Feb 15, 2024 City Council Proclamations

[00:00:05]

AGAIN, .

[Proclamation – Black History Month – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]

MY NAME IS NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND I AM THE VERY PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, ACTUALLY, LET'S START WITH THIS.

LET'S START WITH THE FOLKS WHO DO KNOW.

GIMME ONE TIME.

EAST SIDE.

EAST SIDE, EAST SIDE.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, DISTRICT ONE COVERS NORTHEAST EAST AND A LITTLE BIT SOUTHEAST OF AUSTIN.

AND SO AS A REPRESENTATIVE THAT, THAT REPRESENTS THIS DISTRICT, SOMETHING I CAN SAY IS OFTENTIMES FOLKS JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.

YES.

SOMETIMES FOLKS JUST NEED A HAND UP.

YES.

AND THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FUNDED TO THE TOMBS OF MILLIONS, FULLY STAFFED, FULLY FUNDED, AND THEN THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THE WORK BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE WORK AND BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE.

THOSE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE GET TO RECOGNIZE TODAY.

THEY CALLED IT BLACK HISTORY MONTH ON THE LIST OF PROCLAMATIONS.

BUT THIS PROCLAMATION, ALTHOUGH IT DOES FALL IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UM, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS CELEBRATION.

HI, MISS TRICE, COME ON IN A MONTHLY CELEBRATION SINCE 1976.

AND HERE WE ARE IN FEBRUARY, 2024 DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

EVERYBODY CELEBRATING CRITICAL NEEDS PROVIDERS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THESE FOLKS IS THAT THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS, THEY ADDRESS IMMEDIATE NEED.

IMMEDIATE NEED ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ALL SHARE, THE THINGS THAT CONNECT US AS HUMANS.

PHYSIOLOGICALLY, WE ALL NEED THE SAME STUFF.

YOU NEED A PLACE TO LAY YOUR HEAD.

YOU NEED FOOD TO EAT, CLEAN AIR TO BREATHE AND WATER TO DRINK.

AND SOMETIMES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AIR THAT ONLY OUR FATHER GOD CAN GIVE US.

THESE FOLKS BRING ALL THE REST OF THE STUFF.

THOSE ARE OUR CRITICAL NEEDS PROVIDERS.

AND THOSE ARE THE FOLKS WITH THEIR BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

THE FIRST DEFENSE, THESE ARE, ARE OUR CRITICAL NEEDS FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.

I WANT YOU TO GIVE A SLIGHT LITTLE WAVE.

WHEN I SAY YOUR NAME, WE HAVE THE HUNGRY HILL FOUNDATION MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

WE CAN NOW, URBAN ALCHEMY IS IN THE ROOM, AND IF NOT, WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM AS WELL.

A NEW ENTRY INC.

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION, AUSTIN AREA URBAN LEAGUE BUILDING, PROMISE USA AND THE SAFFRON WOMEN'S SAFFRON TRUST WOMEN'S FOUNDATION.

AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE'LL REPRESENT FOR THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.

COME ON IN, EVERYBODY.

BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BENEFITED FROM THE DEDICATION AND COMMITTED EFFORTS OF LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL RESOURCES TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED.

AND WHEREAS THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND WORK THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO EVERY DAY IS MEANT TO COMBAT THE CHALLENGES FACED BY UNDERSERVED AND MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR HOMELESSNESS, UH, INCLUDING OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, REENTRY OPPORTUNITIES, AND SOCIOECONOMIC DISPARITIES.

AND WHEREAS THESE CRITICAL NEEDS PROVIDERS SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOUSANDS OF AUSTINITES AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN OWES A COLLECTIVE DEBT.

AND I MEASURABLE GRATITUDE FOR THE GOOD WORKS PERFORMED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER.

A LOT OF Y'ALL, THAT'S HOW WE MET DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

AND WHEREAS THESE ORGANIZATIONS, THEIR FOUNDERS, THEIR EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS ARE ESSENTIAL AND BRINGING OUR COMMUNITY CLOSER TO ITS IDEALS OF SERVICE CONNECTED COMMUNITY ACCESS.

AND IN AUSTIN FOR EVERYONE NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 15TH, 2024 AS CRITICAL NEEDS PROVIDER'S DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

WOO HOO.

WOO.

YES.

WOW.

WOW.

AND BEFORE WE TAKE SOME PHOTOS, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE LIBERTY IS SAYING, COME ON IN, MR. LOFTON, THE LIBERTY IS SAYING LATER ON THIS MORNING, UM, WE'LL HAVE THE REMAINDER OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING.

