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[Proclamation – Gun Safety Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member Paige Ellis]
I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLI, AND I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE ALISON ALTER AND OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DONNA HOWARD, ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER ADVOCATES AND PUBLIC SERVANTS IN, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, WORKING TO PROMOTE SAFETY WITH GUNS IN AUSTIN.I'M HONORED TO BE JOINED TODAY BY LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE REPRESENTATIVES FOR A CAUSE THAT I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT AND IS A PUBLIC SAFETY PRIORITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
GUN VIOLENCE IS A PROFOUND TRAGEDY FOR MANY PEOPLE IN AUSTIN AND IN TEXAS.
IT AFFECTS FAMILIES, IT AFFECTS PARTNERS, IT AFFECTS FRIENDS, AND IT AFFECTS ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.
UNSUPERVISED AND UNSECURE ACCESS TO FIREARMS POSES A SIGNIFICANT RISK AND THREAT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL STAND TOGETHER AND CONTINUOUSLY WORK TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND EFFICACY OF GUN SAFETY AND HANDLING AND STORAGE OF FIREARMS. EVERY LIFE LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE LEAVES A RIPPLE EFFECT, CREATING A WAVE OF GRIEF AND LOSS THAT TOUCHES US ALL.
AND I WANNA EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO OUR ADVOCACY GROUPS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHO IS ALSO HERE WITH US TODAY, AND ALL THOSE WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROMOTE SAFETY AND EDUCATION ABOUT GUN USE.
YOUR DEDICATION IS THE BACKBONE OF THIS INITIATIVE.
SO I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION AND THEN WE WILL HEAR A FEW WORDS FROM OUR ADVOCATES.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS UNSECURED GUNS POSE CLEAR SAFETY RISKS, PARTICULARLY TO CHILDREN, AND WHEREAS AN AVERAGE OF 452 TEXAS CHILDREN AND TEENS DIE BY GUNS EVERY YEAR, AND GUN VIOLENCE COST TEXAS $51.3 BILLION EVERY YEAR.
AND WHEREAS 4.6 MILLION MINORS IN THE UNITED STATES LIVE IN HOMES WITH AT LEAST ONE LOADED UNLOCKED FIREARM.
AND STUDIES SHOW THAT BETWEEN 70 AND 90% OF GUNS USED IN YOUTH SUICIDES, UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS AMONG CHILDREN AND SCHOOL SHOOTINGS PERPETRATED BY SHOOTERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE ACQUIRED FROM THE HOME OR HOMES OF RELATIVES OR FRIENDS.
AND WHEREAS EDUCATING AND RESOURCING COMMUNITIES TO PRACTICE SAFE GUN HANDLING AND STORAGE IS AN ACTIONABLE, MEANINGFUL WAY TO CREATE SAFER HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR CITY, STATE, AND COUNTRY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PAIGE ELLIS, ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST, 2024 AS GUN SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH.
AND I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO LISA WITH LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
MY NAME'S LISA ROSS AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE.
UM, OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY GUN IS LOCKED WHEN NOT IN USE.
AND WE DO THIS TO KEEP HOMES AND COMMUNITIES SAFE FROM ACCIDENT, SELF HARM AND THEFT.
UM, WE, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT EVEN OUR ORGANIZATION BY GOING TO LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE.ORG, UM, THROUGH THE FUNDING FROM THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
I DON'T SEE THEM HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY'RE AROUND.
UM, UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING BY THE WAY.
UH, THEY, THAT IS WHO OUR GRANTOR IS.
UM, BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN, UH, THOUSANDS OF LOCKING DEVICES INTO, TO HOMES ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS THIS YEAR IN 2024.
WE HAVE PUT 1400 GUN LOCKS JUST THIS YEAR INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS.
UM, WE PARTNERED WITH A PD DELL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND SAFE KIDS TO RECOGNIZE THE FIRST AUSTIN PUBLIC SAFETY FAIR AT THE Q2 STADIUM.
