[Proclamation – Vaccines For Children – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes]
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PROUD TO SERVE AS MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M HERE TODAY JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER BERT CRYSTAL LANE.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY, FEW ADVANCES HAVE BEEN AS REVOLUTIONARY OR AS LIFESAVING AS VACCINES.
THEY'VE HELPED ERADICATE DEADLY VIRUSES AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR FAMILIES, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR CHILDREN.
AND TODAY, WE'RE HONORED TO CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE AND HEALTHY, WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE THEIR VACCINATIONS ON TIME, ESPECIALLY THE MMR VACCINE, AS WE SEE A RISE ACROSS TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
A RISE IN MEASLES ACROSS TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THANK YOU TO THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH IMMUNIZATIONS UNIT AND OUR INCREDIBLE PARTNERS HERE AT THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC, AUSTIN DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC AND COMMUNITY CARE FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
NOW, I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND I'LL YOU ONTO THIS.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS SINCE 1994, THE NATIONAL VACCINES FOR CHILDREN VFC PROGRAM HAS PARTNERED WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT VACCINES FOR THE UNINSURED, UNDERINSURED, AND MEDICAID ENROLLED CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION LAUNCHED THE VFC PROGRAM FOLLOWING A 1989 TO 1991 MEASLES OUTBREAK TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN COULD HAVE ACCESS TO FREE VACCINES.
AND WHEREAS IN THE PAST YEAR ALONE, THE VFC DISTRIBUTED 74 MILLION FREE VACCINES DOSES TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTHCARE PARTNERS NATIONWIDE.
AND WHEREAS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS HERE IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, OUR PROVIDERS HAVE RECEIVED OVER 3 MILLION FREE VACCINE DOSES VALUED AT MORE THAN $215 MILLION FOR ELIGIBLE ELIGIBLE CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS THE VFC PROGRAM HAS HELPED THE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH EXPAND OUR VACCINATION EFFORTS, INCLUDING THE MOBILE VACCINATION PROGRAM AND SHOTS FOR TOTS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THOSE, UH, SERVICES CAME IN CLUTCH DURING COVID AND WHEREAS AN APPRECIATION FOR THE PROGRAM PROTECTING CHILDREN AGAINST VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES, AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE VFC PROVIDERS ACROSS AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND WITHIN OUR OWN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.
I MAYOR PRETEND VANESSA FUENTES, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER TARA, SHE MADISON, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHRIS DE LANE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 27TH, 2025 AS VACCINES FOR CHILDREN DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF OVER 70 VFC PROVIDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING COMMUNITY CARE WHO IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
WE NEED OUR PARTNERS TO HELP US PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEM.
LET'S SMILE RIGHT HERE FOR OUR BIG GROUP PHOTO.
[Proclamation – The Healing Project – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
AUSTIN, TEXAS COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON HERE ON THIS FINE THURSDAY MORNING PREPARING TO DO SOMETHING THAT I COULDN'T SLEEP IN PREPARATION FOR.UM, WE GET TO RECOGNIZE A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY THIS MORNING, AND I DON'T THINK WE DO IT OFTEN ENOUGH.
UM, AND WHEN WE DO, WE SOMETIMES FORGET ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE KONA.
AND, UM, I
I DON'T RECOMMEND 10 OUTTA 10, DON'T
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RECOMMEND.BUT I WILL SAY THAT SHE WAS OUT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE WERE THROWING WATERS AND DIAPERS AND CLOTHES AND FOOD AND JUST MAKING SURE THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WERE ALL RIGHT.
AND IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME LOCKING EYES TOGETHER AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IT BY HOW WE WERE EMBRACING AND THROWING STUFF AROUND TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE HARDEST TIMES WHERE WE REMEMBER JUST HOW MUCH WE'RE ALIKE AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
AND JUST HOW MUCH WE NEED EACH OTHER.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, EVERYBODY, I AM AUSTIN, CITY OF AUSTIN, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER.
MADISON JOINED THIS MORNING BY SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES, WHICH I'M SO PROUD TO SEE Y'ALL JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE HAVE, UH, OUR MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE JOINING US THIS MORNING IN RECOGNITION OF NIKA ARNOLD IN THE HEALING PROJECT.