AND WHAT WE'LL DO THERE IS WE'LL DELIBERATE ITEMS THAT AFFECT PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SOME OF THOSE ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE THESE FOLKS STANDING BEHIND ME TODAY.

THIS

[00:05:01]

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS BUILT INTO THAT RESOLUTION IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE WHEN WE AS A COMMUNITY DO IN FACT OWE THAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE RELY ON SMALL BUSINESSES TO THRIVE AS AN ECONOMY AND AS A COUNTRY.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE AS MANY COMMITMENTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THE WORK THAT WE RELY ON THEM TO DO THE STRUGGLE.

AND HELPING PEOPLE TO ALLEVIATE THE STRUGGLE SHOULDN'T EXIST ONE IN THE SAME.

Y'ALL SHOULDN'T STRUGGLE TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.

AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I MAKE THE COMMITMENT AND ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME, TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT THAT THE WORK YOU DO, THE CRITICAL WORK THAT YOU PROVIDE GETS OUR FULL FUNDING AND FULL SUPPORT.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

WOO.

YES.

WHERE DO YOU WANT US? THERE'S A LOT OF US.

YEAH.

ARE THERE ANY, ANYONE ELSE COMING UP FOR PICTURES? ANYONE ELSE FOR PICTURES? ANYBODY WHO WANTS COME ON UP.

PLEASE COME ON UP.

THANK

[Proclamation – Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair Days – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO CITY HALL.

I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY AND I REPRESENT FARD NORTHWEST AUSTIN.

I'M JOINED THIS MORNING BY MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN SCIENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS MANY OF THEIR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS MORNING WE'RE HONORING THE GREATER AUSTIN SCIENCE FAIR AND EN ENGINEERING FAIR BEFORE THEIR ANNUAL FAIR STARTS NEXT WEEK.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO GO, IT IS SUCH A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AND I'M REALLY SAD I'M GONNA MISS IT THIS YEAR.

THIS YEAR IS THE FAIR'S 68TH ANNIVERSARY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

UH, IT'S SUPER INCREDIBLE IN FACT THAT THE CITY HAS HAD THEIR FAIR SINCE 1956, WHICH FUN FACT, I'M NOT EVEN THAT OLD.

SO THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME AND IT IS JUST SUCH A GEM.

UM, NEXT WEEK, STUDENTS OF ALL AGES FROM ALL OVER CENTRAL TEXAS WILL GATHER WITH MANY PROJECTS, EXPERIMENTS, AND RESEARCH TO SHOW OFF WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED.

AND THESE ARE SOME REALLY BRIGHT KIDS.

I HAVE NEVER MET A BRIGHTER GROUP OF CHILDREN.

SCIENCE FAIRS ARE SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PUSHES STUDENTS AND CHILDREN'S TO CREATE AN EXPERIMENT WITH WHAT IS POSSIBLE.

I WAS FORTUNATE, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, TO ATTEND LAST YEAR'S FAIR AND AWARDS.

AND IT WAS GREAT TO BE AROUND THOSE YOUNG MINDS.

I HELPED HAND OUT AWARDS THAT INCLUDED A STUDENT FROM DISTRICT SIX, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I GOT CONNECTED TO THEIR PARENTS AND INVITED THEM TO VISIT CITY HALL.

I'M VERY SAD TO MISS IT THIS YEAR, BUT I AM EXCITED TO SEE PICTURES AND TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THE STUDENTS COME UP WITH.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE AUSTIN SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUING TO ORGANIZE THE FAIR AND FOR STEPPING UP TO LEAD TO BE THE LEAD SPONSOR THIS YEAR.

UM, IT'S BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH THEM SINCE LAST YEAR'S FAIR AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO HONOR THEM TODAY.

SO I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION NOW AND THEN WE'LL HEAR

[00:10:01]

WHEREAS 2024 MARKS THE 68TH ANNIVERSARY OF AN AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR.

AND WHEREAS SCIENCE FAIRS LIKE THE GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR 2024 HELP SPARK AN INTEREST IN YOUNG CHILDREN TO PURSUE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH CAREERS.

WHEREAS A STEM TRAINED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF CENTRAL TEXAS.

WHEREAS OVER 25 BUSINESSES, AGENCIES, AND CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, AUSTIN WATER, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND WATERSHED PROTECTION SUPPORT THIS FAIR FINANCIALLY.

AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.

