* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] GOOD MORNING [Distinguished Service Award – Robin Campos – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool] EVERYBODY. I'M MAYOR PRO TEM LESLIE POOLE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. REALLY EXCITED TODAY TO BE HERE TO PRESENT A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO ROBIN CAMPOS. AND I WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO READ THIS PROCLAMATIONS AND THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD HERE YOU CAN, YOU CAN HOLD ONTO THAT. UM, I WANNA OFFER CONGRATULATIONS TO ROBIN ON HER RETIREMENT. AFTER 23 REMARKABLE YEARS WITH THE AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT, ROBIN BEGAN HER JOURNEY AS A COURT CLERK ASSOCIATE IN RECORDS. AND THROUGH HER DEDICATION AND HARD WORK, SHE PROGRESSED TO ROLES IN CUSTOMER SERVICE COLLECTIONS, WHICH IS NOW CALLED COMPLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS, COURTROOM SUPPORT AND CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT, EVENTUALLY RETURNING TO COMMUNICATIONS, ROBIN IS RENOWNED FOR HER FRIENDLY DEMEANOR, PROFESSIONALISM, AND THAT EVER PRESENT SMILE. AS SHE EMBARKS ON A NEW CHAPTER OF SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY AND ENJOYING RELAXATION, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR HER INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS. WISHING ROBIN, ALL THE BEST IN HER WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. THANK YOU. NOW I'LL READ THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD AND IF THERE ARE SOME OF YOUR, UM, COMPADRES HERE WHO YOU'D LIKE TO INVITE UP TO STAND WITH YOU, MY HUSBAND. WELL, WE WILL BRING YOUR HUSBAND UP. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. SO THIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, LET'S DISPLAY THIS FOR EVERYBODY. IT'S, IT'S QUITE A BEAUTIFUL DOCUMENT IS, UM, THIS IS FOR ROBIN FOR HER UNTIRING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR CITIZENS. DURING HER 23 YEAR TENURE, AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE AUSTIN MUNICIPAL COURT, ROBIN CAMPOS IS DESERVING OF PUBLIC ACCLAIM AND RECOGNITION. ROBIN'S DIVERSIFIED EXPERIENCE, EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TEAMWORK MADE HER AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF THE COURT. HER COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING LEGAL INFORMATION TO THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN AND HER ASSISTANCE TO COURT STAFF ARE EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF HER DEDICATION TO MUNICIPAL, TO MUNICIPAL COURT, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN. SHE WILL BE GENUINELY MISSED. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 29TH DAY OF AUGUST IN THE YEAR 2024. CONGRATULATIONS ROBIN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. 23 YEARS IS VERY IMPRESSIVE. YOU SHOW US PICTURE OVER HERE, IF YOU MIND. COOL. YEP. AND IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS JOIN, MARY JANE. DO YOU? [Proclamation – Joy Diaz Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. AS A FIERCE SUPPORTER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE COUNTLESS MOVERS AND SHAKERS BEHIND THE SCENES EVERY DAY, MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS, PARENTS, TEACHERS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO THRIVE. AND TODAY WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO HONOR ONE OF THEM. JOY, A LATINA POWERHOUSE WHO IS TRANSFORMING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. JOY BELIEVES THAT WHEN WE ADDRESS A FAMILY'S BASIC NEEDS, THEY SUCCEED HER. HER EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN HISTORY AS A LONGTIME COMMUNITY ADVOCATE IS EVIDENT IN THE WORK SHE ACCOMPLISHED AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT AT AUSTIN ISD. AND I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE, TO BE HERE TO HONOR HER TODAY AS SHE IS A PERSONAL FRIEND AND SOMEBODY THAT I ASPIRE TO BE LIKE. AND, AND WITH THAT I GET TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS JOY DIAZ HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT SHE IS A REVOLUTIONARY FORCE FOR GOOD, HER UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENT AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO THE POSITIVE IMPACT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN MAKE THROUGH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEREAS DURING THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR, JOY'S V VISIONARY LEADERSHIP EXPANDED THE PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM TO COVER EVERY SCHOOL IN AUSTIN, IN, IN THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ENSURE THAT ALL FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO, TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED. AND THE SAFETY NET. CREATED BY OUR AMAZING PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST, JOY ADVOCATED FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDING TO SECURE FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL PARENT SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS. AND