IT IS MY HONOR TO STAND HERE TODAY AND RECOGNIZE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN AT THE, AT THE FOREFRONT OF WHAT ORGANIZING AS A COMMUNITY EFFECTIVELY AND PRODUCTIVELY LOOKS LIKE.
IT HAS BEEN A MOVEMENT FOR EQUITY, FOR COMPASSION, AND FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE.
THE HEALING PROJECT THROUGH THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE HELPED UNHOUSED AND LOW INCOME AUSTIN NEIGHBORS NAVIGATE CRITICAL RESOURCES FROM HOUSING SUPPORTS AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD ACCESS AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
THE WORK DOESN'T STOP AT MEETING IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
BY PROVIDING A FOOD PANTRY, A CLOTHING CLOSET, AND EVEN A DIAPER DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, THE HEALING PROJECT ENSURES THAT FAMILIES THAT ARE FACING HARDSHIPS HAVE THE TOOLS TO BUILD STABILITY AND SECURITY.
THEIR COMMITMENT TO ADVOCACY AND DIRECT AND TO DIRECT SERVICE HAS STRENGTHENED THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR FAIR CITY.
WE KNOW THAT CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE AUSTIN TAKES ALL OF US.
IT TAKES ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE HEALING PROJECT.
IT TAKES LEADERS LIKE NIKA ARNOLD WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY WITH COMPASSION, WITH VISION, WITH DEDICATION.
AND MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND I THINK WE SLEEP ON THIS ON A AS ADVOCATES SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS OOZING POSITIVITY.
DON'T FORGET TO BRING THE SMOKE, BE MAD, STAY MAD.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK THIS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S OKAY AND LIVING A LIFE THAT HAS HIGH VALUE IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF.
YOU SHOULD BE MAD, BE MAD, STAY MAD.
BUT AS YOU DO IT, RECOGNIZE THAT WITHIN THAT MADNESS YOU DON'T LOSE YOURSELF.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE THE KIND OF COMMUNITY SURROUNDING YOU TO KEEP YOU WHOLE AND KEEP YOU SAFE.
TODAY IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE THE HEALING PROJECT FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIRELESS COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU TO UPLIFTING AUSTINITES, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS WELL DESERVED HONOR.
AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, THANK, HERE COMES THE OFFICIAL STUFF, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE HEALING PROJECT IS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN NONPROFIT THAT HELPS UNHOUSED AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS NAVIGATE AND SECURE SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
AND WHEREAS THE HEALING PROJECT PROVIDES HOUSING, SUPPORTS, FOOD ASSISTANCE, HEALTHCARE ACCESS, AND MORE TO MARGINALIZED AUSTINITES AS A PART OF ITS CORE MISSION.
AND WHEREAS THE FOUR INCREDIBLE YEARS, THE HEALING PROJECT HAS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN HELPING AUSTINITES NOT JUST GET BY, BUT SUCCEED AND THRIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONG WITH MAYOR KIRK WATSON, MY COLLEAGUES PRESENT TODAY AND THOSE WHO JOIN US ON THE DAY IS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM.
MARCH 27TH, 2020, 2025 AS HEALING PROJECT DAY AND AUSTIN.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? I WOULD.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PRESENT THIS TO YOU.
THIS GUY HERE'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE A PICTURE.
UM, PLEASE CAN, CAN WE CALL THAT INDIVIDUAL IN? I KNOW WE LIVE, BUT BRING THAT YOUNG MAN IN PLEASE.
UM, HOW Y'ALL DOING ON CAMERA, RIGHT? WE ON CP TOM, Y'ALL GOD, TOM.
UM, HOW Y'ALL DOING? I'M NIKA ARNOLD.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE HEALING PROJECT.
I'M A BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE.
I'M A STUDENT, I'M A MOTHER, I'M A LEADER.
UM, AND, UM, THIS IS JUST BASICALLY A RECEIPT OF DOING GOD'S WORK AND WE ARE WHO WE SERVE.
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THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
DO YOU WANT US RIGHT HERE? YEAH, LET'S DO A GROUP.
[Proclamation – Nowruz Day – To be presented by Council Member José “Chito” Vela]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.AND, UH, HAPPY NO RUS, UH, PIRUS.
RUS IS THE, UH, IRANIAN HOLIDAY, A A SPRING FESTIVAL OF, UH, RENEWAL AND, UH, REBIRTH AND, AND LIFE.
