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[Distinguished Service Awards – 2026 AEM Preparedness Calendar Winners – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]
GOOD? OKAY, WONDERFUL.PROUD TO SERVE AS CITY COUNCILMAN REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR OF 2026.
WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE CELEBRATING 13 INCREDIBLY TALENTED YOUNG ARTISTS WHO ARE RECEIVING THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FOR HAVING THEIR ARTWORK SELECTED AS PART OF THE 2026 AUSTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PREPAREDNESS CALENDAR.
THIS CALENDAR IS A SPECIAL INITIATIVE BECAUSE IT CENTERS OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND INVITES THEM TO BE LEADERS IN KEEPING OUR FAMILIES SAFE.
THIS CONTEST WAS OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE WHO LIVE OR ATTEND SCHOOL ANYWHERE IN CENTRAL TEXAS, NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SCHOOL THEY ATTEND.
AND THE GOAL WAS SIMPLE TO START CONVERSATIONS ABOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND HOW TO HELP CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BUILD HABITS THAT KEEP THEM SAFE YEAR ROUND.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IN TIMES OF DISASTER, IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME ANY PLACE.
SO THIS 2026 PREPAREDNESS CALENDAR SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR OF THE STEPS THE FAMILIES CAN TAKE IN ANY SEASON TO BE READY FOR WHEN AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS.
IN FACT, AFTER REVIEWING AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS, THIS IS A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE CONTEST.
THERE WERE 13 YOUNG ARTISTS WHO WERE SELECTED ONE FOR EACH MONTH AND ONE FOR THE COVER.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO FEATURE MANY OF THE HONORABLE MENTION SUBMISSIONS BACK ON THE BACK OF THE CALENDAR.
AND JUST SO Y'ALL KNOW, THESE CALENDARS ARE FREE AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE.
YOU CAN REQUEST THEM AT ANY OF OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES.
AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PICK ONE UP BECAUSE THEY ARE LIMITED IN SUPPLIES.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO GRAB ONE SO THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FEEL PREPARED AND MORE CONFIDENT.
AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE ONE IN OUR DISTRICT TWO OFFICE.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL NOW, UH, IT WAS MY HONOR TO CONGRATULATE OUR 2026 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CALENDAR, DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT, AND I WILL JUST RECOGNIZE THEIR NAMES.
AND THEN I'LL INVITE DIRECTOR REDICK TO, WITH, UM, AUSTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT FOR A FEW WORDS.
SO, UH, REC, WE'RE RECOGNIZING TODAY, LAYLA KAUFMAN, OLIVIA ALLEN, JUDE MERRITT, MCKENZIE CRECY, JEREMIAH WATSON, RUTHIE ROBBINS, MAX KAUFMAN, KIMBERLY CHICAS, ABIGAIL OVIEDO, DANIELLA GONZALEZ, CECILIA SETBACK, CECILIA STEPBACK, ROSE NUNN, AND ARIANNA GRANADO.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR YOUNG AWARD WINNERS.
AND JOINING ME TO ALSO GIVE A FEW REMARKS IS OUR DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UH, MY NAME IS JIM REDDICK AND I GET TO SERVE AS DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
UH, I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE HONOR TO MEET SOME OF THESE YOUNG FOLKS, UH, PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, AND THEY'RE VERY SMART AND THEY'RE VERY TALENTED.
AND WHILE WE'RE FOCUSING ON WINTER WEATHER THIS, THIS WEEKEND, UH, THEY ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT FLOODS, TORNADOES, VOLCANOES, UM, AND ALL OTHER THREATS AND NATURAL HAZARDS.
SO IT'S MY HONOR TO HAVE THESE YOUNG FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT TAKES THIS ONE TEAM, THIS ONE COMMUNITY TO GET THROUGH ANY DISASTER THAT COMES OUR WAY.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THEIR CONVERSATION STARTERS, AND IT'S AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THEM TODAY ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FOR ENTENTES.