WE WERE SO EXCITED AND IT WAS AN AWESOME EVENT AND WE WERE GLAD THAT EVERYBODY PARTICIPATED.
I THINK WE HAD ABOUT 42 VENDORS SHOW UP FOR THAT EVENT AS WELL.
UM, WE REACHED FAMILIES WITH EDUCATIONAL, UM, MATERIALS AND RESOURCES AND WE WANTED TO, UH, INCREASE, UH, SAFETY RISKS DURING THE SUMMER.
UH, WE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS IN HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE ARE EVEN JOINING A HARM REDUCTION PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE, UH, TRAVIS COUNTY JAILS.
AND THIS FALL WE WILL DEBUT OUR FIRST OF ITS KIND GRAPHIC TEACHING, UH, SAFE STORAGE NOVEL OR BOOK TO CHILDREN IN THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.
WE WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS TOO, FOR ALWAYS BEING OUR SUPPORTER.
AND THIS IS A SECOND YEAR THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS AND WE SO APPRECIATE HER WORK.
WE ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AS WELL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING ALL THE FAMILIES SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE YOU TOO, THAT
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING.
UH, I WANT TO THANK, UM, MICHELLE MILES WHO IS WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, NOT ONLY TO HELPING US CARRY OUR MISSION OUT, BUT INNOVATE NEW WAYS TO CREATE SAFETY HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
UM, AT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
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WE MADE THIS SUCH A BIG PRIORITY OF MAKING SURE THIS, AND I WANNA TELL YOU, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CITY WE'RE DOING THIS IN.WE'VE ALSO GOT PROCLAMATIONS IN FORT WORTH, HOUSTON, WE'RE WORKING ON SAN ANTONIO.
UM, WE'VE GOT SOME AREAS EVEN TO WEATHERFORD, SOME OF THE SMALLER CITIES IN THE AREA THAT WILL BE DOING IT.
OUR GOAL IS THAT THE STATE RECOGNIZES THAT WE HAVE A NEED FOR THIS AND THAT NEXT YEAR WHEN DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY WILL PASS A BILL THAT NAMES AUGUST AS GUN SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH.
DID WE HAVE, DID MICHELLE WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? MICHELLE'S NOT HERE.
UM, DOES ANYONE ELSE WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? I THINK WE MAY HAVE AN EXTRA MINUTE.
I ALWAYS, YOU SURE CHIEF? I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING.
I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.
WE ARE SO PLEASED WITH THE WORK THAT LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE HAS BEEN DOING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN, UH, BUT ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO CAN GET ACCESS TO A GUN THAT'S NOT SECURELY STORED.
UH, IT'S BEEN A FACTOR IN THE SUICIDES THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL AS IN ACCIDENTAL DEATHS.
AND AS WAS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THIS IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OF CHILDREN IN OUR STATE.
SO ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT WILL PREVENT THESE TRAGEDIES FROM HAPPENING IS, IS GOING TO, TO REALLY CHANGE THE LIVES OF TEXANS.
AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THE WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
JUST JUST 'CAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE ALSO HAVE SOME MEDIA.
I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE AN ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TODAY TO EXTEND OUR CONTRACT WITH BLACK ARMS FOR LIFE.
AND SO I'M JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT IF THEY'RE DOING REPORTING.
UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND THIS CONTRACT UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
AND THIS WILL, THIS WILL CLOSE OUT OUR PROCLAMATION TODAY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, VISIT THE LOCK ARMS FOR LIFE WEBSITE ABOUT RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION.
AND ALSO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS INFORMATION ON THEIR WEBSITE ABOUT SURRENDERING AMMUNITION AND WEAPONS THAT YOU DON'T, YOU NO LONGER WANT TO HAVE IN THE HOUSE.
SO THERE ARE SOME RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.
YEAH, WE NORMALLY KIND OF SCOOT.