WHEREAS THROUGH HER TIRELESS EFFORTS AND EXPERTISE, JOY HAS MADE HI MADE HISTORY AND ENSURED THAT COUNTLESS FAMILIES CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE CELEBRATION OF THEIR LOVED ONES ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS [00:05:01] BY REMOVING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER WHEN THEY WERE PROVIDED INTERPRETATION AT ALL. COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES, HER CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE INCLUSIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF GRADUATION CEREMONIES, ALLOWING FOR A MORE EQUITABLE AND DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT. AND WHEREAS JOY'S RIPPLE EFFECTS, UH, RIPPLE EFFECTS CHALLENGE WHAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE GREATER GOOD AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILIES ARE BENEFITED, ARE BENEFITED THANKS TO THE WORK THAT JOY DOES TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL, UH, THAT WE ARE ALL ONE MM-HMM. NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 29TH, 2024 AS JOY DIAZ DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. OH, SO BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? YES. JUST, JUST A FEW. I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING. AND THE WAY I AM GONNA START IS NOT GONNA SOUND LIKE A JOY DAY BECAUSE I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT MY PARENTS DIED RATHER YOUNG AND THEY DIED OF CANCER. AND CANCER AND DEATH DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE A PLACE IN A JOYFUL DAY, BUT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY MAKE ME, UM, WORK WITH INTENSITY, WITH PURPOSE, AND WITH FOCUS. I WANT TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD, BUT I CANNOT DO ANYTHING. I AM LIKE A DYNAMITE STICK BY ITSELF. BUT WITH THIS TEAM, WITH THAT TEAM THAT IS OVER THERE, I FEEL INVINCIBLE. I FEEL LIKE THE DREAMS OF MY CHILDHOOD TO CHANGE THE WORLD ARE SUPER POSSIBLE BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND PEOPLE LIKE EACH OF YOU IN MY CORNER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE A JOYFUL DAY. . WHERE GUYS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SINCE A LARGE GROUP, IF YOU WANNA STAND, JOY, WE'LL PUT YOU RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. OKAY? ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE PHOTO, PLEASE STEP IN WITH MM-HMM. [Certificates of Recognition – Recipients of the City of Austin’s Grant for Technology Opportunities Program Pathways Mini and Capacity – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT OF THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS GT OS AND RECOGNIZING VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. GOS IS A GAME CHANGER HERE IN AUSTIN, ENSURING THAT EVERY RESIDENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, HAS DIGITAL TOOLS AND ACCESS THAT THEY NEED TO SEE TO SUCCEED IN TODAY'S WORLD. BY FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BREAKING BARRIERS, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD A MORE CONNECTED AND A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY. TODAY WE'RE EXCITED TO HONOR THE DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF THIS YEAR'S G OS MINI AND CAPACITY GRANT. RECIPIENTS GTOP MINI-GRANT EMPOWER ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, PROVIDE DIGITAL TRAINING, AND EXPAND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WHILE GT OS CAPACITY MICROGRANTS HELP NONPROFITS BOOST THEIR TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND STAFF TRAINING. AND THESE RECIPIENTS AREN'T JUST OFFERING THEIR SERVICES, THEY'RE DRIVING REAL CHANGE THAT HELP US CULTIVATE A MORE EQUITABLE CITY. IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE, SO, EXCUSE ME. SYNOVIA HORA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHO WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW G OS ARE TYING INTO THE BROADER GOALS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN. PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR DIRECTOR SYLVIA ANOVIA HOL LAB. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER. I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS OF OUR G OS AWARDEES AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER A ROBUST, EQUITABLE, AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN AUSTIN. SO G OS IS MORE THAN JUST A GRANT PROGRAM. IT IS A VITAL PART OF OUR STRATEGY TO ENHANCE DIGITAL INCLUSION AND EMPOWER ALL AUSTINITES BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER DIGITAL TRAINING AND EXPAND INTERNET ACCESS. WE ARE HELPING TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO DIGITAL PARTICIPATION AND BUILD A STRONGER AND MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. OUR DEPARTMENT'S KEY PRIORITIES INCLUDE SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND COMMUNITY VITALITY. G OS [00:10:01] DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTES TO EACH OF THESE OBJECTIVES BY PROVIDING SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY ACCESS NECESSARY FOR INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS BUSINESSES TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN OUR ECONOMY. WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF EACH OF THE G TOPS RECIPIENTS TODAY. YOUR WORK DEFINITELY IS LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR FUTURE WHERE DIGITAL EQUITY IS A REALITY FOR ALL TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING STRIDES TOWARD A MORE INCLUSIVE DIGITAL ECONOMY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR DEDICATION FOR BEING SUCH A VITAL PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT. NOW I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. SO LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE GT OS MINI AWARDEES. WE HAVE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR THEIR SMALL BUSINESS TECH CLINIC. WE HAVE LA FOR FAMILY TECH LITERACY AND EXPLORATION. YES, WE HAVE ART SPARK TEXAS FOR THEIR TRUE TALES BY DISABILITY ADVOCATES INITIATIVE. WE HAVE THE MUSEUM FOR HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT FOR THEIR WELCOME TO MY HOMEPAGE DIGITAL ARTIST RESIDENCY, CHANGING EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR WORK IN CREATING AI CHATBOTS WITH MICROSOFT CO-PILOT STUDIO AND E FOUR YOUTH FOR DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR EDUCATORS. AND NOW TO CELEBRATE GT O'S CAPACITY MICRO GRANT AWARDEES, WE HAVE CHANGING EXPECTATIONS CORE FOR BUILDING CAPACITY FOR CHANGING EXPECTATIONS. SIA, FOR THE EXPANSION OF SENIOR SERVICES FOR EQUITABLE REQUESTS, BUILD OUT THE MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXPANDING SMALL MARKETING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT FOR THEIR AWARENESS TO EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, BRAVE COMMUNITIES FOR THEIR OPERATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION LA FOR THEIR OPERATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION, TEXAS FOLKLIFE RESOURCES FOR THEIR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE ENHANCEMENT. BLACK MAMAS VILLAGE FOR BUILDING A DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM FOR EQUITY. AUSTIN FREENET FOR THEIR OPERATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION AND THE ECONOMIC GROWTH BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR THEIR PROGRAM CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT FUND. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR G OS MINI AND CAPACITY AWARDEES. PLEASE GIMME ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE INCREDIBLE AWARDEES. I'LL NOW HAND IT OVER TO A DISTRICT TWO COMMUNITY LEADER, STEVEN APODACA, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS STEVEN AKA AND I'M CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND HONOR THIS YEAR'S GTOP PS AWARDEES. YOUR DEDICATION TO DIGITAL INCLUSION AND EDUCATION IS INVALUABLE TO THE COMMUNITY. I DO JUST WANNA TALK ABOUT A FEW, UH, QUANTITATIVE METRICS, SOME REALLY IMPRESSIVE DATA THAT REFLECTS THE IMPACTS OF GTOP PS SINCE THIS INCEPTION, THE GTOP S MINI PATHWAY HAS AWARDED 21 GRANTS TO 11 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS TOTALING $210,000. THE GTOP S CAPACITY PATHWAY HAS PROVIDED 77 GRANTS TO 38 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A TOTAL FUNDING OF $185,000. AND THIS YEAR ALONE, WE'VE INCREASED OUR SUPPORT WITH SIX MINI GRANT RECIPIENTS AND 10 CAPACITY GRANT RECIPIENTS THANKS TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CITY COUNCIL FOR, FOR SUPPORTING ALL OF THAT. UM, THESE FIGURES REPRESENT MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS THAT REFLECT LIVES CHANGED, OPPORTUNITIES CREATED AND FUTURES TRANSFORMED IN THE CENTRAL TEXAS REGION. UH, THE WORK OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IS REALLY ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT EVERY AUSTIN RESIDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EACH OF THE AWARDEES FOR YOUR DEDICATION, ADVANCING DIGITAL EQUITY. I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, THE REST OF THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTOR HALT ROB FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THEIR VITAL OF THIS VITAL PROGRAM. SO WITH THAT, UH, I BELIEVE IT'S TIME TO WE GET TOGETHER AND TAKE A PICTURE. THANK YOU ALL PHOTO WITH THE CERTIFICATE. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US? YEAH, I'M THINKING RIGHT HERE. [00:15:24] THANK YOU. [Proclamation – Mentor-Connect Day – To be presented by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly] GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MACKENZIE KELLY AND I'M THE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SIX IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHICH IS FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND HAPPENS TO BE THE HOME OF THESE INTELLIGENT AND WONDERFUL GENTLEMEN WHO ARE STANDING HERE NEXT TO ME TODAY. THEY ARE FOUR GREAT, UM, FELLOW WESTWOOD STUDENTS. I'M A GRADUATE OF WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY'RE ALSO AT WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ARE, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO FOUNDED A GROUP CALLED MENTOR CONNECT. AND THROUGH MENTOR CONNECT THEY BRING