AND WHEREAS CLOSE TO 800 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DONATE THEIR TIME TO SERVE AS JUDGES OR GENERAL VOLUNTEERS.

AND WHEREAS WE THE CITY CONGRATULATE THE PARTICIPANTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WINNING PROJECTS THAT WILL GO ON TO STATE AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND WE THANK THE AUSTIN SCIENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR ASSUMING MANAGEMENT OF THIS IMPORTANT EVENT.

NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MCKENZIE KELLY ALONGSIDE, UM, MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO WERE UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 21ST THROUGH 24TH, 2024 AS GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR DAYS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE LAURA MORRISON UP TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU.

YES.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I HAVE, HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE, UM, AUSTIN SCIENCE EDUCATION, UH, FOUNDATION.

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING FOR ME BECAUSE I GOT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY SOME YEARS AGO TO TO GIVE OUT SOME OF THOSE, UM, SOME OF THOSE AWARDS TO THE ELEMENTARY KIDS.

AND IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO SEE ALL THOSE BRIGHT EXCITED KIDS AND THEIR PARENTS UP THERE TAKING, UH, PICTURES OF EVERY SINGLE ONE OF 'EM AND GET TO SHAKE THEIR HANDS.

AND REALLY, YOU GET A SENSE FOR, UM, A HUGE SENSE OF OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE OF CENTRAL TEXAS AND, UH, OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

AND IT DEFINITELY DOES TAKE A VILLAGE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION AND FOR THE CITY'S SUPPORT, UM, OF THE FAIR.

UM, AND I ALSO ESPECIALLY WANTED TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SERVE.

THERE'S HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS AND JUDGES.

AND IF IN FACT YOU HAVE TIME NEXT FRIDAY, UM, TO COME DOWN AND VOLUNTEER, THERE'S STILL A FEW HALLS IN, UH, GENERAL VOLUNTEER SLOTS AND SHIFTS FOR THEM.

SO, UM, UH, BE SURE TO COME DOWN.

YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE.

YOU CAN ALSO STOP BY AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE FAIR.

UM, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SPONSORS, UM, FROM ACROSS THE CITY, ACROSS THE REGION, AND SOME OF THEM ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.

SO I JUST WANNA MENTION CALL THEM OUT.

A DIVISION SPONSOR IS AUSTIN ENERGY, UH, PLATINUM SPONSOR SYNOPSIS GOLD SPONSOR AUSTIN WATER CATEGORY SPONSORS THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC, UH, THE CITY'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, THIS THE WATERSHED PROTECTION TYREX GROUP AND EMERSON.

UM, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE, UH, INGRID WEGAN, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE FAIR, UH, FOR 25 YEARS.

I UNDERSTAND FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN SHE WAS AN AUSTIN ENERGY EMPLOYEE AND NOW SHE IS, UM, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UMS UH, SCIENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

SO, UM, DO COME BY AND, UM, ENJOY THE FAIR AND THINK ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED, THINK ABOUT SPONSORING IT BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES.

UM, IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY AND IT'S JUST A HECK OF A LOT OF FUN TO GET TO BE THERE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS EVERYBODY.

OH, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

YOU CAN TAKE A QUICK PHOTO OVER THERE.

[00:17:40]

GOOD MORNING.

I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENZIE KELLY AND I REPRESENT FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN IN DISTRICT SIX.

TODAY WE HONOR PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO GAVE THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION TO MAKING AUSTIN A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND RAISE A FAMILY.

I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS PRIOR TO MY TIME ON COUNCIL, DURING MY WORK ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM.

AND WHEN I WORKED BRIEFLY WITH THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO HONOR FORMER DIRECTOR OTIS LATIN, WHO LED AND DIRECTED THE CITY'S CITY OF AUSTIN'S CITYWIDE ALL HAZARDS HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.

DURING ACTIVATIONS, OTIS WAS THE FIRST BLACK ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF IN HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRST BLACK FIRE CHIEF IN FORT LAUDERDALE, AND HE SERVED AS THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHEN HE WAS IN AUSTIN.

HE AND HIS WIFE WERE ALSO RAISING THEIR GRANDDAUGHTER, ALYSSA, AND HE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE LIVES OF ALL OF HIS GRANDCHILDREN.

OTIS WAS A GREAT LEADER, MENTOR, AND FRIEND TO SO MANY.

HE ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER IN THE FIRE SERVICE AND IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

HE POSITIVELY IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION THAT I'LL BE PRESENTING FOR MR. LAIN, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS OTIS J LA SENIOR SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM 2006 UNTIL 2016.

