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[Proclamation – Grant for Technology Opportunities Program / Digital inclusion Week in Austin – To be presented by Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes]
MORNING EVERYONE.AUSTIN'S MAYOR PRO TEM, AND REPRESENTATIVE OF DISTRICT TWO AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY TO KICK OFF DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK HAPPENING OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH OCTOBER 10TH, AND TO CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING THIS YEAR'S GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, BETTER KNOWN AS GT OS.
DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK IS A GREAT TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY AUSTINITE HAS ACCESS TO THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
THINGS LIKE HIGH SUITE, INTERNET, RELIABLE DEVICES, AND THE DIGITAL SKILLS TO NAVIGATE DAILY LIFE.
THESE AREN'T JUST NICE TO HAVES ANYMORE.
THEY ARE ESSENTIALS FOR STAYING CONNECTED EVERY DAY THROUGH EDUCATION, WORK, AND HEALTHCARE.
THAT'S WHY THE WORK THAT OUR GTOP GRANTEES ARE DOING EVERY DAY MATTERS SO MUCH.
THEY'RE HELPING BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY BRINGING INTERNET ACCESS, COMPUTERS AND TECH TRAINING TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THEM, THE THE MOST, SO THAT EVERYONE HAS FAIR ACCESS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS VERY PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS WORK.
CLOSING THE DIGITAL GAP IS CRITICAL TO BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE, CONNECTED, AND ECONOMICALLY STRONG.
AUSTIN PROGRAMS LIKE GTOP S AND THE DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK ARE KEY TO THAT MISSION.
NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE ANNE EATON, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
SHE WILL TALK THROUGH MORE ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS WORKING TO ENSURE THAT DIGITAL INCLUSION IS A TOP PRIORITY AND HOW IT FITS INTO OUR ECONOMIC GOALS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING ANNE EATON.
THANK YOU MAYOR PRAM, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT POLICY PRIORITY AND, AND FUNDING AREA THAT WE, THAT WE WE GET TO HOST NOW IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK.
THESE EFFORTS ARE MORE THAT JUST INTERNET ACCESS.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE IN AUSTIN HAS THE TOOLS, THE SKILLS, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.
OUR DEPARTMENT SUPPORTS PROGRAMS LIKE GT OS THAT BOOST WORKFORCE SKILLS AND TRAINING TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE CITY.
THIS YEAR'S GTOP S AWARDEES ARE DOING GREAT WORK TO MAKE DIGITAL TOOLS AND WORKFORCE TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR MORE PEOPLE, WHICH AGAIN, ENSURES THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY.
WE'RE PROUD TO BE TO BACK THESE EFFORTS BECAUSE DIGITAL INCLUSION ISN'T JUST ABOUT TODAY.
IT'S ABOUT BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE EQUITABLE AUSTIN FOR THE FUTURE.
I'D NOW LIKE TO INVITE CHAIR OF THE TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION.
I'M STEPHEN APODACA, CHAIR OF THE TECHNOLOGY COMMISSION.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND HONOR THE THIS YEAR'S GTOP S AWARDEES.
YOUR DEDICATION TO DIGITAL INCLUSION AND EDUCATION IS INVALUABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
TODAY I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME IMPRESSIVE DATA THAT REFLECTS THE IMPACT OF GTOP PS SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
GT OS, THE GTOP PS MINI PATHWAY HAS AWARDED 27 GRANTS TO 14 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS TOTALING $270,000.
THE GT OS CAPACITY PATHWAY HAS PROVIDED 88 GRANTS TO 42 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS WITH A TOTAL FUNDING OF OVER $210,000.
AND G OS CORE SINCE 2001, HAS PROVIDED 231 GRANTS TO 176 UNIQUE ORGANIZATIONS TO, WITH A TOTAL FUNDING OF OVER $4 MILLION.
THESE FIGURES REPRESENT MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS.
THEY REFLECT LIVES, CHANGED, OPPORTUNITIES, CREATED, AND FUTURES TRANSFORMED.
THE WORK OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT EVERY AUSTIN RESIDENT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN OUR DIGITAL SOCIETY.
THANK YOU TO EACH OF THE AWARDEES FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO ADVANCING DIGITAL EQUITY.
I ALSO WANNA EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO MAYOR PRO TIM VANESSA FUENTES, AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ANN EATON FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK AND THE G OS PROGRAM.
NOW, I WANNA WELCOME BACK TO MAYOR PRO TIM TO RECOGNIZE THE G OS RECIPIENTS AND READ TODAY'S PROCLAMATION.
OKAY, LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR G TOPS HONOREE.
I'M THRILLED TO RECOGNIZE THE 2025 GTOP P RECIPIENTS FOLLOWED BY THE READING OF THE PROCLAMATION.
WE HAVE ART SPARK, TEXAS AUSTIN'S CHILDREN MUSEUM, AUSTIN SPEECH LABS BUILDING PROMISE USA, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LENDERS OF TEXAS CHANGING EXPECTATIONS CORE CNET LA OKAY COM.
AUSTIN FOUNDATION, COMMUNITIES NON PAREL INSTITUTE, TEXAS FOR TEXAS FOLK LIFE RESOURCES, THE ARC OF THE CAPITAL AREA.
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EVA, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? EVA? IS IT EVA OR EVA? EVA SHOULD BE GOOD IDEA.EVA SEVA, THE MU, THE MUSEUM OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT.
WALKING BY FAITH, PRISON MINISTRY ECONOMIC GROWTH BUSINESS INCUBATOR, AUSTIN FREENET, UNIVERSAL TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT.
HINDU CHARITIES FOR AMERICA, BRAVE COMMUNITIES, DIVERSITY, AWARENESS AND WELLNESS AND ACTION, ALSO KNOWN AS DAWA LA AND ART CURATORIAL.
OKAY, AND NOW IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND I'LL HAVE, LET'S SEE IF THE CHAIR LOOKED LIKE TO HOLD THIS VERY GOOD.
MAKE SURE I CAN HOLD YOUR, WHEREAS THE CITY IS SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK IN THE GRANT FOR TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM TO CLOSE THE GAP FOR AUSTIN RESIDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS AT HOME AND AT WORK, AND PROVIDE VITAL PROGRAMS WITH THE TOOLS AND JOB SKILLS NEEDED TO THRIVE IN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS DIGITAL EQUITY IS NECESSARY FOR CIVIC EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION, ACCESS TO HEALTH, TELEHEALTH SERVICES, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE DILIGENT WORK OF THE DIGITAL EQUITY COMMUNITY, STAKEHOLDERS AND GTOP RECIPIENTS, THE DIGITAL DIVIDE HAS BEEN NARROWED BY ENSURING ACCESS TO NECESSARY TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND DIGITAL LITERACY, THEREBY EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY OF AUSTIN TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR SOCIETY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO KEEP THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE GREAT NEED THAT STILL EXISTS TO FIND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO HELP OVERCOME THE PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FACE TO REACH DIGITAL EQUITY ON A REGIONAL LEVEL.
AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR COMMENDABLE WORK, THIS COHORT HAS MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR CITY CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO A MORE EQUITABLE DIGITAL FUTURE FOR ALL AUSTINITES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES MAYOR PRO TEM ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF CITY OF AUSTIN, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025 AS DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK RECOGNITION DAY.
[Proclamation –Kathy Mitchell Day – To be presented by Council Member Mike Siegel]
WELCOME EVERYONE, UH, TO A DAY OF APPRECIATION AND CELEBRATION.UH, IT'S MY HONOR TO HELP CONVENE THIS MOMENT, TO ACKNOWLEDGE, APPRECIATE, AND CELEBRATE A QUINTESSENTIAL AUSTIN WOMAN, UH, SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
SOMEONE WHO IS COMMITTED TO THE LONG-TERM STRUGGLE OF BENDING THE ARC OF HISTORY TOWARD JUSTICE.
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE TRENCHES DOING THE NITTY GRITTY WORK OF INCREMENTAL CHANGE FOR PROGRESSIVE PROGRESS, BUT ALSO WHO KEEPS THE BIG PICTURE FIRMLY IN MIND ABOUT HOW TO KNIT TOGETHER A COMMUNITY, A CULTURE, AND A COALITION TO MAKE BIG THINGS HAPPEN.
WE ARE HERE TO HONOR KATHY MITCHELL, WHO AGAINST OUR WISHES, HAS DECIDED TO RETIRE
UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE WHO, WHO COULD BE HERE TO CELEBRATE, UH, KATHY'S WORK AND HER ABILITY TO BE BOTH A POLICY EXPERT AND A COMMUNITY CULTIVATOR.
SOMEONE WHO, ALONG WITH HER PARTNER SCOTT, HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE THANKLESS WORK OF STATEWIDE POLICY REFORM IN TEXAS, BUT WHO HAS ACCOMPLISHED SOME VERY REAL, VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY TANGIBLE VICTORIES HERE IN AUSTIN, WHETHER IT WAS SUPPORTING OUR CITY AS WE SHOWED UP, UH, FOR THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES, WHETHER IT WAS HELPING TO FORM EQUITY ACTION IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET COALITION, CO-AUTHORING THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, HELPING WITNESS ADOPTION AND SO MUCH MORE.
SO I'M GLAD WE COULD BE HERE TODAY TO SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK, KATHY, AND BEFORE WE READ THE PROCLAMATION, I WANT TO ASK, UH, KATHY'S LONGTIME FRIEND AND COMPATRIOT CHRIS HARRIS TO SHARE A COUPLE WORDS.
I WAS ASKED VERY RECENTLY IF I WOULD, UH, SPEAK HERE TODAY, AND WITHOUT HESITATION, I SAID, YES.
UH, KATHY IS, UH, IS MANY THINGS TO, TO MANY OF US, UH, UH, A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE, SURE.
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UM, AND THE CONFIDANT AND HER WORK IS, UM, HONESTLY LIKE THE, WHAT WE ALL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE.UM, UH, PROLIFIC AND RELENTLESS ARE THE TWO WORDS I WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE, UH, HER, UH, ON THE WORK FRONT.
AND, UM, AND IT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT I STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH
AND, UH, AND I SAY THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH ALL MY HEART THAT I'M, I'M SO, SO THANKFUL TO HAVE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO WORK WITH YOU DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE PRIVILEGES OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH AND BEEN INSPIRED SO MUCH, AND FOR YOU TO BE SO DEDICATED TO THE CAUSES THAT IMPACT, PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS, UH, I, I FOUND SO MOVING, UM, THROUGHOUT, UH, OUR, OUR, OUR FRIENDSHIP AND WORK RELATIONSHIP.
AND, UM, AND I SAY THIS WITH ALL SINCERITY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITHOUT YOU.
UM, SO I DIDN'T INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'M CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE SIEGEL, AND REALLY THANKFUL THAT MAYOR PRO TEM VANESSA FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE COULD BE HERE, UH, TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION.
AND I WILL NOW READ IT AND, UH, HOPEFULLY KATHY CAN SAY A COUPLE WORDS AFTERWARDS.
UM, SO KATHY, THIS IS THE, UH, OFFICIAL VERSION, BUT, UM, I WILL READ THE ONE THAT IT'S IN BIGGER TYPE 'CAUSE I'M GETTING OLD HERE.
AND WHEREAS KATHY HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT IN AUSTIN AND ACROSS TEXAS THROUGH HER WORK TO WIN STATE AND LOCAL CRIMINAL LEGAL REFORMS IN AREAS INCLUDING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, OFFICER TRAINING, MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT, NO-KNOCK WARRANTS AND SENTENCING.
AND WHEREAS AS A CO-FOUNDER AND SENIOR ADVISOR AT EQUITY ACTION, KATHY WAS A LEAD AUTHOR OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE POLICE OVERSIGHT POLICIES IN THE NATION, AND HELPED TO WITNESS ADOPTION THROUGH A SUCCESSFUL BALLOT MEASURE CAMPAIGN.
AND WHEREAS IN 2020, THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE RECOGNIZED KATHY AS PART OF ITS SERIES 20 IN 2020, PEOPLE WERE THANKFUL FOR, AND WHEREAS SHE CONTINUES TO WORK FOR JUSTICE AND THE TEXAS CAPITOL, AUSTIN CITY HALL, AND THE COMMUNITY UP UNTIL HER ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT DATE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, MIKE SIEGEL ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025, AS KATHY MITCHELL DAY IN AUSTIN.
UM, I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO SAY, BUT I THINK I WANNA KEEP IT SHORT AND TO THE MOMENT.
UM, ONE OF MY MOST PROUD THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN PART OF WAS THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS WHAT HAPPENED IN TULIA TEXAS, UH, DECADES AGO.
AND WHAT WE, UH, ENDED UP ACCOMPLISHING IN ALL OF THAT CAMPAIGN WAS A VERY MODEST BILL TO REQUIRE CORROBORATING EVIDENCE IN DRUG CASES.