[Proclamation – Wildland Urban Interface Training Recognition Day – To be presented by Council Member Alison Alter]
MORNING.MY NAME IS ALLISON ALTER AND I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT CENTRAL AUSTIN, NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND DISTRICT 10.
AS MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT 10 KNOW WE ARE VULNERABLE IN MY AREA TO WILDFIRE.
MUCH OF THE AREAS WHERE OUR PRESERVES AND WHERE PEOPLE LIVE COME TOGETHER IN MY DISTRICT, UM, WE REFER TO THOSE AREAS AS THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE AREA, WHICH I MAY TALK ABOUT AS THE EE FOR SHORT, BUT IT'S NOT JUST MY DISTRICT IN AUSTIN.
THERE'S A RING AROUND OUR CITY IN ALL DIRECTIONS THAT FALLS IN THE EE AND AUSTIN IS ONE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY TO WILDFIRE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT WIND CAN CARRY EMBERS FOR MILES.
SO ALL OF OUR CITY, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THAT HIGH RISK AREA OR NOT, NEEDS TO BE ATTENTIVE AND PREPARE FOR THE WILDFIRE THREAT.
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AT CITY COUNCIL FOR WILDFIRE WILL KNOW THAT VERY OFTEN I TALK ABOUT HOW IS NOT JUST THE PROBLEM OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT'S EVERYONE'S FIGHT.
BUT TODAY OUR FOCUS IS ON OUR INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING PRECISELY IN OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
OUR FIREFIGHTERS NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR A WILDFIRE, WHICH WE KNOW ON THE GROUND IS GONNA LOOK AND FEEL DIFFERENT THAN A STRUCTURE FIRE.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO MARK A MAJOR MILESTONE IN THIS WORK, AND I'M JOINED BY THREE OF MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
WE HAPPEN TO BE THE THE WEST SIDE DELEGATION, BUT THE EAST SIDE IS ALSO VERY MUCH VULNERABLE TO WILDFIRES.
AND WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY, UH, CHIEF BAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO HAVE WORKED, UM, TIRELESSLY IN THIS EFFORT TO PREPARE US FOR WILDFIRE AS WELL AS BY A CM MILLS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR 22 BUDGET CYCLE.
SO BACK IN 2021, UM, I, TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES ALLOCATED FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY.
AND I WANNA THANK, UM, A FA PRESIDENT BOB NICKS AND RETIRED A FD CHIEF, UH, RANDY ZER FOR WORKING WITH ME TO LAUNCH THIS EFFORT.
SO TODAY I AM SUPER EXCITED TO SHARE THAT AS OF THIS SUMMER, EVERY
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AUSTIN FIREFIGHTER HAS COMPLETED THE RESPONDING TO THE INTERFACE TRAINING AND ADVANCED LEVEL OF WILDFIRE TRAINING.AUSTIN IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE WORLD TO PUT ALL OF ITS FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH THE RESPONDING TO THE INTERFACE CURRICULUM.
AND NOTABLY, THIS CURRICULUM WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE TIRELESS WORK OF A FA AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKING TOGETHER, UM, WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS TO ACTUALLY CREATE THIS TRAINING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN OUR CITY AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS GOT TO WORK WITH THE ASSOCIATION TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
THIS PROGRAM IS NOW BEING USED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED FROM ROLLING OUT THIS TRAINING HERE IN AUSTIN ARE HELPING OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THIS TRAINING INCLUDES CLASSROOM TRAINING AS WELL AS SIMULATIONS, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THEM OUT DOING THEIR TRAINING IN JESTER IN MY COMMUNITY.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY HOW THE PROGRAM CHALLENGED OUR FIREFIGHTERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENCES WOULD BE WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD FIGHTING A WILDFIRE VERSUS A STRUCTURE FIRE IN AUSTIN.
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, WE SEE WILDFIRES ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT THE CONDITIONS DIFFER EVEN IN AUSTIN.
THE CONDITIONS ARE GONNA DIFFER WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE WEST SIDE OR ON THE EAST SIDE.
