[00:00:06]
[Additional Item*]
IS VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN.I'M JOINED HERE TODAY WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILOR VELA.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION.
I PROUDLY REPRESENT DISTRICT TWO, WHICH IS IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST AUSTIN ON CITY COUNCIL.
AND I'M STEPPING IN FROM MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, UH, WHO COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY AS SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL AND WE WISH HER A SPEEDY RECOVERY.
IT IS MY HONOR TO JOIN YOU TODAY TO SHARE A PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF A LS AWARENESS MONTH.
MANY OF US REMEMBER THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE.
I KNOW I PARTICIPATED IN THAT CHALLENGE WHEN IT WAS A SOCIAL MEDIA AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A LS RESEARCH.
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT MANY PEOPLE HEARD OF THE DISEASE, BUT IS PERVASIVE.
EVERY 90 MINUTES SOMEONE IS DIAGNOSED WITH A LS AND SOMEONE PASSES AWAY FROM A LS.
WE RECENTLY MARKED THE 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE.
WHILE WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN THE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE DISEASE, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.
IN DECLARING THIS MONTH AS A LS AWARENESS MONTH, WE AS LEADERS OF THE CITY, ARE AMPLIFYING, AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY A LS BY SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS.
THESE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE EMPHASIZING THE, THE NEED AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH AND THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS RELENTLESS ILLNESS.
I WANNA THANK EACH OF YOU TODAY FOR BEING WITH US AND FOR SHARING YOUR STORY SO THAT OTHER FAMILIES NAVIGATING THIS DIFFICULT DIAGNOSIS, UM, FEEL LESS ALONE DURING THE PROCESS.
TO THOSE EXPERIENCING A LS OR CARING FOR LOVED ONES WHO MIGHT HAVE A A LS, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE SEE YOU.
OUR SUPPORT MUST GO BEYOND THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGES AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR A GREATER UNDERSTANDING, EMPATHY, AND ACTION.
AND WE STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOU IN BATTLING A LS UNTIL WE ACHIEVE A FUTURE FREE FROM ITS SCRIPT TOGETHER, LET US CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND STRIVE FOR A WORLD THAT IS WHERE A LS IS BY DISTANT MEMORY.
I'LL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS ATROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS KNOWN, MANY KNOWN AS THE LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, IS A PROGRESSIVE FATAL NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE IN WHICH A PERSON'S BRAIN LOSS CONNECTION WITH THE MUSCLES BRAIN.
THE BRAIN LOSES CONNECTION WITH THE MUSCLES, SLOWLY TAKING AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO WALK, TALK, EAT, AND EVENTUALLY BREATHE.
AND WHEREAS ON AVERAGE, PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH A LS ONLY SURVIVED TWO TO FIVE YEARS FROM THE TIME OF DIAGNOSIS.
AND WHEREAS A LS HAS NO CURE, AND WHEREAS PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED IN THE MILITARY ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP A LS AND DIE FROM THE DISEASE THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NO HISTORY OF MILITARY SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS SECURING ACCESS TO NEW THERAPIES, DUR DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH A LS.
AND WHEREAS CLINICAL TRIALS PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN EVALUATING NEW TREATMENTS, ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE, AND FOSTERING ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THOSE LIVING WITH A LS.
AND WHEREAS OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCELERATING THE PACE OF DISCOVERY REMAINS UNWAVERING, FUELED BY THE HOPE THAT ONE DAY A LS WILL BE A CURABLE DISEASE, A LIVABLE DISEASE FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE UNTIL WE CAN CURE IT NOW.
THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILOR CHIEF VELA ON BEHALF OF OUR MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS A LS AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW? YES.
UM, JUST TO THANK EVERYONE FOR RECOGNIZING THIS, THIS DISEASE UNFORTUNATELY, HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MANY YEARS, AND IT'S ONLY RECENTLY THAT RESEARCH AND FUNDING HAS STARTED TO GO UP.
UM, IT'S BEEN THANKED TO MANY GROUPS WHO HAVE COME IN AND WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
UM, BUT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE COUNCIL BEING AWARE OF IT, THE GOVERNOR.
