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[Proclamation – Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties & the Constitution – To be presented by Council Member José “Chito” Vela and to be accepted by Karen Korematsu, daughter of Fred Korematsu and Executive Director of the Korematsu Institute ]
I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, CHITO VELA, UH, HERE WITH DR.KAREN KOREMATSU, AND WE ARE GOING TO HONOR HER FATHER FRED KOREMATSU TODAY.
UH, IT'S A VERY EXCITING DAY, UH, AND REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
UM, AS WORLD WAR II WAS ON THE HORIZON, FRED KOREMATSU WANTED TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY DESPITE REJECTION BY THE US NAVY.
HE WENT TO WORK AS A SHIPYARD WELDER, THEN CAME PEARL HARBOR AND PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S INFAMOUS EXECUTIVE ORDER 9 0 6 6, AUTHORIZING THE FORCED IMPRISONMENT OF PERSONS, QUOTE, DEEMED A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY, WHICH TO THE GOVERNMENT SIMPLY MEANT HAVING JAPANESE ANCESTRY WHEN ORDER TO REPORT FOR REMOVAL.
HE COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD REALLY DO SUCH A THING TO LOYAL AMERICANS.
INSTEAD, HE WAS ARRESTED IN MAY, 1942 AND CHARGED WITH A CRIME.
DESPITE THE RISKS, FRED VOLUNTEERED TO BE A TEST CASE, CHALLENGING THE LEGALITY OF THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT KOREMATSU.
THE US WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH SHAMEFULLY UPHELD RACE BASED INTERNMENT IN A SIX THREE VOTE.
THAT DECISION HAS HAUNTED THE US SUPREME COURT FOR DECADES.
DESPITE THIS LOSS, KOREMATSU CONTINUED TO SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF OTHERS, INCLUDING WARNING AMERICANS AGAINST REPEATING THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST AGAINST MUSLIMS AND PEOPLE OF MIDDLE EASTERN DESCENT.
IN 1983, EVIDENCE THAT THE US LIED TO THE SUPREME COURT AND CONCEALED EVIDENCE LED TO HIS CONVICTION BEING OVERTURNED.
BUT KORA MATSU V US REMAINED AS A STAIN ON THE AMERICAN LAW BOOKS.
IN ONE OF HIS LAST STATEMENTS BEFORE HE PASSED IN 2005, HE SAID ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVEN IF IT TAKES 40 YEARS.
SINCE 2010, DOZENS OF STATES AND CITIES HAVE MARKED JANUARY 30TH AS FRED KOREMATSU DAY OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE CONSTITUTION THE VERY FIRST SUCH DAY FOR AN ASIAN AMERICAN IN THE UNITED STATES.
I AM HONORED THAT AUSTIN IS JOINING THE RANKS OF THOSE CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF A GREAT AMERICAN.
AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE CITY'S PROCLAMATION OF FRED KOREMATSU DAY IN AUSTIN TO KAREN KOREMATSU, FRED'S DAUGHTER, KAREN IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE FRED T KOREMATSU INSTITUTE, WHICH IS COMMITTED TO FRED'S LEGACY THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT OF RACIAL EQUITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL.
KAREN FLEW IN ALL THE WAY FROM CALIFORNIA TO BE WITH US HERE TODAY, AND I WOULD LIKE HER TO, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS AFTER I READ, UH, THE PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS FRED TO KOMATSU WAS BORN ON JANUARY 30TH, 1919 IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AND WAS ARRESTED IN MAY, 1942 FOR REFUSING TO REPORT FOR REMOVAL TO A JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT CAP.
AND HU FRED KOREMATSU COURAGEOUSLY CHALLENGED THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF RACIALLY MOTIVATED DETAINMENT AND CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OF ALL AMERICANS.
AND HU FRED KOREMATSU IS A CIVIL RIGHTS ICON WHO FOUGHT AGAINST THE WRONGFUL INCARCERATION OF OVER 120,000 PEOPLE, SOLELY BASED ON THEIR JAPANESE ANCESTRY DURING WORLD WAR II.