OKAY, SO WITH THAT, LET'S, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST WANNA THANK EVERY, THANK OUR YOUNG TALENTED ARTISTS FOR SHARING THEIR CREATIVITY WITH OUR CITY.
AND NOW I WILL HAND IT OFF TO DAVID AORTA, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WITH SEM.
SO IF Y'ALL WANNA COME DOWN THROUGH HERE, WE'LL HAND YOU ALLALL, A PREPAREDNESS KIT, A TROPHY, AND A COPY OF THE CALENDAR.
AND SHOULD WE GIVE THEM, WELL JUST LOOK THEM.
AND THEN SHOULD WE TAKE A, MAYBE A GROUP PHOTO WITH THE KIDS AND THEIR CERTIFICATES? WE CAN GET THEM BACK OVER HERE.
[Proclamation – The SOW Family Foundation Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
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GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN, TEXAS.I'M COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND AS WE PRESENT PROCLAMATIONS TODAY, IT'S CUSTOMARY FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO JOIN.
BUT I SAW A COUPLE SNEAK IN THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYBODY.
I'M JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE AND COUNCIL MEMBER LANE.
UH, WE ARE RIGHT HERE IN CITY HALL IN AUSTIN, TEXAS THIS MORNING, AND TODAY IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE AN ORGANIZATION THAT EMBODIES THE VERY BEST OF AUSTIN'S VALUES.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON EQUITY, DIGNITY, COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE BEING OUR STRENGTHS.
THE SO FAMILY FOUNDATION IS A TRUSTED ONE STOP COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT RESPONDS TO SOME OF OUR CITY'S MOST URGENT AND MOST INTERCONNECTED CHALLENGES.
AND I WANNA REPEAT, I SAID ONE STOP.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE COMPREHENSIVE.
YOU CAN'T TRIAGE POVERTY, YOU CAN'T TRIAGE SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE, UM, WHO DEPEND ON ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE SO FOUNDATION, UM, TO SURVIVE.
AND SO FROM HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND HOUSING NAVIGATION TO MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS SUPPORT, THERE'S FOOD ACCESS EDUCATION, REFUGEE ASSISTANCE, AND HEALTH ADVOCACY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE SO FAMILY FOUNDATION, THEIR WORK RESTORES DIGNITY, SAFETY, HOPE, AND HOPE RATHER, TO INDIVIDUALS AND TO FAMILIES EXPERIENCING EXTREME HARDSHIP.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT HOMELESSNESS AND POVERTY ARE DEEPLY TIED TO TRAUMA, HUNGER, AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEY MEET THOSE CHALLENGES WITH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CARE, TRAUMA-INFORMED SUPPORT, CONSISTENT MEAL SERVICES, CONSISTENT MEAL SERVICES, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS, STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY AND BUILD LONG-TERM STABILITY ROOTED RIGHT HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF AUSTIN AND EXTENDING THEIR IMPACT GLOBALLY.
THE SO FAMILY FOUNDATION DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF NEIGHBORS SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MOHAMMED RASHID.
SO THEIR WORK CONTINUES TO UPLIFT LIVES, STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, AND UNITE COMMUNITIES ACROSS CULTURES AND CONTINENTS.
IT IS WITH DEEP GRATITUDE THAT WE PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION HONORING THE SO FAMILY FOUNDATION FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO OUR CITY AND BEYOND.