AND WE HOPE THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING CAN BE PUT INTO THIS, WHETHER IT IS TO HELP A LS PATIENTS PAY FOR THE COST OF THEIR CARE, TO GET THEM THE, THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO HELP THEM SURVIVE, OR WHETHER OR NOT IT IS FUNDING, WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR RESEARCH.
SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR RECOGNIZING THIS.
UM, I'M, I'M, I'M SPEAKING FOR ALL THE A A LS PATIENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IN THE U US.
THANK YOU ALL, AND I HOPE SOMEDAY WE WILL FIND A CURE FOR THIS DISEASE.
AND THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN, REALLY APPRECIATE
[00:05:01]
IT.AND YOU, YOU'VE COVERED IT ALL.
WELL, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON, ANYBODY ELSE TO COME UP TO HERE WITH YOU? NO.
[Certificates of Recognition – The Navigators – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes and to be accepted by participants of the Displacement Prevention Navigator Pilot Program]
NAME IS VANESSA ENTENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN.I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A VERY SPECIAL PROCLAMATION FOR OUR DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS AND TO ALSO PROVIDE, UH, CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION.
I WANNA SAY THAT MY COLLEAGUE COUNCIL VER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, WHO REPRESENTS THE COLONY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD, COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITH US, BUT SHE SENDS HER WELL WISHES AND CERTAINLY IS A STRONG SUPPORTER AND CHAMPION OF THIS PROGRAM.
THESE COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS ARE A DEDICATED AND PASSIONATE GROUP WHO KNOW THE EFFECTS OF DISPLACEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES FIRSTHAND.
AND THEY WERE INTENTIONAL TO MAKE AN IMPACT THROUGH THIS WORK.
THIS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR IS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY, AND I LOVE THAT WE HAVE NAVIGATORS FROM OUR DOVE SPRINGS AND COLONY PARK NEIGHBORHOODS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PILOT PROGRAM.
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, MORE THAN A THIRD OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FACE COST BURDENS FOR PEOPLE MORE LIKELY TO BE VULNERABLE TO DISPLACEMENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RENTERS, SENIORS, PEOPLES WITH DI PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THEY'RE FACING RISING HOUSING COSTS, WHICH POSED BIG CHALLENGES.
IN RESPONSE TO THE ONGOING TREND DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION NAVIGATOR PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2023 BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION DIVISION, WHICH IS LED BY NE NE JACKMAN.
UM, BY BUILDING TRUST AND VISIBILITY WITHIN DOVE SPRINGS AND COLONY PARK NAVIGATORS SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN OUR RENTERS, OUR HOMEOWNERS, AND THE HOUSING RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE HERE AT THE CITY.
AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT FOR THE LAST, LAST NUMBER OF MONTHS, UM, OUR NAVIGATORS HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEY'VE BEEN AT RECREATION CENTERS, THEY'VE BEEN AT COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDING THAT IN-PERSON FIRSTHAND INTERACTION DIRECTLY WITH OUR MEM WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WITH OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE AT RISK AND FACING DISPLACEMENT.
AND THEY'RE CONNECTING THEM WITH VITAL RESOURCES.
AND SO IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO THANK THEM IN PERSON FOR THEIR WORK AND TO CELEBRATE ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY'VE MADE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TO CONTINUE TO PUBLICLY COMMIT TO MY SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS PROGRAM CONTINUE ON.
AND SO I'M GONNA READ THE, UH, LANG, I'M GONNA READ THE LANGUAGE FOR THESE CERTIFICATES, UM, THAT I'M ABOUT TO PRESENT.
AND PART OF THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE HERE FOR THE RECOGNITION IS FOR THE SUPPORT PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION NAVIGATOR PILOT PROGRAM.
THE FOLLOWING NAVIGATORS ARE DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT ON MAY 30TH OF THIS YEAR, 2024.
LET'S GET A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR FIRST WE HAVE RACHEL SALGADO.
THOSE THE THREE WHO ARE HERE THIS MORNING.
OH, WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE AMY PEREZ VELAZQUEZ AND LINDA JACKSON, AS WELL AS SYLVIA VIETA RODRIGUEZ, WHO SPRINGS, AND ELENA FOWLER, WHO IS OUR FIELD ORGANIZER AND PART OF OUR CITY TEAM.
AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE HERE, COUNCILOR VELA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER TOPHER MADISON.