AND WHEREAS FRED KOREMATSU EXEMPLIFIES THE INVALUABLE ROLE OF ASIAN AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION AND CITY.
AND HU, HIS ENDURING LEGACY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO SPEAK UP AGAINST INJUSTICE AND DISCRIMINATION OF ALL KINDS, AND IS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TODAY AS CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE UNDER INCREASING ATTACK NOW, THEREFORE, I CHITO VELA, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 30TH, 2024 AS FRED KOREMATSU DAY OF CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE CONSTITUTION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE DR.
KAREN KOREMATSU, HIS DAUGHTER TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, TRULY THIS IS SO EXCITING TO BE HERE.
UH, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN VA FOR, FOR THIS INCREDIBLE PROCLAMATION IN THE MAYOR.
UM, AND WE HOPE THAT, UM, ACTUALLY THAT THIS WILL BECOME A STATE RECOGNIZED DAY AS WELL THROUGH LEGISLATION.
UH, SO WE'RE REACHING OUT TO REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS, UH, TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO, UM, PARTICIPATE IN AND REALLY, UH, WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, THIS IS ABOUT OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES AND THE CONSTITUTION.
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THAT ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
UH, THIS IS NOT JUST A CALIFORNIA STORY OR A
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A, A WEST COAST STORY OR A JAPANESE AMERICAN STORY.THIS IS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
MY FATHER BELIEVED, UH, IN THE CONSTITUTION, UH, HE BELIEVED IN THE SUPREME COURT, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD LOST, HE NEVER GAVE UP HOPE THAT SOMEDAY THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO REOPEN UP HIS SUPREME COURT CASE.
HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT UNTIL THE EVIDENCE WAS UNCOVERED IN WASHINGTON DC.
SO FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, HE HAD A FEDERAL CONVICTION.
HE HAD HOUSING DISCRIMINATION, HE HAD EMPLOYMENT DIS DISCRIMINATION, BUT HE WAS NEVER BITTER OR ANGRY.
HE DIDN'T BLAME ANYONE EXCEPT WHAT HE SAID WAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS WRONG AND HE WAS RIGHT TO TAKE A STAND TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE, TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE IN YOUR CIVICS, TO PARTICIPATE IN VOTING THROUGH THE KOREMATSU INSTITUTE.
WE, UM, WORK WITH ACTUALLY ALSO THE TECH, UH, STATE OF TEXAS IN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN K THROUGH 12 CURRICULUM BECAUSE WE WANT, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS TO KNOW THAT, UM, ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S IT'S IMPORTANT TO PARTICIPATE, UM, AND, AND TO WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE LIKE THE COUNCILMEN HERE.
AND THAT'S HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO PLEASE REMEMBER MY FATHER'S WORDS TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP.
OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND BEAUTIFUL WORDS.
AND I WANTED TO SAY, UH, HELLO TO, I BELIEVE THERE'S AN ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES HIGH SCHOOL CLASS THAT MAY BE, UH, WATCHING.
WE REALLY, UH, APPRECIATE THAT AND HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE PROCLAMATION.
UH, AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK THE A CLU WHO DEFENDED FRED KOREMATSU AND WAS STILL ACTIVE IN FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES, UH, TODAY.
UH, AND I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT TONIGHT WE WILL BE HAVING A PROGRAM, UH, AT THE ASIAN AMERICAN, UH, RESOURCE CENTER ON, UH, CAMERON ROAD AT SIX O'CLOCK, UH, TO AGAIN TALK ABOUT, UH, UH, FRED KOREMATSU, UH, THE MEANING OF THE CASE, UH, AND ITS CURRENT IMPACT, UH, TODAY.
SO I INVITE IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
UH, THERE WILL BE FOOD, UH, FROM, UH, UH, FROM SO'S, UH, UH, CATERING, UH, FROM SO'S KITCHEN, UH, AND FREE ANYONE PLEASE COME DOWN AND, AND LEARN ABOUT, UH, THIS, UH, NATIONAL HERO, UH, AND, AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
[Proclamation – American Heart Month – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]
MY NAME IS MACKENZIE KELLY.I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN, AND I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH MEMBERS OF OUR EMS DEPARTMENT, MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER, VANESSA FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, AS WELL AS DR.