AND WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION THE OTHER DAY, UH, HERE AT, UH, CITY HALL WITH A A HALF SCENE TABLE, UH, FEATURING THE, UH, WE HAD MUSIC WITH A SATAR AND TOMBA, UH, INSTRUMENTS AND DANCING BY THE, UH, ALIYAH GROUP.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION, UH, OF TREATS, UH, AND, AND, AND JUST A LOT OF, UH, FUN.
AND TODAY WE'RE HERE TO, UH, READ A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF, UH, N RU'S DAY, UH, AND TO CELEBRATE THE, UH, PERSIAN COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN.
I, I HAVE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE AUSTIN IRANIAN PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION AND THEIR DIRECTOR, UH, MANAS VA DAY.
UH, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT IN AN ORGANIZING, THE, THE EVENT AND, AND THE CELEBRATION.
UH, AND, UH, IT, IT'S JUST BEEN A JOY, UH, INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY, CELEBRATING WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND, AND, AND JUST GETTING TO KNOW EVERYONE.
AND LET ME ACTUALLY BACK UP JUST A SECOND.
I'M, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CHITO VELA, UH, REPRESENTING DISTRICT FOUR, ALONG WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.
COUNCIL MEMBER KRISTA LANE FROM DISTRICT SIX.
COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON FROM DISTRICT ONE, AND COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES FROM DISTRICT TWO.
THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THIS, UH, CELEBRATION.
AND, UH, LET ME ASK, UH, MANAS TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
I'M NOT GOOD AT IT AT PUBLIC SPEAKING.
WELL, IT'S STILL, IT'S A, A PLEASURE.
AND, AND, UH, UH, UH, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET INTO THE PROCLAMATION THEN, AND I'LL, I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION AND, UH, AND, AND, UH, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
SO NO NARU DAY PROCLAMATION BE IT KNOWN THAT RAZ, NO RU MEANING NEW DAY, IS AN ANCIENT PERSIAN CELEBRATION THAT MARKS THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PERSIAN NEW YEAR, OBSERVED BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE.
AND WHEREAS NRU IS A TIME OF RENEWAL, REFLECTION AND HOPE, SYMBOLIZING THEMES OF UNITY, HARMONY, AND NEW BEGINNINGS THROUGH TRADITIONS SUCH AS SETTING THE HALF SCENE TABLE, VISITING LOVED ONES, AND CELEBRATING WITH MUSIC, DANCE, AND CULTURAL FESTIVITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE IRANIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN ENRICHING THE CITY'S DIVERSITY AND FOSTERING CROSS-CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES AND HONORS THE SPIRIT OF NRU AS A CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE, INCLUSIVITY, AND THE SHARED VALUES OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY THAT BRING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER CHITO VELA ON BEHALF OF ALL MY COLLEAGUES, UH, ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 20TH, 2025, AS NO RULES DAY IN AUSTIN.
AND AGAIN, THANK Y'ALL, UH, UH, SO MUCH, UH, MOJI, I DUNNO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANY WORDS.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND HOSTING US.
UM, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION THE OTHER DAY.
WE WERE HONORED TO BE HERE AND TO SHARE OUR BEAUTIFUL CULTURE WITH YOU ALL.
I THINK MORE THAN EVER, UM, WE REALLY NEED TO EMBRACE THE DIVERSITY THAT WE SEE IN OUR CITY AND THE BEAUTIFUL CULTURE THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN AUSTIN.
SO, ON BEHALF OF CITY COUNCIL, ALL THE MEMBERS HERE, OBVIOUSLY CITY HALL AND THE MAYOR, WE REALLY WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE MOMENTS WITH US.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
AND IT'S JUST A, AGAIN, AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO DO.
AUSTIN IS IN CITY WITH, UH, DIVERSE
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COMMUNITIES, UH, FROM VIRTUALLY EVERY, UH, PART OF THE WORLD.UH, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THAT, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO DO SO TODAY.
UH, AND, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH, UH, WITH, UH, THE PRESENT COMPANY.
[Proclamation – Gloria Bedolla Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
UH, WELL, WELCOME EVERYBODY.I'M ASSUMING THAT NOBODY IS WORKING AT AUSTIN ISD TODAY BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS AT CITY HALL.
I AM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ, THE PROUD, PROUD REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT THREE.
