[Proclamation – Foster Care Day – To be presented by Council Member Ryan Alter]
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UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, UH, ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT DAY AS WE RECOGNIZE FOSTER CARE, NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH.
UH, TODAY WE ARE HONORING CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO ARE IMPACTED BY FOSTER CARE AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE INCREDIBLE CAREGIVERS, ADVOCATES, AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO WALK ALONGSIDE THEM, PROVIDING LOVE AND STABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY WITH THE CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICES NECESSARY.
I JUST WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KINDA WHERE WE ARE NATIONWIDE.
THERE ARE ALMOST 370,000 CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WAITING FOR A PERMANENT HOME AND A FAMILY CONNECTION.
TEXAS HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST FOSTER CARE POPULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY WITH ALMOST 20,000 YOUTH IN CARE.
AND RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, NEARLY 1200 CHILDREN ARE IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WAITING TO FIND THEIR FOREVER FAMILY.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW THE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH IN OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM ARE SADLY NOT WHAT WE WANT THEM TO BE.
IN TEXAS, 33% OF THOSE WHO, UH, IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM WILL EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS BY THE AGE OF 21, WHICH IS FAR HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE IN AUSTIN.
18 TO 25 YEAR OLDS SEEKING HOUSING HAS NEARLY TRIPLED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND MORE OF HALF HAVE A HISTORY OF IN FOSTER CARE, AND JUST HALF OF THE YOUTH FOSTER YOUTH WHO, UH, ARE IN THE SYSTEM WILL GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL.
FEWER THAN 3% WILL EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE BY 25.
ONLY HALF ARE EMPLOYED BY THE AGE OF 24, AND ABOUT ONE IN FOUR WILL BE INCARCERATED WITHIN TWO YEARS OF AGING OUT.
WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE.
THIS IS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, WHAT TYPE OF OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE PRESENTING AND CREATING FOR OUR CHILDREN, THOSE WHO WE SHOULD BE DOING TRIPLE AMOUNT OF WORK TO SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
AND SO I AM JUST SO HONORED TO STAND HERE TODAY WITH THE PROVIDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A, A DIVERSE GROUP HERE WHO ARE DOING TRULY AMAZING WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO REFLECTS ONE OF THESE NUMBERS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE UP TO ANY OF THEIR DREAMS. NO ONE SHOULD BE LIMITED JUST BECAUSE THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
AND SO, WITH THAT, I WANT TO, THIS IS YOU HERE.
I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT AND HAVE SOME SPEAKERS.
SO I'M GONNA LET YOU GO FIRST.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
OUR COMMUNITY IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ONGOING LEADERSHIP AND FOR SHINING A LIGHT ON YOUTH AND CHILDREN IMPACTED BY THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND THE ORGANIZATIONS, AND SO SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT THAT THEY RECEIVE.
WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.
I FOUNDED CHANGE ONE OVER 10 YEARS AGO, BUT I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOSTER CARE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
I SPENT A DECADE IN THE SYSTEM MYSELF ACROSS 25 DIFFERENT PLACEMENTS, INCLUDING GROUP HOMES, FOSTER HOMES, SHELTERS, ADOPTION, AND A FEDERAL REUNIFICATION.
AT AGE 18 ON A WEDNESDAY, THAT WAS WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE FOSTER CARE.
LIKE MANY OTHERS, I WAS EXPECTED TO NAVIGATE ADULTHOOD WITHOUT THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON DESERVES.
ONE, TO ENSURE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON THAT AGE OUT OF FOSTER CARE, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FACE ADULTHOOD ALONE.
AS A COUNCIL MEMBER SHARED WITH US TODAY, THE LINK BETWEEN FOSTER CARE AND HOMELESSNESS IS UNDOUBTABLE.
BUT, BUT THERE IS HOPE ACROSS OUR CITY, INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIPS.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BREAK THE CYCLE AND TO BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
I LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE OF STORIES TO SHOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
ONE YOUNG PERSON AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND THEY CALLED ME.
THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE SLEEPING IN THEIR CAR, AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A JOB CHANGE.
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HELP THIS YOUNG LADY MEET HER BASIC NEEDS BY KEEPING HER PHONE CONNECTED SO SHE CAN BE ABLE TO GET A JOB SECURING HER TRANSPORTATION.AND ALSO, WE WORKED WITH MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX TO CONNECT THEM TO HOUSING RESOURCES.
WE WORK WITH CARITAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY SECURE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS COLLABORATION, SHE IS NOW SAFELY HOUSED, BUILDING STABILITY AND BUILDING AN INDEPENDENT FUTURE.
ANOTHER YOUNG PERSON RECENTLY RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION FACING HOMELESSNESS REACHED OUT FOR HELP CHANGE ONE INTEGRAL CARE.
MY SISTER'S KEEPER AND TRAVIS COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE CAME TOGETHER TO PROVIDE HOMELESS ASSISTANCE TO THIS PERSON.