WA AND OTHER PEOPLE HERE REPRESENTING AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, I AM HERE BECAUSE WE ARE EMBARKING ON THE START OF AMERICAN HEART MONTH IN FEBRUARY.
IT HOLDS A DEEPLY PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES IN THEIR OWN WAY.
UM, BUT IT, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE HEART DISEASE AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.
UM, IT REALLY HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR ME WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER WENT THROUGH A QUADRUPLE BYPASS SURGERY RIGHT AFTER I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WITNESSING A LOVED ONE GO THROUGH A CHALLENGE LIKE THAT IS A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY AS I WAS JUST STEPPING INTO ADULTHOOD.
MY GRANDMOTHER'S JOURNEY THROUGH THE SURGERY AND RECOVERY UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIORITIZING HEART HEALTH AT ALL STAGES OF LIFE.
IT BECOMES AN IMPORTANT REMINDER THAT WE CAN TAKE CONTROL OF OUR WELLBEING THROUGH PROACTIVE MEASURES.
THE IMPACT OF HEART HEALTH RESONATES DEEPLY INSIDE OF ME, AND IT FUELS MY COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING AWARENESS AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF WELLBEING HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
JUST TWO HOURS OF EXERCISE PER WEEK AND MAKING SIMPLE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR DIET CAN SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THE RISK OF HEART RELATED COMPLICATIONS.
THIS MONTH, LET'S COLLECTIVELY PLEDGE TO PRIORITIZE OUR HEALTH, NOT ONLY FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR OUR LOVED ONES AS WELL.
HERE IN AUSTIN, WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES WELLBEING, OFFERING ACCESS TO HEALTH CONSCIOUS RESTAURANTS, PICTURE US PARKS FOR OUTDOORS ACTIVITIES, AND A NETWORK OF SKILLED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, SOME OF WHO ARE BEHIND ME NOW, AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES TO SHARE A FEW WORDS FOLLOWING THAT.
WALKS AND THEN I'LL SHARE THE PROCLAMATION.
AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING HERE TODAY AS WE KICK OFF HEART MONTH.
AS WE KNOW, HEART DISEASE IS ONE OF OUR LEADING KILLERS IN AMERICA AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOR SIX YEARS
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BEFORE I GOT ELECTED, THIS MISSION IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART.UH, AND WELCOME TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, VANESSA MALDONADO, UH, WHO LIVES IN DISTRICT TWO AS WELL.
UM, BUT AS COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY SHARED, YOU KNOW, THIS MISSION IS, UH, AFFECTS US ALL.
YOU KNOW, MY FATHER HAD A HEART ATTACK AT 12.
UH, MY SISTER-IN-LAW HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY AND HER MID TWENTIES.
UH, SO REALLY IT AFFECTS EVERY, EVERYONE IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM.
SO KNOWING THE SIGNS, RECOGNIZING THE SYMPTOMS, UH, CAN SAVE LIVES.
AND WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IN PARTICULAR IS EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO IS VOLUNTEER LED AND VOLUNTEER DRIVEN.
AND SO HAVING THAT ORGANIZATION FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF, OF THE SYMPTOMS AND OF THE DISEASE AND KNOWING WHAT WE CAN BE DOING TO HAVE HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES, UM, GOES A LONG WAY.
AND SO I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE TO HELP KICK OFF HEART MONTH, UH, ALSO NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY IS TOMORROW.
UH, SO BE SURE TO WEAR YOUR RED AS WE TRY TO ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION AROUND HEART DISEASE.
I'M WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY'S HEALTH AUTHORITY.
I'M PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY, UH, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT AND MY COLLEAGUES IN EMS AND WITH BY, UH, MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE CARDIOLOGISTS WHO ARE OUT IN THE FIELD, UH, WITH ME AND OTHERS WORKING TO HELP PEOPLE IDENTIFY THAT THEY HAVE RISK FOR HEART DISEASE, UM, AND WORK TO DECREASE THOSE RISKS.