SEE, I GOTTA TURN AROUND TO SEE ALL THIS HERE.
UM, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF OUR DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS, AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SHOULD WE HAVE, OH, SHOULD FRONT, YEAH.
COULD YOU GUYS GO TO THE FRONT? I'LL GO.
I'LL JUST, I'LL STAND BEHIND YOU.
[Proclamation – Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Member José “Chito” Vela]
EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.UH, MY NAME IS COUNCIL MEMBER ZO KARI.
I, I PROUDLY REPRESENT DISTRICT NINE OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, AND TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY TWO HONOREE MEMBERS OF THE A API CAUCUS, UH, WHICH I AM THE CHAIR
[00:10:01]
OF, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHETO VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, VANESSA.UH, IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL CELEBRATING A API HERITAGE MONTH.
AND WHILE IT WILL BE SAD TO SEE IT GO, I'M GLAD WE GET ONE LAST CHANCE TO RECOGNIZE A API CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS OF THE LAST CENSUS, IT, THE A API POPULATION IN TEXAS IS THE FASTEST GROWING GROUP IN THE STATE, AND I'M INCREDIBLY HARDENED TO SEE HOW VIBRANT AND ACTIVE THE AUSTIN A API COMMUNITY IS.
WE SPEAK DOZENS OF LANGUAGES, WE PRACTICE MANY FAITHS, AND WE HAVE OPEN COUNTLESS SMALL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, AND CHARITIES.
WE ARE LEADERS AND ENTREPRENEURS, ADVOCATES AND ACTIVISTS.
AND WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN WAYS RANGING FROM THE HIGHEST POSITIONS IN BIG TECH COMPANIES, TO THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF, LET'S BE HONEST, SOME OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN TOWN.
UH, THE OTHER A API ELECTED ON CITY COUNCIL BEFORE MYSELF WAS JENNIFER KIM.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT FOLKS AND LEADERS, UH, BEHIND ME TODAY.
UH, AND LASTLY, BEFORE I PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION, UM, I WANT TO GIVE, UH, COUNCILOR VELA A CHANCE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN I'LL DO THE PRO.
UH, IT'S BEEN, UH, A PLEASURE WORKING WITH THE ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER, UH, COMMUNITY.
UH, WE MAKE A, A EFFORT TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY THE VISIBILITY AND RECOGNITION THAT, THAT THEY DESERVE.
UH, AND I'M PROUD TO BE HERE TO, UH, HONOR, UH, A API HERITAGE MONTH.
AND WITH THAT, UH, I'M DO THIS VERY LONG, UH, PRA UH, BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS EACH MAY WE CELEBRATE A-A-N-H-P-I AMERICANS CONTRIBUTIONS TO NATION AND CITY DURING ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAII AND PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH.
AND WHEREAS A, A NPIS HAVE BEEN IN THE US SINCE FILIPINOS SAILORS LANDED IN CALIFORNIA IN 1587 WITH THE FIRST SOUTH ASIANS ARRIVING IN 1635, THE FIRST CHINESE, UH, IN 1778, THE FIRST JAPANESE IN 1806, THE FIRST KOREANS IN 1884, AND THE FIRST VIETNAMESE IN 1912, WHILE PACIFIC IS ISLANDERS HAVE BEEN IN PO PAULINE ASIA FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, LONG BEFORE THE AREA BECAME A CURRENT OR FORMER PART OF THE US.
AND WHEREAS IN OCTOBER, 1874, AUSTIN HAD FOUR CHINESE RESIDENTS.
BY 1875, THE AUSTIN CENSUS COUNTED 23, UH, AN EARLY A-A-N-H-P-I BUSINESS INCLUDED JOE STING'S, LEY LAUND, CIRCA 1887, JOE LONG CAFE IN 1897, AND SAMO CAFE IN 1914, ANOTHER EARLY ASIAN OAN.
IT WAS UL RODOLFO FERNANDEZ, A FILIPINO ENTREPRENEUR, UH, INTERPRETER THAT MOVED TO AUSTIN IN 1903.
AND WHEREAS SINCE 2010, A A N HPI ARE THE FASTEST GROWING RACIAL GROUP IN AUSTIN, DOUBLING IN SIZE BETWEEN 2010 AND 2021, AND NOW COMPRISED 9% OF THE POPULATION.
