLICY WORKS THROUGH, UH, SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES.
THEY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
AND SO, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION.
AND BY THE WAY, I SEE ONE OF OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, ZO, WHY DON'T YOU COME UP HERE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, YEAH, COME UP HERE WITH ME.
UM, BUT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THAT'S COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, HE REPRESENTS KIND OF A CENTRAL AREA OF AUSTIN, INCLUDING WHERE WE'RE STANDING.
UM, SO, UM, AND WHERE YOU LIVE YEAH.
AND WHERE I LIVE, THAT'S RIGHT.
UM, BUT IN ANY EVENT, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, I WANNA EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE DEDICATED WORK THAT THESE INTERNS HAVE, HAVE PARTICIPATED IN.
AND I HOPE THAT THEY GOT AS MUCH OUT OF THE EXPERIENCE AS WE GET GETTING TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU AND BE, AND, AND BE A PART OF THIS.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO, WHOOP, THERE, THEY'RE, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAND OUT SOME, SOME CERTIFICATES HERE.
AND BY THE WAY, WE'VE GOT FRIENDS THAT ARE A, A, A PART OF THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS WORKS.
AND I, UH, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS CALL OUT THE, THE FIRST NAME OF EACH ONE OF YOU AND, AND MAKE SURE YOU GET THOSE.
ETHAN A AND DEVIN'S GOT HIS OWN FAN CLUB.
WELL, DEBBIE, YOU MAN, WHEN LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ANOTHER LESSON AS AN INTERN, RIGHT? WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE GETTING A CERTIFICATE AND YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FAN CLUB, DON'T STAND DIRECTLY BEHIND THE GUYS GOING BLOCK YOU.
STEP OVER HERE WHERE THE CAMERAS CAN SEE YOU, MAN.
SO FOLKS, AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THIS IS THE KIND OF PROGRAM, UM, THAT, THAT WE WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION FOR ALL THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND ARE YOU, YOU GONNA COMMENT? OH, I SEE YOU GOT NOTES IN YOUR HAND.
YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? ALL RIGHT.
DOES, DOES ANYBODY WANT, VICTORIA, WOULD YOU SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM? UH, YEAH.
OKAY, FOLKS, THIS IS VICTORIA LEE, WHO'S ONE OF, UM, OUR GREAT LEADERS IN THIS CITY.
AND SHE'S BEEN A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE FOR, WELL, WE FIRST MET IN 91, I THINK.
SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND EACH OTHER A LONG TIME.
SO VICTORIA, I'D LIKE YOU TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
REALLY WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND, UH, COLLEEN, THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR HELPING US TO GET THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
UH, THIS PROGRAM REALLY HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE MAYOR IS HOSTING, UH, THIS GRADUATION FOR US.
AND, UH, UH, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF AT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR HELPING AND TOGETHER THE CEREMONY TOGETHER.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I HOPE ALL THE INTERNS WILL REMEMBER ALL THE EXPECTATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS GIVEN BY OUR MAYOR, BY
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OUR ELECTED OF, UH, OFFICIALS.AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATION.
AND LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE INTERNS AND SAY, GREAT.
UM, AND WE WISH YOU ONLY THE BEST OF LUCK, UH, BUT YOU HAVE A HOME AT CITY HALL, SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
I'M, I'M NOT GONNA GET BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAMERA.
WE UP, YOU'RE TALL ENOUGH TO WE OUT.
WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR HEIGHT.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD TO STAND ON THE FRONT ROW.
I'LL BE THERE THEN I'LL BE, YEAH.
FOLLOWED UP WITH WHAT EMAILED AND THEN I WAS OUTTA TOWN.
BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND EMAILING AGAIN, YOU HAVE MY NUMBER.
BE CONTACT ME AND THEN I'LL, IF I'M ABLE TO MAKE IT, I'LL, I'LL BE THERE.
IF NOT, I'LL, I'LL MAKE IT THE INDEPENDENT CONTACT ME.
HI, THIS IS THE AV TECH AT CITY HALL.
IF LAUREN AND RICHARD COULD TURN ON THE VIDEO, THAT'D BE GREAT.