I WANT THAT TO SINK IN FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE PRIOR TO THE PASSAGE OF THAT LEGISLATION, CORROBORATING EVIDENCE WAS NOT REQUIRED IN DRUG CASES.
AND THAT SHOULD STRIKE A FAMILIAR BELL.
WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE DUE PROCESS IS BEING CHALLENGED ON ALL SIDES.
WE'RE IN A MOMENT WHEN THE IDEA THAT ONE PERSON CAN SIMPLY ACCUSE ANOTHER PERSON OF A CRIME AND YOU CAN BE DETAINED AND MAYBE YOU NEVER COME BACK, IS KIND OF AT ITS FULL FLOWERING.
THE TULLIA CASE WAS ABOUT A RURAL SEGREGATED COMMUNITY FAR FROM HERE.
WHEN WE PASSED THAT BILL REQUIRING CORROBORATING EVIDENCE, THE VERY FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED SEPTEMBER WHEN THAT BILL WAS ACTUALLY LAW WAS THAT IN DALLAS, IT BECAME, IT WAS REVEALED
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THAT MIGRANTS HAD BEEN PICKED UP ON NO CORROBORATING EVIDENCE ON THE WORD OF A POLICE OFFICER FOR WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE POSSESSION OF POOL CHALK.I SAY THAT BECAUSE THESE, TO CHRIS'S POINT, THESE AND, AND MIKE'S POINT, THESE INCREMENTAL REFORMS THAT WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE BUTTING OUR HEAD AGAINST A CEMENT WALL TO PASS THE TINIEST LITTLE COMMON SENSE THING.
THOSE INCREMENTAL REFORMS HAVE ENORMOUS REAL WORLD IMPACT.
AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO BASH OUR HEAD AGAINST A BRICK WALL IN THIS MOMENT WHERE IT FEELS LIKE SO MUCH IS AGAINST US AND WE'RE NOT MAKING THE PROGRESS THAT WE WANT TO, THE TINY THINGS WE ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH RIGHT NOW WILL MAKE AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE.
AND WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING THROUGH.
SO I HOPE THAT I WILL STILL BE INVOLVED.
I WILL BE, YOU KNOW, SITTING IN THE BACK ROOM AT THE MEETING WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS AND THEN I WILL BE TAKING MY ASSIGNMENTS.
SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS HONOR.
I REALLY DO FEEL HONORED AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.
ALRIGHT, UH, ONE MORE GROUP SHOT.
[Proclamation –Suicide Prevention Month – To be presented by Council Member Krista Laine]
MORNING, EVERYONE.TODAY I'M JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES, MAYOR PROTE, VANESSA FUENTES, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE SIEGEL.
AND I AM COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE, REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX, UM, AND ALSO REPRESENTATIVES FROM STUDENTS ENGAGED IN ADVANCING TEXAS SEAT AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION, CENTRAL TEXAS, THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
NAMI AND INTEGRAL CARE TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER AS SUICIDE PREVENT SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH.
I APPLAUD THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'RE DOING BOTH LOCALLY AND BEYOND TO ADDRESS THIS VERY PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF DEATH IN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.
THERE IS NO SINGLE CAUSE FOR SUICIDE.
IT IS VERY COMPLEX AND THE RISK THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAY ATTEMPT SUICIDE INCREASES FOR A PERSON WITH MULTIPLE FACTORS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, SUBSTANCE USE, PHYSICAL HEALTH CONDITIONS LIKE PAIN AND PAST TRAUMA THAT ALL CONVERGE IN THE CONTEXT OF STRESS.
WHEN A PERSON HAS ACCESS TO LETHAL MEANS AND ARE FACING SOME OF THESE CONDITIONS, THEY MAY TRAGICALLY DECIDE TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE, LEAVING BEHIND FAMILIES AND BROKEN HEARTS.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AND DELIVER QUALITY, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, SUBSTANCE USE, SUPPORT, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION, CRISIS CARE, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES.
WHILE THERE'S NOT A SINGLE SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR EVERYONE, WE HAVE DEVELOPED NATIONAL GOALS IN THE 2024 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND LOCAL GOALS IN OUR CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY JOINT SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY OUTLINED IN THE 2024 COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
I'M PROFOUNDLY GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHO'S JOINING HANDS IN, IN THIS EFFORT, AND UPON WHOSE SHOULDERS I AM SO LUCKY TO STAND, UH, FROM CITY COUNCIL.
NOW TOGETHER WE'RE BUILDING A FUTURE WHERE HELP IS EASIER TO FIND.
HOPE IS STRONGER THAN DESPAIR, AND EVERY LIFE IS VALUED.
THERE'S STILL WORK AHEAD, BUT WE SHARE A COMMITMENT TO REDUCING SUICIDE AND SAVING LIVES.
OKAY, AND WITH THAT, I WILL PRESENT THE PROCLAMATIONS, UM, YEAH.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS IN 2023, SUICIDE WAS THE 11TH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OVERALL IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG INDIVIDUALS AGED 10 TO 34 YEARS.
WHEREAS IN THE UNITED STATES, IN 2023, OVER 49,000 INDIVIDUALS DIED BY SUICIDE, WHEREAS SUICIDE RATES INCREASED APPROXIMATELY 30% IN THE 36% IN THE UNITED STATES FROM 2000 TO 2023.
WHEREAS IN 2023 AND ESTIMATED 12.8 MILLION ADULTS AGED 18 YEARS OR OLDER
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REPORTED HAVING SERIOUS THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.AND 1.5 MILLION ADULTS ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE PAST YEAR.
WHEREAS IN 20 23, 2 IN 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE.
AND ALMOST ONE IN 10 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THEY HAD MADE AT LEAST ONE SUICIDE ATTEMPT IN THE PAST YEAR.
WHEREAS OVER 90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIE BY SUICIDE HAVE A DIAGNOSABLE AND POTENTIALLY TREATABLE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.
ALTHOUGH OFTEN THAT IS NOT RECOGNIZED OR TREATED, WHEREAS THE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS WORK AGAINST SUICIDE PREVENTION BY DISCOURAGING PERSONS AT RISK FOR SUICIDE, FROM SEEKING LIFE-SAVING HELP AND FURTHER TRAUMATIZED SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE LOSS AND PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF SUICIDE.
WHEREAS EVERYONE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN PREVENTING SUICIDE AND CAN LEARN SUICIDE RISKS AND WARNING SIGNS, AND ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO STRUGGLE TO SEEK HELP.