AND WHEREAS DIRECTOR LATIN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THE CITY PREPARE FOR THE CHALLENGES OF HOMELAND SECURITY IN THE POST SEPTEMBER 11TH WORLD.

AND WHEREAS DIRECTOR LATIN SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATED THE CITY THROUGH MANY FLOODS, DROUGHTS, WINTER STORMS, AND HURRICANES.

AND WHEREAS DIRECTOR LATIN ALSO SERVED AS THE FIRST BLACK ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF IN THE HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRST BLACK FIRE CHIEF IN THE FORT LAUDERDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE FIRE CHIEF OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AND WHEREAS DIRECTOR LATIN WAS A GREAT LEADER AND OUTSTANDING MENTOR TO HIS STAFF, AND WHEREAS DIRECTOR LATIN'S LIFE WAS DEVOTED TO GOD, HIS WIFE AND HIS FAMILY, AND WHEREAS DIRECTOR LATIN WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE AUSTIN THE MOST PREPARED CITY IN THE NATION.

AND NOW THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY OF 2024 AS OTIS J LATIN SENIOR MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

HERE'S A PROCLAMATION.

[00:20:04]

SO SORRY.

SORRY.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

UM, I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE, UH, OTIS AND ALSO CINDY HOOD.

UH, OTIS LATIN, UH, WAS, UH, PREVIOUSLY IN THE ROLE THAT I'M CURRENTLY IN.

UM, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD, UH, TREMENDOUSLY, UH, ABOUT FROM PEOPLE, UH, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO CHANGE THINGS ADHESIVE AND HOW TO PIVOT AND, AND RUN THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER WAS TO DO IT LIKE OTIS DID IT.

UH, AND SOMEONE SAID, IF YOU DO IT THAT WAY, YOU'LL BE DOING IT RIGHT.

BUT THOSE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILL, AND I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT HIGH REGARD FOR OTIS AND THE WORK THAT HE PUT FORWARD.

UH, AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT HIS SACRIFICE HAS MEANT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SO, UH, WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER FOR A FEW MORE WORDS, UH, TO, UH, SCOTT SWEARINGEN.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SNIPES.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF, UH, OUR BOSS, OUR COWORKER, AND OUR FRIEND OTIS J LA SR.

I HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING HIS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT THROUGH UNDER OTIS THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE WITH THE CITY.

AND CANDIDLY, I, I'M, I'M STRUGGLING TO PUT INTO WORDS THE FEELINGS THAT I HAVE AND THAT OTHER, UM, UM, OTHER STAFF MEMBERS HAVE AS WE REFLECT ON HIS LIFE.

OTIS CAME TO US AS A FIRE CHIEF AND HE WAS ALWAYS A FIRE CHIEF, I'LL HAVE TO SAY THAT, BUT HE, HE TRANSITIONED FROM BEING A FIRE CHIEF INTO AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ROLE.

AND WHILE THE JOBS MAY SEEM SIMILAR, UH, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT IN PRACTICE.

UH, HOWEVER, OTIS QUICKLY ADAPTED TO THE JOB AND SET FORTH TO MAKE AUSTIN THE MOST PREPARED CITY IN THE NATION.

UM, HIS CALM AND STEADY NATURE HELPED THE OFFICE IN THE ENTIRE CITY THROUGH THAT TRANSITION IN THAT POST SEPTEMBER 11TH WORLD THAT, THAT WE'RE NOW LIVING IN.

HIS GREATEST STRENGTH WAS TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN HIS STAFF.

HE ASSEMBLED A GREAT TEAM.

HE GAVE US THE LATITUDE TO DO OUR JOBS, TO LEARN AND TO GROW.

HE WAS THERE WHEN WE NEEDED HIM, BUT HE DIDN'T MICROMANAGE.

UM, AS AN OFFICE IN A COMMUNITY AND A CITY, WE OWE A LOT TO OTIS.

AS I LOOK AT OUR TIME TOGETHER, I REMEMBER ACTUALLY INTERVIEWING HIM AS I WAS GOING THROUGH A MASTER'S PROGRAM AND I INTERVIEWED HIM AS A, AS A FIRE CHIEF, AND I ASKED HIM HOW DID HE DEAL WITH SENDING HIS CREWS INTO DANGEROUS OR LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS? OTIS TOLD ME THAT HE COUNTED ON HIS TRAINING DEPARTMENT PROCEDURES, HIS EXPERIENCE, AND VERY IMPORTANTLY HIS FAITH.

