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[Domestic Violence Shelter Ribbon Cutting on September 10, 2025.]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M PROUD TO SERVE AS AUSTIN'S MAYOR PRO TEM, AND TO CHAIR OUR PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER CHIT VELA, AND WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME YOU TO THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER HERE AT SAFE.
THIS IS SUCH A POWERFUL MOMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOESN'T JUST AFFECT SURVIVORS.
IT IMPACTS ENTIRE FAMILIES AND RIPPLES ACROSS NEIGHBORHOODS.
THAT'S WHY TODAY IS SO IMPORTANT.
THE NEW SHELTER WILL BE A TRUE, SAFE HAVEN, A PLACE TO REST, TO HEAL, AND TO RECLAIM POWER OVER ONE'S FUTURE.
TOO OFTEN, SURVIVORS ARE LEFT WITH NOT ENOUGH, NOT ENOUGH OPTIONS, AND SO TODAY WE CHANGE THAT.
I'M PROUD TO BE JOINED BY INCREDIBLE LEADERS WHO HAVE MADE TODAY POSSIBLE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, AS I MENTIONED, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, ADRIAN STIRRUP, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, LOCAL ARTIST FELIPE GOMEZ, AND SAFE ALLIANCE, CEO.
JULIUS SPAN AND PRESIDENT LESLIE VAHE.
TOGETHER AS ADVOCATES, AS ELECTED LEADERS AND AS COMMUNITY, WE MUST CONTINUE BUILDING SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT SURVIVORS AND ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
TODAY IS A POWERFUL STEP FORWARD IN THAT COMMITMENT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
AND WITH THAT, I'D NOW LIKE TO WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF VELA TO SHARE A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM.
IT'S, UH, A PLEASURE, UH, TO, TO BE HERE.
UH, AS BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL, I WAS, UH, AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, UH, DOING, UH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE AND IMMIGRATION.
UH, MY LAW FIRM HANDLED MANY, MANY, UH, U VISAS AND, AND WE SERVED, UH, MANY, MANY, UH, SURVIVORS OF, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND ONE OF THE, THE MAIN QUESTIONS WAS ALWAYS, WHERE AM I GOING TO GO? THAT SHELTER FOR, FOR THE, THE, THE MOTHER AND, AND HER FAMILY WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE MAIN CONSIDERATIONS.
AND IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT WE AS A CITY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR, UH, FOR SURVIVORS TO GO.
AND IT'S REALLY JUST SUCH A JOY TO BE ABLE TO INAUGURATE THIS BUILDING AND OPEN IT UP AND ADD TO OUR, UH, SYSTEMS OF PROTECTION FOR SURVIVORS OF, OF FAMILY VIOLENCE.
AND I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION.
UM, THE EAST COMMUNITIES YMCA IS, THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONNECTING, UH, UH, JUST ACROSS THE WAY, UH, WALNUT CREEK.
THE, THE LITTLE WALNUT CREEK GREEN BELT IS RIGHT HERE.
AND WE JUST OPENED A, A NICE LITTLE PARK ON THE CORNER OF ESSENTIALLY 51ST AND SPRINGDALE, JUST A SHORT WALK FROM HERE.
SO THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO BE.
THE, THE, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IS JUST UP THE STREET TOO.
SO THERE'S JUST SO MANY RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES IN THIS AREA.
IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT MAKES AUSTIN A BETTER, SAFER PLACE.
BUT TODAY I ALSO WANT TO, UH, THANK, UH, UH, ARTISTS, UH, FELIPE GOMEZ FOR THE, UH, RENDA, THE, THE ARTWORK THAT WE SEE JUST, UH, BEHIND US RIGHT THERE.
AND I HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO READ IN, UH, IN HONOR OF THE OPENING AND, AND, AND IN HONOR OF THE ART AND THE ARTIST, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AUSTIN BASED ARTIST FELIPE GOMEZ HAS CREATED REES, A NEW PUBLIC ARTWORK DEDICATED AT THE SAFE FAMILY SHELTER THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S ART AND PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM.