WHEREAS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION ENVISION A WORLD WITHOUT SUICIDE AND ARE DEDICATED TO SAVING LIVES AND BRINGING HOPE TO THOSE AFFECTED BY SUICIDE THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST SOMEONE TO SUICIDE OR STRUGGLED THEMSELVES, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT I CRYSTAL LANE ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND MY COLLEAGUES GATHERED WITH ME ON THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER, 2025 AS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND, UM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ION MELODINA FOR A FEW WORDS AND YOU JUST PASS OFF TO EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER LANE, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR, FOR PULLING THIS FORWARD AND TO MAYOR PRO FUENTES.
COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL FOR BEING HERE AND TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
I AM A 16-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT HERE IN AUSTIN, AND I SERVE AS THE VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD FOR STUDENTS ENGAGED IN ADVANCING TEXAS OR SEAT.
WE ARE A MOVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOPING TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS AND DEMONSTRATING YOUTH VISIBILITY AND POLICY MAKING.
I FIRST GOT INVOLVED IN POLICY AND ADVOCACY WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD, AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, WHICH WITH MENTAL HEALTH THAT LED ME TO ACTIVISM.
WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER AND CLINICAL DEPRESSION.
MY LIFE WAS TOSSED UPSIDE DOWN IN WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN OVERNIGHT PROCESS, BUT WAS ACTUALLY A LONG TIME COMING.
I HAD BEEN STRUGGLING FOR A WHILE AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LONGER IF MY MOM HADN'T SPOT SPOTTED THE SIGNS AND TAKEN ME TO GET HELP.
I WOULD CURL UP IN A BALL IN MY ROOM, CRYING UNDER THE COVERS FOR HOURS, FEELING THAT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WAS AGAINST ME, THAT I WASN'T LOVED AND OBSESSING ABOUT MINUTE THINGS.
NO ONE WAS ABLE TO HELP CALM ME DOWN.
AND SOMETIMES IT WAS TOO MUCH.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT THE LAST THAT I LOST MY WILL TO LIVE.
I DID NOT WANT TO BE ALIVE ANYMORE.
AND I HAVE EXPERIENCES IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WITH LACK OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
WHEN I SKIPPED A CLASS BECAUSE I WAS HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, I WAS FORCED TO SERVE DETENTION.
I WAS, I WAS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO USE MENTAL HEALTH TO GET OUT OF PUNISHMENT.
BUT THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THE SCHOOL HAD PUSHED MENTAL HEALTH UNDER THE RUG.
20 TO 30 YEARS EARLIER, TWO STUDENTS HAD ENDED THEIR OWN LIFE ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS, BUT WE NEVER TALKED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH WAS A TABOO SUBJECT.
I WAS TOLD BY OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR NOT TO USE THE WORD SUICIDE BECAUSE THESE KIDS ARE QUOTE UNQUOTE TOO YOUNG TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN THE FACT IS THAT KIDS ARE DYING FROM THIS ISSUE AND WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT IT PRODUCTIVELY, NOT SHOVING IT UNDER THE RUG.
I AM ONE OF TWO THIRDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TELL A FRIEND THEY'RE FEELING SUICIDAL BEFORE TELLING ANYONE ELSE.
AND SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE MY AGE.
AND I ALMOST BECAME ONE OF THOSE HEART WRENCHING STATISTICS WHEN I WAS HOSPITALIZED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER FAILED ATTEMPTS TO TAKE MY OWN LIFE WHEN I OVERDOSED ON MEDICATION AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND AN AMBULANCE AFTER MY PARENTS FOUND ME AND SAW THAT I INGESTED THESE PILLS.
THE THING IS THAT BEFORE I, I INGESTED THOSE PILLS, I CALLED MULTIPLE PEOPLE FROM MY SCHOOL ASKING FOR HELP, BUT NO ONE SHOWED UP.
AND THAT IS PART OF THE EMPATHY CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND SHOWS THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY ARE NOT FOSTERING YOUNG PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND I THINK THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A GREAT ROLE TO PLAY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, DE-STIGMATIZING IT, AND SHOWING PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TEACHERS, ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT CARING FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE IS CARING FOR YOUR OWN AS WELL.
AND A FRIEND OF MINE RECENTLY PASSED AWAY, UM, BY ENDING HIS LONE LIFE IN A TRAGIC AND TRAUMATIC EVENT FOR ME AND OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND IN THE AFTERMATH OF MY FRIEND'S PASSING, IT SEEMS THAT SOME LEADERS
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IN OUR RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, UH, STILL HAVE TO BE PUSHED HARDER.THEY STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT MENTAL HEALTH MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I SPOKE TO THE LEADERS IN OUR MOSQUE AND COMMUNITY WHO DIDN'T EVEN BELIEVE THAT SUICIDE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH, THAT MY FRIEND WASN'T ACTUALLY STRUGGLING, AND THAT HE WAS FINE ALL ALONG AND THAT SOMETHING JUST STRUCK HIM IN THE END.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT HE WAS STRUGGLING FOR A LONG TIME AND NO ONE WAS ABLE TO HELP HIM.
WE TALKED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH FOR A MATTER OF TWO DAYS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY CUT THE CONVERSATIONS AFTER THE FUNERAL.
DESPITE MY PROTESTS, WE WERE NOWHERE DEAR NEAR DONE PROCESSING, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH MY BACKGROUND AND CULTURE.
MENTAL HEALTH IS A TABOO SUBJECT AND MANY KIDS ARE LEFT TO STRUGGLE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TELL ANYONE OR RECEIVE THE MUCH NEEDED CARE THAT THEY NEED THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE THEIR LIFE.
SO, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE NEED TO CONFRONT THE EMPATHY CRISIS IN YOUTH CULTURE.
SCHOOLS NEED TO BE MORE OPEN AND SUPPORTIVE OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.
PARENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN AND PEERS NEED TO SHOW UP WHEN IT MATTERS MOST.
THIS NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, WE MUST ALL RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO UNDERSTANDING THE VALUE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES AND HELPING WHEN ASKED AND SPREADING MORE KINDNESS AND EMPATHY.
THAT'S WHAT OUR WORLD NEEDS MORE OF.
YES, WE MUST CHOOSE TO LIVE SO THAT OUR LOVED ONES CAN AS WELL.
AND TOGETHER WE WILL SAVE LIVES.