AND OUR FIREFIGHTERS NEED TO BE PREPARED AND UNDERSTAND THIS.
I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT THE COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE BY ALL AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS IS GOING TO BOLSTER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR RESPONSE TO WILDFIRE, ENSURE BETTER PROTECTION FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
I'M SO PROUD OF OUR CITY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT A FD WILL BE SUPPORTING OTHER JURISDICTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR REGION, TO IMPLEMENT THIS LIFE-SAVING TRAINING.
AND WE'RE JOINED TODAY BY SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF A FD WHO HAVE BEEN THE TRAINERS IN THIS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS MEMBERS FROM THE WILDFIRE DIVISION WHO HAVE BEEN OVERSEEING THIS PROCESS.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION.
THIS IS GONNA BE ACCEPTED BY FIRE DIVISION CHIEF CARRIE STEWART, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANT THREAT POSED BY WILDFIRES, PARTICULARLY IN THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE WHERE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND WILDLANDS CONVERGE.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL PARTICIPATED IN DEVELOPING THE, RESPONDING TO THE INTERFACE CURRICULUM THROUGH A GROUNDBREAKING COLLABORATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, REFLECTING OUR COMMITMENT TO LEADING INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE WILDFIRE RESPONSE STRATEGIES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PROUD TO BE THE LARGEST MUNICIPALITY TO DELIVER THE RTI TRAINING TO ITS FIREFIGHTERS, THEREBY ENHANCING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN RESPONDING TO WILDFIRES.
AND WHEREAS THIS INITIATIVE HAS POSITIONED AUSTIN AS AN INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN WILDFIRE RESPONSE TRAINING WITH THE RTI PROGRAM, NOW BEING TAUGHT AND ADOPTED BY FIRE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE WORLD.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER, TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE WITH ME ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 18TH, 2024 AS WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE TRAINING RECOGNITION DAY IN AUSTIN.
IF YOU WANT TO, YES, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER AND ALL OF OUR CITY LEADERSHIP FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE RECOGNITION FOR THIS EFFORT.
I'D LIKE TO EXPAND ON A COUPLE OF THINGS AS A GREAT BACKGROUND FOR THE TRAINING ITSELF, BUT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR INSTRUCTORS AND THE WILDFIRE DIVISION FOR LEADING THIS EFFORT FOR THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
SO, DESPITE THE FACTOR, IN ADDITION TO THE, THE SHIFT WORK THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS WORK EVERY THIRD DAY, A LOT OF OUR INSTRUCTORS SACRIFICE THEIR FRIDAY NIGHTS AND THEIR MONDAY NIGHTS FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO HELP DELIVER THIS TRAINING ACROSS THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE DO HAVE SOME OF OUR INSTRUCTORS HERE TODAY, BUT IF YOU CAN CONSIDER FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS GIVING UP YOUR FRIDAYS AND YOUR MONDAYS TO TRAIN OUR FIREFIGHTERS IN THIS, THIS REALLY VALUABLE EDUCATION TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING WORLD AND OUR STRUCTURE FIREFIGHTING WORLD, IT WAS A GREAT SACRIFICE.
SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK OUR INSTRUCTORS WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO, TO HELP TAKE PART IN THIS RECOGNITION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, AT THE, THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY EFFORT THERE HAS TO BE SOMEBODY KIND OF SPEARHEADING IT AND LEADING THE CHARGE.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK CAPTAIN DOUG ELLI FROM OUR WILDFIRE DIVISION FOR KEEPING US ON SCHEDULE, FOR MAKING SURE WE HAD ALL OF OUR LOGISTICS TAKEN CARE OF, AND FOR TRULY LEADING THE INITIATIVE TO BRING THIS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TO OUR, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS, AND THEREFORE SHARING THAT WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.
MUCH APPRECIATED AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTORS AS WELL.
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GOOD MORNING[Proclamation – Grant for Technology Opportunities Program Recipients Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]
EVERYONE.MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT TWO.
