Feb 05, 2026 City Council Proclamations

[Proclamation – CARY: Advancing Youth Mental Health and Violence Prevention Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]

[00:00:05]

GOOD MORNING.

I'M COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, AND IT IS A GREAT DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UH, TODAY WE GET TO RECOGNIZE A PROGRAM THAT IS MAKING A HUGE IMPACT RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, ACROSS 14 OF OUR SCHOOLS AND MANY MORE ACROSS NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THE COUNCIL ON AT RISK YOUTH PROGRAM SERVES OUR HIGHEST RISK STUDENTS, STUDENTS WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF POVERTY, ABUSE, WHO CARRY THE HEAVINESS OF TRAUMA.

KERRY'S GOAL IS TO HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGES THROUGH SERVICE, PROJECTS, COUNSELING, EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM, AND OFTEN SIMPLY BY PROVIDING ONE OF THE ONLY SAFE SPACES THEY KNOW.

I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW PROGRAMS LIKE KERRY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A STUDENT'S LIFE, AND I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT THEM, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS FOUNDED IN 1999 BY ADRIAN MOORE IN RESPONSE TO THE COLUMBINE TRAGEDY, THE COUNCIL ON AT RISK YOUTH HAS SERVED AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY, DEDICATED TO ENHANCING SCHOOL SAFETY AND INTERRUPTING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

AND WHEREAS SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WE HAVE PROUD THEY HAVE PROUDLY PARTNERED WITH MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SUPPORTED MORE THAN 30,000 OF CENTRAL TEXAS' HIGHEST RISK STUDENTS, HELPING THEM OVERCOME BARRIERS AND THRIVE THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND POSITIVE ADULT MENTORSHIP.

AND WHEREAS CARRIE'S PROVEN APPROACH IS BACKED BY RESEARCH SHOWING REDUCTIONS IN DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS, IMPROVING ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND FOSTERING SAFER AND MORE ENGAGED SCHOOL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION.

AND WHEREAS TODAY, CARRIE IS EXPANDING ITS REACH ACROSS TEXAS WITH THE GOAL OF BECOMING A STATEWIDE LEADER IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION, EMPOWERING EVEN MORE STUDENTS WITH A TOOLS SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO BUILD SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL FUTURES.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, KIRK WATSON, OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026 AS CARRIE ADVANCING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WANT TO, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT RECOGNITION.

UH, FOR 26 YEARS, CARRIE HAS BEEN SERVING THE HIGHEST RISK YOUTH.

32,000 LIVES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY OUR PROGRAMMING.

UM, THAT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP, OUR BOARD, UM, WANNA TAKE A SECOND TO HONOR THEM, UM, AS WELL AS OUR STAFF WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO HAVE A SAFE PLACE, THAT THEY DO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

UM, ALSO REALLY QUICKLY, UM, WANNA ACCEPT THIS AMAZING PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF MY COUSIN ERIN, UM, WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TO SAY THAT AND, UM, AS A LEADER WITH CARRIE, UM, HAVING BEEN A PRIVILEGED TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, I CAN SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE CARRY DAY TO PUT ON OUR CALENDAR, UM, FROM HERE ON OUT.

AND I JUST REALLY WANNA SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY AND TURN IT OVER TO OUR FOUNDER, ADRIAN MOORE.

YES, THANKS SHAYNA.

A ADRIAN MOORE.

I'M THE, UH, FOUNDER OF, UH, CARRY BACK IN, UH, 1999 AND CURRENTLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS WITH THE, UH, AGENCY.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING 34 YEARS IN JUVENILE JUSTICE CORRECTION, CRIME AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, DOING RESEARCH AUDITING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I WAS IN 34 STATES SPEAKING WITH INMATES IN PRISONS AND JAILS, JUVENILE REFORMATORIES, JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS, AND FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY OF ALL THOSE FOLKS HAD PREVIOUS HISTORIES BEING IN THE SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM.

AND I THOUGHT, WHY IN THE WORLD DON'T WE DO SOME WORK THERE? THUS, AFTER RETIRING FROM TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION AFTER 25 YEARS, I SET UP CARRIE COUNCIL ON AT RISK YOUTH TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS TO WORK WITH KIDS IN TROUBLE IN THE DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM.

KIDS WHO ARE, UH, ACCUSED OF, AND THEY HAVE MARKS FOR AGGRESSION, ABUSE, ASSAULT, INTIMIDATION, VERBAL THREATS AGAINST TEACHERS, POSSESSION OF A WEAPON, POSSESSION, SALES OF DRUGS ON SCHOOL CAMPUS, LITERALLY KIDS WHO ARE IN THAT PIPELINE TO PRISON.