AND IN THE CASE OF MY CARDIOLOGY, UH, COLLEAGUES WORKING TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASE, HEART DISEASE IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THIS IS HEART MONTH.
AND, UH, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, AS WE ALL KNOW, IT FOLLOWS JANUARY WHERE WE HAVE MANY RESOLUTIONS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.
IT'S TIME NOW DURING HEART MONTH TO DUST THOSE OFF AGAIN AND START TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE CAN CHA UH, TO CHANGE OUR LIFESTYLES.
WE CAN'T CHANGE OUR GENETICS OR OUR FAMILY HISTORY, UM, BUT WE CAN DO THINGS TO ADDRESS THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE.
WE CAN START TO EXERCISE REGULARLY, DAILY, AT LEAST 20 TO 30 MINUTES.
WE CAN ADDRESS OUR HEALTHY DIET CHOICES.
WE CAN LOOK AT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP A NIGHT AND WE CAN LOSE WEIGHT.
WE CAN TAKE THAT TIME FOR OURSELVES TO GO TO THE DOCTOR TO CHECK TO SEE IF WE HAVE ISSUES WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE OR CHOLESTEROL.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WILL STAND STAND WELL TO HELP US PREVENT HEART DISEASE AND TO PROTECT US FROM DEVELOPING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, UM, HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES.
I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THERE'S A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE BLACK.
UH, 50% OF THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 18 HAVE SOME SORT OF HEART DISEASE IN MY FAMILY, EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN MY FAMILY, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
UM, IT ALSO IS SOME VERY TRUE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LACK OF ACCESS TO CARE IN RURAL AREAS ARE ALSO MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HAVING ISSUES WITH HEART DISEASE.
I WANT TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE DO HAVE AT A PH, UM, MANY PROGRAMS WORKING TOWARD GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SUCCESS IN LOWERING THEIR RISK.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, PARTNERSHIPS WITH FARM SHARE AUSTIN, THE SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER, AND WE HAVE, UH, A WEBSITE, HEALTHY PLACES, HEALTHY PEOPLE.ORG WHERE YOU CAN GO TO SEE A FULL LIST OF WHAT IS OFFERED TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE STEPS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE YOURSELVES HEART HEALTHY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND DR.
UM, NOW I'M GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION NOW, WHEREAS HEART DISEASE IS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES AND AFFECTS MORE THAN 120 MILLION PEOPLE.
AND WHEREAS HEART DISEASE AND STROKE ARE THE FIRST AND THIRD MOST CAUSES OF DEATH, RESPECTIVELY OF ADULTS IN TEXAS, AND WHEREAS AN AVERAGE OF 800,000 PEOPLE DIE FROM CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, 20% OF WHICH OCCUR IN PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 65.
AND WHEREAS STUDIES SHOW THAT A GOOD DIET AND REGULAR EXERCISE CAN HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE, AND WHEREAS GROUPS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT HEALTH AGENCIES HAVE PROMOTED GOOD CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES HAS OBSERVED AMERICAN HEART MONTH EACH FEBRUARY SINCE
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1964 TO BRING AWARENESS TO HEART AND BLOOD DISEASES.NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HEREBY DESIGNATE THIS DAY AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE TOGETHER THAT, THAT'S WHERE DO YOU NEED US? GOOD
[Proclamation – Emergency Preparedness Week – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly Distinguished Service Award – Diane McCrary LaGrone – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly Distinguished Service Award – Commander Mikel Kane – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]
MORNING EVERYONE.MY NAME IS MACKENZIE KELLY AND I'M A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
I AM JOINED HERE TODAY BY MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO ME, INCLUDING GRADUATES OF A RECENT COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM COURSE THAT MYSELF AND NOLAN SCREEN FACILITATED.
AND WE GOT ASSISTANCE FROM EMS POLICE FIRE AND HSEM IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT STORY TO TELL, BUT I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON FOR BEING HERE IN SUPPORT AS WELL.