AND BECAUSE I'M A LADY OF A CERTAIN AGE AND I REQUIRE GLASSES, I CANNOT READ THE PRINT ON THIS PROCLAMATION
SO I AM READING YOU THE CONTENT OF THE PROCLAMATION, BUT IN A AGE-FRIENDLY FONT,
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OUTREACH, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE THAT RESTORE DIGNITY, SAFETY, AND HOPE.AND WHEREAS THE SO FAMILY FOUNDATION ADDRESSES AUSTIN'S HOMELESSNESS CRISIS THROUGH DIRECT OUTREACH, STABILIZATION SERVICES AND HOUSING NAVIGATION SUPPORT, HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TRANSITION FROM CRISIS TOWARD LONG-TERM STABILITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
AND WHEREAS RECOGNIZING THE DEEP CONNECTION BETWEEN TRAUMA, POVERTY AND HOUSING INSECURITY, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TRAUMA-INFORMED MENTAL HEALTH AND HEALING MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS SERVICES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY-BASED HEALING CIRCLES, ENSURING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARE, ROOTED IN DIGNITY AND COMPASSION.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL GIVE YOU THE ONE WITH THE NOT SO AGE FRIENDLY FONT,
AND YOU MIGHT WANNA THANK YOU.
AND YOU GUYS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHAIR A FEW WORDS I HAVE TO YOU? OH YEAH.
WELL, UH, MADE A LITTLE SPEECH.
UM, GOOD EVERYONE, UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY WITH US.
UM, YOUR PRESENCE TRULY MEANS MORE THAN, UH, MEANS TO US MORE THAN WHAT CAN EXPRESS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SINCERELY THANK, UH, CITY COUNCIL, THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, AND ALL OUR CITY LEADERS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR.
THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN, IN OUR MISSION AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK BEING DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE PERSON STANDING HERE WITH US TODAY.
OUR PARTNERS, OUR SUPPORTERS, OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILY, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE US ON THIS JOURNEY.
THIS MOVEMENT BELONGS TO ALL OF YOU.
RECEIVING THIS PROCLAMATION IS A TRUE HONOR.
UH, BUT FOR US, IT REPRESENT FAR MORE THAN A DOCUMENT OR CEREMONY.
UH, IT SYMBOLIZES HISTORY, RESILIENCE, HARD WORK, SACRIFICE, DEDICATION, AND ABOVE ALL THE LOVE OF GOD'S GOD FOR HIS PEOPLE.
IT IS A REMINDER THAT WHEN YOU REMAIN COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHERS, WHEN YOU LEAD WITH COMPASSION, HUMILITY, AND FAITH, THE WORK DOES NOT GO UNSEEN.
THIS PROCLAMATION IS FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOW UP DAY AFTER DAY.
IT IS FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO SERVE WITH HEART AND PURPOSE.
IT IS FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE HERE PHYSICALLY, BUT ARE CELEBRATING THIS MOMENT WITH US IN SPIRIT, IT IS FOR OUR ANCESTORS WILL PAVE THE WAY.
THIS MOMENT REFLECTS SOMETHING.
WE DEEPLY BELIEVE THAT GOD'S LOVE AND GOD'S WORK HAS NO BORDERS.
WHEN YOU PUT IN THE WORK, WHEN YOU SERVE WITH INTEGRITY AND LOVE, YOU NOT ONLY CHANGE LIVES, YOU INSPIRE HOPE.
AND SOMETIMES THAT WORK IS RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATED IN MOMENTS LIKE THIS.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THIS PROCLAMATION IS NOT ABOUT US, AUSTIN.
THIS IS FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
THIS IS FOR THE FAMILIES, THE CHILDREN, THE UNHOUSED, THE FORGOTTEN, AND THE OVERLOOKED.
THIS IS FOR GOD'S CHILDREN HERE IN AUSTIN AND BEYOND AUSTIN, ACROSS BORDERS, ACROSS CULTURES, AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
THIS ISN'T JUST A PROCLAMATION, IT'S A REMINDER THAT SERVICE CREATE HISTORY AND LOVE LEAVES A LEGACY.
WE ACCEPT THIS WITH HUMILITY, KNOWING IT REPRESENTS THE VOICE OF THOSE WE SERVE, NOT JUST THOSE STANDING HERE TODAY.
WE ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION WITH GRATITUDE AND, UH, RENEWED COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE THE WORK TO KEEP SHOWING UP, TO KEEP SERVING AND KEEP LEADING WITH LOVE.