AND WHEREAS REES WAS REALIZED THROUGH A TRAUMA-INFORMED, COMMUNITY CENTERED PROCESS THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF SAFE ALLIANCE IN WORKSHOPS OF PAINTING, POETRY, SCULPTURE, AND JOURNALING, ENSURING THAT THEIR VOICES, STORIES, AND CREATIVITY DIRECTLY SHAPE THE DESIGN.
AND WHEREAS THE ARTWORK FEATURES THREE PAINTED STEEL SCULPTURES ARRANGED IN A HALF DEAGON, INCORPORATING ORGANIC FORMS LAYERED WITH MEANING AND VIBRANT INTERIOR COLORS TO SYMBOLIZE GROWTH, CONNECTION, TRANSFORMATION, SAFETY, EMPOWERMENT AND REFLECTION.
AND WHEREAS RENDA STANDS NOT ONLY AS A STRIKING ADDITION TO AUSTIN'S PUBLIC ART COLLECTION, BUT ALSO AS A TESTAMENT TO THE RESILIENCE, COURAGE, AND CREATIVITY OF SURVIVORS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS AND TRUST MADE THIS PIECE POSSIBLE.
AND WHEREAS BY INVITING THE COMMUNITY TO PAUSE, GATHER, AND ENGAGE WITH ITS INTERACTIVE DESIGN, OFRENDA EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN AS A CITY COMMITTED TO HEALING, EMPOWERMENT, AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
NOW, THEREFORE, A COUNCIL MEMBER CHIEF VELA ON BEHALF OF MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA ENTENTES, MAYOR KIRK WATSON, AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2025 AS NDAS DEDICATION DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
THANK YOU, FELIPE, FOR YOUR WORK.
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AHEAD AND, UH, AND UH, TURN IT OVER TO ADRIAN STIR.UH, MY NAME IS ADRIAN STIR AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING THE DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, AND THESE DAYS ARE ONE OF THE MOMENTS I TRULY ENJOY ABOUT MY POSITION.
UM, THIS BUILDING MEANS A LOT.
THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IS THE CITY'S LATEST STEP IN PROTECT IN PROTECTING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROVIDING A SPACE FOR HEALING AND GROWTH.
TOO OFTEN SURVIVORS FACE BARRIERS TO HELP THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED.
AND WITH THIS SHELTER, WE WILL STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS AND ALLOW FOR RECOVERY AND HEALING TO BEGIN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
NO LONGER WILL SURVIVORS HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN STAYING IN DANGER OR BEING HOMELESS.
THIS SHELTER WILL BE OPERATED BY THE SAFE ALLIANCE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
IT REFLECTS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO HEALING AND EQUITY.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE OTHERS WHO MADE THIS SHELTER A REALITY, A REALITY.
MAYOR PRO TEM, VANESSA FUENTES AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUING LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT, CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES FOR THEIR WORK IN REINVENTING THIS BUILDING BEHIND US FROM A MOTEL TO A SANCTUARY FOR SURVIVORS, THE OFFICE OF ARTS CULTURE, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT AND ART IN PUBLIC PLACES FOR BRINGING A BREADTH OF LIFE AND CREATIVITY TO THE SPACE OUR PARTNERS AT SAFE ALLIANCE, WHO WILL BE THE KIND FACES IN HELPING HANDS THAT GUIDE SURVIVORS THROUGH RECOVERY.
COMING UP, COMING UP, COMING UP.
UM, I ALSO HAVE TO RECOGNIZE OUR AUSTIN SAFETY DEPARTMENTS WHO WILL BE COORDINATING WITH THE SHELTER.
THANK YOU TO A-F-D-A-P-D AND EMS FOR BEING IN ATTENDANCE AND SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, ALSO I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD FOR HER STEADFAST LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT.
AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE EVERYDAY HEROES AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH THAT WORK TIRELESSLY ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
SPECIFICALLY CALLING OUT AISHA JOHNSON SMOTHERS FOR HER LEADERSHIP OF THIS PROJECT.