SO THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD AND TOGETHER WE'LL BUILD A WORLD WHERE MENTAL HEALTH IS PRIORITIZED.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL SAVE LIVES.
AND NEXT CARSON DOMI WILL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.
I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION HERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
I'M A PROUD LONGHORN AND ALSO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION FOR STUDENT WELLBEING.
I'D FIRST LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE ON BEHALF OF OUR ORGANIZATION TO COUNCILWOMAN LANE AND ION MEDINA FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER HERE TODAY.
WHILE WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE INCREASED CONVERSATION AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE, WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO DO TO ADDRESS SUICIDE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AGES 10 TO 24.
AND ACCORDING TO THE MEADOWS INSTITUTE, ONE IN THREE TEXAS CHILDREN EXPERIENCE A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER WITHIN A YEAR.
MANY OF US UP HERE THIS MORNING, AND AS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY SUICIDE IN 2018.
DURING MY FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS HAD PASSED AWAY DUE TO SUICIDE.
WITNESSING THE IMPACT THAT HIS DEATH HAD ON OUR COMMUNITY AND MYSELF HAS LED ME TO EMBARK ON AN ADVOCACY JOURNEY THROUGH A FSP AND THROUGH THE COALITION FOR STUDENT WELLBEING TO WORK TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE CREATING WAYS TO BETTER ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY AND THE STATE IN ADDRESSING THIS COMPLEX CHALLENGE BY INVESTING $35 MILLION INTO SUICIDE PREVENTION RESEARCH.
THIS SPRING, WE MOBILIZED OUR ADVOCACY NETWORK IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION THAT SUCCESSFULLY CREATED A $28 MILLION STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT AND TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN OUR CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR, A FSP HAS REACHED OVER 44,000 PEOPLE ACROSS 141 DIFFERENT EVENTS SUCH AS SUICIDE PREVENTION WORKSHOPS OR COMMUNITY EVENTS.
THESE EFFORTS FROM RESEARCH TO ADVOCACY INTO LOCAL PROGRAMMING REFLECT OUR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO SUICIDE PREVENTION.
ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH IS TRULY A DYNAMIC PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE.
MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE.
IT SHAPES OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, OUR ECONOMY, OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
BY INVESTING IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WE STRENGTHEN MANY ELEMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AS WE MARK SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH, WE NEED TO RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH CITY LEADERS LIKE THE ONES GATHERED WITH ME HERE TODAY, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT TRULY SUPPORTS MENTAL HEALTH.
BY STRENGTHENING THESE PARTNERSHIPS AND BUILDING A MORE COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY, WE TRULY WILL SAVE LIVES.
AND NOW I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO GREG.
CAN'T YOU SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NAMI TEXAS? THANK YOU.
I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NAMI TEXAS, WHICH IS THE TEXAS AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.
NAMI IS THE NATION'S LARGEST GRASSROOTS NETWORK DEDICATED TO BUILDING BETTER LIVES FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS.
WE ARE HERE DURING SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH BECAUSE SUICIDE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
IT'S ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN TEXAS, AND WE KNOW THAT IT IS PREVENTABLE.
TEXAS HAS MADE IMPORTANT PROGRESS, LIKE LAUNCHING THE 9 8 8 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE AND INVESTING IN CRISIS RESPONSE THROUGH OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
BUT WE FACE SERIOUS GAPS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CARE SYSTEM.
TOO MANY TEXANS IN CRISIS END UP IN EMERGENCY ROOMS OR JAILS INSTEAD OF RECEIVING CARE AND FOLLOW UP SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
THAT'S WHY NAMI TEXAS IS CALLING FOR ACTION DURING SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH.
WE NEED SUSTAINED STATE INVESTMENT IN THE 9 8 8 SYSTEM SO THAT EVERY CALL, TEXT, AND CHAT IS ANSWERED QUICKLY.
WITH LOCAL SUPPORT, WE NEED TO FULLY FUND COMMUNITY CRISIS ALTERNATIVES, SUCH AS RESPITE CENTERS AND MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAMS
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TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.WE NEED TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALIST PROGRAMS BECAUSE PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE CAN CONNECT AND SUPPORT OTHERS IN WAYS THAT SAVE LIVES.
AND WE MUST ENSURE OUR LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES LIKE INTEGRAL CARE HERE IN AUSTIN AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO MEET THE DEMAND SO THAT TEXANS DON'T FACE LONG WAITS FOR SERVICES.
EVERY TEXAN DESERVES ACCESS TO TIMELY, APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH CARE, NO MATTER THEIR INCOME OR THEIR ZIP CODE.
SUICIDE PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT WILL TAKE LEADERSHIP RESOURCES AND POLICIES THAT PUT PEOPLE FIRST.
IF ANYONE OUT THERE WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE, JOIN US AT NAMI WALKS CENTRAL TEXAS ON OCTOBER 18TH AT THE PALMER EVENT CENTER, AND ALSO JOIN US AT THE NAMI TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT THE END OF OCTOBER IN GEORGETOWN.
WE ARE BRINGING THE STATEWIDE NAMI CONFERENCE TO THE AUSTIN AREA FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SINCE 2018, NAMI TEXAS STANDS READY TO WORK WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITH AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, WITH OUR LOCAL AFFILIATES LIKE NAMI CENTRAL TEXAS, AND WITH YOU TO SAVE LIVES AND TO BRING HOPE.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO COME IN FOR THE PICTURE.
Y'ALL STEP IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM.
[Proclamation – Domestic Violence Awareness Month – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
GOOD MORNING.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELAZQUEZ.
UH, I HAVE THE DISTINCT HONOR OF RECOGNIZING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW, THIS IS A VERY PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME, AND IT IS, IT IS ABSOLUTELY AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH Y'ALL.
UM, I WILL LET, I WILL LET OUR, OUR FOLKS BEHIND ME, UH, RECOGNIZE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT I I GET TO READ THE PROC AND BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACTS MOONS OF WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN, AND COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES EVERY YEAR, AND THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES ARE FAR REACHING.
WHEREAS IN AMERICA, ONE IN FOUR WOMEN FINDS HERSELF WITHOUT SHELTER PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF PARTNER ABUSE.
WHEREAS COPING WITH A COPING WITH ABUSE CAN LEAD TO POOR RENTAL CREDIT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORIES THAT MAKE IT HARD FOR SURVIVORS TO QUALIFY FOR HOUSING AND OTHER SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS VICTIMIZATION BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER INCREASES ONE'S RISK FOR DEPRESSION, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SU AND, AND SUICIDE.