UH, MAY WE CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER TO BE ALL THE STRONGER, MORE COMPASSIONATE AND MORE UNIT, UH, UNITED COMMUNITY.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON THE SOUL FAMILY FOUNDATION.
UH, GOD BLESS THE SOUL FAMILY FOUNDATION.
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES AMERICA.
SO AS I WAS COMPLETING MY REMARKS FROM THE PAGE, IT OCCURRED TO ME, I WAS LIKE, IT FEELS LIKE I'M NOT DOING SOMETHING.
YOU CANNOT HAVE A PROCLAMATION WITHOUT PROCLAIMING.
I DID NOT PROCLAIM
DO Y'ALL WANNA GATHER FOR SOME PHOTOS? YEAH.
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JUST KIND OF TRY TO LINE UP RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE FLAG, BUT YOU GOT A BIG GROUP, SO Y'ALL GONNA HAVE TO GOOD MORNING[Proclamation – Muslim American Heritage Month – CAIR-AUSTIN – To be presented by Council Member Krista Laine]
EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBERS HARPER MADISON.
SO CADRE, MIKE SIEGEL AND VANESSA FUENTES FOR JOINING US TODAY.
AS WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT WORK OF CARE AUSTIN, WE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONGEST WHEN WE ARE UNITED AND EVERYONE FEELS SAFE AND SEEN.
UNFORTUNATELY, RECENT RHETORIC AND ACTIONS FROM HIGHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DIVIDE US.
BUT WE HERE IN AUSTIN REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR COMMITMENT TO BEING AN INCLUSIVE, WELCOMING, AND SAFE CITY FOR ALL CARE.
AUSTIN HAS BEEN A VITAL PARTNER IN ENSURING THAT COMMUNITY CONCERNS ARE HEARD AND ADDRESSED, AND THAT PEOPLE ENGAGE WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
WHEN PEOPLE FEEL ENGAGED AND EMPOWERED, OUR DEMOCRACY IS STRONGER.
HATE HAS NO PLACE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AUSTIN BELONGS TO ALL OF US, AND MY OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH CARE AUSTIN AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS AND IMPROVE REPORTING PATHWAYS.
I AM PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO CARE AUSTIN IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CIVIL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE FOR EVERYONE WHO LIVES, WORKS, AND VISITS AUSTIN.
AS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES MUSLIM HERITAGE MONTH, KARA AUSTIN EXEMPLIFIES THE VALUES OF COMMUNITY BUILDING AND COLLABORATION.
THIS PROCLAMATION REMINDS US THAT EVERYONE BELONGS IN AUSTIN.
AND BEFORE I PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME SHEMA ZAN, WHO IS REPRESENTING KARA AUSTIN FOR A FEW WORDS.
I'M THE OPERATIONS MANAGER WITH THE COUNCIL IN AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS OR CURE AUSTIN.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE FOR HER DEDICATION IN SERVING HER CONSTITUENTS, ALL OF THEM, UH, THIS PROCLAMATION WOULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT HER AND HER OFFICE, CONTINUOUS EFFORT.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK AUSTIN MAYOR WATSON FOR SIGNING THE PROCLAMATION FAVORING CIVIC LIFE OVER HATE, BIGOTRY AND EXCLUSION.
FINALLY, THANKS TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF AND AUSTINITES ATTENDING HERE BY SIGNING THIS PROCLAMATION AND DECLARING JANUARY 22ND AS CLEAR AUSTIN DAY.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, INCLUSION AND MUTUAL RESPECT.
THIS PROCLAMATION STANDS AS A LASTING TESTAMENT TO THE CITY'S DEDICATION TO FOSTERING BELONGING, CULTIVATING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT, AND ENSURING THAT ALL RESIDENTS FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND REPRESENTED IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.