WOO, UH, ALBERT ORTIZ AND PHILLIPE GICK, WHO RUN OUR FACILITIES AND MAKE SURE THINGS HAPPEN AND THINGS ARE IN SPACES, THE WAY THESE FAMILIES WILL NEED.
AND OUR FANTASTIC PIO STAFF THAT ALWAYS MAKE ME SOUND INTELLIGENT WHEN I HAVE TO GET IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE.
AND NOW I'LL PASS IT ALONG TO CAPITAL DELIVERY DELIVERY SERVICES DIRECTOR, DR.
IT'S REALLY INSPIRING TO STAND HERE TODAY AND BE A PART OF THIS SPACE THAT WAS REALLY BUILT WITH AND BUILT FOR THE COMMUNITY AT CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT PROJECTS ARE ABOUT MORE THAN WHAT YOU SEE HERE, THE BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS, THE INTERIOR, THEIR EXTERIOR FINISHES.
IT'S IN THIS CASE ABOUT SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND HEALING FOR OUR SURVIVORS.
THOSE SURVIVORS WHO DESERVE A FRESH START IN A SAFE PLACE.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS JOB SO SPECIAL.
WE FACE SOME TOUGH MOMENTS ALONG THE WAY.
WE HAD SOME CRITICAL STRUCTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
UM, WE HAD SOME WINTER STORM DAMAGE, BUT EVERY CHALLENGE MAKES A PROJECT STRONGER.
I'M GRATEFUL TO OUR DESIGNER, UM, MCKENNEY, YORK ARCHITECTS, UM, WE CAN GIVE THEM A CLAP.
OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR, STR CONSTRUCTORS, THAT, AND OF COURSE, MY CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES TEAM, MY PROJECT MANAGER.
AND ALL OF THE REST OF MY TEAM AND ALL WHO CAME TOGETHER WITH ONE GOAL TO TURN THIS FORMER MOTEL INTO A PLACE OF HOPE THAT'S REALLY AUSTIN AT ITS BEST.
THIS DESIGN HONORS OUR CITY'S VALUES.
IT'S WELCOMING, IT'S SAFE, IT'S SUSTAINABLE, IT'S CONNECTED TO NATURE, SO RESIDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED THE MOMENT THEY WALK INTO THIS SPACE.
SO ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICE, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH
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SAFE, AND THE MANY PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES WHO BROUGHT THIS VISION TO LIFE.MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER WE'VE CREATED A SPACE THAT REFLECTS THE HEART OF AUSTIN.
IT'S A CITY THAT PROTECTS AND EMPOWERS AND LIFTS ALL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE, UM, ACME, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MORGAN MESSICK.
UH, I AM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ARTS CULTURE, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD TO REPRESENT MY ART AND PUBLIC PLACES TEAM WITH HERE, UH, HERE TODAY WITH YOU ALL.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE CELEBRATING THE GRAND OPENING OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH'S NEW FAMILY VIOLENT SHELTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAFE ALLIANCE.
TODAY MARK'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT MOMENT WHERE OUR CITY SHOWCASES THE INTERSECTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND CREATIVITY, ENRICHING BOTH THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO PROTECT US AND THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY SERVE.
OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1985, AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY HONORED TO CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF ALL THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT THE CITY PUTS FORWARD.
UM, THE PROGRAM HELPS US HIGHLIGHT OUR COMMITMENT TO INCORPORATING ART INTO THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WEAVE ART INTO THE CONSTRUCTION OF VITAL FACILITIES LIKE THIS ONE WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFE ALLIANCE.
AND IT HELPS US HONOR THE ESSENTIAL WORK OF THOSE PROVIDING CARE AND HEALING THAT WE REINFORCE THROUGH AUSTIN'S IDENTITY.
AS A CITY WHERE ART FLOURISHES IN EVERY SINGLE SPACE, ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, PROVIDES LOCAL ARTISTS LIKE FELIPE GOMEZ, ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR CITY'S LANDSCAPE.
PROJECTS LIKE THESE ALLOW ARTISTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO AUSTIN'S GROWTH AND ENRICH THE DAILY EXPERIENCES OF THOSE WHO LIVE, WORK, AND SERVE HERE.