I'M JOINED HERE TODAY BY WITH MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON OF DISTRICT ONE.
AND WE ARE HERE FOR THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM RECIPIENTS DAY.
IT IS AN HONOR TO CELEBRATE THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, BETTER KNOWN AS GT OS.
GTOP IS A REMARKABLE GRANT PROGRAM BY THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY DIVISION.
IT PROVIDES VITAL FUNDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, TO PROVIDE DIGITAL TRAINING, AND TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.
THESE INITIATIVES ARE CRUCIAL, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, AS THEY HELP ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IN AUSTIN CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT HAVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IS A LIFELINE IN TODAY'S AGE.
UH, TODAY WE RECOGNIZE THE INCREDIBLE EFFORTS OF THIS YEAR'S GTOP AWARDEES.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN MANY, UH, IN THE LIVES OF MANY AUSTINITES.
EACH PROJECT EXEMPLIFYING INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION AND DEDICATION.
BEFORE WE ISSUE THE PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNIZE OUR AWARDEES, I'M PROUD TO WELCOME THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, ANOVIA HOLT ROBB, WHO WILL SHARE SOME ADDITIONAL REMARKS ABOUT GT OP, ITS IMPACT AND CONNECTION.
UM, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ES AGAIN.
ANOVIA HORA, DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
AND WE ARE SO PLEASED THAT GT OS IS NOW A PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE STRIVE TO PROMOTE COMPETITIVE, SUSTAINABLE, AND EQUITABLE ECONOMY FOR ALL.
AND G OS DEFINITELY ALIGNS PERFECT WITH OUR MISSION.
GT OS IS NOT ABOUT, UH, JUST ABOUT GRANTS.
IT'S ABOUT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES AND REMOVING BARRIERS TO DIGITAL ACCESS AND LITERACY.
THESE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH THEIR RESOURCES, THEY'RE EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT.
AGAIN, WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE THINGS THAT THEY WILL BE DOING IN THE FUTURE.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THEN WE HAVE OUR DISTRICT TWO COMMISSIONER, STEVEN APODACA JOINING US TODAY FOR ALSO SOME REMARKS.
I'M THE COMMUNICATIONS AND, UH, COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS CHAIR.
WANT TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE AWARDEES? YOUR WORK IS INVALUABLE AND WE'RE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY.
THESE PROGRAMS, NOT ONLY FOSTER SKILLS, BUT ARE ALSO CREATING PATHWAYS TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
WHAT ARE, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR THE VIBRANT, UH, VIBRANT AND EX AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY? WE'RE MOVING CLOSER TO A VISION WHERE ALL CITIZENS OF AUSTIN CAN HAVE INTERNET ACCESS TO DEVICES AND KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO THRIVE IN OUR DIGITAL AGE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION BEING SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY'S PROGRESS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND DIRECTOR HOLT RAB FOR THEIR INSPIRING WORDS AND WEAVERING SUPPORT FOR OUR DIGITAL COMMUNITY.
NOW LET'S CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR G OS AWARDEES WITH A GROUP PHOTO TO COMMEMORATE THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.
UM, BEFORE WE DO THE GROUP PHO OH YES,
SO BE IT KNOWN THAT WHERE AS THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, THE GT OS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO BRINGING, TO BRIDGING THE DIGITAL EQUITY GAP, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WITHIN AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THE DILIGENT WORK OF GTOP S THE DIGITAL DIVIDE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY ENSURING ACCESS TO NECESSARY TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN DIGITAL LITERACY, THEREBY EMPOWERING THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND FACILITATING THEIR FULL PARTICIPATION AND OUR INCREASINGLY DIGITAL SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS THE RECIPIENT OF THE G OS GRANT THROUGH THEIR INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE TAKEN MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARDS ENSURING THAT ALL RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S GTOP GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE COMMITTED TO FURTHER CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE THROUGH A RANGE OF IMPACTFUL INITIATIVES, IMPROVING SENIOR DIGITAL ACCESS, TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO CODE AI CHATBOTS, DIGITAL MENTORING FOR MARGINALIZED ARTISTS, AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER CREATIVE AND EMPOWERING PROJECTS.
AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION FOR THEIR COMMENDABLE WORK, THE GT OP GRANT RECIPIENTS HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR CITY CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO A MORE EQUITABLE DIGITAL FUTURE FOR ALL AUSTINITES.
NOW THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA SHEAD ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 18TH, 2024, AS THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
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RECIPIENT DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.AND, UM, SPECIFICALLY I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR'S G OS AWARDEES, WHICH ARE THE AUSTIN GROUPS FOR THE ELDERLY, THE AUSTIN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, CHANGING EXPECTATIONS, CREATIVE ACTION BREAKTHROUGH, THE NON PEREL INSTITUTE, AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT, JUNTOS LEARNING CENTER, LA E FOUR YOUTH, THE MUSEUM FOR HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT, AND THE JOI COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
[Proclamation – Disability Pride Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison.]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M NATASHA HARPER MADISON, THE PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE FOR THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I AM TRULY PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO HONOR THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND IDENTITIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ON BEHALF OF MY OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, AND JUST SORT OF A, A SPECIAL CAVEAT AS A PERSON WHO IDENTIFIES AS DIFFERENTLY ABLED, UM, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY EXTREMELY CAPABLE, I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT AND RECOGNIZE FOLKS WHO DO IT ANYWAY EVERY DAY.
AND THAT, AND THAT BEING SAID, THIS CELEBRATION SERVES AS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR INCLUSIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'LL GIVE YOU, UM, A SLIGHT ANECDOTE, AND THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO WATCH OUT FOR.
WE HAVE A CONSTITUENT WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO GO AND SEE A RAP SHOW.
YOU KNOW HOW I LOVE RAP? AND SHE COULDN'T ACCESS THE VENUE BECAUSE THE ELEVATOR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WAS BEING USED FOR BIKE STORAGE.
UPON HER ASKING MANAGEMENT TO REMOVE THE BIKES, SHE WAS OFFERED A PIGGYBACK RIDE.
I WON'T CALL NAMES, BUT I WILL SAY NO PERSON WITH MOBILITY ISSUES IN THIS CITY SHOULD EVER BE OFFERED A PIGGYBACK RIDE AS OPPOSED TO ACCESS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE TO ENJOY A SHOW IN THE HEART OF WHAT WE CALL THE CAPITAL, THE CAPITAL CITY OF TEXAS THAT REPRESENTS LIVE MUSIC RIGHT HERE.
AND AUSTIN, WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN FOSTERING A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS AND UPLIFTS EVERY INDIVIDUAL REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITIES.
MY HOPE IS THAT THIS DAY IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY DAYS AND THE MANY WAYS THAT THE CITY CAN SHOW UP AND DEMONSTRATE OUR TRUE AND ONGOING COMMITMENT TO CREATING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, UM, WHERE EVERYONE CAN NOT JUST SURVIVE BUT THRIVE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO VILLA, UM, UH, AN OUTSTANDING AUSTIN BORN NONPROFIT THAT HAS BEEN MAKING TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCES SINCE 2011.
VELAS VISION IS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES CAN THRIVE THROUGH THEIR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING.
THEY PROVIDE PARENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE, EMPOWERMENT, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
THEY NEED TO BECOME THEIR CHILD'S GREATEST ADVOCATES.
VELAS MOTTO THROUGH THE PARENT FOR THE CHILD, TRULY ENCAPSULATES THEIR MISSION.
WHEN A FAMILY RECEIVES THE NEWS THAT THEIR CHILD HAS A DISABILITY, IT CAN BE LIFE ALTERING.
VELA STEPS IN TO BRIDGE THE GAP, OFFERING INTERACTIVE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE COURSES, AS WELL AS WRAPAROUND SERVICES AS THE MOM OF A KID WHO'S ALSO DIFFERENTLY ABLED.