AND WHEREAS CHILDREN EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN EXPERIENCE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING DIFFICULTY AT SCHOOL, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN, IN ADOLESCENTS AND SERIOUS ADULT HEALTH PROBLEMS. AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT ONLY A SINGULAR ISSUE, BUT RATHER INTERSEX WITH HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO WORK, WORK TOGETHER AT THESE INTERSECTIONS AND ADDRESS THE MANY NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING PARTNER VIOLENCE.
WE URGE OUR COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER TO EMBRACE THE MANY CULTURAL WAYS WE CAN HEAL FROM VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION, HOLD SPACE FOR SURVIVORS AND CENTER THOSE MOST MARGINALIZED IN ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
NOW THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES HERE FROM THE DAAS ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2025 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND NOW WE WILL, UH, INVITE UP MS. RYAN TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I'M SHELLY RYAN AND I COME TO THIS WORK AS BOTH A SURVIVOR AND SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT NEARLY TWO DECADES WORKING WITHIN THE VERY SYSTEMS THAT TOUCH SURVIVOR'S LIVES.
FROM CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO FAMILY COURTS, FROM STATE POLICY WORK TO DIRECT SERVICES, THAT EXPERIENCE ACROSS MULTIPLE SYSTEMS HAS SHOWN ME SOMETHING CRITICAL.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISN'T JUST A SAFETY ISSUE, IT'S AN EVERYTHING ISSUE.
WHEN A CHILD SITS IN CLASS MIND RACING ABOUT THE VIOLENCE AT HOME, THEY CAN'T ABSORB THE MATH LESSON.
WHEN SOMEONE REPEATEDLY MISSES WORK FOR COURT DATES AND HAS TO NAVIGATE AROUND THEIR JOB WHILE PLANNING FOR THEIR SAFETY, THEIR UN THEIR EMPLOYMENT BECOMES UNSTABLE, TRAPPING THEM IN THE VARIOUS SITUATIONS, SYSTEMS WANT THEM TO LEAVE.
THESE AREN'T ISOLATED EXPERIENCES.
THEY RIPPLE THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS,
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WORKPLACES AND ENTIRE COMMUNITY.OUR SYSTEMS, LAW ENFORCEMENT COURTS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND HEALTHCARE NATURALLY HOLD SIGNIFICANT POWER IN SURVIVOR'S LIVES.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SURVIVORS NAVIGATE THE NEEDS OF AS MANY AS 20 DIFFERENT AGENCIES WHILE SEEKING SUPPORT AND STABILITY.
THAT MEANS 20 DIFFERENT SETS OF EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT SURVIVORS MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL ARE HELPFUL FOR THEIR FAMILY'S HEALING, SAFETY AND SUPPORT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE TRYING TO REBUILD OR MAINTAIN STABILITY WHILE JUGGLING COURT DATES, HOUSING MEETINGS AND REQUIRED SERVICES EACH AT DIFFERENT AGENCIES DURING WORK HOURS WHILE PLANNING FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY.
THAT'S TOO MUCH FOR ONE PERSON, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE HEALING FROM TRAUMA.
I BET SOME OF YOU CAN RELATE TO THAT FEELING.
THAT'S ASKING TRAUMA SURVIVORS TO WORK TWICE AS HARD TO JUST TO ACCESS BASIC SUPPORT.
AUSTIN IS BUILDING SOMETHING BETTER.
AND I'VE LEARNED THAT CHANGE STARTS WITH HOW WE ASK QUESTIONS.
MY PERSPECTIVE FUNDAMENTALLY SHIFTED WHEN I LEARNED TO ASK DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.
INSTEAD OF ASSUMING, UM, LEAVING CREATE SAFETY, I LEARNED TO ASK WHAT WOULD HELP YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN FEEL SAFER? RIGHT NOW WHEN WE ASK THAT, WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THEY'VE ALREADY CREATED, THEY'RE ALREADY CREATING SAFETY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN WAYS THAT WE MAY NOT RECOGNIZE.
BECAUSE IF SOMEONE DECIDES AND IS ABLE TO LEAVE, IT'S ACTUALLY THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME.
OFTEN WHEN LETHALITY RISK IS GREATEST SURVIVORS KNOW THIS.
THAT'S WHY THEIR SAFETY PLANNING INVOLVES COMPLEXITY.
WE RARELY GET TO SEE HOPE ISN'T WISHING FOR SOMETHING BETTER.
IT'S HAVING CHOICES AND BEING ABLE TO SEE A WAY FORWARD EVERY TIME WE ASK, INSTEAD OF ASSUMING WE'RE HELPING CREATE EXACTLY THAT HOPE.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT, THAT THE POWER THESE SYSTEMS HOLDS AFFECTS SURVIVORS DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON WHO THEY ARE.
THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, CULTURAL IDENTITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, LANGUAGE SPEAKING DISABILITIES, THESE INTERSECTIONS SHAPE HOW SURVIVORS EXPERIENCE OUR COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO VIOLENCE.
WHEN WE USE OUR POWER DIFFERENTLY BY ASKING, INSTEAD OF ASSUMING TRUSTING SURVIVOR WISDOM AND COORDINATING AROUND THEIR NEEDS, WE CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR HOPE AND HEALING.
AUSTIN IS ALREADY PART OF THIS COORDINATION THROUGH TRAVIS COUNTY'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM, ONE OF ONLY SEVEN IN TEXAS THAT COORDINATES RESPONSE FOR SURVIVORS FACING THE HIGHEST RISK OF LETHAL VIOLENCE.
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ASIAN FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES OF AUSTIN, AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION AND PROGRAMS LIKE SAFE ALLIANCES SURVIVOR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM, EXPECT RESPECT AND SAFE FUTURES AMONG MANY OTHERS ALREADY LEAD WITH SURVIVORS BEING THE EXPERT IN THEIR OWN LIVES.
WE'RE WORKING TOWARD APPROACHES LIKE THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE REINVENTING SAFETY, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE LEARNING TO ALIGN OUR COLLECTIVE POWER AND SERVICE OF SURVIVORS KNOWLEDGE, ENSURING THAT THEY, THEY IDENTIFY WHAT THEY NEED AND WHEN THEY NEED IT.
WHETHER THEIR NEEDS ARE IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL SURVIVORS, WE HEAR YOU.
YOU DESERVE BETTER IN THE DRI YOU DESERVE TO BE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF YOUR OWN SAFETY.