ALONGSIDE US ALL, THIS WAS FELIPE'S FIRST, A IPP COMMISSION AS AN EMERGING PUBLIC ARTIST, BUT NOT HIS LAST.
I ASSUME HE WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY WITH VISION CARE AND A COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY VOICE.
OUR COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC HEALTH CITY STAFF AND ARTISTS ENSURES THAT CITY SPACES ARE NOT JUST FUNCTIONAL, BUT THEY'RE ALSO INSPIRATIONAL.
THESE ART INSTALLATIONS SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT EVEN IN SPACES DEDICATED TO RECOVERY FROM TRAUMA, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND BEAUTY.
ITS INITIATIVES LIKE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROJECTS THAT REFLECT THE VALUES AND THE SPIRIT OF AUSTIN.
SO, ON BEHALF OF ACME, I WANNA THANK ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE TODAY AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN MAKING TODAY POSSIBLE.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO SHARE SPECIAL THANKS TO AKEISHA JOHNSON, SMOTHERS AND FELIPE JESS FROM AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, MARIE BRAN FROM CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES, ERIN TAYLOR AND JESSICA ELLI FROM MCKINNEY YORK ARCHITECTS, JOSH HOUT, AND DAVE ROCHA FROM STR CONSTRUCTION, LINDSEY HUTCHINS FROM OUR ART AND PUBLIC PLACES TEAM, YVETTE RUEN FROM SAFE ALLIANCE, AND OF COURSE, OUR AUSTIN ARTIST, FELIPE GOMEZ, WE CONTINUE TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
YES, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US, UM, MAKE RESIDENTS AND THE CREATIVE VOICES THAT DEFINE AUSTIN HERDZ.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER, FURTHER ADO, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE ARTIST, FELIPE GOMEZ.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHITO GABBY.
UM, I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT, SO THAT WAS A FULL SURPRISE TO ME.
UM, SO I'M NORMALLY A PERSON THAT JUST LIKES TO SPEAK FROM THE HEART, BUT FOR THIS, I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE SOME THOUGHTS THAT I WROTE.
UM, SO I'LL READ THESE OUT TO YOU GUYS.
SO FIRST, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN SAFE ALLIANCE, A IPP, UH, MY FABRICATOR CONFIDANT, NICK WOODLE.
UH, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT HIM, UH, AND ALL THE PARTNERS WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
UH, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH, I WANT TO TAKE THANK THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT SAFE ALLIANCE, UH, BECAUSE THE SCULPTURE OF RENDA BELONGS TO YOU.
UH, WHEN I FIRST BEGAN DESIGNING THIS PIECE, I DIDN'T WANNA CREATE SOMETHING THAT SIMPLY WAS OBSERVED FROM A DISTANCE.
I WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT FOSTERS INTERACTION, HEALING, AND PEACE.
THIS IS WHY I HELD WORKSHOPS WITH THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN HERE AT SAFE TOGETHER, WE PAINTED, WE WROTE POETRY, SCULPTED, JOURNALED, AND SHARED STORIES.
OUTTA THOSE WORKSHOPS CAME IDEAS OF RESILIENCE, HOPE, TRANSFORMATION AND CONNECTION IDEAS THAT BECAME THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS WORK.
UH, THE SCULPTURES, AS YOU CAN SEE, STAND IN A DECADE, FORMATION, CREATING A MONOLITHIC SPACE OR SO.
I INTENDED, UH, A PLACE THAT FEELS WHOLE AND PROTECTIVE.
THE OPEN SHELVES, UH, THE ORGANIC FORMS, EVERY CURVE, EVERY ANGLE WAS INTENTIONAL.
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THEY INVITE ENGAGEMENT, CHILDREN TO PLAY, FAMILIES TO GATHER, AND PEOPLE TO LEAVE MEMENTOS, SMALL OFFERINGS OR TOKENS OF MEMORY.UM, IN THIS WAY, NDA IS ALIVE, UM, A LIVING OFRENDA GROWING AND EVOLVING WITH THE COMMUNITY, REFLECTING THE JOURNEY OF THOSE WHO ENGAGE WITH IT.