WE MADE SURE WE ASSESSED THEIR NEEDS, THAT WE GOT THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY NEEDED, AND WE HELPED THEM IN THE INTERIM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE, THEIR COURAGE AND THEIR SELF-ADVOCACY, PAIRED WITH A STRONG COMMUNITY COLLABORATION, PUT THEM ON A CLEAR PATH TO STABLE HOUSING, AND ALSO ADDRESSING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND GETTING THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
THIS IS WHAT COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION OF CARE LOOKS LIKE, AND IT WORKS.
I HOPE YOU JOIN US IN THE ATRIUM TODAY AFTER THE PROCLAMATION FOR RESOURCE FAIR.
YOU'LL MEET THE INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS DOING GREAT WORK, AND YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS AND OURS.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
LIFE OF A CHILD IN FOSTER CARE IS SOMETHING I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
PEOPLE CAN FOSTER, THEY CAN ADOPT, THEY CAN BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER THAT IS A COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE THAT SPEAKS UP FOR KIDS IN CARE.
YOU CAN ALSO PROVIDE RESPITE CARE.
THAT'S BEING A BABYSITTER FOR A FOSTER PARENT AND GIVING THEM A RELIEF.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
AND NOW I AM HONORED TO INTRODUCE DAVID GRAY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT REMARKS.
UH, FIRST ON BEHALF OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY FOR THIS CELEBRATION AND THIS RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL FOSTER CARE, UH, AWARENESS MONTH.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS LIKE COURTNEY WITH CHANGE ONE, LIZ, WITH LIFEWORKS AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO ARE OUT IN COMMUNITY EACH AND EVERY DAY, HELPING YOUTH WHO ARE TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, FIND HOUSING AND FIND STABILITY.
AS THE COUNCILMEN WERE LAID OUT HERE IN, IN OUR REGION, WE KNOW THAT ONE IN THREE YOUTH WHO ARE AGING OUTTA THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AT SOME POINT ARE GONNA EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS.
NOT ONLY IS THAT A BROKEN SYSTEM, BUT THAT'S ALSO A PIPELINE, A PIPELINE FROM ONE SYSTEM INTO ANOTHER SYSTEM.
THAT PART, AND IT'S OUR JOB TO BREAK THIS PIPELINE.
THAT'S WHY A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE QUIETLY BUT IMPORTANTLY, LAUNCHED A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT THE FOSTER CARE.
THIS FOSTER CARE IS COMPRISED OF SERVICE PROVIDERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, COUNTY GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, STATE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, AND PHILANTHROPY WHO ARE ALL COMMITTED TO UNDERSTANDING WHY WE HAVE THIS DEVASTATING AND HEARTBREAKING TREND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHY SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY INTO ADULTHOOD FROM THE STREETS, FROM A BUS STOP, FROM A CREEK, FROM A PARK BENCH.
AND HOW DO WE BREAK THAT PIPELINE? HOW DO WE DISRUPT THAT PIPELINE WITH REAL SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACT IN SUSTAINING IMPACT? AND SO THAT, THAT TASK FORCE CONTINUES TO MEET, WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING, BRINGING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, THE CITY AND TO THE PUBLIC IN THE COMING WEEKS.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY DOING ANOTHER ONE OF THESE TO, TO TALK ABOUT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO TO BREAK THAT CYCLE.
UH, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE VERY, UH, JUST E ENCOURAGED BY THE WORK THAT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING, AND WE'RE VERY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT TODAY IS NOT JUST A DAY OF AWARENESS, BUT IT'S TRULY A CALL TO ACTION.
AS COURTNEY MENTIONED, WE INVITE ALL OF OUR PARTNERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO PLEASE JOIN US IN THE LOBBY FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE DOING GREAT WORK, GREAT WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING AT HOME OR ON THE INTERNET LATER, LATER, UH, PLEASE TAP INTO THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE'S AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO, TO GET INVOLVED, TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME.
MAYBE HAVE A, AN OFFICE EVENT WHERE YOU'RE COMING OUT AND YOU'RE VOLUNTEERING AS A GROUP AND SHOWING UP OR SHOWING UPS NOT YOUR THING, BUT YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF CASH.
MAYBE DONATE TO ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT'S DOING GREAT WORK.
THE CITY DON'T NEED YOUR MONEY THIS TIME, BUT OUR PARTNERS MIGHT.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW, RIGHT? LIKE YOUR, YOUR ACTIONS TODAY COULD NOT ONLY IMPACT THE YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE TODAY, BUT TRULY IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF THAT, THAT YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE, UH, FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
AND SO, AGAIN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER,
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THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING OUR OFFICE A CHANCE TO BE HERE TODAY.AND, AND ALL THE PROVIDERS AND PARTNERS HERE TODAY FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO EACH AND EVERY DAY TO HELP THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT, IT'S TRULY INSPIRING, BUT IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY IMPACTFUL AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO, TO BE A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS IN THIS WORK.
WITH THAT COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU HAVE THE MICROPHONE BACK TO YOU.
I'M, UH, I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ A PROCLAMATION, BUT WANT TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HERE.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY.
UM, THERE'S SOME STATISTICS IN HERE THAT, THAT I ALREADY READ, SO, UH, I'M NOT GOING TO DOUBLE READ THAT.