THEY ARE BOUND BY A SHARED COMMITMENT TO FREEDOM WHILE THEIR DIVERSITY ADDS TO THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR CITY.
AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE CITY'S ASIAN AMERICAN EMPLOYEE NETWORK CELEBRATES A AND HPI HERITAGE MONTH, UH, WITH THIS YEAR'S 24TH ANNUAL EVENT TAKING PLACE AT THE PALMER EVENT CENTER ON MAY 1ST FROM 11:30 AM TO 1:00 PM AND THERE WAS GREAT FOOD THERE.
UH, AND WHEREAS THE CITY RECOGNIZES, UH, THAT THE AUSTIN A A AND HPI COMMUNITY HAS THRIVED IN THE FACE OF MANY CHALLENGES, UH, INCLUDING CHINESE EXCLUSION, ALIEN LAND LAWS, THE JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERN THAT BROUGHT US ISAM TUCCI DESIGNER OF THE BELOVED ZILKER PARK, JAPANESE GARDEN, UH, AND THOSE ESCAPING WAR AND OPPRESSION FROM VIETNAM, CAMBODIA, MYANMAR, AND NEPAL, AS WELL AS ACCOUNTING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-ASIAN HATE AND ISLAMOPHOBIA.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY SUPPORTS THE A A AND HPI COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER, THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER'S, A-A-N-H-P-I COMMUNITY ARCHIVES PROGRAM, AND THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MARK RIE ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2024 AS AUSTIN, UH, SORRY, AS ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
DOWN IN TOP OF THE PICTURE UP HERE.
[00:15:01]
CLICK RIGHT HERE.[Additional Item*]
MORNING EVERYONE.I AM DISTRICT EIGHT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS.
I'M VERY PROUD TO HONOR SOME OF OUR HARDEST WORKING AND MOST TALENTED ATHLETES, MANY OF WHOM ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, WOMEN AND GENDER EXPANSIVE SPORTS WEEK IS A LONG OVERDUE CELEBRATION SHOWCASING OUR MOST OUTSTANDING TEAMS IN A SERIES OF COMPETITIONS AND EVENTS TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
FROM JUNE 8TH TO JUNE 15TH, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME IN ACTIVELY LENDING SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO PUT IN THE TOUGH WORK, OVERCOMING MANY CHALLENGES TO LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD, THE PITCH, THE TRACK, OR THE COURT.
THROUGH THEM, WE ARE INSPIRED AND UNIFIED IN OUR COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE, EQUITABLE, AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITY.
SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN'S COMPETITIVE SPORTS TEAMS PLAY AN INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN LIFTING COMMUNITY SPIRIT, CELEBRATING COLLECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT AND CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN'S WOMEN AND GENDER EXPANSIVE ATHLETES STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL SPORTS CULTURE, WHILE OFTEN WORKING TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES INCLUDING LACK OF PAY, EQUITY, INADEQUATE FACILITIES, AND DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION.
AND WHEREAS THE INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN AND GENDER EXPANSIVE SPORTS WEEK IS DRIVEN BY A COALITION OF DEDICATED LOCAL TEAMS AND SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING AUSTIN RISE, AUSTIN OUTLAWS, AUSTIN TORCH, AUSTIN VALKYRIE, THE TEXAS ROLLER DERBY, ROUND ROCK RAGE, AUSTIN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LEAGUE, LOVE BE VOLLEYBALL, AND A TX WOMEN'S SPORTS PUB.
AND WHEREAS CELEBRATING OUR WOMEN AND GENDER EXPANSIVE A ATHLETES AND ENRICHES OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPE, PROMOTES EQUITY, HIGHLIGHTS DIVERSITY, AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY BONDS THROUGH OUR SHARED PASSION FOR SPORTS.
AND WHEREAS ESTABLISHING A WEEK OF SPECIAL COMPETITION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS FOSTERS A SENSE OF UNITY AND PRIDE IN OUR DIVERSE ATHLETIC TALENT, WHILE PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR MARGINALIZED VOICES AND UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDING WITH UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.
I NOW, THEREFORE, I PAY JEALOUS.
ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 8TH THROUGH 15TH 2024 AS WOMEN AND GENDER EXPANSIVE SPORTS WEEK.