IT'S NOT DISTANT, IT'S NOT UNTOUCHABLE.
IT'S YOURS TO EMBRACE THE CLAIM AND TO FEEL.
UM, THAT WAS MY INTENTION WITH THE WHOLE PIECE.
UM, THIS APPROACH COMES FROM TRAUMA-INFORMED DESIGN, AS DID THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
UM, AND IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT SPACES WE CREATE HAVE REAL EFFECTS ON HOW PEOPLE FEEL AND HEAL.
A SCULPTURE IN THIS CASE ISN'T JUST AN OBJECT, IT'S A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
THE COLORS, THE FORMS, THE OPENNESS, ALL OF IT IS MEANT TO GIVE A SENSE OF SAFETY, EMPOWERMENT, REFLECTION, AND PEACE.
UH, FOR ME, THIS IS WHAT PUBLIC ART IS TRULY ABOUT.
IT'S NOT JUST A DECORATION, BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM A SPACE INTO A SANCTUARY WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SEEN, WHERE RESILIENCE IS CELEBRATED, AND WHERE HOPE IS MADE, TANGIBLE AND MATERIAL IN LIGHT AND IN COLOR.
MY HOPE IS THAT NDAS WILL STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO PERSEVERANCE, HEALING, AND COMMUNITY TO ALL WHO VISITED TO THE SURVIVORS HERE TODAY.
UM, MAY IT REFLECT YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR COURAGE, AND THE FUTURES YOU'RE BUILDING FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILIES.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD LOVE TO INTRODUCE SAFE ALLIANCE, CEO JULIUS SPAN.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE OF BEING THE CEO OF THE SAFE ALLIANCE.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU, UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR NAME.
OUR NAME STANDS FOR WHAT WE DO.
SAFE STANDS FOR STOP ABUSE FOR EVERYONE.
AND ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, UH, WE WERE, I WAS CALLED, UM, BY COUNCIL MEMBER GREG CASAR, TO COME AND VISIT WITH HIM ABOUT ALTERNATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAD MANY IDEAS FROM PREVENTION TO IMMEDIATE CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND THE ONE THAT LANDED VERY SOLIDLY WITH HIM.
AND THEN LATER WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO UNITED ALL VOTED FULL CONSENSUS TO INVEST IN A SHELTER, AN ADDITIONAL SHELTER IN OUR TOWN FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SO FOR US, THAT'S PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED FAMILY VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HAVE CHILD ABUSE, SEX TRAFFICKING, THAT WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE HELP AND ASSISTANCE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
UM, WE, WE WILL, I'M EXCITED TO TELL YOU ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'LL PROVIDE HERE.
FIRST OF ALL, COMING INTO THOSE BEAUTIFUL GATES, GIVE THE IMMEDIATE IMPRESSION OF SAFETY WHEN YOU WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR, I THINK WE HAVE THE BEST GATES OF ANY FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAM, HANDS DOWN ACROSS TEXAS, AND PROBABLY ACROSS THE US BEHIND THOSE GATES, THERE WILL BE INTENSIVE SAFETY PLANNING THAT WILL HAPPEN.
REALLY LEARNING FROM THE STRENGTH AND WHAT THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE BRILLIANCE OF THE SURVIVORS, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, BASIC NEEDS IS AN, IS AN ENORMOUS NEED.
AND SO WITH THIS BUILDING WE BUILT, UM, WE BUILT MANY PLACES FOR PANTRIES AND, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET WHAT THEY NEED.
THERE'S A NEW RESEARCH STUDY SHOWING THAT PEOPLE WHO ENTER FAMILY VIOLENCE, UH, PROGRAMS AND SHELTERS, 80% OF THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE VERY NUTRITIONALLY DEPLETED AS A RESULT OF FLEEING VIOLENCE, OF BEING, LIVING IN A PLACE OF NONSTOP FEAR.