BUT I GONNA START WITH THE WHERE MAY IS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS, REINFORCE OUR DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH IMPACTED BY FOSTER CARE AND THANK THOSE WHO PROVIDE THEM WITH LOVE, SAFETY, STABILITY, AND CRITICAL SUPPORT IN HERE.
I'M ACTUALLY GONNA LET YOU HOLD THAT WHILE I GOT A CHEAT COPY HERE.
AND WHEREAS THE ENTIRE AUSTIN COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED TO CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN THRIVE AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, PROVIDING THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE FOR YOUTH IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND SUPPORTING INITIATIVES THAT SET YOUNG PEOPLE UP FOR SUCCESS AS THEY TRANSITION FROM FOSTER CARE TO ADULTHOOD.
SO NOW, THEREFORE, I RYAN ALTER AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE, JOINING ME TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 22ND, 2025 AS FOSTER CARE DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
ALRIGHT, LET'S, IS PROBABLY GONNA TAKE A PICTURE.
WE CAN GO, UH, NICE AND TIGHT RIGHT HERE.
[Proclamation – Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN, TEXAS.I AM NATASHA HARPER MADISON, THE VERY PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE.
AND THIS MORNING WE'RE DOING A THING THAT WE DO ON THURSDAY MORNINGS.
IT'S, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE FOR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE MILESTONES AND FRANKLY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO GET TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, SO I'LL START MY PROCLAMATION BY TELLING YOU A PERSONAL STORY.
UM, I DECIDED I WAS GONNA RIDE A MOTORCYCLE
I DECIDED, I DIDN'T DECIDE TO GO TAKE A CLASS.
I DIDN'T DECIDE TO BUY THE HELMET OR GEAR.
I DECIDED I WAS GONNA RIDE A MOTORCYCLE LIKE A LOT OF FOLKS.
AND I JUST, I WANNA START THIS STORY OFF, OR THE PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION OFF WITH THAT TO SAY THAT RIDING A MOTORCYCLE IS LIKE DRIVING ANY OTHER DEADLY VEHICLE.
AND SO I THINK AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO HAVE A DEEPER, MORE COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO SHARE THE ROAD WITH OTHER TWO WHEELED VEHICLES.
WE HAVE ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SHARING THE ROADS WITH BIKES, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER BIKES? YOU KNOW? AND SO THAT, UM, SORT OF INSPIRED ME, BUT FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, HE'S NOT HERE WITH US THIS MORNING, UNFORTUNATELY.
BUT ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS, UM, I WOULD HEAR HIS BIKE CRANK UP AND I KNEW HE AND HIS LITTLE DOG, HIS LITTLE DOG, BONNIE, SHE'S SO CUTE.
SHE'S GOT A LITTLE CARRIER AND SHE RIDES ON THE BIKE.
I KNEW THEY WERE ABOUT TO GO TAKE A RIDE AND THEY WERE GONNA HAVE A GREAT TIME.
THAT DAY THOUGH, I DIDN'T HEAR THE BIKE COME BACK AND I WAS LISTENING FOR IT.
AND IT DIDN'T COME BACK THE NEXT DAY OR THE DAY AFTER THAT.
THE DAY AFTER THAT, I SAW A CAR DIDN'T RECOGNIZE IN FRONT OF MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.
AND THEY WERE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS AND TO TAKE CARE OF LITTLE BONNIE 'CAUSE HER DADDY WAS IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE A PERSON OPERATING A VEHICLE ON THESE AUSTIN, TEXAS STREETS DID NOT TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY ATTENTION AND LOOK FOR BIKES.
YOU HAVE TO LOOK, YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.
SO MY NEIGHBOR UZI WAS MY INSPIRATION.
UM, BUT THEN THAT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE FIRST MOTORCYCLE RIDER I EVER MET.
HIS NAME IS ROGER HARPER, AND HE'S MY UNCLE.
AND HE CAME FLYING IN HOT FROM FOREST CITY, ARKANSAS INTO AUSTIN, TEXAS AS A TEENAGER ON A MOTORCYCLE.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLEST THING I'D EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
HE DID NOT HAVE ON A HELMET, BUT IT WAS THE COOLEST THING I'D EVER SEEN.
AND HE WAS LIKE, YOU ON A RIDE? I WAS LIKE, ARE YOU? LISTEN, SAY LESS.
I WANT MY UNCLE, OUR MAYOR, MY NEIGHBOR UZI, ANYBODY ELSE WHO DECIDES TO TAKE THAT SWEET RIDE ON TWO WHEELS AND LET THAT BREEZE BLOW AGAINST YOUR FACE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO SAFELY.
AND SO THIS PRESENTATION OF THIS PROCLAMATION IS ABOUT US RECOGNIZING IT'S APROPOS AS WE GO INTO
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THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT I 35, WHICH YANA, I WILL JUST SAY THIS, IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE ROADS, LET'S SHARE 'EM WITH EVERYBODY, EVERY VEHICLE, EVERY SIZE AND SHAPE.AND WITH THAT, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS TODAY'S SOCIETY IS FINDING MORE CITIZENS INVOLVED IN MOTORCYCLING, AND WHEREAS THE LONE STAR STATE IS HOME OF ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST MOTORCYCLE RIDING POPULATION, AND IT'S VITAL THAT ALL MOTORISTS BECOME MORE AWARE OF EVERYONE THAT THEY SHARE THE ROAD WITH, ESPECIALLY MOTORCYCLISTS.
AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, 2,422 MOTORCYCLISTS SUFFERED INJURIES IN ACCIDENTS.
IN A RECENT YEAR, 562 OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE KILLED.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA DIGRESS FROM THE PRO THE PROCLAMATION A LITTLE BIT TO SAY THIS.
WE GET A NOTIFICATION EVERY TIME SOMEBODY DIES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, WE GET A NOTIFICATION IF IT'S A CAR ACCIDENT, IF THEY DROWNED, IF IT'S, WE GET NOTIFIED.
I'VE GOTTEN 14 NOTIFICATIONS THAT WERE TRAFFIC RELATED SINCE JANUARY, Y'ALL, IT'S JUST MAY.
AND SO BACK TO THE PROCLAMATION, WITH THE LIVES OF OUR FELLOW TEXANS ON THE LINE, WE MUST DO MORE TO PROPERLY SHE THE ROAD AND ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY OF MOTORCYCLISTS IS COVERED.
UM, UH, AND WHO REPRESENT SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE DRIVERS.
MOTORCYCLISTS ARE ON TWO WHEELS.
Y'ALL, I REALLY, I'M GONNA GO OFF THE SCRIPT AGAIN.
I CANNOT PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON THIS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE STABILITY OF A CAR.
ONE LOOK TO THE SIDE OR THAT SIDE CAN SAVE A LIFE EACH YEAR.
THE MONTH OF MAY IS DEDICATED TO THE AWARENESS AND CAMPAIGNS THAT COMBAT MOTORCYCLE RELATED CRASHES AND FATALITIES.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 61% OF MOTORCYCLE DEATHS THAT HAPPEN BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER.
SO THESE CAMPAIGNS, IT'S THE WEATHER YOU GUYS, PEOPLE ARE RIDING 'CAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT.
UM, SO THESE CAMPAIGNS HAVE HELPED INFORM RIDERS AND MOTORISTS ALIKE TO MOTORCYCLE SAFETY ISSUES, TO REDUCE MOTORCYCLE RELATED RISK INJURIES, AND MOST OF ALL, FATALITIES.
I WANT MY UNCLE ROGER TO COME HOME.
Y'ALL, UM, THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO MOTORCYCLE SAFETY.
AND WHEREAS IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL WHO PUT THEMSELVES BEHIND THE WHEEL TO BECOME AWARE OF MOTORCYCLISTS AND TO OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS, MOTORCYCLISTS SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO BE VIGILANT FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY.
AND WHEREAS MOTORCYCLISTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BECOME MORE AWARE OF INHERENT DANGER INVOLVED IN OPERATING A MOTORCYCLE, AND FOR RIDERS AND MOTORS TO LIKE TO GIVE EACH OTHER THE MUTUAL RESPECT THEY DESERVE.
IF YOU EVER SEE SOMEBODY RIDING AND SOMEBODY ELSE RIDING AND THEY DO THAT THING OR THAT THING OR THAT THING, IT IS JUST LIKE, HEY, I HOPE YOU MAKE IT HOME SAFE, IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON AND KIRK WATSON, OUR MAYOR, AND THE REST OF THE DAYS, LOOKS LIKE I'M JOINED UP HERE BY MY
WE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 25TH OR MAY, 2025 AS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH.
AND I'M ONLY GONNA PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION TO MY UNCLE.
SO WE HAVE A PICTURE IN OUR
NO, THIS IS OUR FOR OUR FAMILY BOOK, BUT Y'ALL NEED TO, THERE WE GO.
HELLO, MY NAME IS DEANDRE KANE, LOCAL AUSTIN NIGHT.
I RIDE MOTORCYCLES AROUND HERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S SCARY OUT THERE.
IT REALLY IS FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE BEHIND THOSE HANDLEBAR.
UM, JUST ON SUNDAY, I, I RODE PAST A BIKE THAT WAS LAYING ON ITS SIDE.
UM, EMS AND FIRE TRUCKS ARE RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
AND IT JUST BROUGHT BACK, UM, SOME KIND OF HORRIFYING MEMORIES.
I'VE LOST SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE, THE PAST FEW YEARS DUE TO ACCIDENTS.
AND REALLY WHAT GOES THROUGH MY HEAD, UH, WHILE I RIDE, IS FEAR.
UM, AND THAT'S NOT A BAD THING, HONESTLY.
THAT FEAR IS WHAT KEEPS ME ALIVE.
I'VE NEARLY BEEN HIT MULTIPLE TIMES MYSELF.
UH, IT'S NOT ALWAYS REALLY FAST TRAFFIC WHERE IT HAPPENS, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S IN NEIGHBORHOODS, STOP SIGNS, UM, STOP LIGHTS.