UH, I'VE CARRIED THOSE WORDS WITH ME THROUGH MANY EMERGENCIES THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH OVER THE YEARS.

BUT, BUT SPEAKING OF FAITH, FAITH WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO OTIS AS REFLECTED THROUGHOUT HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, UH, ALONG WITH HIS DECADES ALONG.

LOVE FOR HIS WIFE GLORIA, HIS SONS, AND HIS, UH, SON OTA IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

UH, AND THEIR FAMILIES OVERALL.

OTIS IS JUST A GREAT GUY HERE ON EARTH.

WE SUFFERED A TREMENDOUS LOSS, BUT HAVEN'T GOT A GREAT ANGEL.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WORDS.

UM, TO HONOR OTIS, I'D LIKE TO SHOWCASE A SENTIMENT THAT EMBODIED THE DIRECTOR EVERY DAY AND TO HEAR IT IN HIS OWN WORDS IN THAT, THAT WE WANT TO MAKE OUR CITY THE MOST PREPARED CITY IN THE NATION.

I ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO OTIS FROM THE, FROM WHEN I FIRST MET HIM AROUND 2011, AND THROUGHOUT THE TIME I WAS ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESPONSE TEAM.

HE WAS TALL AND INTIMIDATING, BUT I NEVER LET THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF IMPLEMENTING AND ATTEMPTING TO EMBODY THE PRINCIPLES HE EMBODIED EVERY DAY IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

ON AUGUST 8TH, 2013, THEN MAYOR LEFFINGWELL AND HSEM STAFF HONORED ME WITH AN AWARD AS BEING THE MOST PREPARED PERSON IN AUSTIN.

LATER IN THAT CEREMONY, I TOOK IN MORE OTIS LA LATIN WISDOM AND CARRY IT WITH ME TO THIS DAY AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER.

AND WE JUST HEARD SOME OF IT.

OTIS HAD A VISION TO MAKE AUSTIN THE MOST PREPARED CITY IN THE NATION.

AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO STRIVE TO CARRY OUT HIS VISION BY WORKING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO KEEP AND MAKE AUSTIN SAFE AND RESILIENT FOR ALL.

AND JUST AS OTIS WOULD'VE WANTED THE PROFESSIONAL CITY STAFF AT HSCM AND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE STANDING HERE WITH ME TODAY, AND THOSE THAT COULDN'T MAKE IT STRIVE TO MAKE OUR CITY THE SAFEST AND MOST PREPARED IN THE NATION.

NOW I'D LIKE TO HONOR FORMER LONGTIME HSEM STAFFER, CINDY HOOD, WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US.

MS. HOOD SPENT HER CAREER WORKING TO MAKE AUSTIN SAFE AND INSPIRING HER COLLEAGUES TO STRIVE FOR MORE AND TO DO MORE EACH DAY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.

TODAY, WE HONOR MS. HOOD WITH A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO HONOR HER SERVICE TO THE CITY AND THE LIVES SHE POSITIVELY IMPACTED AROUND HER.

UM, I'D, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MS. LANGOR TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.

UH,

[00:25:01]

I'M THE DEPUTY OFFICER OF THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

CINDY HOOD.

HILDRETH HAD A LONG CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, BEGINNING WITH THE US NAVY, AND THEN MOVING ON TO THE, UH, PFLUGERVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SHE SPENT 20 YEARS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT CAP COG WILLIAMSON COUNTY.

AND THE LAST SIX YEARS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, CINDY HAD SO MUCH TO OFFER.

SHE MANAGED GRANT PROGRAMS. SHE WAS A MASTER EXERCISE PRACTITIONER AND A TRAINER.

SHE RESPONDED TO DISASTERS.

SHE HELPED THE COMMUNITY RECOVER AFTER DISASTERS.

CINDY WAS FEARLESS.

SHE JUMPED OUT OF PLANES WHEN SHE WAS IN THE NAVY IN 2017.

IN HER FIRST WEEK AT AUSTIN HESSAM, WE WERE MANAGING A MEGA SHELTER FOR HURRICANE HARVEY EVACUEES.

SHE SERVED ONE DAY AS FINANCE CHIEF, TWO DAYS AS LOGISTICS CHIEF, AND TWO IN THE ROLE THAT I HAD ACTUALLY HIRED HER FOR, WHICH WAS GRANTS MANAGEMENT .