OVER THE YEARS, CARRIE HAS SAVED

[00:05:02]

ALSO, I WOULD SAY CARRIE HAS SAVED THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, THE STATE OF TEXAS, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF POLICE ARRESTS, PROSECUTIONS, COURT HEARINGS, COMMITMENTS, SENTENCES TO THE TEXAS YOUTH COMMISSION NOW, THE TEXAS JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AT $50,000 A YEAR PLUS AND MANY MORE YEARS.

UH, MANY MORE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN SAVED BY DIVERTING KIDS FROM THE TEXAS PRISON SYSTEM AT A COST OF $25,000 A YEAR PLUS AND MORE.

SO WE'RE DELIGHTED AND I'M SO PLEASED THAT CARRIE IS MOVING FORWARD, UH, IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE TO GO STATEWIDE WITH THE PROGRAM.

IT'S EFFECTIVE.

IT SAVES LIVES, IT SAVES MONEY, IT IS NOTEWORTHY.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THE, UH, PROCLAMATION TODAY.

THANK YOU.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO SCOOT UP A LITTLE BIT.

[Proclamation – Greater Austin Regional Science and Engineering Fair Days – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]

UH, IT IS EXCI AN EXCITING DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UH, I'M SO EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF TEXAS'S LARGEST REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIRS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PROUD TO SPONSOR AND BE HOME TO.

SINCE 1956, THE GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR HAS SHOWCASED THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL TEXAS STUDENTS AND THEIR PROJECTS.

THESE KIDS ARE OUR FUTURE MATHEMATICIANS, SCIENTISTS, DOCTORS, RESEARCHERS, ENGINEERS, AND IT'S AMAZING.

AND IT'S AN AMAZING THING WHEN WE GET TO FOSTER STEM LEARNING, STEM LEARNING IN OUR YOUTH.

I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS HAD A PART IN GETTING THIS TOGETHER FOR OUR KIDDOS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS BE IT KNOWN, THAT WHEREAS THE GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR 2026 WILL SHOWCASE THE TALENT OF OVER 3000 ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM PUBLIC HOME CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS FROM 14 COUNTIES WITHIN GR IN WITHIN THE GREATER AUSTIN AREA, INCLUDING TRAVIS AND WILLIAMSON.

AND WHEREAS 2026 MARKS THE SEVEN 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF AN AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE FAIR.

AND WHEREAS SCIENCE FAIRS LIKE THE GREATER AUSTIN REGIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR 2026 HELP SPARK AN INTEREST IN CHILDREN TO PURSUE, TO PURSUE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH CAREERS.

AND WHEREAS A STEM TRAINED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND WHEREAS OVER 25 BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES, AGENCIES, AND, AND CITY OF AUSTIN DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING AUSTIN ENERGY, AUSTIN WATERSHED, THE UH, AND THE WATERSHED PROTECTION SUPPORT SUPPORT THIS FAIR, THIS FAIR AND FINANCIALLY.

AND WHEREAS CLOSE TO 800 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS DONATE THEIR TIME TO SERVE AS JUDGES AND GENERAL VOLUNTEERS.

AND WHEREAS WE CONGRATULATE THE PARTICIPANTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHOSE WINNING PROJECT WILL GO ON TO THE STATE AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS, AND WE THANK THE AUSTIN SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ASSUMING MANAGEMENT OF THIS IMPORTANT EVENT.

NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, ALONG WITH COUNCIL MEMBER LANE AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE, UM, AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 18TH THROUGH

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THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COUNCIL MEMBER STEM EDUCATION IS VITAL FOR THE WELLBEING OF CENTRAL TEXAS, AND IT TAKES MORE THAN BOOK LEARNING TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.

WE HAVE RECORD PARTICIPATION THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 100 PROJECTS MORE IN BOTH THE MIDDLE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION, AND 50 MORE IN THE ELEMENTARY DIVISION.

BUT THIS IS TRULY A COMMUNITY EVENT.

WE COULD NOT PULL THIS OFF WITHOUT THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALL OUR SPONSORS AND THE MORE THAN 500 AND ALMOST 300 VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP US EVERY YEAR SUPPORT THESE YOUNG SCIENTISTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU WANNA JUMP UP HERE AND TAKE A PHOTO? YEAH.

YEAH.

PERFECT.

[Proclamation – American Heart Association Wear Red Day – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]

I'M VANESSA FUENTES.

AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN, REPRESENTING DISTRICT TWO ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE TODAY TO HELP CELEBRATE HEART MONTH.

UH, WE ARE JOINED BY AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS TEAM.

AS WE RECOGNIZE THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY, A CAUSE THAT IS TRULY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, , NATIONAL RED DAY IS A MOMENT FOR ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER TO WEAR RED AND TO SHINE A LIGHT ON WOMEN'S CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH.