YOUR CHILDREN DESERVE SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY.
OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS SYSTEMS THAT WORK FOR YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
WHETHER YOU'RE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES, OR A COMMUNITY MEMBER, THIS WORK BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
WHEN WE USE OUR COLLECTIVE POWER TO ASK INSTEAD OF ASSUMING AND ALIGN AROUND WHAT SURVIVORS IDENTIFY THEIR NEEDS, AS WE GET DIFFERENT OUTCOMES, WE SEE CHILDREN WHO CAN FOCUS IN SCHOOL.
WE SEE PARENTS WHO CAN MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
WE SEE FAMILIES WHO CAN HEAL RATHER THAN JUST SURVIVE.
WE SEE COMMUNITIES THAT BREAK CYCLES OF VIOLENCE WHILE ACTIVELY CREATING CONDITIONS FOR HOPE.
WHEN SOMEONE TRUSTS YOU ENOUGH TO SHARE THEIR STORY, PLEASE PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN AND REALLY LISTEN.
WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM SOMEONE WILLING
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TO SHARE MORE THAN ONCE.ASK, WHAT DO YOU NEED RIGHT NOW? INSTEAD OF ASSUMING THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW, WHEN WE CENTER SURVIVORS EXPERTISE AND COORDINATE OUR RESPONSE AROUND THEIR NEEDS, WE CREATE THE CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT THAT SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE.
YOU CAN STEP RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PODIUM IN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
[Proclamation –Hispanic Heritage Month – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
GOOD MORNING.I AM COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ AND HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WITH JUST A SLIGHTLY PACKED MEDIA ROOM.
I WAS TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES AND, UH, AND MY TEAM.
AND NEXT YEAR WE WILL DEFINITELY BE OUT IN THE ATRIUM WITH A MICROPHONE,
TODAY I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD TO STAND WITH MY FELLOW LATINO COLLEAGUES AND LATINO COMMUNITY LEADERS TO CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FROM MUSIC, FOOD, ART, SCIENCE, BUSINESS, ACTIVISM AND BEYOND.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS HAD AN UNDENIABLE IMPACT ON OUR CITY, OUR COUNTRY, AND OUR WORLD.
WE HONOR OUR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, EACH SHAPED BY THE GENERATION BEFORE US.
BOUND BY THE SAME SET OF IDEALS, LOVE, COMMUNITY, RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH.
NO MATTER WHAT THE WORLD THROWS AT THROWS AT US, WE WILL CHOOSE US, RIGHT? YES.
WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR
UH, I HAD TO TELL MY TEAM THAT I'M GLAD I DIDN'T ACTUALLY DIDN'T CUSS THROUGH THAT.
UM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND SERVE TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THE HISTORY, DIVERSITY AND RICH CULTURE OF LATINOS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND WHEREAS LATINOS REPRESENT 20% OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES IN TEJAS, THIS COMMUNITY COMPRISES 40.2% OF THE POPULATION.
AND IN AUSTIN, 33% OF RESIDENTS IDENTIFY AS HAVING HISPANIC HERITAGE.
GIVEN THESE DEMOGRAPHICS, IT IS FITTING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AFFIRM THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMIC GROWTH, EDUCATION AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, EXCUSE ME, HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE IN LATINO COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES.
MOREOVER, WE RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS ECONOMIC VITALITY OF LATINOS SINCE THEY ACCOUNT FOR 30.6% OF THE NATION'S GDP GROWTH CONTRIBUTING OVER 2.7 TRILLION TO THE US ECONOMY.
AND WHEREAS THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN REMAINS STEADFAST IN OPPOSING THE EROSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS AND THE XENOPHOBIC POLITICAL RHETORIC EMANATING FROM WASHINGTON DC THAT TARGETS LATINOS WITH DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES AND THE MILITARIZATION OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONSTITUTING A THREAT TO THE FREEDOM AND LIBERTIES OF ALL HISPANIC COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN MAINTAINS ITS FIRM COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING AND PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS.
AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO THE POLITICAL PROCESS, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP, PUBLIC SERVICE, SCIENTIFIC, AND ACADEMIC RESEARCH WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AN IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND WHEREAS IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT THE VITAL ROLE LATINOS HAVE PLAYED IN SHAPING AUSTIN,
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THE NOTABLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE LEAGUE OF UNITED, LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS OR LULAC, HISPANIC ADVOCATES AND BUSINESS LEADERS OF AUSTIN OR ABALA, TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MEXICAN, UH, MEXICAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, AK AND AUSTIN RASA ROUNDTABLE, WORKING TO BUILD A BRIGHT FUTURE WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, 2025 AS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
COUNCIL, YOU'RE SWEATING THERE JUST A LITTLE BIT, MAN.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE WARM IN HERE.
WE USUALLY DON'T PACK 4,500 PEOPLE IN ONE ROOM, BUT IT'S ALL GOOD
AND THAT'S JUST ONE SIDE OF THE FAMILY.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.
MY NAME IS J AR GONZALES AND I REPRESENT TEAK, THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MEXICAN AMERICAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.
AND I KNOW COUNCIL STARTS HERE IN A LITTLE WHILE.
I SAID, JARED, DO YOU HAVE ANY PREPARED REMARKS? I GO, WELL, NO.
WHY DON'T YOU HAVE PREPARED REMARKS? I GO, I'VE BEEN HISPANIC ALL MY LIFE.
I'M PREPARED AS WE LOOK AT IT, WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE, VERY BLESSED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS A, IS A TIME WHERE NOT ONLY US AS LATINOS, LATINAS, ANOS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY WITH, THAT WE CAN PUT FORWARD OUR CULTURE, SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD, WHAT WE'RE MADE OF AND WHO WE ARE.
BUT THE SAME RESPECT AS I TELL PEOPLE I AM HISPANIC 11 OTHER MONTHS OUTTA THE YEAR.
SO DON'T TRY TO CRAM EVERYTHING INTO ONE MONTH.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO MONTHS, UH, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
BUT HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WAS ACTUALLY STARTED BY PRESIDENT, UH, LYNDON MAINES JOHNSON IN 1968.
AND THEN, UH, UNDER THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, THEY EXPANDED THAT TO A MONTH.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP WITH THE TERM HISPANIC.
AS WE LOOK AT IT, IT WAS REAGAN ADMINISTRATION THAT COINED THE TERM HISPANIC.
AS WE LOOK AT IT, HOWEVER WE IDENTIFY ISOS, LATINOS, CHICANOS, LATINX, WHATEVER.