PEOPLE AREN'T, UH, NOTICING THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE STOPPED AND THEY COME UP BEHIND ME AND I'VE JUST FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MOVE OUTTA THE WAY.
UM, BUT WHAT REALLY GOES ON IN MY HEAD IS THAT, UH, IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO ME, MY WIFE, SHE'LL HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER BY HERSELF.
AND THAT'S THE SECOND MOST TERRIFYING THING THAT EVER CROSSES MY MIND.
THE FIRST BEING THAT MY WIFE, SHE HAS HER OWN HARLEY DAVIDSON, AND IF SHE GOES ME AND THAT LITTLE GIRL, WE'RE LOST.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE FEAR.
SO MY ONLY REAL ASK IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK OUT
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FOR ME, MY FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY ON TWO WHEELS, WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.UM, AND JUST LET'S ALL GET HOME SAFE.
[Proclamation – The Nueva Latina Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ, YOUR PROUD COUNCIL MEMBER FROM DISTRICT THREE.
AND I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR CHIN LATINAS, UH, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS TODAY, MY DEAR FRIEND ALI HAS BEEN CONNECTING LATINAS THROUGH THEIR SHARED EXPERIENCES, COMMON INTERESTS, AND LOVE FOR THEIR CULTURE FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE NOW, SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MULTIFACETED WOMAN.
SHE'S A MOTHER, AN ENGINEER, A WRITER, A CONTENT CREATOR, AND THE LIST GOES ON.
TODAY, I'M HONORED TO CELEBRATE HER IMPACT, TO CELEBRATE THE COMMUNITY SHE'S BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP, AND TO CELEBRATE THE THOUSANDS OF LATINAS THAT SHE'S INSPIRING ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND THE THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS MORE THAT SHE WILL INSPIRE HERE GOING FORWARD.
I WANNA SAY THAT, THAT IN A TIME WHEN OUR NATION AND AND OUR CITY SOMETIMES FEEL THAT, THAT IT'S DEVOID OF LIGHT AND STARS, THAT GOOD ENERGY IS ALWAYS WELCOME, AND BRIGHT LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME.
AND MY DEAR FRIEND ANALI IS THAT BRIGHT LIGHT, SHE IS THAT GOOD ENERGY.
AND I, I COULD NOT BE MORE HONORED TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS ANALI MARTINEZ GONZALEZ ESTABLISHED A NO LATINA IN 2015 AS A LIFESTYLE BLOG AND ONLINE PLATFORM DEDICATED TO SHARING THE EXPERIENCES OF NEW GENERATION OF LATINAS COVERING TOPICS SUCH AS LIFE, FOOD, TRAVEL, RELATIONSHIPS, AND CAREER.
AND WHEREAS WITH OVER 19,900 FOLLOWERS ON TIKTOK AND A SIGNIFICANT FOLLOWING ON INSTAGRAM, JOSE VELASQUEZ BEING ONE OF THEM,
AND WHEREAS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS FACILITATED BY PLATFORMS LIKE SOCIAL NATIVE, OBVIOUSLY, AND MAVERICK ANALIA HAS COLLABORATED WITH RENOWNED BRANDS CREATING CONTENT THAT AUTHENTICALLY REPRESENTS THE MODERN LATINA EXPERIENCE.
AND WHEREAS HER WORK EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF LATINA VOICES IN MEDIA AND SOCIETY, SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE BICULTURAL EXPERIENCE, AND EMPOWERING LATINAS AND LATINOS TO EMBRACE THEIR UNIQUE IDENTITIES.
AND WHEREAS THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT ON ALI'S DEDICATION TO CREATING A SPACE WHERE LATINAS CAN FIND RELATABLE CONTENT AND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE ROOM ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON, OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 22ND, 2025, AS THE EVA LAA DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UM, I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING COUNCILMAN JOSE VELASQUEZ.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE GONE FAR WAYS BACK.
UM, HE MADE AUSTIN FEEL LIKE HOME ALONG WITH A FEW OTHER PEOPLE THAT I CAN, UM, NAME AT A LATER TIME.
BUT I'M SO HUMBLED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE CITY THAT HELPED SHAPE ME THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REPRESENT FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS AND 10 YEARS WITH THE NO LATINA.
I WANT TO THANK MY HUSBAND JULIAN, MY ROOSTER, UM, WHO'S BEEN MY ROCK, MY HYPE MAN, AND THE BIGGEST SUPPORTER FROM DAY ONE TO MY DAUGHTER LUCY.
UM, MY WHY, MY LIGHT, UM, YOU INSPIRE ME TO BUILD A WORLD WHERE WE CAN BE BOLD, BRILLIANT, AND FULLY YOURSELF TO MY PARENTS, MY SIBLINGS, AND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POURING INTO ME, FOR SHOWING UP AND FOR BELIEVING IN MY DREAMS, EVEN WHEN THEY WERE JUST BLOG POSTS FROM A COLLEGE APARTMENT ON RIVERSIDE.
WHEN I STARTED THE NOVA LATINA, THERE WEREN'T MANY PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME IN THE DIGITAL SPACE, BUT I KNEW OUR STORIES MATTERED.