IT'S HOW WE CAN RAISE AWARENESS, START CONVERSATIONS, AND REMIND WOMEN THAT PREVENTION AND EARLY ACTION CAN AND DOES SAVE LIVES.

BEFORE SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL, I HAD THE HONOR OF WORKING AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, WHERE I SAW FIRSTHAND THE POWER OF EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES.

IT IS MY, IT WAS THAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEEP HEALTH DIVIDE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN AUSTIN BETWEEN OUR EAST AND WEST SIDES THAT FIRST INSPIRED ME TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

I'M ESPECIALLY EXCITED TO SHARE THAT AS WE CELEBRATE AND RAISE AWARENESS TODAY, THAT CITY HALL WILL ALSO BE DOING SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, CITY HALL WILL BE LIT UP BREAD ALL NIGHT TO SUPPORT AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THIS IMPORTANT CAUSE.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY IN AUSTIN TO BRAD WISDOM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES, CLAIMING THE LIVES OF ONE AND EVERY THREE WOMEN EACH YEAR AND SURPASSING ALL FORMS OF CANCERS COMBINED.

AND WHEREAS NEARLY HALF OF ALL WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 20 ARE LIVING WITH SOME FORM OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, YET MOST WOMEN REMAIN UNAWARE OF THEIR PERSONAL RISK FACTORS OR THE UNIQUE WAYS HEART DISEASE CAN PRESENT IN WOMEN, SUCH AS SHORTNESS OF BREATH, NAUSEA, BACK OR JAW PAIN, EXTREME FATIGUE OR DIZZINESS IN WHICH CAN LEAD TO DELAYED TREATMENT AND POORER OUTCOMES.

AND WHEREAS SIGNIFICANT DISPARITIES EXIST WITH BLACK, HISPANIC, LATINA, AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN FACING HIGHER RATES OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND BARRIERS TO PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CARE, ALL WOMEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE BYSTANDER CPR DURING A CARDIAC EMERGENCY.

IN PART DUE TO FEARS AND MISCONCEPTIONS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED THROUGH COMMUNITY-WIDE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.

AND WHEREAS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S GO RED.

FOR WOMEN MOVEMENT HAS LED TO THE CHANGE AND TO THE CHARGE IN EDUCATING WOMEN OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, ADVOCATING FOR EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE, AND EMPOWERING WOMEN TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR HEART HEALTH.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY OBSERVED THE FIRST FRIDAY OF FEBRUARY, WHICH TOMORROW BRINGS COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO RAISE AWARENESS, SPARK MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH AND BRAIN, WOMEN'S BRAIN AND HEART HEALTH, AND INSPIRING LIFESAVING ACTION.

NOW THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR

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WELL, WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN AS WE PROCLAIM AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATIONS WEAR RED DAY.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR A COMMUNITY THAT CONSISTENTLY SHOWS UP FOR THE HEALTH OF ALL OF ITS PEOPLE.

AUSTIN IS A CITY THAT LEADS WITH HEART LOOKING OUT FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

AND THIS PROCLAMATION REFLECTS THAT SPIRIT.

HEART DISEASE CONTINUES TO IMPACT TOO MANY LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WOMEN.

AND AWARENESS IS A POWERFUL FIRST STEP TOWARDS CHANGE BY WEARING RED, AUSTINITES ARE STANDING TOGETHER TO START CONVERSATIONS, ENCOURAGE PREVENTION AND TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THE ONES WE LOVE.

WITH THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP AND THE COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE BUILDING A HEALTHIER, STRONGER AUSTIN FOR EVERYONE.

AND NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DR.

MARK ESCOT, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND EMS SYSTEMS MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR REMARKS.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND ITS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SAVING LIVES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

THE A HA HAS LED GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH, ADVANCED PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION, AND CHAMPION POLICIES THAT HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED DEATHS FROM HEART DISEASE AND STROKE.

YET CARDIAC ARREST REMAINS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH, OFTEN STRIKING WITHOUT WARNING.

IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST HAPPENS AROUND 900 TIMES EACH YEAR.

WHEN CARDIAC ARREST OCCURS, SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON IMMEDIATE ACTION, AND CPR CAN DOUBLE OR EVEN TRIPLE AN INDIVIDUAL'S CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

AND AN AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR OR A ED CAN RESTORE LIFESAVING HEART RHYTHMS WITHIN MINUTES.

TOGETHER, THESE TOOLS EMPOWER EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO BECOME LIFESAVERS.

THE A HA HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN TRAINING OUR COMMUNITIES, EXPANDING ACCESS TO CPR EDUCATION AND ADVOCATING FOR WIDER A ED AVAILABILITY ACROSS AUSTIN AND BEYOND.

BUT WE HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO AS A COMMUNITY BECAUSE LESS THAN HALF OF THE VICTIMS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVE BYSTANDER CPR AT THE TIME OF THEIR CARDIAC ARREST.