CINDY WAS DEEPLY COMMITTED AND CARING.

THE FIRST EXERCISE DESIGN CLASS THAT SHE TAUGHT WAS FOR NEW YORK OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

SHE TOOK CARE TO LISTEN AND TO ADJUST IT UNTIL IT MET THEIR NEEDS EXACTLY.

SHE TRAINED ONE OF THEIR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TEACH THE CLASS.

UM, THEY SAID SHE TRULY, I, UH, EXEMPLIFIES HOW WE SHOULD LIVE OUR LIVES WITH A SPIRIT OF GIVING.

SHE WAS A FRIEND TO MANY OF US.

THE COUNTRY STATE, THE TENT COUNTY CAP COG REGION, THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE ALL BETTER FOR CINDY'S WORK AND THE CARE THAT SHE POURED INTO IT.

CINDY PASSED AWAY FROM CANCER ON JANUARY 23RD.

SHE LEAVES BEHIND HUSBAND RICH HILDRETH DAUGHTERS, ERIN HOOD AND AMANDA RICK GRANDDAUGHTER AUTUMN.

AND THEY'RE, UH, HER DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND ARE HERE TODAY.

WE HONOR AND THANK CINDY HOOD FOR HER SERVICE.

CINDY, YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO I WILL NOW READ THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR MS. HOOD THAT I WILL BE PRESENTING TO HER FAMILY, UM, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE RESIDENCE OF AUSTIN.

CINDY HOOD IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION FOR HER DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SHE HAS EXHIBITED THE NATURE OF A FAITHFUL PUBLIC SERVANT DURING HER TIME IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND WITH HSCM AND IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED FOR THIS HONEST DAY.

THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF, THE 15TH DAY OF FEBRUARY IN THE YEAR 2024.

AND IT IS SIGNED BY THE MAYOR FOR ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

[00:30:42]

[Proclamation – Parent Support Specialist Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes and Council Member José Velásquez]

HOW'S EVERYONE DOING TODAY? GREAT.

SO EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL AND IT FEELS LIKE A WARM BIG HUG IN HERE WITH OUR , WITH OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.

I'M EXCITED TO BE, UH, TODAY HONORING INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE DOING SUCH IMPORTANT WORK.

THEIR BOOTS ON THE GROUND, THEY KNOW OUR FAMILIES BETTER THAN ANYONE AND ARE HELPING OUR STUDENTS, OUR KIDS, THEIR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

THEY ARE ON CALL 24 7 AND IF YOU HAVE TALKED TO A PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST, YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST HEART YOU'VE EVER MET.

AND SO I'M SO EXCITED TO TO BE HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I'M JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ALISON ALTER, RYAN ALTER, JOSE VELASQUEZ, WHO WILL BE ALL SHARING REMARKS HERE SHORTLY.

AND WE ALSO HAVE WITH US TODAY, UH, TRUSTEES OF BEL LYNN BOSWELL, UH, AS WELL AS AS MANY LEADERS FROM A ISD TO ALSO SHARE WITH US IN THIS RECOGNITION.

AND BEFORE I TOSS IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO GLORIA VERA BELA, UH, BECAUSE SHE COORDINATE THANK YOU FOR HELPING COORDINATE TODAY'S SPECIAL EVENT.

SO WITH THAT, I WILL TOSS IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ.

EXCUSE ME.

HI, Y'ALL DOING, I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ AND I AM THE PROUD REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT THREE.

UM, AS A KID, I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER AND ATTENDED TITLE ONE SCHOOLS, METS AND MARTIN JUNIOR HIGH IN EAST AUSTIN.

SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE NECESSARY ROLE THAT PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS PLAY IN NOT ONLY THE LIFE OF A STUDENT, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST SUPPORT THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

PSS PSSS PERFORM A CRUCIAL ROLE HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE ISSUES SUCH AS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, FOOD INSECURITY, AND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

ALONG WITH MANY OTHER DAY-TO-DAY CONCERNS, THE HELP OF PSS PROVIDES WITH MEETING, WITH MEETING THESE MOST FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS CAN DETERMINE OR CHANGE A CHILD'S OR FAMILY'S TRAJECTORY IN LIFE.

IN LIFE, BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE TO FAMILIES.

THE PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE THE TRUSTED COMMUNITY MESSENGERS THAT HELP THEM ACCESS THE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES THEY URGENTLY NEED.