I KNEW LATINAS DESERVED TO BE SEEN, HEARD, AND CELEBRATED ON EVERY PLATFORM.
SO I SHOWED UP CONSISTENTLY, CREATIVELY, AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY.
I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST IN AUSTIN TO TAKE CONTENT CREATION SERIOUSLY.
NOT JUST FOR THE LIKES, BUT FOR THE LEGACY.
BECAUSE BEING INFLUENTIAL ISN'T ABOUT FOLLOWER COUNTS.
IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU SHOW UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, HOW YOU USE YOUR VOICE TO UPLIFT OTHERS AND HOW YOU LEAD WITH
AND YES, I'M DEEPLY THANKFUL, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE WORK, THE LOVE, THE VISION, AND THE POWER IT TOOK TO GET HERE.
I'M HONORED AND I'M PROUD AND I'M NOT DONE.
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MAMA OR BABY, EITHER ONE.IT'D BE KIND OF FUNNY IF BABY TAKES MOVE IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM AND TAKE A PHOTO.
[Distinguished Service Award – Pamela Hefner – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri]
UH, GOOD MORNING.UH, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY, UH, TO PR UH, TO GIVE A DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO PAM HEFNER.
UH, I'M A MILLER RESIDENT, SO, SO THIS IS EXTRA SPECIAL TO ME TODAY.
UM, AS A REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, PAM STARTED HER CAREER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR 13 YEARS BEFORE JOINING THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN 1997, WORKING AS PART OF THE SITE PLAN REVIEW TEAM.
WHEN SUE EDWARDS CREATED ECONOMIC GROWTH IN REDEVELOPMENT OFFICE IN THE LATE 1990S, PAM WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STAFF RECRUITERS TO NEGOTIATE AND AND SHEPHERD PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO REPURPOSE CITY OWNED LAND.
PAM OVERSAW THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR MILLER, WHICH, WHICH, WHICH INCLUDED HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS AS WELL AS THE MASTER DEVELOPER SOLICITATION NEGOTIATIONS WITH ELLAS TO CREATE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WOULD DELIVER ON, ON MILLER'S CORE GOALS OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EAST AUSTIN REVITALIZATION, DIVERSITY AND AFFORDABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMP COMPATIBILITY WITH SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH HER 25 YEARS.
WORKING ON THE, THE, ON THE MILLER PROJECT, I KIND OF ALWAYS WANNA SAY MUL, BUT I'M GONNA SAY MILLER
BEING A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, PAM TOOK A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF MILLER'S 140 ACRES OF PARK AND OPEN SPACE, WHICH IS, I KNOW SOMETHING THAT MY NEIGHBORS, UH, AS WELL AS FOLKS FROM ALL AROUND AUSTIN ENJOY, UH, AS WELL AS THE NUMEROUS COMMUNITY BENEFITS DELIVERED THROUGH THE MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME DEVELOPMENT.
THROUGH HER LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITH KATES NUMEROUS CITY, UH, DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF AND OTHER NON-PROFIT, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS, PAM'S WORK HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE.
AT COMPLETION, THE MILLER PROJECT WILL DELIVER 4.8 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE AND NEARLY 7,000 RESIDENCES, WHICH I'M ONE
KEY PROJECTS WITHIN MILLER INCLUDE THE DE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND A SESSIONED IN HEADQUARTERS, THE THINKERY CHILDREN'S MUSEUM IN THE TOWN CENTER.
I DON'T HAVE KIDS IN, I STILL LIKE GONNA THAT MUSEUM
UH, SO BEFORE I GIVE THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD TO PAM, UH, I'LL GIVE PAM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
YEAH, I, I, IT'S BEEN A JOY AND A PLEASURE AND, UM, AND A BEAUTIFUL CAREER WITH THE CITY.
I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD STAY AT THE CITY WHEN I WENT TO WORK, UM, FOR I THOUGHT A COUPLE OF YEARS.
UH, BUT THE CITY PROVIDED ME WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THIS INCREDIBLE PROJECT TO, UH, BRING A PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, UM, AND A MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S BEEN EVERYTHING THAT I COULD EVER HOPE FOR IN A CAREER.
UM, MY THING I'M MOST PROUD OF IS, UM, HIRING THE PEOPLE THAT I DID.
UH, AND THEY ARE STILL WITH THE CITY.
THEY'RE WONDERFUL AND DEDICATED, UH, PUBLIC SERVANTS.
SO, UM, ALL I CAN DO IS THANK EVERYBODY I WORK WITH AND OUR WONDERFUL PARTNER CATIS, UM, HAS BEEN A JOY.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANKS.
SO I'M GONNA HAND THIS TO YOU AND I HAVE A LITTLE CHEAT SHEET BECAUSE I CAN'T READ ALL THE SMALL FONT.
UM, SO I'M GONNA READ THE, THE MUCH LARGER FONT ON THIS.
BUT, UM, FOR HER UNWAVERING SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OUR RESIDENTS DURING HER MORE THAN 27 YEAR TENURE, AS A DEDICATED EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, PAMELA HEFNER IS DESERVING A PUBLIC ACCLAIM OF RECOGNITION OVER HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER.