WE HOPE THIS RECOGNITION CONTRIBUTES TO HEALING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHEN A SENSE OF SAFETY AND SOLIDARITY FOR ALL KIIR AUSTIN MARKS THIS DAY BY RENEWING ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY FOR ALL.
SPECIFICALLY GIVING AUSTIN MUSLIM COMMUNITY A VOICE AND EMPOWERING THEM WITH CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT CONSTITUTIONAL TOOLS TO MAKE THE CHANGE THEY WANT TO SEE IN THEIR CITY.
AND STATES, THIS PROCLAMATION CARRIES SPECIFICALLY PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE, GIVING ITS TIMING.
I AND MY COLLEAGUES IN CARE TEXAS WOKE UP THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 18TH TO A SHAMEFUL PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY OUR GOVERNOR THAT UNCONSTITUTIONALLY AND UNLAWFULLY DESIGNATE CARE, THE NATION LODGE MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION AS A FOREIGN TERRORIST AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.
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AND LET ME BE CLEAR, THE GOVERNOR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROCLAMATION IS NOT TARGETING CARE ONLY.IT HAS BEEN USED SINCE THEN TO SILENCE, HARM AND DISCRIMINATE AGAINST OUR WHOLE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
WHETHER IT'S THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT ISLAMIC ACCREDITED PRIVATE SCHOOLS WILL NOT QUALIFY FOR, OR THE MUSLIM YOUTH GROUP DENIED THE RIGHT TO RENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS FACILITIES TO PLAY SPORTS AND PROMOTE HEALTH AND UNITE THE LIST GOES ON.
OUR PROCLAMATION TODAY DECLARING JANUARY 22ND AS CARE AUSTIN DAY MEANS A LOT, NOT ONLY TO CARE AUSTIN STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS, BUT FOR THE WHOLE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN OUR CITY AND STATEWIDE.
ONE MORE TIME, COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON.
AND I WILL ALSO BE CLEAR THAT THE WORK OF CARE AUSTIN IS VITAL TO THE HEALTH OF THE AND WELLBEING OF SO MANY PEOPLE HERE IN AUSTIN.
SO THANK YOU FOR, THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH ME ON THIS.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL MAKE SOME PROCLAMATIONS.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CARE IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION THAT OPERATES IN THE US HAS OPERATED IN THE US SINCE 1994 AND SEEKS TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS, ENHANCE UNDERSTANDING OF IS ISLAM, PROMOTE JUSTICE AND EMPOWER AMERICAN MUSLIMS. AND WHEREAS KARA AUSTIN, UH, RECEIVES CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION INCIDENTS FROM THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF THE VICTIMS, GIVING THEM VOICE IN THE MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT HALLS TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION AND MAKE SURE ALL AUSTINITES FEEL SAFE AND ARE TREATED EQUALLY.
AND WHEREAS KARA AUSTIN LEADS EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, THROUGH ITS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, ENCOURAGING AMERICAN MUSLIMS TO VOTE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND THROUGH ITS TEXAS MUSLIM CAPITAL DAY PROGRAM, WHICH TRAINS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR CONCERNS.
AND WHEREAS CARE AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS THROUGH INTERNSHIPS, ANTI-BULLYING WORKSHOPS, AND STUDENTS KNOW YOUR RIGHTS EVENTS.
AND WHEREAS CARE AUSTIN IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING BRIDGES OF MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING AND WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL FAITH AND NO FAITH.
AND WHEREAS MUSLIM AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IS OBSERVED THROUGHOUT JANUARY, NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY HERE IN AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT ALL RESIDENTS FEEL THAT THEY BELONG, KNOW IT IN THEIR HEARTS AND ARE WELCOME AND THAT THEY HAVE A MEANINGFUL VOICE IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, INCLUSION AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AMONG ALL COMMUNITIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 26TH, 2026 AS CARE AUSTIN DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
LESS THAN $50
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THIS IN MY OFFICE SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE WELCOME AS THEY ENTER.