[Proclamation National Mentoring Month -To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]
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GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY THURSDAY.
I'M THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THIS MONTH WE PROCLAIM AUSTIN CELEBRATING MENTORS POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON INDIVIDUALS, PARTICULARLY HOW MENTORS CAN EMPOWER AND GUIDE OUR YOUTH.
TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE SEEDLING MENTORING PROGRAM, FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN OF AUSTIN, BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL TEXAS, AUSTIN ANGELS, AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS PRO PROCLAMATION CEREMONY AND OPENING OF THE DISCUSSION ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY TO APPRECIATE AND SUPPORT MENTORING PROGRAMS WHICH ARE CRUCIAL TO PERSONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZES JANUARY AS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH SIGNIFIES A COMMITMENT TO THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP IN TRANSFORMING LIVES.
THROUGH THIS PROCLAMATION, AUSTIN FOSTERS A CULTURE THAT VALUES MENTORSHIP, RECOGNIZING IT AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR BUILDING MORE ROBUST, RESILIENT INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.
I'LL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS EACH JANUARY THE NATION COMES TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO SPARK COLLABORATIVE INSPIRATION AND CONVERSATION WITH NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH.
AND WHEREAS BY HARNESSING OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE, NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH CAN IMPACT MILLIONS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF A MENTOR.
AND WHEREAS FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, A BOND OR EVEN A SINGLE CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN THEM CAN MAKE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.
AND WHEREAS DEDICATED MENTORS HELP MENTEES STUDY FOR TESTS, LEARN NEW SKILLS, LIFT THEIR HEADS UP AFTER A SETBACK, MENTORS PROVIDE THEM THE CHANCE THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND SET THEIR SIGHTS EVEN HIGHER.
AND WHEREAS EACH YOUNG PERSON STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE ARE FURTHER CULTIVATED BY THOSE WHO HAVE TAUGHT THEM, THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY'VE PUT THEIR MIND TO.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO THE CRITICAL ROLE MENTORS PLAY IN THE LIVES OF AUSTINITES AND SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF MENTORS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR OUTREACH TO THOSE IN NEED OF PERSONALIZED ASSISTANCE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING MAYOR KIRK WATSON, DO HAIR BY PROCLAIM JANUARY, 2024 AS NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH.
WE CAN DO A GROUP PICTURE NEXT AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL COPIES.
AND THEN WE HAVE ADDITIONAL COPIES I THINK TOO, BUT YEAH, LET'S GET TOGETHER FOR A PICTURE OVER HERE.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANT A COPY? YES, I LOVE A COPY.
ARE YOU GONNA THE PICTURE Y'ALL COME ON OVER HERE FOR THE PICTURE.
EVERYBODY FOLDED OVER AND SHE YOU WANNA COME GET A PICTURE? IT'S NATIONAL MENTORING.
LOOK, SO YOU'RE KIND OF PAST THIS.
NO, NO, YOU CAN'T SEE THE CAMERA.
[Proclamation - Human Trafficking Awareness Month -To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND IT IS A DELIGHT TO BE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
WE JOINED TOGETHER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO TAKE A PROACTIVE STANCE BY PROCLAIMING THIS HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS PROCLAMATION THIS MORNING HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING AWARENESS AND FOSTERING A COMMUNITY THAT IS INFORMED AND VIGILANT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
BY ACKNOWLEDGING THIS ISSUE LOCALLY, AUSTIN CONTRIBUTES TO THE BROADER EFFORT TO COMBAT THIS HEINOUS CRIME AND PROTECT VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY TWO COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER CHEETO VELA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS
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INCLUDING THE SAFE ALLIANCE, THE MAGDALENE HOUSE OF AUSTIN, THE DIOCESE OF AUSTIN, ALLIES AGAINST SLAVERY, THE REFUGE FOR DOMESTIC MINOR SEX TRAFFICKING, THE CENTER FOR CHILD PROTECTION, THE SAFE ALLIANCE, I MENTIONED THEM TWICE.THEY'RE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.
THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY AND THROUGHOUT THE MONTH WILL SERVE AS A REMINDER FOR CITIZENS AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES, TO SUPPORT ANTI-TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS AND TO WORK COLLECTIVELY TO ERADICATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.
NOW I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A HEINOUS CRIME THAT VIOLATES THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS, SUBJECTING THEM TO MANY FORMS OF EXPLOITATION.
AND WHEREAS IN ALIGNMENT WITH RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 22 0 9 15 DASH 52, WHICH I AUTHORED, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO VENDORS WHO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY AND ENCOURAGE TRAINING TO ENSURE VENDORS HAVE THE SKILLS TO RECOGNIZE INDICATORS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AT RISK OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AS WELL AS RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF JANUARY PRESENTS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PROTECTING VICTIMS AND PROSECUTING OFFENDERS.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO ERADICATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CREATE A SAFER, MORE JUST SOCIETY FOR ALL.
NOW THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY, 2024 AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND AND THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO OFTENTIMES DON'T HAVE A VOICE OF THEIR OWN.
NOW WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SCOOT OVER THAT WAY.
DO Y'ALL WANNA HOLD ONE? DO YOU WANNA HOLD THIS? WE'VE GOT MORE.
EVERY TIME I SEE THESE, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TALK WITH A BRITISH ACCENT OR DO HEREBY PROCLAIM.
IF I CAN EVER DO ANYTHING IN MY ROLE TO HELP, PLEASE LEMME KNOW.
[Distinguished Service Award -Silvester Mireles - To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]
GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.MY NAME IS MACKENZIE KELLY AND I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER, CTO VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ON A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION, WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE SOMEONE WHO DOES A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES HERE AT THE CITY AND DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MR. MORALES HAS EXEMPLIFIED EXCELLENCE THROUGH HIS DEDICATED SERVICE, DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION, AND A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE CITY THAT WE OFTENTIMES DON'T SEE BUT DESPERATELY NEED.
IN AUGUST OF 2016, SYLVESTER BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WORKING AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER.
IN FEBRUARY OF 2018, HE WAS PROMOTED TO MAINTENANCE WORKER LEADER WITH THE BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO HIS COWORKERS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR AND CARRYING OUT GOALS OF THE CITY.
IN OCTOBER OF 2021, HE WAS PROMOTED TO FACILITY SERVICE SPECIALIST WITH THE BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WORKING ALONGSIDE THE BUILDING MANAGER AND CARING FOR CITY HALL AND ITS OCCUPANTS.
IN A RECENT QUOTE HE SAID, THE BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND LEARN, AND IT ALSO HAS BELIEVED IN MY ABILITY.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT EVERY SUPERVISOR OUT THERE WOULD HAVE AN EMPLOYEE AS DEDICATED AS HE IS.
THIS AWARD NOT ONLY HONORS HIS ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT ALSO SHOULD SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO OTHERS.
HIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE UNDOUBTEDLY IMPRINTS A LASTING IMPACT, AND THIS RECOGNITION REFLECTS THE GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION OF THE COMMUNITY FOR HIS CONTINUED REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE HONOR OF PRESENTING THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD IS A WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL HAS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS WORK OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED AND IT OFTEN HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.
AND I THINK BACK TO SOMETHING SOMEONE TOLD ME RECENTLY THAT NOT ALL HEROES
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WEAR CAPES, BUT IF I FIND ONE, I'M GIVING IT TO YOU, SIR.NOW I'LL READ THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT SAYS, SYLVESTER MORALES IS DESERVING A PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SINCE 2016, MR. MORALES HAS EXHIBITED THE NATURE OF A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT DURING HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY IN THE BUILDING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED FOR THIS.
ON THIS DAY, THIS CERTIFIED CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 18TH DAY OF JANUARY IN THE YEAR 2024, AND IS SIGNED BY THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? UH, YOU'RE SO HUMBLE.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
UM, I COULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT EVERYONE HERE, AND I'M JUST GLAD TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT EVERYBODY THAT I WORK FOR.