WE IDENTIFIED A SPEECH DELAY EARLY ON AND THE FOLKS WHO SHOWED UP TO HELP US THROUGH THAT OFFERED ME SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I NEEDED.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU AS A PARENT, WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOUR CHILD IS DIFFERENTLY ABLED, YOU'VE CONVINCED YOURSELF THAT ONE, SOMEHOW IT'S ABOUT YOU.
AND TWO, SOMEHOW YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG.
THAT TAKES AWAY THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCLUSIVELY DEDICATE YOURSELF TO THE ADVOCACY FOR A CHILD WHO'S PERFECTLY CAPABLE AT WHATEVER LEVEL THAT WE ESTABLISH THROUGH INTERACTION AND THROUGH TRAINING WITH PARENTS, UM, WHAT YOUR KID CAN DO.
UM, THAT SAID, WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND I WILL NOW TAKE THIS MOMENT TO READ THE PROCLAMATION IN FULL, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE MONTH OF JULY IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH AND CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCY, ACHIEVEMENTS AND HISTORY OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS JULY WAS CHOSEN TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSAGE OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT,
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THE LANDMARK LAW THAT PROTECTS THE RIGHTS AND STATUS OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.AND WHEREAS THE DISABLED COMMUNITY IS BOTH VAST AND EXTREMELY DIVERSE, WITH ROUGHLY ONE IN FOUR ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES, LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL.
AND WHEREAS DISABLED FOLKS STILL FACE DISCRIMINATION TO THIS VERY DAY.
AND WHILE WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR RIGHTS AND THEIR DIGNITY, WE ALSO OUGHT TO TAKE THE TIME TO CELEBRATE THEIR PRESENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND POWER.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DO OFFICIALLY HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 18TH, 2024 AS DISABILITY PRIDE DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
CONGRATULATIONS EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SHARE A FEW REMARKS? SURE, I WOULD.
I SHOULD PROBABLY PRESENT THIS TO YOU WHEN THEY CONCLUDE.
UM, WELL MY NAME IS NATAL CASTILLO.
I PROUDLY REPRESENT BELLA TODAY, A NONPROFIT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN BECOMING THEIR CHILD'S GREATEST ADVOCATES.
TODAY I WANT TO SHARE A BIT OF MY JOURNEY WITH MY INCREDIBLE DAUGHTER, MARIANA.
SHE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE NICU OR THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AFTER BEING BORN WITH AN UNDIAGNOSED CONDITION.
AFTER NUMEROUS, UH, TESTS AND CHALLENGING MEDICAL DECISIONS, SHE WAS, UH, FINALLY ABLE TO COME HOME WITH A TRACH EVENT AND A G-TUBE, UM, TO SUPPORT HER IN LIVING HER BEST QUALITY OF LIFE DESPITE THE CONSTANT OBSTACLES WE FACED DUE TO HER CONDITION.
I EMBRACED MY ROLE AS A SPECIAL NEEDS PARENT AND BECAME HER ADVOCATE AND VOICE.
HER STRENGTH AND RE AND RESILIENCE INSPIRED ME DAILY TEACHING ME THE PROFOUND IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCACY.
AT VELA, WE EMPOWER PARENTS TO BECOME THEIR, UH, CHILD'S GREAT GREATEST ADVOCATES, ENSURING THEY RECEIVE THE SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE.
AND WE FOCUS ON DISABILITY TODAY.
LET'S, UH, LET'S TRY TO, UH, STRIVE FOR GREATER VISIBILITY, INCLUSION, AND IMPROVE SYSTEMS. UM, OUR GOAL IS FOR FAMILY TO ACCESS THEIR RESOURCES, COMMUNITY AND SERVICES THEY NEED AND SERVE WITHOUT SO MUCH UNNECESSARY STRUGGLE.
I'M GONNA OFFER THE PRESENTATION AND I THINK THERE'S A VERY TALL GENTLEMAN.