ALSO A PROUD, PROUD FORMER A ISD EMPLOYEE.
AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO HONOR ONE OF MY HEROES, SOMEBODY THAT I CONSIDER A PERSONAL INSPIRATION THAT MOVES THE NEEDLE EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SHE'S, SHE WAKES UP, SHE IS PUSHING BOUNDARIES TO ENSURE THAT SHE IS MAKING A BETTER WAY, A BETTER PATH FOR NOT ONLY STUDENTS, BUT TO THE, FOR THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE OTHER DAY I WAS AT AN EVENT FOR, FOR ONE OF MY MENTORS, AND I SAID THAT THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT I TRY TO KEEP UP WITH IS CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES.
WELL, THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, A NON ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT I TRY TO KEEP UP WITH IS GLORIA
HER LEVEL OF ENERGY AND COMMITMENT TO THE GOODNESS OF THE CITY AND TO THE STUDENTS OF AUSTIN ISD IS UNMATCHED.
AND IT WAS, IT IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO PROCLAIM TODAY GLORIA VERA
AND SINCE WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, SHE'S PUSHED ME TO BE A BETTER PERSON, A BETTER MAN, AND A BETTER LEADER.
AND SO IT IS AN HONOR THAT I GET TO READ THIS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS GLORIA VERA BERIA IS ONE OF THESE STRONGEST AND BOLDEST FIGHTERS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS HER HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN LAA INCLUDED DOING SEASONAL WORK AS A CHILD FARM WORKER WHO FOUND SAFETY AND SENSE OF BELONGING IN HER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM IN THE 1980S.
AND WHEREAS BELIEVING IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, SHE COMMITTED HERSELF TO PASSING A BOND THAT BROUGHT 2.44 MILLION BILLION, EXCUSE ME, BILLION.
HOLD ON TO, TO AUSTIN, ISD HER LOCAL DISTRICT FOR THEIR TRANSFORMATION OF BUILDINGS WHERE TODAY'S CHILDREN'S CAN FIND SAFETY, KNOWLEDGE, CARE, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.
AND WHEREAS GLORIA VERA
THERE IS NO CRISIS WHERE SHE ISN'T ORGANIZING WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
THERE IS NO INJUSTICE WHERE SHE ISN'T TRYING WITH ALL OF HER MIGHT TO RIGHT A WRONG, SHE OFFERS HER BODY, MIND, AND SOUL TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.
AND IF HER ONLY TOOL WAS, WAS HER VOICE, SHE'D USE IT LOUDLY AND PROUDLY BECAUSE REST ASSURED SHE WILL NEVER, EVER STAND BY IDLY.
AND WHEREAS SHE IS A FIERCE AND LOYAL FRIEND.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF CUR, UH, THE MAYOR OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, KIRK WATSON, AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 27TH, 2025 AS GLORIA VERA BE DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
SCOOT BACK HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT.
SO IF YOU KNOW ME AND THESE WOMEN KNOW ME, UM, I FREAK OUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPEAKING.
UM, BUT I WANNA SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU.
UM, THIS MONTH, IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS, UH, SINCE I WAS HOSPITALIZED.
I REMEMBER I WAS LEAVING SETON MAIN HOSPITAL.
UM, AFTER HAVING BEEN THERE ALMOST TWO WEEK, TWO WEEKS, UM, I WAS SO ILL, I WAS SURE THAT I WAS GONNA DIE.
UM, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN SUCH A TERRIBLE SITUATION.
I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT THE DOCTOR WALKED IN AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO AMPUTATE
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MY RIGHT LEG.AND I SAID, MY SISTER RUTH ADVOCATED FOR ME WHEN I COULDN'T SPEAK UP FOR MYSELF.
AND, UM, THAT DAY I SAID TO GOD, I DON'T PRAY LIKE MY PASTOR PROBABLY HOPES THAT I WOULD, BUT
'CAUSE MY PASTOR, UM, I SAID, LOOK, GOD, IF THIS IS IT, I'M DOWN.
AND IF NOT, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO ALLOW ME TO WALK OUT OF HERE.
AND, UM, HE BROUGHT IN A WHEELCHAIR AND PUT IN THE CORNER IN MY ROOM AND A WALKER.
AND HE SAID, YOU NEED TO GET USED TO USING THIS.