IT, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FUTURE THEY ENVISIONED FOR THEMSELVES IS REAL AND ALIVE AND CAN BE.
WE HAVE PEER SUPPORT AND COUNSELING SO THAT, SO THAT SURVIVORS CAN MEET WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS AND HAVE FOUND A WAY OUT TO BE ABLE TO BE THEIR SENSE OF SUPPORT
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AND HELP AS THEY GO THROUGH.AND MOST IMPORTANT, IT PROVIDES COMMUNITY.
WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT VIOLENCE, FAMILY VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR BREEDS IN ISOLATION.
AND IT ISOLATES SURVIVORS EVEN MORE.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TO HEAR FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT AND OTHERS WHO ARE LIVING HERE, THAT, THAT NONE OF, NONE OF THE FOLKS HERE ARE ALONE WITH THE STAFF, OUR BRILLIANT, BEAUTIFUL STAFF AND EACH OTHER.
UM, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY FOR THIS.
I HAVE A MEMORY AKEISHA OF WALKING THROUGH THIS BUILDING FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH YOU AND SAYING, OH, I THINK THIS'LL BE GREAT.
WE'RE GONNA NEED MORE KITCHENS, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE THESE ROOMS TO PLAY SPACES.
WE HAVE TO MEET THE STATE CODE FOR A FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAM.
AND YOU KIND OF GULPED, IF I REMEMBER, AND SAID, OKAY, OKAY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WITH YVETTE RUIN FROM OUR TEAM, REALLY LEADING THE WAY AND HELPING TO GUIDE THAT PROCESS OF WHAT IT TAKES TO ADEQUATELY AND, AND KINDLY AND LOVINGLY PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF SHELTER THAT OUR, OUR, OUR IDEAS WERE WELL INCORPORATED.
SO WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO, UM, NEEDS A BIT OF HELP RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL TAKE, WE'VE GOT FOLKS TAKING CARE OF HIM, SO THANK YOU.
SO, UM, FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE INTERIM, WHEN THIS BUILDING WAS BEING RENOVATED, WE PROVIDED SHELTER IN HOTELS AROUND THE CITY.
AND WE, AND THANKS TO THE CITY FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE NEED WAS SO GREAT.
THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE REALLY LEARNED MANY, MANY LESSONS ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD NOT DO AND WHAT HAS WORKED.
UM, AND THOSE LESSONS HAVE ALSO BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THIS BUILDING, AND MOST PARTICULARLY TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF, OF FAMILIES.
WHAT SURVIVORS TELL US OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHEN THEY MOVE INTO SHELTER AFTER THAT FIRST NIGHT, THE FIRST THING THEY SAY TO US IS, I SLEPT, I SLEPT WELL, I SLEPT DEEP.
AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN WEEKS, MONTHS, SOMETIMES YEARS THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED.
ABSENT ALIVE OF FEAR, HUNGER, UNCERTAINTY, INTIMIDATION, AND CONTROL SURVIVORS GET, THEY GET TO TAKE BACK THEIR LIVES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR PARTNERS.
UM, MAYOR, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO, UM, YES.
DO WE NEED TO THEY'RE GETTING THEM UP.
THEY'RE GETTING THEM UP, YEAH.
DO WE HAVE A THUMBS UP BACK THERE? WE'RE OKAY.
WE HAVE A CHIEF, UH, HEALTH AUTHORITY.
WE ARE GONNA PROCEED TO DO THE RIBBON CUTTING AND THEN AFTERWARDS, WE'LL, WE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WITH THE MEDIA.
CAN WE GET OUR CONTRACTOR AND OUR, UH, ARCHITECT, CAN I GET YOU TO KEEP BEHIND OUR OFFICIALS AS WELL? YEAH.
SO SAFE ALLIANCE IS HERE TO, UH, PROVIDE TOURS OF THE,
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OF THE BUILDING FOR OUR MEDIA.WE ALSO HAVE REFRESHMENTS INSIDE OF THE COOL BUILDING, COFFEE, WATER.
AND IF YOU WANT INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS, UH, COME FIND ME AND WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SET THAT UP.