AND AN EVEN SMALLER NUMBER, UH, HAVE AN A ED BEFORE FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENHANCING OUR WORK WITH THE A HA AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS THIS YEAR TO IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF SURVIVAL IN AUSTIN TO TURN MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS INTO LIFESAVERS THROUGH CPR TRAINING.

AGAIN, I, I JOIN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND PROUDLY RECOGNIZING AND THANKING THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR LIFESAVING LEADERSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP.

AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY AND, UH, MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.

DR.

DEMAR WALKS.

THANK YOU DR.

ESCOT AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES FOR, AND THANK YOU TO THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, UH, FOR RAISING AWARENESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MY NAME'S DR.

DESAR WA, AND I'M WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHERE WE WORK TO HELP PEOPLE, UM, UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RISKS ARE BY, UH, PROVIDING SERVICES SO THEY'LL KNOW THEIR NUMBERS.

HEART DISEASE DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE A MAN CLUTCHING HIS CHEST.

SOMETIMES IT LOOKS LIKE A WOMAN WHO IS SIMPLY TOO TIRED TO GET THROUGH HER DAY.

WE HAVE TO STOP CALLING IT A SILENT KILLER AND START LISTENING TO THE NOISE IT'S MAKING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD.

MM-HMM .

HEART DISEASE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN CLAIMING MORE LIVES THAN ALL FORMS OF CANCER COMBINED.

FOR WOMEN OF COLOR, IT ISN'T JUST A HEALTH STAT, IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

NEARLY 60% OF BLACK WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 20 ARE LIVING WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SEEING HEART ATTACKS IN WOMEN WHO ARE YOUNGER, MORE ACTIVE, AND MORE HEALTH CONSCIOUS THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC STRESS, STRESSORS, AND DIAGNOSTIC GAPS.

WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT HEART HEALTH WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT WEATHERING AND THE WEATHERING EFFECT OF CHRONIC STRESS AND SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY ON THE BODIES OF BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN.

THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR NEW MOTHERS IS HEART FAILURE.

IF WE WANT TO SAVE OUR MOTHERS, WE MUST SAVE THEIR HEARTS.

FOR TOO LONG, WOMEN IN PARTICULAR, WOMEN OF COLOR, HAVE BEEN THE BACKBONE OF OUR SOCIETY.

WHILE THEIR OWN HEARTS WERE BREAKING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE LOAD, IT IS TIME WE STOP ASKING THEM TO BE SUPER WOMEN AND START MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE HEALTHY WOMEN.

THE CALL TO ACTION TODAY IS

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THOSE ARE THE, THE CORNERSTONES FOR RISK PREVENTION.

THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL IN YOUR MEDICAL KIT IS TO KNOW HOW YOU ARE AND WHAT THOSE ARE.

PERFORM SMALL RADICAL ACTS OF SELF-CARE, LIKE 30 MINUTES OF WALKING OR CUTTING OUT YOUR SALT.

AND ALL OF THESE CAN REDUCE HEART RISK BY OVER 80%.

TODAY, WEARING RED SYMBOLIZES THAT WE AREN'T JUST TRYING TO LIVE LONGER, WE'RE TRYING TO LIVE BETTER.

LET'S TURN THE TIDE SO THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF GIRLS DOESN'T INHERIT A HEART DISEASE EPIDEMIC.

WE ARE HERE TO RECLAIM THE BEAT OF OUR OWN HEARTS.

LET'S LEAVE A LEGACY WHERE WOMEN PROTECT THEIR HEARTS, WHERE PROTECTION OF OUR HEART HEALTH IS A REQUIREMENT AND NOT A LUXURY.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

VERY GOOD.

WE'LL JUST TAKE A LITTLE GROUP PHOTO.

[Proclamation - Mexican American Heritage Day - To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I'M VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN.

JOINED HERE BY MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTER, AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA SHARPER MADISON, THANK Y'ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE WILL BE, UH, PRESENTING A PROCLAMATION TO ACADEMIA HANNO GIANNI GENEALOGY SOCIETY OF AUSTIN AND LULAC COUNCIL 42 46.

TODAY, WE GATHER TO RECOGNIZE MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY, A DAY THAT HONORS OUR HISTORY, OUR STRENGTH, AND THE DEEP ROOTS OF MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ON THIS LAND, LONG BEFORE WE HAD ANY OF THESE BORDERS MADE UP .

BUT I WANT YOU TO BE HONEST WITH YOU FOR A SECOND AND SAY THAT THIS CONVERSATION FEELS DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S HARD TO CELEBRATE WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PAIN AND FEAR THAT MANY IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY.