SHE HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE, IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE
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CITY'S FORMER ROBERT MILLER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, WITH A VIBRANT MIXED USE AND MIXED INCOME COMMUNITY.PAM IS RECOGNIZED FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN OVERSEEING THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT HAS BROUGHT TO FRUITION DIVISION AND GOALS OF THE MILLER DEVELOPMENT.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED IN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND APPRECIATION THEREOF THIS 22ND DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR 2025.
SORRY, DID WE DO, DID WE WANNA GO? YOU'RE, I'M,
[Proclamation – Mental Health Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri]
UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M BACK, UM,
UM, AND I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, AND TO HONOR THE CRITICAL WORK OF NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.
MENTAL HEALTH TOUCHES EVERY ONE OF US, OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS, OVER 3.3 MILLION ADULTS LIVE WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE POPULATION OF AUSTIN.
AND YET TOO MANY STILL FACE STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION, AND BARRIERS TO CARE.
RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN 15 MILLION TEXANS LIVE IN COMMUNITIES WITHOUT ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
AND NEARLY HALF OF THOSE WHO DON'T, UH, WHO NEED HELP, DON'T GET IT OFTEN BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
THAT'S WHY THE WORK OF, OF NAMI AND A FSP EDUCATING, ADVOCATING AND FIGHTING STIGMA IS SO ESSENTIAL.
THEY REMIND US THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALTH, AND AS A CITY, WE, WE REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE EVERY AUSTINITE CAN ACCESS THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND DESERVE.
UH, SO BEFORE I, I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I'M GONNA ASK CARSON TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, AND THEN AFTER THAT I WILL ASK Y TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER KAJI FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
UH, MY NAME IS CARSON DOMI AND I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE STATE POLICY COUNCIL FOR THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.
WE'RE SO HONORED TO HAVE LAURA RAMOS AND NATALIE LIEL FROM OUR CENTRAL TEXAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS HERE, UH, FOR A FSP, AND SOME FOLKS FROM NAMI CENTRAL TEXAS AS WELL, UH, WHO ARE SUCH CRITICAL PARTNERS IN THIS WORK TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND SAVE LIVES.
UH, WHICH LEADS ME INTO AFP'S MISSION.
THE ORGANIZATION'S BEEN AROUND FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW, UM, AND THE MISSION OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION IS TO SAVE LIVES AND GIVE HOPE TO THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE.
UM, A FSP RAISES ABOUT OVER $35 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE RESEARCH OF SUICIDE PREVENTION.
UM, AND WE'RE HONORED TO PARTNER WITH FOLKS LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER, CO COUNCIL MEMBER CADRY, FOLKS IN THE CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVEL TO ADVANCE ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT OF PUBLIC POLICY THAT WORKS TO PREVENT SUICIDE AND PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY.
SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN A VERY BUSY COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH THE CITY'S BUSINESS, UH, AND WITH FEDERALLY AS WELL.
SO WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE, UM, AND REALLY THINK THAT EVENTS LIKE THIS IN DAYS LIKE THIS WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO STOP AND BE IN EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE, AND FOR THE CITY TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE MAY AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, WE SEE AS IN A GREAT STRIDE OF STILL FIGHTING THE STIGMA THAT REMAINS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE THE INCREASED CONVERSATION THAT RESULTED, UH, AS A RESULT OF COVID AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, THAT OH, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, THE STIGMA IS DONE AND OVER, UH, AND, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH IS NORMAL, BUT IT, IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE.
AND SO WE HOPE THAT EVENTS AND RECOGNITIONS LIKE THIS AND THE WORK OF A FSP AND NAMI ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, REALLY, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SERVES AS A BEACON TO HOPE FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
UM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
COUNCIL MEMBER GARE, COUNCIL MEMBER LANE COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
I AM A 15-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HERE IN AUSTIN, SERVING AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR STUDENTS ENGAGED IN ADVANCING TEXAS.
WE ARE A MOVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOPING TRANSFERABLE SKILLS AND DEMONSTRATING YOUTH VISIBILITY IN POLICY MAKING.
I FIRST GOT INVOLVED IN POLICY AND ADVOCACY WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
WHEN I WAS 10, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER AND CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED SO MUCH STRUGGLE, AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO EVEN EXPLAIN IT IN WORDS, BUT OFTENTIMES I FELT LIKE A DARK CLOUD HAD NOT BEEN PUT JUST OVER MY HEAD, BUT ALSO THE HEADS OF EVERYONE AROUND ME, MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, AND MY COLLEAGUES.
WHENEVER I WOULD START HAVING DARK THOUGHTS, I WOULD SIT IN MY ROOM
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FOR HOURS AND HOURS CRYING AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE MYSELF FEEL BETTER.OFTENTIMES, THERE WAS NO SET WAY TO DO THAT, BUT INSTEAD I JUST HAD TO WAIT AND LET IT PASS, AND MY FAMILY WOULD SIT WITH ME FOR HOURS AND HOURS TRYING TO HELP ME HEAL AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, BUT MANY TIMES TO NO AVAIL.
THESE STRUGGLES HEAVILY INTERFERED WITH MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.