AND I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO DEBORAH HOL TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
MY NAME IS DEBORAH HALLAM, AND THIS IS MARLENE DUPY.
AND WE ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE A TX WOMEN'S SPORTS PUB.
TODAY WE GATHER TO KICK OFF A GROUNDBREAKING EVENT IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, THE FIRST WOMEN AND GENDER EXPANSIVE SPORTS WEEK HERE IN AUSTIN.
FROM JUNE 8TH TO JUNE 15TH, 2024, OUR CITY WILL SHINE A WELL-DESERVED SPOTLIGHT ON THE INCREDIBLE ATHLETES WHO PLAY OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL REALM OF MEN'S SPORTS.
THIS WEEK IS NOT JUST ABOUT CELEBRATING SPORTS, IT IS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THESE ATHLETES MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, BOLSTER OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, FOSTER COMMUNITY UNITY, INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF THOSE OFTEN MARGINALIZED IN THE SPORTS WORLD.
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS.
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, THERE WILL BE SIX THRILLING GAMES AND EVENTS.
ON JUNE 8TH, A TX TORCH ULTIMATE WILL HAVE A MATCH AT THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AT 5:00 PM FOLLOWED BY THE AUSTIN OUTLAWS FOOTBALL GAME AT HOUSE PARK AT 7:00 PM ON JUNE 12TH, WPSL AUSTIN RISE FC WILL BE AT HOUSE PARK AT 7:00 PM AND ON JUNE 15TH, THE AUSTIN OUTLAWS WILL AGAIN PLAY AT HOUSE PARK AT 7:00 PM AND THERE WILL ALSO BE THE BLOOD FEST SEVEN RUGBY'S TOURNAMENT FEATURING THE AUSTIN VALKYRIE AND ROUND ROCK RAGE THAT WILL BE HELD AT THE ROUND ROCK MULTIPURPOSE COMPLEX FROM 9:00 AM TO 5:00 PM FINALLY, THEY WRAP UP THE DAY WITH THE TEXAS ROLLER DERBY CHERRY BOMBS VERSUS THE RHINESTONES AT THE PALMER EVENT CENTER AT 6:00 PM I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME ADDITIONAL TEAMS NOT PLAYING THAT WEEK WHO ARE A PART OF OUR LOCAL INITIATIVE.
AND THAT IS LOVE AUSTIN VOLLEYBALL, AUSTIN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL AND WOMEN'S HEAT FLAG FOOTBALL.
WE ENCOURAGE THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY TO JOIN US AT THESE EVENTS, CELEBRATE THESE EXTRAORDINARY ATHLETES, AND SUPPORT THE DIVERSITY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR LOCAL SPORTS TEAMS. A TX WOMEN'S SPORTS PUB WILL HAVE POPUPS AT SEVERAL EVENTS.
PLEASE STOP BA BY AND SAY HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND LET'S MAKE THIS WEEK AN UNFORGETTABLE CELEBRATION OF SPORTS AND COMMUNITY.
I'D NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO JULIANNE FOT WITH LOVE AUSTIN VOLLEYBALL FOR A FEW WORDS.
HI, I AM JULIANNE FOT WITH LOVE AUSTIN VOLLEYBALL.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE ON
[00:20:01]
BEHALF OF LOVE FOR MANY REASONS.EVERYTHING ABOUT LOVE FEELS REALLY ALIGNED WITH THE CELEBRATION OF WOMEN IN SPORTS HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS LOVE'S MISSION IS TO CREATE, UH, CREATE, UH, BETTER LIFE OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN THROUGH THE SPORT OF VOLLEYBALL.
UH, LOVE IS ALL ABOUT EMPOWERMENT.
AND AT THE FIR AS THE FIRST PRO TEAM HERE IN AUSTIN, UH, LOVE IS CREATING PATHWAYS FOR AMERICAN PLAYERS TO PLAY PRO IN THE UNITED STATES AND ENSURING THEY CAN MAKE THEIR CAREERS HERE THROUGH COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND GROUNDBREAKING BENEFITS THAT SUPPORT BOTH THE PLAYER AND THE PERSON.