EVERY DAY WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE LIVING IN FEAR, TRUST IS BEING TESTED, AND YET OUR HISTORY TEACHES US SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL, THAT EVEN IN THE FACE OF DISPLACEMENT, DISCRIMINATION, AND INJUSTICES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR COMMUNITY ART HAVE ALWAYS ENDURED, ORGANIZED, AND BUILT SOMETHING THAT LAST ME MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY IS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF OUR DIGNITY IN THE PRESENT AND OUR RIGHT TO A FUTURE ROOTED IN BELONGING.

CELEBRATING THIS HERITAGE IS HOW WE HONOR THE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, OUR TRADITION, OUR CULTURE, OUR LANGUAGES AND GENERATIONS WHO HAVE FOUGHT TO PRESERVE THEM.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I ALSO WANNA INVITE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION LATER TONIGHT AT OUR IMMIGRATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH AUSTIN POLICE CHIEF LISA DAVIS, AS WELL AS MY COLLEAGUES, MAYOR PROAM VELA AND COUNCILMAN VELASQUEZ, AS WE'LL GATHER TO LISTEN, SHARE CONCERNS, AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES WITH CARE AND DIGNITY.

IT'LL TAKE PLACE FROM SIX TO SEVEN 30 LATER THIS EVENING AT GO VALLEY ELEMENTARY.

SO WITH THAT, IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY IN AUSTIN.

I WANNA THANK OUR LEADERS HERE FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, THEIR ADVOCACY, AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, VIETNAM, THAT WHEREAS THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE ALGO SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 1848, ENDED THE WAR OF AGGRESSION BY THE UNITED STATES AGAINST MEXICO AND CAUSE MEXICO TO CEDE MORE THAN ONE HALF OF ITS TERRITORY, INCLUDING THE PRESENT DAY STATES OF CALIFORNIA, NEVADA, UTAH, NEW MEXICO, AND MOST OF ARIZONA AND COLORADO PARTS OF OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, AND WYOMING.

AND WHEREAS MEXICO RE RELINQUISHED ITS CLAIMS OVER TEXAS AND RECOGNIZED THE RIO GRANDE AS THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF THE UNITED STATES, AND THE MEXICAN SECESSION OF 916,000 SQUARE MILES THAT INCLUDED TEXAS FOR A PAYMENT OF $15 MILLION, REPRESENTS A MAJOR TRANSFER OF WEALTH THAT HAS GROWN OVER TIME WITH THE EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES LIKE MINERALS, TIMBER, WATER, FOSSIL FUELS, AND THE LAND.

AND, AND WHEREAS THE TREATY GUADALUPE GRANTED US CITIZENSHIP ALONG WITH THE LAND AND CULTURAL RIGHTS TO MEXICAN CITIZENS WHO REMAINED IN THE ANNEX TERRITORY WHILE FAILING TO EXTEND LAWFUL STATUS

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AND WHEREAS FEBRUARY 2ND, 1848 MARKS A NEW PHASE IN OUR HISTORY THAT LED TO A LEGACY OF RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION TO PRESERVE OUR CULTURAL IDENTITY, OUR LANGUAGE, OUR TRADITIONAL VALUES, AND OUR HONOR IN THE FACE OF CONTINUOUS, MARGINAL, MARGINAL MARGINALIZATION AND DISCRIMINATION.

AND WHEREAS FEBRUARY 2ND HONORS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS LAND AND ITS RESOURCES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND RECOGNIZES THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AS WELL AS THE MEXICAN AMERICANS TO THE ECONOMY AND WELLBEING OF THE UNITED STATES, WHILE ALSO ENRICHING ITS CULTURE, SERVING IN DEFENSE AND TIME OF WAR, AND ADVOCATING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND LABOR REFORM.

NOW THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES AUSTIN CITY COUNCILWOMAN, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUES, COUNCIL MEMBERS HARPER MADISON AND ALTER ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2ND, 2026 AS MEXICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

WOO.

ICLAM, WE HAVE MS. MARK AND DR. ZAMORA.

YES.

YES, YES.

I THINK WE HAVE YOU DOING REMARKS FIRST.

ALL RIGHT.

ACTUALLY, UH, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S EMILIO ZAMORA, UH, HISTORIAN.

I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE SOME THINGS.

THE COM, THE HERITAGE DAY THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY COINCIDES WITH THE SIGNING OF A TREATY ON FEBRUARY THE SECOND, 1848.

LIKE ALL OTHER MOMENTS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR US THIS DAY IS A SOLEMN OCCASION BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT I'LL SHARE WITH YOU IN A MINUTE.

IT'S ALSO, UH, A POINT OF, UH, CELEBRATION FOR SURVIVING THE DIFFICULT CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE LIVED AS A PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT, UM, WELL OVER 25,000 MILITARY PERSONNEL AND CIVILIANS FROM MEXICO DIED AS A RESULT OF THE WAR THAT ENDED WITH THE SIGNING THE TREAT LESS THAN HALF DEATH, AND 13,000 AMERICAN TROOPS DIED AS WELL.