LAST SUMMER, I WAS PROUD THAT I ASKED FOR AND SECURED A BUDGET AMENDMENT OF JUST OVER $600,000 TO SECURE JOBS FOR THE PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST TO SECURE JOBS FOR OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS IN A ISD AND ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE DOING THEIR, THEIR VALUABLE WORK.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT FIGHT GOING AGAIN THIS YEAR.

YES, PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE THE GLUE THAT HOLD OUR SCHOOLS TOGETHER AND I'M THANKFUL THAT WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THEM HERE.

EXCUSE ME, THAT WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THEM.

SO THIS IS FOR OUR D OUR D THREE PSSS, ALEX CAARE FROM A LC MARTHA RALSTON OF TRAVIS RAUL LONGORIA OF MARTIN RA SANCHEZ OF ALLISON, SANDRA ROSE OF DAWSON, MELANIE WRIGHT OF GDO, ESPOSA OF GO VALLEY, VICTORIA ALVAREZ OF OAK SPRINGS, FERNANDO, LARA OF ORTEGA, MARIELLA TORRES OF SANCHEZ, MELINDA ZAMORA OF SAINT ELMO.

JENNIFER HERNANDEZ OF SAVALA, MY DEAR FRIEND ALSO.

AND SO ALL OUR PSS AS I SAY, I HAVE YOUR BACK.

FOR AS LONG AS I'M IN THIS BUILDING, YOU WILL HAVE A CHAMPION, AN ADVOCATE, AND A FRIEND.

GRACIAS.

WOO.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS ALISON AL ALTER AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 CENTRAL NORTHWEST AUSTIN ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE JOINT SUBCOMMITTEE WITH THE COUNTY CITY AND A ISD.

AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID A LOT HERE TODAY ABOUT ALL THE VALUE THAT YOU ALL BRING TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I WANNA SIMPLY

[00:35:01]

AND AS WE CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY THIS WEEK, I THINK OUR GOAL HERE TODAY IS TO WRAP YOU ALL UP WITH A BIG HUG AND SAY THANK YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, JUST LIKE YOU SUPPORT OUR KIDS.

AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE CITY CHILDREN AND THEY DON'T STOP BEING CITY CHILDREN WHEN THEY ENTER THE SCHOOL DOORS.

AND SO THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS CRITICAL.

YOU PROVIDE A CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN OUR FAMILIES AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE OFFER AT THE CITY.

AND WE ARE JUST SO, SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

UM, I DO WANNA DO A SHORT PSA FOR THE WE ALL BELONG PROGRAM, WHICH I'M SUPER EXCITED TO CONNECT UP WITH ALL OF YOU AT THE PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST NETWORK.

UM, WE ARE HOPING WE CAN GET YOU SOME RESOURCES TO DO SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY AND HELP TO, TO ELEVATE IT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND NOW WE WILL HAVE MARISOL RE WHO WILL SHARE REMARKS.

MARISOL, DO WE HAVE MARISOL RE OKAY.

UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS MARISOL FREY.

I AM THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT AUSTIN, ISD.

UH, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS, UH, FOR, FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF THE PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM.

UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THIS GROUP OF I, I COULD NOT THINK OF A MORE DESERVING GROUP OF AMAZING INDIVIDUALS.

UH, THEY ARE THERE THROUGH AND THROUGH FOR OUR FAMILIES.

UM, THEY, WHEN A FAMILY'S IN CRISIS, THEY'RE THERE TO LEND A HAND AND THEY ARE THERE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.

WHEN A FAMILY HAS QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THEY'RE THERE TO HELP PROVIDE ANSWERS AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE.

THEY ARE THERE, UH, WHEN A FAMILY IS, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING, JUST HAVING QUESTIONS.

AND I AM SO PROUD OF THEM AND I AM HONORED AND, UM, PROUD OF BEING PART OF THIS TEAM.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH THIS PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE.

AND JUST SEEING THEM HERE TODAY JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH THEY CARE ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THEIR FAMILY.

SO THANK YOU, CITY OF AUSTIN AND THANK YOU.

PARENT SUPPORT STAFF.

YES.

WONDERFUL.

OKAY, SO NOW FOR THE SPECIAL PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS PARENT SUPPORT IS A TEAM OF FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HELP AUSTIN, ISD FAMILIES IN NEED DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

AND WHEREAS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHEN FA FAMILIES ARE FACING HUNGER, A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR THE THREAT OF HOMELESSNESS, IT IS OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST WHO CONNECTS THEM WITH LIFE-SAVING RESOURCES.