IT'S SOMETHING I'M INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE AND PROUD TO BE A PART OF, AND I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY, UH, REPRESENTING WOMEN'S SPORTS HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GET A PICTURE OVER HERE,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME ON THIS SIDE? WE CAN COVER THE PODIUM,
YOU CAN'T SEE HER, ARE YOU? IT'S PERFECT RIGHT THERE.
[Additional Item*]
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN, TEXAS.AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT A LARGE GROUP OF VERY HAPPY, FRIENDLY FOLKS WITH US THIS MORNING, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE HONORING SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE A LARGE COMMITMENT HERE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SHE'S A NATIVE EAST AUSTIN NIGHT, SHE'S A DEDICATED CULTURAL ARTS PERFORMER, AND SHE'S SO MUCH MORE TO THIS BUILDING HERE AT CITY HALL.
MY NAME'S JOHN LAWLER, I GET TO WORK WITH, AND HERE'S THE BIG REVEAL
YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO FIND, WE'VE GOT COUNCIL MEMBER VELA YAY IN THE BACK, COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES.
AND ALSO IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE GOT SOME DIGNITARIES IN THE FORM OF NIKKI'S FAMILY,
SO WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED, UH, TO BE HERE.
BUT LET ME GO AHEAD AND PASS OFF THE BATON MAINLY SO WE CAN GET OTHER PEOPLE IN THE VIDEO SHOT HERE.
UM, WELL, I'M, I'M SO HONORED TO BE DOING THIS, BUT I ALSO, YESTERDAY I WAS THINKING WHEN NIKKI FIRST TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS LEAVING, I WENT INTO MY AUTOMATIC MODE OF SAYING, I SUPPORT YOU.
YESTERDAY I WAS LIKE, I SHOULDN'T SAID HER
I TOLD HER SHE CAN'T LEAVE AND I DON'T WANT HER TO GO.
NIKKI IS THE PERSON WHO'S BEEN IN OUR OFFICE THE LONGEST, AND IN MANY WAYS, SHE IS VERY MUCH THE HEART OF THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE.
SHE IS ON OUR TEAM TO WORK IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.
SHE LOVES AUSTIN, SHE LOVES EAST AUSTIN, AND SHE IS SO DOWN FOR THE CAUSE FOR OUR OFFICE.
AND EVEN MY OFFICE IS IN A PLACE WHERE I CAN HEAR WHAT SHE'S DOING.
AND EVEN ON DAYS WHEN SHE'S ON THE PHONE, WHICH SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB ADVOCATING FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO EVEN IF SOMEONE IS FEELING A LITTLE SPICY
AND SHE'S ALWAYS JUST, SHE SHOWS UP FOR EVERYONE.
AND THERE'VE BEEN TIMES WHEN I'VE BEEN IN ROOMS WHERE WE HAVE A, A TOUGH JOB SOMETIMES IN COUNCIL, AND I LOOK IN THE AUDIENCE AND NIKKI IS THERE.
SO, AND I'M TRYING REALLY HARD TO HOLD IT TOGETHER,
UM, SO WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO HAVE HAD NIKKI AND SHE DESERVES THIS AWARD MORE THAN ANYONE I CAN THINK OF.
UM, I HATE THAT I HAVE THE TASK OF TRYING TO REPLACE YOU AS IF I CAN'T DO IT.
I CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA TRY AND DO MY VERY BEST TO GET SOMEONE WHO IS AS AMAZING AS NIKKI IS.
SHE IS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON.
EVERYONE, AS YOU CAN SEE, EVERYONE IS HERE BECAUSE EVERYONE LOVES HER BECAUSE SHE HELPS EVERYONE.
SHE IS A, SHE IS THE LIGHT IN EVERY ROOM THAT SHE COMES INTO.
SHE'S HERE TO LOVE AND SUPPORT ALL OF US.
AND SO, I'M JUST SO THANKFUL FOR YOU.
I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
AND SO I'M GONNA READ THIS AWARD AND THEN I'M GONNA STEP AWAY ALSO SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN LOVE ON THIS AMAZING MOMENT.
SO FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING HER TENURE, AS A
[00:25:01]
DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, NIKKI MCCULLOUGH IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION.THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 30TH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR 2024.
AND I LOVE THAT WE GIVE THIS TEAM, IT'S ONLY A SMALL PART OF HOW MUCH YOU LOVE
SO I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA STEP ASIDE SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW AMAZING NIKKI IS.