IT'S ALWAYS LOVELY TO HAVE HER.
TODAY WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK.
THIS WEEK SERVES AS A POIGNANT REMINDER OF THE IMPERATIVE NEED TO BE READY FOR UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES THAT LIFE PRESENTS.
IN A WORLD WHERE UNCERTAINTIES LOOM AROUND EVERY CORNER, ENCOMPASSING NATURAL DISASTERS TO UNFORESEEN CRISES, THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPAREDNESS HAS NEVER BEEN MORE EVIDENT.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK OFFERS A CRUCIAL MOMENT FOR US TO CONTEMPLATE NOT ONLY INDIVIDUAL RE READINESS, BUT ALSO THE RESILIENCE OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
THE INEVITABILITY OF EMERGENCIES MAKES IT NOT A QUESTION OF IF, BUT WHEN THEY WILL OCCUR.
BY EDUCATING OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY, WE EMPOWER OURSELVES TO CONFRONT THESE CHALLENGES WITH THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND CONFIDENCE TO MAKE MEASURED WELL-INFORMED DECISIONS DURING EMERGENCIES.
THIS WEEK, BEACON BECKONS US TO STAND TOGETHER IN UNITY, WHETHER CRAFTING EMERGENCY PLANS OR PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY DRILLS.
OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SAFEGUARD OURSELVES AND ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELLBEING OF THOSE AROUND US.
REMEMBER, PREPAREDNESS IS NOT A ONE-TIME EVENT, BUT AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO SECURING OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO, PLEASE GO TO WARREN CENTRAL TEXAS.ORG AND SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS SO THAT WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS CAN KNOW ABOUT IT.
AS WE EMBARK ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK, LET US EMBRACE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REAFFIRM OUR DEDICATION TO READINESS, RESILIENCE, AND COMMUNITY STRENGTH.
TOGETHER WITH COURAGE AND DETERMINATION, WE CAN FACE THE UNKNOWN, ENSURING A SAFER AND MORE SECURE FUTURE FOR ALL.
I HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO READ FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK, BUT RIGHT AFTER THAT WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT INTO SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY NEAT THAT I WANNA SHARE ABOUT A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TO SAFEGUARD THE LIVES, PROPERTY AND WELLBEING OF ITS RESIDENTS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING RESOURCES FOR PREPAREDNESS THAT EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO BE READY FOR ALL TYPES OF EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS.
AND WHEREAS THIS WEEK IS RECOGNIZED AS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO UNITE IN RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A HISTORY OF RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A RESILIENT AND MORE PREPARED COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS EFFECTIVELY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF OFF AUSTIN OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO ENHANCE OUR COMMUNITY'S READINESS FOR EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND OUTREACH INITIATIVES.
AND REAL QUICK, I REALLY WANNA THANK DIRECTOR SNIPES FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT HE DOES OVER THERE AT HSEM.
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THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THAT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY THAT EACH RESIDENT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ENSURING THE SAFETY AND RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY.AND NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MCKENZIE KELLY OF DISTRICT SIX, ALONG WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 29TH THROUGH FEBRUARY 2ND AS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO DURING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK THIS WEEK, WE UNDERSCORE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF READINESS.
AND WE CELEBRATE EXTRAORDINARY NARRATIVES THAT COME OUR WAY OF THOSE WHO'VE TRANSLATED THEIR EXPERTISE THAT THEY LEARNED FROM TAKING CLASSES INTO IMPACTFUL ACTIONS, WHICH LEAVE A REALLY SIGNIFICANT MARK ON OUR COMMUNITY.
AMONG THE MYRIAD OF INSPIRING TALES THAT WE HEAR EVERY DAY.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT DIANE LAG, WHO'S WITH ME RIGHT HERE.
SHE IS JUST AN AMAZING WOMAN, AND I GOT TO KNOW HER THE FIRST TIME THAT NOLAN AND I TAUGHT A COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM COURSE IN DISTRICT SIX, WHICH IS OPEN AND FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, THE CURRICULUM IS DIRECTED BY FEMA, THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.