[Proclamation – Space Exploration Day – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly and to be accepted by members of the community]
HELLO.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME EVERYONE.
I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE.
KELLY AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT SIX, WHICH IS IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
THIS MORNING, I HAVE THE IMMENSE PLEASURE OF HONORING INNOVATION AND THE EXPLORATION OF OUR UNIVERSE.
I'D LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK, UH, MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN'S JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES, RICHARD GARRETT, WHO'S HERE, VIRTUALLY A LOCAL ASTRONAUT AND PRESIDENT OF THE EXPLORERS CLUB AND SPACEX'S VP LAUREN DRYER, WHO'S ALSO JOINING US TODAY, VIRTUALLY PROCLAIMING JULY 20TH, 2023.
AS SPACE EXPLORATION DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING HUMANITIES ACHIEVEMENTS IN SPACE.
IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE PIVOTAL ROLE THAT SPACE EXPLORATION PLAYS IN SCIENTIFIC, PROC, PROGRESS, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, EDUCATION, AND OUR COLLECTIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIVERSE BY DESIGNATING A SPECIFIC DAY FOR THIS PURPOSE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN DEMONSTRATES ITS COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND INSPIRING FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SPACE
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ENTHUSIASTS.IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, APPRECIATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS MADE BY ASTRONAUTS AND SCIENTISTS, AND REFLECT ON THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF HUMAN EXPLORATION BEYOND EARTH.
EXPLORATION DAY ALSO SERVES AS A REMINDER OF THE CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS ASSOCIATED WITH VENTURING INTO THE COSMOS.
IT ENCOURAGES DISCUSSIONS ON THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF SPACE EXPLORATION, INCLUDING ADVANCEMENTS IN SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY, RESOURCE UTILIZATION, AND THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE THAT BENEFITS OUR PLANET AND BEYOND.
THROUGH THIS PROCLAMATION, WE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, CAN SHOWCASE OUR SUPPORT FOR THE SPACE INDUSTRY, FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS THAT COULD PROPEL LOCAL SPACE RELATED INITIATIVES AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH.
IT SENDS A MESSAGE, MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, TO SPACE ENTREPRENEURS, RESEARCHERS, AND ENTHUSIASTS, PROVIDING A PLATFORM TO SHOWCASE THEIR WORK, TO INSPIRE OTHERS OVERALL PROCLAIMING JULY 20TH, 2023 IS SPACE EXPLORATION DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
HIGHLIGHTS THE CITY'S DEDICATION TO THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION, INNOVATION, AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.
IT IS A COMMENDABLE INITIATIVE THAT UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF SPACE EXPLORATION IN SHAPING OUR FUTURE AND IGNITING THE IMAGINATION OF AUSTINITES.
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TONGUE TWISTER.
SO I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR GUESTS BRIEFLY TODAY, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SPACE EXPLORATION AND ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, TECHNOLOGICAL AND INNOVATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR UNIVERSE.
AND WHEREAS THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE HAS BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT ADVANCEMENTS IN VARIOUS FIELDS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ASTRONOMY, ASTROPHYSICS, AEROSPACE, ENGINEERING, ASTROBIOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE.
AND WHEREAS WE CELEBRATE SPACE EXPLORATION DAY EVERY YEAR ON JULY 20TH, BECAUSE PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN CREATED THIS HOLIDAY TO COMMEMORATE THE FIRST CRUDE MISSION TO THE MOON AND A MOON LANDING, WHICH TOOK PLACE ON JULY 20TH, 1969.
AND WHEREAS EIGHT YEARS AFTER THAT, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY SET A GOAL FOR AMERICA TO LAND ON THE MOON BEFORE THE END OF THE DECADE, THE APOLLO 11 MISSION SUCCEEDED AND REALIZED THAT VISION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN ACKNOWLEDGES THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF JULY 20TH, 2023, WHICH MARKS THE 54TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO ELEVEN'S MISSION SUCCESSFULLY LANDING ON THE MOON, A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT FOR HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN WISHES TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ASTRONAUTS, SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO SPACE EXPLORATION AND CONTINUE TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR KNOWLEDGE.