THAT'S THE SOLEMN SIDE OF THINGS.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT SOLEMN SIDE OF THIS HISTORY IS THAT MEXICO LOST, UH, OVER 916,000 SQUARE MILES WHILE THE US OF COURSE EXPANDED ITS, UH, TERRITORY, UH, BY ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT.

UM, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE SAID ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES THAT WE FACED AS A RESULT OF THE WAR AND THE UNKEPT PROMISES OF THE TREATY WAGO, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO STRESS THAT AT LEAST BY THE, UH, LATTER PART OF THE 19TH CENTURY, THE 18 HUNDREDS, WE WERE BECOMING A NEW PEOPLE AT PEOPLE SEEKING INCORPORATION INTO AMERICAN SOCIETY ON AN EQUAL BASIS.

THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR CLAIM.

AFTER WE LOST OUR LANDS, AFTER WE LOST OUR SOVEREIGNTY AS A, OR SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THE, UH, UNFAIR AND UNJUST, UH, WAR OF AGGRESSION BY THE US AGAINST MEXICO, WE, UH, DURING THE 20 CENTURY AND 21ST CENTURY HAVE DEMONSTRATED GREAT RESILIENCE AS A PEOPLE WE'RE STRONGER FOR THOSE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THOSE DIFFICULT MOMENTS.

AND WE'RE HERE TO BASICALLY COMMEMORATE, UH, ALL THAT OCCURRED THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT, AND ALSO CELEBRATE THAT WE'RE STILL HERE MM-HMM .

AND WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY DESPITE THE, SOME POLICIES REGARDING THE MOVEMENT OF MEXICANS AND OTHER PEOPLES ACROSS THESE BORDERS THAT WE HAVE SEPARATING THE NATIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS MINNIE WILSON AT TE HANO GENEALOGY SOCIETY OF AUSTIN MEMBER.

OUR SOCIETY IS HONORED TO BE A SPONSOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.

ONE OF OUR MISSIONS IS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS OF OUR RICH TETANO HISTORY IN SCHOOLS AND IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO IT THAN WITH THIS RESOLUTION AS GENEALOGIST, WE NOT ONLY FIGURE OUT OUR PEDIGREE LINES, BUT ALSO LOOK INTO EVENTS AND HOW THEY AFFECTED OUR ANCESTORS.

THE 1848 TREATY OF GUADALUPE

[00:30:01]

ART HANO ANCESTORS HAD TO MAKE A BIG DECISION STAY ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIO GRANDE, OR GO ACROSS MANY IN MINE INCLUDED, DECIDED TO STAY ON THIS SIDE AND BECOME US CITIZENS, THEREBY SHAPING WHO WE ARE TODAY.

AND FOR THAT, WE'RE GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME'S MARTHA CORRA, AND I WANT TO, UH, THANK, UH, COUNCILWOMAN VANESSA FUENTES FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

ALSO, UH, MS. HARPER AND, UH, OUR COUNCIL PERSON, UH, RYAN TER, UH, I HAD A BUNCH OF PREPARED WORKS, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US IS, UH, THE FACT THAT, UH, WE, WE WERE ALL IN SPLIT FAMILIES.

SOME OF, SOME OF OUR FAMILY, PART OF OUR FAMILY STAYED IN WEST TEXAS, AND THE OTHER PART WENT BACK TO, UH, IKA SAN CHIHUAHUA.

UH, BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING THAT I HEARD FROM MY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT STAYED IS THAT THEY, THEY FELT A DUTY, THEY FELT A RESPONSIBILITY, UH, TO, TO PROTECT THE SEATED LAND.

UH, THEY FELT A RESPONSIBILITY TO WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER, UH, TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT, THAT THIS TERRITORY REMAINED, UH, WITH THE SAME, UH, INDIGENOUS, PRETTY MUCH INDIGENOUS, UH, VALUES THAT, UH, THAT CONTINUE TO DRIVE MEXICO.

AND THAT IS TO HAVE THE KIND OF DEMOCRACY, UH, IN THIS LAND, UH, THAT IS A SOCIAL, UH, DEMOCRACY THAT VALUES, YOU KNOW, HUMAN CAPITAL, THAT VALUES NATURAL CAPITAL, THAT VALUES ECONOMIC CAPITAL AND ALSO SOCIAL CAPITAL.

AND THAT IS COMMUNITY.

AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A PROMISE AND A PLEDGE AND RES RESPONSIBILITY THAT OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS CITY TERRITORY, WHICH IS A THIRD OF THE UNITED STATES, UM, HAS LIVED UP TO, AND, AND HAS, UH, LED A RESISTANCE TO, UH, CHANGES THAT WOULD TEND TO DEVALUE, UH, THESE IMPORTANT VALUES THAT WE INHERITED FROM OUR MOTHERLAND.