I DIDN'T ALWAYS GET PROPER SUPPORT FROM MY SCHOOL, FROM MY TEACHERS, NOT BECAUSE I THINK THEY WERE BEING MALICIOUS, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTOOD WITH THAT STIGMA STILL BEING THERE.
AND THAT MISUNDERSTANDING AROUND WHAT MENTAL HEALTH ACTUALLY IS.
MY FRIENDS BEGAN TO BECOME AWARE OF MY STRUGGLES AND WERE AT A LOSS OF HOW TO HELP ME ULTIMATELY LEADING TO MORE DISTANCE BETWEEN US.
I WOULD FEEL SAD WHEN I WAS WITH THEM AND SAD WHEN I WAS ALONE AS WELL.
THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PLACE WHERE I COULD ESCAPE MY EMOTIONS OR DISTRACT MYSELF.
OVER TIME, I ENGAGED IN ACTS OF SELF HARM AND EVEN ATTEMPTED TO TAKE MY OWN LIFE.
I RECEIVED VERY LITTLE SUPPORT FROM MY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IF ANYTHING, I RECEIVED ONLY ANIMOSITY, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MY BACKGROUND AND CULTURE.
MENTAL HEALTH IS A TABOO SUBJECT, AND MANY KIDS ARE LEFT TO STRUGGLE WITHOUT AN, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TELL ANYONE OR RECEIVING MUCH NEEDED CARE AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-SAVING CARE.
THAT IS WHY I STARTED ADVOCATING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND FRANKLY THE WORLD CAN GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED TO LIVE HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIVES.
SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHY I'M ALWAYS WORKING AND I DON'T TAKE TIME FOR MYSELF, I SAY IT'S BECAUSE IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AS SOMEONE WHO HAS SUFFERED IMMENSELY AND CONTINUES TO SUFFER TO ENSURE THAT NO OTHER CHILD HAS TO GO THROUGH IT ALONE.
WE NEED TO START TREATING MENTAL HEALTH IN THE SAME MANNER THAT WE TREAT PHYSICAL HEALTH.
NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO GO WITHOUT CARE IN 2023.
69% OF COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.
ACCORDING TO FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THIS MUST END NO MORE AREAS WITH NO ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
NO TEXANS SHOULD HAVE TO SKIP OUT ON NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY OR AFFORDABILITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR WONDERFUL CITY COUNCIL FOR HONORING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE CHANGE STARTS WITH US HERE AND TOGETHER WE WILL BUILD A FUTURE, A CITY WHERE MENTAL HEALTH IS PRIORITIZED AND WE WILL SAVE LIVES.
UH, BEFORE I, BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I JUST KINDA WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME STUFF THAT AAN HAD MENTIONED, UH, JUST ABOUT BREAKING THE STIGMA.
UH, AND, AND A I ALSO WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST APPLAUD CARSON AND, AND EVERYONE ELSE HERE WHO, YOU KNOW, TAKES UP THEIR TIME IN, IN, IN ADVOCACY SPACES, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
UM, BUT A SAID SOMETHING AND IT MADE ME THINK ALSO AS A, AS A SOUTH ASIAN, THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH, UM, CONVERSATIONS IN, IN CERTAIN, IN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.
UH, AND ACTUALLY WHEN I WAS 14, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH OCD, UM, BUT I THANKFULLY HAD PARENTS WHO, UH, WERE THERE TO, TO LISTEN AND, AND TO HELP.
UH, BUT NOT EVERYONE LIVES IN THAT REALITY.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS AND, AND TO BE THERE FOR YOUR, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE YOUR FRIEND OR, OR, OR, OR, OR YOUR LOVED ONE.
UM, BUT, UH, BUT I, I JUST SO APPRECIATE IT.
I WAS VERY TOUCHED BY BOTH CARSON'S WORDS AND IAN'S WORDS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE HERE.
UM, I'M GONNA GIVE THE PROCLAMATION TO SOMEONE TO HOLD.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO HOLD IT.
UM, AND BECAUSE MY EYESIGHT IS TERRIBLE, I'M NOT GONNA READ FROM THAT.
I'M GONNA READ FROM THIS, FROM THIS CHEAT SHEET.
UM, BUT, UH, WITH THAT, UM, I'M GONNA READ THE PROCK, UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL TO THE OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ACROSS TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FACE THE REALITY OF LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS EACH YEAR.
AND IN TEXAS ALONE, MORE THAN 3.5 MILLION ADULTS ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.
AND WHEREAS MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES DO NOT DISCRIMINATE, THEY AFFECT TEXANS OF EVERY AGE, RACE, GENDER, AND BACKGROUND.
AND YET, STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION AND LACK OF ACCESS TO CARE STILL PREVENT MANY FROM GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, EARLY INTERVENTION, AND STRONG LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS.
AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, NAMI, CENTRAL TEXAS LEAD EFFORTS ACROSS OUR REGION TO RAISE AWARENESS, FIGHT STIGMA, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT, ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER RIE, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
UH, AND ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY, 2025 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
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SHOULD WE COME UP FRONT? THERE YOU GO.