THE PARTICIPANTS GO THROUGH NINE DIFFERENT UNITS OF TRAINING, COVERING DIFFERENT TOPICS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL OPERATIONS, AND IT'S 24 TOTAL HOURS.
THAT IS NOT A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME TO DEDICATE YOURSELF TO VOLUNTEER, TO LEARN SKILLS, TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
UM, NOLAN AND I HAVE GRADUATED NEARLY 50 INDIVIDUALS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TODAY AS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.
AND IN THE MOMENTS OF OUR CLASSES BEFORE THEY START, WE ALWAYS HAVE EVERYBODY GO AROUND THE ROOM AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.
AND DIANE'S HUSBAND WAS IN OUR SECOND CLASS, AND I ASKED EVERYBODY IN THE CLASS, WHY DID YOU TAKE THIS? WHY ARE YOU HERE? AND HE SAID, WELL, MY WIFE MADE ME.
BUT THEN HE GAVE US THIS GREAT STORY ABOUT HOW THREE WEEKS AFTER DIANE TOOK OUR CLASS, SHE WAS VOLUNTEERING WITH MEALS ON WHEELS AND SHE ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO SAVE A LIFE.
AND SO WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF DIANE'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, OUR TEAM'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND ALSO TO GIVE DIANE A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR THE WORK THAT SHE DID TO HELP SAVE THAT INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE SHE TOOK TIME ON HER OWN TO LEARN THESE SKILLS AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE.
SO I REALLY, YOU PLAYED SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SAVING THAT PERSON'S LIFE.
UM, IT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
SO I'M GONNA READ THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD.
IT SAYS, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.
DIANE LA IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION FOR HER DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
MS. LA HAS EXHIBITED THE TRUE NATURE OF A FAITHFUL PUBLIC SERVANT DURING A CRITICAL INCIDENT, SAVING A LIFE AS A RESULT OF THE CERT TRAINING LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY AND CO-INSTRUCTOR NOLAN GREEN.
UM, YES, THANK YOU AND IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED FOR THIS ON THIS DAY.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION ON THIS FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR 2024.
YEAH, YOU CAN, BUT, BUT NOW WE NEED COMMANDER KANE TO COME UP HERE.
I'M GONNA EMBARRASS YOU FOR A MOMENT.
WE COULD NOT DO THESE CLASSES WITHOUT THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FROM OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL AND THE FACT THAT THEY ALSO TAKE TIME OUT OF THEIR WORK TO DO THIS.
AND COMMANDER KANE HAS BEEN A STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF THIS PROGRAM THAT NOLAN AND I HAVE STARTED AND CONTINUE TO DO.
HE TEACHES THE MEDICAL OPERATIONS CLASS, AND LEMME TELL YOU, IT IS SO ENTERTAINING
I COULD TAKE IT 10 TIMES AND IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT EACH TIME.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE COMMANDER KANE A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO TEACH DIANE AND THESE OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM THE SKILLS THAT ULTIMATELY HELPED HER SAVE THE LIFE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL SHE WAS DELIVERING A MEAL TO.
SO IT SAYS, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, COMMANDER MICHAEL KANE IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
COMMANDER KANE'S CERTAIN INSTRUCTION EQUIPPED AUSTIN RESIDENT DIANE LA WITH THE SKILLS THAT SAVED ANOTHER RESIDENT'S LIFE.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR 2024.
SO, AS WE EMBARK ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK, LET'S CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE JUST EVERYDAY PEOPLE WANTING TO HELP OTHERS IN THEIR MOMENT OF NEED.
AND TO ALSO CELEBRATE THE HEROES WHO ARE HERE BEHIND US WHO SAVE LIVES EVERY DAY.
I TELL THIS TO EVERYBODY WE DON'T HAVE, WHEN YOU CALL 9 1 1, THERE
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IS NO OTHER POLICE FIRE OR EMS THAT WILL COME TO YOUR HOME.AND SO SUPPORTING EMERGENCY SERVICES IS A CORE FUNCTION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE NEED TO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY DO THAT GOES UNTOLD EVERY DAY.