AND SURE, WE LOST HER MOTHER, BUT WE KEPT OUR HOME, THANK GOD, AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO GOING FORWARD.

AND THE REASON WHY, UH, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE AND, AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOT PRESENT TODAY, THAT WE WANT TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT THE, THE, THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO THE US THROUGH A LOT OF TIMES, THROUGH THE DESTABILIZATION THAT OUR OWN COUNTRY HAS CREATED IN THEIR, IN THEIR COUNTRIES, TO DOCUMENT THEIR EXPERIENCES AS WELL.

BECAUSE AS WE, UH, COME TO THIS LAND, UH, WE'RE STILL PART OF THIS, YOU KNOW, WONDERFUL HEMISPHERE THAT I THINK WE ALL OUGHT TO PLEDGE, UH, TO KEEP IT AS, AS A BEACON IN THE WORLD, AS A BEACON OF, OF, OF A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

AND SO I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT WE COME UP WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, CRAZY THINGS WE WANNA DO IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE ALSO AWARE, NATASHA, WHERE NATASHA DARLENE, WE'RE ALSO AWARE, AND, AND WE HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO DO THIS IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE WE WANNA HONOR, YOU KNOW, AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THIS CHALLENGES US TO WORK, TO CONTINUE THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING AT LY AND, AND IN OTHER COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE, THE, THE HERITAGE THAT WE SHARE AND THE CULTURE THAT WE SHARE WITH THE, UH, AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN THIS HEMISPHERE.

AND SO A LOT OF THE COMMEMORATION THAT WE DO OF THIS DAY GOING FORWARD, UH, WILL INCLUDE, AND IN FACT, WE HAVE A WORKSHOP, UH, COMING UP ON SATURDAY THAT WILL INCLUDE INCORPORATION OF, OF THAT HERITAGE THAT, AND VALUES THAT WE SHARE WITH, WITH OUR BELOVED, YOU KNOW, AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

SO I KNOW THAT A LOT OF OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS THAT I WORKED WITH, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST FOR OVER 60 YEARS, UH, ARE LOOKING DOWN AT US BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM HAVE PASSED ON.

AND WE'LL BE SO HAPPY, UH, THAT WE ARE AT THE MAC EXPLORING THAT HERITAGE OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD THAT CAME ABOUT LARGELY BECAUSE OF THIS TREATY, AND LARGELY BECAUSE AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE TERRITORY, WHICH WAS

[00:35:01]

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT'S A LOT OF WORDS.

THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR SHARING THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.

I MEAN THIS WONDERFUL COMMEMORATION TO ME.

IT'S NOT REALLY A CELEBRATION, IT'S A COMMEMORATION OF AN EVENT THAT IS PIVOTAL IN OUR, THE HISTORY OF OUR HEMISPHERE IN OUR COUNTRY.

THANK YOU HERE.

[Proclamation – Whip my Soul Day – To be presented by Council Member Krista Laine]

THANK YOU TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON.

GOTTA CHECK, UH, FOR JOINING US IN PERSON AS WE RECOGNIZE A DISTRICT SIX DESTINATION ESTABLISHMENT FOR NORTH AUSTIN AND WELL BEYOND WHAT MY SOUL.

THIS FEBRUARY, ANTONIO AND TANIKA ECCLES ARE CELEBRATING THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF WHI MY SOUL.

IN THAT SHORT AND CHALLENGING TIME FOR RESTAURANTS, THEY HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES, INCLUDING MOST RECENTLY YELP'S TOP 100 PLACES TO EAT IN THE COUNTRY.

FEBRUARY IS ALSO BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK MAKING THE MOST DELICIOUS HISTORY.

RIGHT AT MY HOME AUSTIN'S DISTRICT SIX, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR SHARING THEIR CULINARY HERITAGE WITH US AND ALSO FOR THE WAYS THEY GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY STEP UP AND ASSIST DURING DISASTERS, AND THEY HELP THOSE IN NEED WITH HOLIDAY MEALS.

WE COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE CIVIC-MINDED BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO NOURISH NOT JUST OUR BODIES, BUT ALSO OUR HEARTS AND SOULS.

AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE THE MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY BUSINESS THAT WE ARE HONORING TODAY.

WITH THAT, I'LL PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION.

OH, NO.

WITH THAT, I WILL PASS OFF TO, TO TIA TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

YOU GOT IT, .

YEAH, LET'S GO, LET'S GO.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

COUNCIL LADY.

WOMAN.

GOOD MORNING.

HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TODAY? GREAT.

UM, I AM TANIKA KNOWN AS TIA THE OWNER, SECOND OWNER OF WHAT? MY SOUL RESTAURANT.