SO, SO, SO AS WE'RE UP HERE, AS WE'RE UP HERE, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT.
UM, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS AND ME BEING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOW, I ALSO REMIND, IT REMINDS ME OF MY FIRST DAY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMING TO CITY HALL, NOT KNOWING WHO TO TALK TO, WHERE TO GO, WHERE TO SEE, BUT NICK USED TO ALWAYS CHASE, IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
COME, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.
SO FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE THANK YOU, NIKKI.
I'M GONNA BE SAD THAT I CAN'T EMAIL YOU ALL THE TIME AND ASK BASIC QUESTIONS.
I MEAN, ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE, HEY, HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR SPEAKER COUNCIL? QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.
NIKKI ALWAYS HELPED ME OUT WITH, AND WE LOVE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE YOU SERIOUSLY.
MAMAS ALWAYS HAVE GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN, AND I AM JUST SO, SO PROUD OF NIKKI.
I HAVE BEEN PROUD OF NIKKI FROM THE MOMENT SHE WAS BIRTHED
SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS HAPPY, SMILING PERSON THAT YOU SEE RIGHT NOW,
SO I, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN SAY THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID.
I HAVE TWO WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS AND YOU CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THEM.
NIKKI IS THE ONE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AND SHE IS JUST A JOY.
IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY AMAZING SEEING HER TAKE ON THIS JOB AS TWO LITTLE BAD CHILDREN RUNNING AROUND THE EAST SIDE, NEVER TO NO
IT WAS WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO RUN AROUND THE EAST SIDE, SHE WOULD ALWAYS KEEP ME AND OUR FRIENDS SAFE.
SO IT WAS A GREAT JOY SEEING HER CONTINUE TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFE FOR THE EAST SIDE.
BUT, BUT YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WAS THE HEY, HEY, IN GEORGIA, NIKKI WAS KEEPING YOU OUT.
TROUBLE
UM, SO I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR THIS.
UH, ALSO REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY, UM, I GREW UP HERE.
I'LL ALWAYS WORK FOR THIS CITY TO MAKE IT BETTER.
I WILL, I'LL, I'LL NEVER LEAVE.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE, YOU SHOULD GET OUT, YOU SHOULD LIVE OTHER PLACES.
AND I FEEL LIKE FOR WHAT I ALREADY, I ALREADY KNOW WHERE MY HEART IS.
UH, WORKING AT THIS IN THIS POSITION HAS PROBABLY BEEN ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS I'VE EVER DONE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
AND SO I'M SUPER GRATEFUL FOR IT.
AND LIKE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE HAVE MADE THIS JOB A JOY.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY GLAD YOU GUYS ARE UP HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE MADE IT EASIER FOR ME.
AND THEN MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS HAVE KEPT ME SANE AND KEPT ME GROUNDED AND KEPT ME HAPPY AND HOPEFUL.
AND SO YEAH, THANKS EVERYBODY.
THE DISTRICT ONE TEAM FEELS LIKE A FAMILY THAT IT'S HARD TO LEAVE.
UM, SO IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO SAY GOODBYE, BUT THERE'VE BEEN SOME SUPPORTIVE.
THERE'VE ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF DIGS OF LIKE, WE HATE YOU.
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING US? OTHERWISE, IT'S BEEN ALL LOVE AND I FEEL REALLY, REALLY PRIVILEGED AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE DISTRICT ONE TEAM.
I'VE DATE, I'M THANKFUL FOR COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS, BUT SHE AND I GO BACK 10 YEARS, SO
IT'S JUST BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING HERE AND BEING A PART OF MAYOR COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW, JUST LEARNING EVERYTHING THAT I'VE LEARNED, EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER HERE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AND I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH.
AND THE ONLY OTHER THING I'D SAY IS, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LEARN ABOUT YOUR CITY POLITICS.
I HAD NO IDEA BEFORE I CAME HERE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS NOT TO GET ON MY SOAPBOX, BUT THESE PEOPLE WORK VERY, VERY FREAKING HARD FOR YOU,
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SO BIG PICTURE.OH, YOU GUYS CAN MOVE FORWARD IN AND SOME OF THE SHORTER PEOPLE IN THE BACK, MOM UP HERE.