YES, THE PARENT SUPPORT TEAM BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS, EDUCATIONAL AND OTHERWISE THROUGH STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS.

AND WHEREAS FAMILIES WHOSE BASIC NEEDS ARE MET WITH A GREATER CHANCE AT EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS, THIS IS A REASON WHY PARENT SUPPORT IS THE HEART OF THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

NOW, THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS ALLISON ALTER, RYAN ALTER, JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 15TH, 2024 AS AUSTIN ISD PARENT SUPPORT DAY.

WOO.

ACCEPTING, ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION IS JOYOUS.

, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YES.

THERE'S, UM, SOMEONE CALLING IN NEED .

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, AUSTIN, ISD WAS ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE CAPITOL BUILDING WAS BUILT.

AUSTIN, ISD HAS PROBABLY EDUCATED YOUR GRANDPARENTS, HAS PROBABLY EDUCATED YOUR PARENTS AND IS EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN, MY CHILDREN.

AND I AM SO PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS MISSION.

WHY? BECAUSE WE CHANGE LIVES.

MM-HMM, , WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF A PERSON'S FUTURE.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE HERE TODAY, THEY ARE PLANTING SEEDS OF COURAGE, SEEDS OF PRIDE, SEEDS OF SUCCESS IN THE LIVES OF FAMILIES.

AND SO WHEN THOSE SEEDS BEAR FRUIT, THEY CHANGE LIVES.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU ARE THE PRODUCT OF THAT.

THE REASON WHY THIS MONEY CHANGES LIVES IS BECAUSE YOU TOOK A STEP OF COURAGE WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH.

NORMALLY WE CLOSE OUR HANDS AND WE CLOSE OUR HEARTS AND WE'RE LIKE, I CANNOT SUPPORT ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

[00:40:01]

SO FOR THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, I SALUTE YOU.

THANK YOU.

WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU JOY.

AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUR TRUSTEES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE ROOM WITH US WHO MIGHT ALSO WANNA SHARE A FEW REMARKS.

TRUSTEE AND TRUSTEE BOSWELL, IF Y'ALL LIKE TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS.

OKAY.

TRUSTEE BOSWELL.

SHE OKAY.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO.

OKAY.

WELL I AM HONORED.

I AM A FORMER PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST, SO I KNOW THE WORK.

YES.

SO OF COURSE YOU GOT MY BACK.

AND SO I WILL TAKE YOU ON, UM, UH, TAKE ON YOUR, UM, SUGGESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ THAT, UH, WE WILL WORK TO GET MORE MONEY, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU KNOW THAT, UM, IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE PRINCIPAL TO RUN A SCHOOL, RIGHT? IF THERE'S 400, 500 AND IT TAKES, WELL, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ONE PARENT SUPPORT FOR 400, 500.

IS THAT FAIR? WELL, HOW CAN WE IMP HOW CAN WE HELP THEM MORE? BECAUSE THERE IS MORE NEED NOW THAN EVER BEFORE.

SO I SALUTE ALL OF YOU, MS. DIAZ AND UH, ALL OF YOU FOR THE, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, THEY ARE NOT PROGRAMS. YOU ARE NOT A PROGRAM.

YOU ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT CARE AND ARE MOVED BY YOUR HEARTS AND I LOVE THAT.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO.

AND I JUST CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW MUCH A ISD IS BLESSED TO HAVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HI, I JUST WANT A SECOND.

UM, JUST SHARE A HUGE THANKS FOR, TO OUR CITY FOR HONORING, RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS.

THEY ARE HEROES IN OUR SCHOOL.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BIG HEARTED, OUR PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE CREATIVE MINDED.

THEY ARE LIKE SWISS ARMY KNIVES.

YOU HAVE TO BE SO GOOD AT SO MANY THINGS TO DO THIS ROLE AND YOU MAKE SUCH A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE.

I HAVE SEEN IT ON THE GROUND YEAR AFTER YEAR AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP AND, AND FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU BRING TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR KIDS.

UM, YOU ARE TEAMS WITH OUR FAMILIES IN PROFOUND AND LIFE-CHANGING WAYS THAT REALLY HONOR EACH FAMILY AS AN EXPERT IN THEIR CHILD AND WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

AND, AND WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL, UM, FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

SO THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR THE CITY FOR, FOR REALLY THE CELEBRATION TODAY.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, WELL LET'S CONTINUE THE CELEBRATION.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE A GROUP PHOTO OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL AND WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

THANKS.

SO.