AND WHEREAS THIS DAY SETS FORTH TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PURSUE CAREERS IN SPACE SCIENCES AND SPACE EXPLORATION, TO LOOK TOWARDS THE HEAVENS AND REMEMBER THE INCREDIBLE SPACE ADVANCES HUMANITY HAS MADE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND TO DREAM WHERE WE WILL STILL JOURNEY.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MCKEN MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 20TH, 2023 AS SPACE EXPLORATION DAY.
NOW, I WANNA GIVE OUR GUESTS WHO ARE HERE WITH US, BOTH VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON, A CHANCE TO SAY A FEW BRIEF REMARKS.
AND FIRST I'D LIKE TO HAVE, UM, RICHARD SPEAK.
UH, WELL, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN HEAR ME.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS TO YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY.
UH, I ALSO, OF COURSE, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, THE MAYOR AND STAFF.
UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE THING I'D LIKE TO, UH, OFFER IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHILE TEXAS HAS BEEN THE, A NATIONAL CENTER FOR HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW MUCH AUSTIN HAS GROWN TO BECOME NOW A LEADING CITY IN OUR NATION FOR SPACE EXPLORATION DEVELOPMENT.
AND AS, AS HUMANITY MOVES BEYOND LOW EARTH ORBIT.
AND WE'RE NOW, UH, HEADED BACK TO THE MOON, AND HOPEFULLY SOON AFTER ONTO MARS, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT CITIZENS OF OUR FAIR CITY, AUSTIN, TEXAS, WILL LEAD THE WAY.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND, UH, I HOPE, UH, TO, UH, CIRCLE BACK ON THIS DAY EVERY YEAR TO REMEMBER THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE CAN ALL MAKE TOWARDS SPACE.
AND NOW, LAUREN, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT, THAT RICHARD SAID THERE.
THANK YOU, UM, TO THE COUNCIL, TO THE MAYOR, TO, UM, FOR THIS, UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE, UM, BOTH HISTORICALLY AND FOR THE FUTURE, AND ESPECIALLY WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT INSPIRING, UM, THE NEXT GENERATION.
IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY AN EXCITING TIME FOR SPACE IN TEXAS BUILDING REALLY STANDING UPON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS AND ALL THAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE.
UM, AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR THE STATE OF TEXAS PASSED
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LEGISLATION CREATING A SPACE COMMISSION, A STATE AGENCY TASKED WITH PROMOTING SPACE IN THE LONE STAR STATE.WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEMBERSHIP COMPLETING AND FOR WORK TO BEGIN IN EARNEST FURTHERING THE ABILITY FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE TO BE SUPPORTED AND PROMOTED IN AUSTIN AND SURROUNDING AREAS AND BEYOND.
SPACEX IS PROUD TO HAVE HAD OPERATIONS IN TEXAS FOR 20 YEARS, AND OUR PRESENCE HERE CONTINUES TO GROW.
AND FURTHER THE LONG AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TEXAS HAVE MADE TO SPACE ENDEAVORS.
OUR NEWEST VEHICLE, STARSHIP, IS READYING FOR A SECOND FLIGHT FROM SOUTH TEXAS.
THE ENGINES FOR BOTH FALCON AND STARSHIP LAUNCH VEHICLES UNDERGO RIGOROUS TESTING IN MCGREGOR JUST AN HOUR NORTH OF AUSTIN.
IN FACT, WE HAVE MANY TEAM MEMBERS THAT WORK IN MCGREGOR, BUT LIVE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A GREAT CITY.
OUR TEAM IN HOUSTON WORKS CLOSELY WITH NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND OTHER NASA CENTERS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GROWING OPERATIONS IN THE AUSTIN AREA, SUPPORTING STARSHIP AND STARLINK, THE LATTER OF WHICH IS PROVIDING HIGH SPEED, LOW LATENCY INTERNET CONNECTIVITY TO PREVIOUSLY ON OR UNDER CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS, SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE GLOBE.
I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF TEXAS SIGNIFICANCE OF SPACE EXPLORATION, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED EXPANSION IN TEXAS AND ESPECIALLY AUSTIN.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
I'M A PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ON BEHALF OF THE CENTER FOR SPACE RESEARCH, THE JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES AT WELL AS THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, AUSTIN, AND ALL THE STUDENTS AND ALL THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS ON THERE.