VALUABLE RESOURCES AND MENTORSHIP TO OTHER STUDENTS, PROVIDE CLASS TUTORING AND HELP STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH. THEIR WORK HAS ALSO CONNECTED THEM TO SEVERAL NONPROFITS ACROSS TEXAS TO FURTHER THEIR INVALUABLE WORK. AND WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THEM TODAY. I GOT TO KNOW THESE GENTLEMEN THROUGH, UM, THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE IN MY OFFICE AND I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO AND INSPIRE OTHERS THROUGH THEIR DEDICATION IN HELPING FELLOW STUDENTS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR HARD WORK HAS CAUGHT MORE THAN OUR ATTENTION TO, AND I'M ACTUALLY REALLY HAPPY TO SAY, UM, AS A SURPRISE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS GIVEN YOU ALL AN AWARD AS WELL, WHICH I'LL PRESENT TO YOU SHORTLY AFTER I GIVE, WHEN I READ, UM, THIS MENTOR CONNECT DAY PROCLAMATION. AND SO WE ARE DECLARING TODAY MENTOR CONNECT DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN THE HONOR OF ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS DO. OUR PROCLAMATION SAYS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS STEVEN SPIELBERG ONCE SAID, THE DELICATE BALANCE OF MENTORING SOMEONE IS NOT CREATING THEM IN YOUR OWN IMAGE, BUT GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THEMSELVES. AND WHEREAS THE ACT OF VOLUNTEERING CULTIVATES EMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING, AND SOLIDARITY AMONG DIVERSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, BRIDGING DIVIDES AND FOSTERING A MORE INCLUSIVE AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY. AND WHEREAS FORMED IN 2003 BY HIGH SCHOOLERS ADAM MENEZ, NRU, SORRY, I'M SO, I'M NOT GOOD AT SAYING NAMES. UM, URA AND ARJUN RAJAN MENTOR CONNECT SERVES AS A WAY FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FUTURE CAREERS AND WHEREAS MENTOR CONNECT NOT ONLY CONNECT STUDENTS WITH MENTORS AND SERVING OPPORTUNITIES, BUT ALSO EMPOWERS THEM TO PURSUE THEIR ASPIRATIONS, EQUIPPING THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE NEEDED TO SUCCEED IN THEIR FUTURE CAREERS. AND WHEREAS THESE WONDERFUL WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WANTED A GROUP BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS TO HELP THEM WITH JOB AND COLLEGE APPLICATIONS. AND MENTOR CONNECT HAS GROWN TO OFFER ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE TUTORING THAT HAS HELPED OVER 1,200 STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS IN BRAZIL, INDIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA. AND WHEREAS WORKING WITH NONPROFITS SUCH AS ANGEL HOUSE SOUP KITCHEN, DRESSED FOR SUCCESS AND LADDERS FOR LEADERS MENTOR CONNECT WORKS TO CONNECT STUDENTS WITH MENTORS AND SERVING OPPORTUNITIES. AND WHEREAS THE TEAM ARE ALL RECIPIENTS OF THE PRESTIGIOUS PRESIDENTS VOLUNTEERS SERVICE AWARDEES FOR PUTTING IN OVER 600 HOURS PER YEAR COLLECTIVELY AS A TEAM FOR HELPING THEIR COMMUNITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, I AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MACKENZIE KELLY, ALONG WITH MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS YOU CAN GET IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. Y'ALL, UM, AUGUST 29TH, 2024 AS MENTOR CONNECT DAY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PROCLAMATION THAT WILL BE IN OUR HISTORY FOR THE REST OF TIME. SO CONGRATULATIONS GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO SAY ANY WORDS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? THAT'S OKAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO. SO I'M GONNA GIVE OUT PROCLAMATIONS TO ALL OF YOU IN HONOR OF THIS AND THEN MY TEAM IS GOING TO BRING OVER, UM, SOME AWARDS FROM JOE BIDEN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. SO THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, HE WAS BUSY TODAY AND COULD NOT MAKE IT. SO I WILL BE GIVING THIS TO YOU. UM, AS YOU KNOW, OUR PRESIDENT IS A VERY BUSY GENTLEMAN. UM, THEY'VE GIVEN MENTOR CONNECT THE GOLD RECOGNITION OF THE PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD BY AMERICORPS IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN OUR NATION AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH VOLUNTEER SERVICE. THERE'S THAT ONE. ADAM HERE IS YOURS. IT IS A BRONZE AWARD. ADAM, RIGHT HERE. THANK YOU SHARA. HERE YOU GO, ARJUN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND HERE YOU GO. CONGRATULATIONS GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A HUGE HONOR. I'M SO GLAD TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THOSE AWARDS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO THAT [00:20:01] IS SO SELFLESS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS. UM, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP AND BEING AT WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, I KNOW HOW COMPETITIVE IT IS. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HELPING THOSE AROUND YOU BE BETTER LEADERS. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE. SO IF YOU WANNA, DO WE WANNA DO IT HERE OR OVER THERE? LET'S DO IT RIGHT HERE. OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.