WE ALL HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON THAT'S GONNA BE OUR CULTURE, OUR LANGUAGE, AND A LOT OF TIME THE PIGMENTATION THAT WE ALL SHARE.
BUT THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME IN THAT AS, AS COUNCIL WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE RHETORIC, THE DEMONIZATION AND THE NARRATIVE COMING OUTTA WASHINGTON DC TOWARDS HISPANICS IS, IS ONE THAT A LEVEL WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN IN DECADES.
IT ALSO PUTS THE ONUS ON US AS LATINO LEADERS, AS HISPANIC LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STAND UP, WE SPEAK UP WHEN WE SEE AN INJUSTICE AND STICK TOGETHER.
WE COME FROM 22 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN.
AND AS WE'RE THAT DIVERSITY NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED, THAT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER 22 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN.
AND AS WE LOOK AT IT, WE UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT IT'S PROBABLY GONNA GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER, BUT WE WILL SURVIVE.
LATINOS ARE THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE ON GOD'S EARTH.
WE SURVIVE ANYTHING AND WE'RE HERE TO STAY.
A LOT OF US IN OUR BLOOD, IT'S INDIGENOUS.
THIS IS WHERE OUR FOREFATHERS WERE BORN.
SO I'M JUST GONNA ASK YOU THIS.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU, DURING THIS MONTH AND THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR, HOLD YOUR HEAD UP HIGH.
AND AS I SAY, I WAS BORN IN AMERICA.
BUT THEN GO SANG RUNNING THROUGH MY VEINS.
AND I TELL THE OTHER SPEAKERS, THROW IN SPANISH 'CAUSE IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT CLOSED CAPTION DOES.
I'M A PROUD NATIVE AUSTINITE, A PART OF A LATINO FAMILY HERE IN AUSTIN.
THAT'S SIX GENERATIONS STRONG.
UH, I, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER HAS ALREADY TALKED IN JR LATINOS CONTINUE TO BE A, A VITAL ROLE, UH, IN AUSTIN'S HISTORY.
WE DRIVE THE CULTURE, THE FOOD, THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND STRENGTH IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER SAID, I COUNTED 33% 'CAUSE THERE WAS A COUPLE MORE, UH, VELASQUEZ PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT.
SO AS OF THIS MORNING, OUR LATINO POPULATION IS 33% OF THE CITY
UH, AND BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, LATINO ENTREPRENEURS ARE EXPECTED TO OWN NEARLY 30% OF ALL AUSTIN BUSINESSES.
THAT IS PART OF A NATIONWIDE SURGE CONTRIBUTING TO THE 1.4 TRILLION TO THE US ECONOMY.
THAT'S AN 8% INCREASE ON THE 18 TRILLION ALREADY GENERATED BY LATINO AMERICANS.
LATINOS HOLD 12.4 BILLION IN SPENDING POWER IN CENTRAL TEXAS ALONE.
WE ARE A ECONOMIC FORCE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO GROW, THIS SERVES AT A, A AS IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT THE RESILIENCE, THE STRENGTH IN LEADERSHIP, AND MAKING AUSTIN A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY AND INNOVATION.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY, CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF LATINOS, AND A TIME TO SHARE OUR STORIES.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LEAN INTO OUR PO LATINO.
AS MEMBERS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY, ALL
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OF US HERE IN THIS ROOM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF LATINOS IN THIS COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITIES.AND AS WE JOIN THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATION, LET'S ASK OURSELVES, WHAT CAN I DO TO MY NON-LATINO FRIENDS? THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE AN ALLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BEING AN ALLY TO LATINO PEOPLE AND TO OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ADVANCE, FOR ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE.
IT CONTRIBUTES TO BUILDING A MORE COMPASSIONATE, DIVERSE, AND VIBRANT SOCIETY WHERE ALL INDIVIDUALS CAN THRIVE REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, RACE, OR ETHNICITY.
BY WORKING TOGETHER AS ALLIES, WE CAN ADDRESS SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.
SO LET'S RISE TOGETHER BY LIFTING EACH OTHER UP, NOT JUST ONCE A MONTH, BUT EVERY DAY.
SO LET ME INTRODUCE ALICIA PERES HAJ, ALSO KNOWN AS ONE OF THE CHINS HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M VERY PROUD ALSO TO BE HERE, UM, WITH YOU.
THIS, UH, RESOLUTION WAS PUT TOGETHER BY MANY, MANY, MANY PEOPLE.
UH, IT'S A RESOLUTION OF A HUNDRED, UH, PINS AND, UH, IT WAS REALLY, UH, KIND OF NICER, BUT GLORIA AL SOMEWHERE, UH, LUIS MASO
ANYWAY, I WANT TO, TO READ, UM, ONE OF THE PARAGRAPHS FROM HERE AGAIN.
UM, AND, AND TO SAY THAT WE ARE TOGETHER, UH, WHETHER YOU ARE A MEXICAN AMERICAN OR AN IMMIGRANT OKAY, JR THAT'S RIGHT.
IN, UM, AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN PERILOUS TIMES.
AND SO I WANT TO READ THIS PARAGRAPH.
WHEREAS THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN, STEADFAST IN OPPOSING THE EROSION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF ALL AMERICANS AND THE XENOPHOBIC POLITICAL RHETORIC EMANATING FROM WASHINGTON DC THAT TARGETS LATINOS WITH DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES AND THE MILITARIZATION OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONSTITUTING A THREAT TO THE FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES OF ALL LATINOS.
BECAUSE WE SEE CASES WHERE THEY TAKE AMERICANS, AND I'M BE REAL, REAL QUICK WITH ONE STORY WHERE, UM, WE HEARD ABOUT A, A MOTHER THAT, UM, WHOSE SON IN NEW JERSEY WAS TAKEN, UH, BY ICE.
SHE HAD TO MAIL HIM OR GET HIM HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE SO THEY WOULD LET HIM GO.
THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THEY'RE HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WITH OUR PIGMENT.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE, ALL OF US, WE COME TOGETHER, WHETHER YOU'RE IMMIGRANT OR WHETHER THE UNITED STATES CITIZEN IN UNITY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND FOR RESPECT AND DIGNITY OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL AS WE ARE TAUGHT AS CHRISTIANS TO DO SO.
WITH THAT, I, I WANT TO THANK AGAIN EVERYBODY.
I OUTSIDE OH, GROUP PICTURE OUTSIDE PLEASE.