IT IS REALLY A PLEASURE TO SEE THE CITY RECOGNIZING THIS PARTNERSHIP.
UH, SPACE EXPLORATION IS THE VERY BEST OF WHAT WE DO IN TERMS OF TAKING ACADEMIC RESEARCH, THE STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND THE APPLICATIONS, WHETHER IT IS FROM THE FIRE HAZARDS TO THE HURRICANES, OR WHETHER WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF THE HEAT WAVE, EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SPACE, IT MATTERS RIGHT HERE IN MAKING OUR LIVES BETTER.
AND I THANK THE CITY IN RECOGNIZING THIS AND IN THIS LEADERSHIP, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING AND MAKING MORE APPLICATIONS AND LIFE BETTER FOR ALL OF US.
THANK YOU AGAIN, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A GROUP PICTURE AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE GET COPIES OF THE PROCLAMATION MAILED TO OUR VIRTUAL GUESTS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, EVERYONE.
IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN THE HOT SEAT.
EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGIES, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY ON UP LIKE A RERUN.
MR. VENNIE, NO FANCY MEETING YOU HERE.
ARE WE PROPERLY SQUISHED? THANK IT.
[Proclamation – Grant for Technology Opportunities Program Recipients Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison and to be accepted by Rondella Hawkins, Telecommunications & Regulatory Affairs Officer]
MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON.I'M THE PROUD CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT ONE.
UM, I'M THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO REALLY SHOW MY GRATITUDE FOR EFFORTS IN TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WE ALL KNOW ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR FUTURE.
IN 2001, THE CITY OF AUSTIN CREATED THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES.
THIS PROGRAM HAD THE GOAL OF PROMOTING DIGITAL EQUITY AND MAKING TECHNOLOGY MORE INCLUSIVE.
WE BELIEVE THE GRANTS HAVE IMPROVED THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS.
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IN FACT, THE PROGRAM WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THE GRANT FUNDING HAS MORE THAN TRIPLED FROM A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN 2001 TO $400,000.THIS GROWTH HAS CREATED ADDITIONAL BRANCHES OF THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING MICRO GRANTS DESIGNED TO BUILD NONPROFIT CAPACITY, SMALL GRANTS TO SUPPORT DIGITAL EQUITY PROJECTS AND GRANTS FOCUSED ON CONNECTING THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
WITH THE FEDERAL AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM, THERE ARE NOW FOUR NEW GRANT PATHWAYS, EXCITINGLY CORE, THE LARGEST AT $275,000 CAPACITY CONNECT.
AND MANY IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, MORE THAN $4 MILLION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO ALMOST A HUNDRED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DOING THE WORK IN AUSTIN.
AND ALMOST $15 MILLION WAS RAISED WITH THE HELP OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND MATCHING GRANTS TO FUND THESE UNIQUE INITIATIVES AND TO HELP RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES FROM SCHOOL CHILDREN TO SENIORS.
EACH PATHWAY HAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FOCUS, BUT THE VERY SAME GOAL TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT HAVE FOUND UNIQUE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE AND CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH NEW DIGITAL SKILLS.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE LIKE ME, BUT MY MOM, SHE TEXTS IN ALL CAPS.
SO,
GRANTS HAVE INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, CREATIVE MEDIA TRAINING, COMPUTER TOOLS, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING, AND MATH, STEM PROGRAMMING HELP FOR STROKE VICTIMS AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES.
THE CITY'S COMMUNITY FOR TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, THE C T T C, WERE KEY ADVOCATES FOR INCREASING THE GTPS FUNDING OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE C T TC MEMBERS HAVE SERVED AS GRANT REVIEWERS.
WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE IMPACT THAT THESE TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS HAVE HAD OVER MORE THAN 20 YEARS, AND PLEASED THAT SOME OF THE GTPS RECIPIENTS COULD ATTEND THIS MORNING'S PROCLAMATION CEREMONY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO BRIDGING THE DIGITAL EQUITY GAP, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WITHIN AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE DILIGENT WORK OF THE G T O P, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY ENSURING ACCESS TO NECESSARY TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AND DIGITAL LITERACY, THEREBY EMPOWERING THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND FACILITATING THEIR FULL PARTICIPATION IN OUR INCREASINGLY DIGITAL SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS THE RECIPIENTS OF THE GTP GTPS GRANT THROUGH THEIR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS, TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARDS ENSURING THAT ALT RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES.
AND IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR COMMENDABLE WORK, GTPS GRANT RECIPIENTS HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR CITY CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO A MORE EQUITABLE DIGITAL FUTURE FOR AUSTINITES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR AND THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 20TH, 2023 AS GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM RECIPIENTS DAY.
ALL OF THESE PROCLAMATIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT, BUT I DO RECOGNIZE IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
SO WE'LL HAVE SOME BRIEF REMARKS.
AND THIS WILL BE REALLY BRIEF, UH, RON DELLA HAWKINS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS.
WE, WE ACTUALLY LAUNCHED THIS PROGRAM, UM, OVER 20 YEARS AGO, 22 YEARS AGO, TO BE EXACT.
AND, UM, JUST WANNA THANK, UM, THE COMMUNITY AND THANK THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO'VE, WHO'VE ACTUALLY INVESTED IN, INTO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
AND THE IMPACT THAT IT'S MADE HAS BEEN, IT'S INCREDIBLE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, AGAIN, THANK THE ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, SOME OF THE RECIPIENTS THAT ARE HERE THIS MORNING.
UH, AMERICAN YOUTH WORKS, UM, AUSTIN SPEECH LABS, AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT, CHANGING EXPECTATIONS, LATINITAS AND TEXAS
[00:30:01]
FOLKLIFE AND NON PERIL.SO THOSE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE FUNDS.
AND I WANNA THANK CITY COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING THE FUNDING IN ALL THESE YEARS.
AND I AM NOW GOING TO BRIEFLY TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR OF OUR COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO STAND IN FRONT OF SO MANY AWESOME ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THAT ARE DOING SO MUCH AND, AND, AND SUCH IMPORTANT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AND MY TENURE AS THE EX-OFFICIAL CHAIR OF THE TOPS GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND THEN SINCE BECOMING CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION IN 2019, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO OVERSEE A, ALONG WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, THE INCREASE FROM A HUNDRED AND THOU A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO 400,000.
AND ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF CITY COUNCIL, UH, BEGINNING WITH, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND DISTRICT ONE, AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE OR HOUSTON.
UH, BUT THE SUPPORT OF CITY COUNCIL IS REALLY NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES AND THAT THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, SO THAT ALL THE WORK THAT, THAT THESE WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING CAN CONTINUE AND THAT ALL THE MATCHING FUNDS, UH, AS THEY CASCADE DOWN, CAN CONTINUE TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE IT? THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A PICTURE INVOLVED IN THIS EXCHANGE.
MAYBE DO YOU LIKE FIRST TO SQUISH IN QUISH? YEAH.
WHERE DOES THIS, WHERE DOES THIS NORMALLY GO? I'M RIGHT HERE.
IS THAT, IS THAT FINE AUDIO? GREAT.
ARE WE, ARE WE GOOD TO GO? IS THE, IS THE AUDIO FINE? GREAT.
[Distinguished Service Awards – Lt. Erin M. Dempsey, Lt. Elizabeth F. Donelson, Lt. Julie S. Hall, Lt. Carmen M Coursey – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri and to be accepted by the retiring Austin Fire Department Lieutenants]
UH, THANK YOU, UH, EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.UH, I'M COUNCIL MEMBER ZO, AUDREY AND I, AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT CITY COUNCIL, UH, DISTRICT NINE, UH, WHICH IS HOME TO ENGINE ONE.
UH, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW HAS A PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.
FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO OUR STAFFERS, TO THE LAW OFFICE, TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE, TO THE SECURITY GUARDS AND CLEANING STAFF.