I SAID, IF I LOSE MY RIGHT LEG, I WILL KILL MYSELF.
I WAS IN A REALLY TERRIBLE MENTAL STATE.
AND THAT DAY I STARTED GETTING BETTER.
AND TODAY, THAT DAY I COMMITTED.
I SAID, IF YOU LET ME MAKE IT PAST THIS ONE, I WILL NOT WASTE ANOTHER DAY OF MY LIFE.
BUT WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT POUR INTO YOU AND BUILD YOU UP, YOU OVERCOME AND OVERCOME.
AND NOW I GET UP AT FOUR 30 IN THE MORNING AND I GO RUN, AND I GO RUN AFTER WORK AND I'M EXHAUSTED, BUT I HAVE TO SHOW ME THAT I CAN OVERCOME EVEN ME.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I LOVE AWESOME.
[Proclamation – National Procurement Month – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN MAYOR PRO TEM.
EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH AND CELEBRATE THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF THE CENTRAL PROCUREMENT TEAM HERE WITHIN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THIS IS AN AWARD-WINNING TEAM RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE AND PROCUREMENT AWARD FOR 11 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
IT SPEAKS TO THEIR INNOVATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 ALONE, THIS TEAM AWARDED OVER $2.3 BILLION IN CONTRACTS SUPPORTING EVERYTHING FROM CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION TO CRITICAL CITY SERVICES.
THEIR WORK RESULTED IN OVER 2,200 EXECUTED CONTRACTS, AND THEY BROUGHT 445 ITEMS TO COUNCIL.
PROCUREMENT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE FRONT AND CENTER, BUT IT'S THE ENGINE BEHIND SO MUCH OF WHAT KEEPS OUR CITY MOVING TO THE 115 DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS LEADING THIS WORK.
YOUR EFFORTS MAKE AUSTIN STRONGER AND MORE EFFECTIVE.
NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO JAMES SCARBOROUGH, OUR CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HOLD THIS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS EMBODY THE VALUES REQUIRED TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS IN TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS THESE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE EFFICIENCY AND ETHICAL COMPETITION OF PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT IN AUSTIN, ENSURING THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THROUGH TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE PROCESSES.
AND WHEREAS PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS, SERVICE STEWARDS IN THE PIVOTAL PROCESS OF ENSURING QUALITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION ARE PRIORITIZED IN THE PROCUREMENT OF GOOD SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO THE PROCUREMENT OF GOODS SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION RELATED CONTRACTS, PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS ADD VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION BY DEVELOPING STRATEGIC PROCUREMENT STRATEGIES AND CULTIVATING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN VENDORS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.
AND WHEREAS THE INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT HAS PROCLAIMED THE MONTH OF MARCH AS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH TO FURTHER EXPAND AWARENESS OF THE PURCHASING PROFESSIONALS' ROLE OF THE PURCHASING PROFESSIONALS' ROLE IN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE PUBLIC BUSINESS AND CORPORATE LEADERS.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY
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TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE VITAL FUNCTION OF PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS SERVED WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTALLINE ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, 2025 AS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH IN AUSTIN.
THANK YOU MAYOR PER TIM, UH, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, UH, THANK YOU, UM, TO MY DIRECTOR, UH, CAM RIS AND TO THE, UH, THE CITY MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE TEAM.
UM, IT IS MY HONOR, UM, EVERY YEAR TO, UH, REPRESENT THE, UH, THE PROUD PROFESSIONALS OF, UM, UH, THE, UH, FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND, UH, CENTRAL PROCUREMENT LINE OF BUSINESS.
UM, LIKE THE MAYOR PRO TEM SAID, A LOT OF WHAT, UM, YOUR PROCUREMENT STAFF DO ARE NOT OUT IN FRONT.
UM, BUT WHAT WE DO IS, UH, NONETHELESS, UH, INTEGRAL TO THE OPERATIONS OF, OF CITY GOVERNMENT AND, UH, TO ONE TO WHICH WE TAKE VERY, UM, UH, IMPORTANTLY AND, UH, WITH GREAT, WITH GREAT PRIDE.
SO WITH THAT, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE 114 OTHER, UH, MEMBERS OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CENTRAL PROCUREMENT, I EXTEND MY, MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO, UM, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, UM, AND THE, UH, THE REST OF CITY STAFF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS, UH, RECOGNITION.