UM, I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK MAYOR KIRK WATSON, COUNCIL MEMBER KRISTA LANE AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR, UM, BEING RECOGNIZED JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE OUR FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

YES, AND DOING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AS WELL MAKES THIS MOMENT ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL.

UH, WHY THE WITH MY SOUL IS BUILT ON FAMILY AND LEGACY.

MY GRANDMOTHERS TAUGHT ME HOW TO COOK WITH LOVE AND INTENTION.

AND THOSE SAME RECIPES NOW LIVE THROUGH OUR RESTAURANT, MY CHILDREN ALONGSIDE US EVERY DAY, HELPING BUILD SOMETHING WE HOPE LASTS FOR GENERATIONS.

MY MOTHER, A CONSTANT MENTOR AND TUTOR BY MY SIDE ALL THE TIME, AND MY HUSBAND.

MY HUSBAND, YES MA'AM.

HERE, ANTONIO, KNOWN AS MR. WHIP.

MY SOUL HAS BEEN MY CONSTANT PARTNER IN TURNING THE DREAM INTO REALITY.

WE'RE PROUD TO SERVE NORTHWEST AUSTIN AND GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO SHOW UP FOR US ALL THE TIME.

, THIS PROCLAMATION BELONGS TO ALL OF US.

THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN A SMALL FAMILY BUSINESS LIKE OURS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO

[00:40:01]

THAT'S EVERYONE FROM THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM BROADCASTING TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND THE VERY MANY PROGRAMS THAT THEY RUN THAT SUPPORT THE VERY FAMILY OWNED MULTI-GENERATIONAL SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT TO BE SUPPORTING HERE IN AUSTIN.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE JOINED US AS WELL.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION.

UM, I FEEL LIKE BOTH MR. AND MRS. MM-HMM .

UH, WHAT MY SOUL SHOULD HOLD THIS.

SO COME ON UP.

PLUS WE NEED TO SEE YOUR GORGEOUS THANK YOU ALL DRESS.

OKAY.

NOT DRESS, BUT YOU KNOW, SUIT.

OKAY.

, YOU KNOW.

OKAY.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL PRESENT THE POPULATION, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS WHIP MY SOUL IS A BELOVED FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANT BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, SPECIALIZING IN HOMEMADE SOUTHERN DISHES THAT REMIND US OF THE COMFORT OF HOME AND SOULFUL HOSPITALITY.

AND WHEREAS ANTONIO AND TANIKA ECCLES ARE CELEBRATING FOUR YEARS OF, OF OWNING AND OPERATING WHIP MY SOUL, SERVING THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A MENU WHOSE TOP INGREDIENT IS LOVE AND WHOSE REPUTATION HAS EARNED WIDESPREAD PRAISE.

AND WHEREAS WHI, MY SOUL HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY NAMED ONE OF YELP'S TOP 100 PLACES TO EAT IN THE UNITED STATES, A MONUMENTAL RECOGNITION FOR ANY RESTAURANT AND PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL FOR A FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY AND COLOR CULINARY TRADITION.

AND WHEREAS WHAT MY SOUL HAS RECEIVED MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA CLAIM FOR ITS SIGNATURE SOUL FOOD OFFERINGS FROM CHEESY MAC AND SHRIMP EGG ROLLS TO FRIED CHICKEN, COLLARD GREENS, AND OTHER SOUTHERN CLASSICS.

AND THE BANANA PUDDING CAKE.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE.

.

YEAH, THAT'S OUR FAVORITE ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS THOUGH, FRIENDS.

.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WAIT, I, I'M ON THE WRONG PAGE.

GOING BACK TO THE PROCLAMATION.

STILL A GOOD MORNING.

IT'S STILL A GOOD, THIS IS OKAY.

UM, WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS RECOGNIZING FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN ANTONIO AND TANIKA ECCLES ARE MAKING HISTORY RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN WITH THEIR NOW DESTINATION RESTAURANT THAT CELEBRATES BLACK CULINARY HERITAGE AND ENRICHES OUR VIBRANT LOCAL FOOD SCENE.

AND WHEREAS WHAT MY SOUL FREQUENTLY GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD RELIEF, FUNDRAISERS, SUPPORTING KERR COUNTY HOLIDAY TOY DRIVES AND HOLIDAY CATERING OPTIONS THAT HELP NOURISH FAMILIES AND FOOD DONATIONS TO THOSE IN NEED, AS WELL AS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS STRIVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE REGION.

AND TRULY, THEY DRAW IN NEIGHBORS AND BUILD COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR ENTIRE REGION.

NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER CRYSTAL LANE ON BEHALF OF MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND THE REST OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026, AS WHAT MY SOUL DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

WOW.

SHALL WE SAY PUT OR MOVE FORWARD.