[00:35:01]
BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR CITY AND WE WANT OUR GOVERNMENT TO DO RIGHT BY ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS.BUT THERE'S NO ONE WHO EATS AND BREEDS PUBLIC SERVICE LIKE OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS RUNNING OUT OF A BURNING BUILDING, THEY'RE LITERALLY THE, UH, THE RUNS RUNNING IN.
WHETHER IT'S SAVING A CAT FROM A TREE, BATTLING A DOWNTOWN HIGH RISE FIRE, OR BATTLING WILDFIRES IN THE BRUTAL SUMMER SUN, THEY ARE HERE FOR ALL OF US DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO HONOR A GROUP OF AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAVE BEEN PROTECTING OUR CITY FOR MORE THAN A QUARTER CENTURY.
EACH THE LIVES THEY HAVE TOUCHED AND THE PROPERTIES THEY HAVE PROTECTED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS ARE UNACCOUNTABLE AND THEIR BRAVERY, DEDICATION, AND LEADERSHIP WILL BE FELT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THREE OF OUR HONOREES COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, BUT WE DO HAVE IN OUR PRESENCE FIRE LIEUTENANT JULIE HALL, UH, WHO HAS A REMARKABLE STORY, UH, IN AGGIE GIGA, WHICH IS, WHICH IS ODD FOR ME TO SAY, AS A LONGHORN
UH, SHE LAUNCHED HER CAREER, UH, AFTER IN 2020, AFTER IN 2002 BY, BY JOINING CADET CLASS 1 0 7, SHE WORKED ON THE EAST SIDE FOR MOST OF HER CAREER.
WHEN SHE WAS THEN PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT, SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO ENGINE ONE, ONE OF THE BUSIEST ENGINE COMPANIES IN TOWN.
UH, AND, AND I CAN ATTEST HOME OF THE, SOME OF THE BEST CHICKEN FAJITAS I'VE EVER HAD.
UH, HER RETIREMENT IS TWICE AS NICE CUZ SHE'S JOINED ON THE GOLDEN POND BY FELLOW CADET, CLASS 1 0 7, GRADUATE FIRE LIEUTENANT ERIN DEMPSEY, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE HER WIFE.
WE'RE HONORING BOTH OF THEM AS WELL AS, UH, FIRE LIEUTENANT LIZ DONALDSON AND FIRE SPECIALIST CARMEN CORSEY.
UH, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WILL READ THIS DSA AND THEN I WILL, I WILL HAND THE, THE MIC OVER TO DELEY FOR REVIEWERS, UH, BUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, UH, FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO HER RESIDENCE DURING HER NEARLY 21 TENURE.
AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, FIRE LIEUTENANT JULIE HALL IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 20TH DAY OF JULY IN THE YEAR 2023.
UH, ON BEHALF OF, UH, MAYOR KIRK WATSON, UH, AND THE REST OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I WILL, I WILL PASS IT OFF, UH, TO JULIE.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, UH, ERIN DEMPSEY DOES REGRET, REGRET NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
SHE DID HAVE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
UM, SO SHE REALLY APPRECIATES THE RECOGNITION AND I'LL ACCEPT IT ON HER BEHALF.
UM, I WROTE A FEW WORDS REAL QUICK.
UM,
I, UH, I WROTE A POEM FOR MY CREW ON MY LAST SHIFT, AND IT WAS REALLY A ROAST OF EACH OF THEM.
UH, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AUSTIN AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY, MY COMMUNITY THAT RAISED ME.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE LAST FIVE DECADES AND ENJOYED WATCHING AUSTIN GROW.
WHILE I HAVE GROWN WITH IT, IT HAS BEEN REWARDING SERVING IN A CITY THAT I FEEL SO CONNECTED WITH.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS O CADRE FOR, UM, THIS RECOGNITION.
AND ALEX BENEGAS FOR INITIATING IT.
THIS IS REALLY SPECIAL THAT THEY'RE HERE AS WELL.
UM, THEY SAY SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, UH, WORK DOESN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE WORK.
AND I WON THE LOTTERY WITH THIS GROUP HERE.
THEY'RE, I MEAN, LOOK AT THEM.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET YOU ON THE LEFT SIDE JUST CLOSER.
[00:40:23]
THANK YOU.