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[The Black History Month Centennial Celebration Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
EVERYONE.AND TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
TODAY WE RECOGNIZE A HUNDRED YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, A CENTURY OF HONORING THE HISTORY, CULTURE, AND IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK AMERICANS TO OUR COUNTRY AND TO OUR CITY.
IN AUSTIN, BLACK HISTORY IS AUSTIN HISTORY.
IT IS WRITTEN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR MUSIC, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, OUR CHURCHES, OUR ACTIVISM, AND OUR PUBLIC SERVICE.
IT IS A STORY OF RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE AND OF LEADERSHIP THAT CONTINUES TO PUSH THIS CITY TO BE BETTER.
IN 1871, DURING RECONSTRUCTION, HENRY GREEN MADISON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK MEMBERS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL.
HE SERVED IN AN ERA OF EXTRAORDINARY RISK AND DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO STRENGTHENING THIS CITY.
A CENTURY LATER, BURL HANCOCKS BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED UNDER OUR CURRENT COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT CHAMPIONING EQUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN EAST AUSTIN AND ADVANCING EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THEIR SERVICE HELPED SHAPE THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY THAT WE SERVE TODAY.
WE ALSO STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF LEADERS LIKE WILHELMINA DELCO, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, AND A LONGTIME CHAMPION FOR EDUCATION.
BARBARA JORDAN, WHOSE POWERFUL VOICE IN CONGRESS HELPED DEFINE A GENERATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND MY COLLEAGUE, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, WHOSE LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO EQUITY STRENGTHEN THIS COUNCIL AND OUR CITY.
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE AUSTIN WE KNOW AND THE FUTURE WE ARE BUILDING TOGETHER.
I WANNA EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO NELSON LINDER, PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTIN CHAPTER OF THE NAACP FOR HIS DECADES OF STEADFAST ADVOCACY.
YOUR WORK HAS CHALLENGED SYSTEMS, ELEVATED VOICES, AND REMINDED US THAT PROGRESS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE WILLING TO DEMAND IT.
AS WE MARK A HUNDRED YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LET'S REMEMBER THAT HONORING THIS HISTORY REQUIRES ACTION.
I'M PROUD TO SERVE IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US, AND I WON'T STOP PUSHING FOR THE AUSTIN WE ALL DESERVE.
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NAACP, UH, NELSON LINDER TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
AND LEMME FIRST SAY, I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE AND I WANNA SAY A FEW THINGS.
UM, UH, DEMOCRACY SAYS THAT IT RESIDES IN THE PEOPLE ITSELF.
THAT'S HOW WE DEFINE DEMOCRACY.
BUT TOO OFTEN WE DON'T REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF YOU GUYS ARE HERE AND YOU SHOW YOUR INTEREST IN THIS EVENT.
OKAY, THAT'S IMPORTANT 'CAUSE WE DON'T ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE ALWAYS LAST.
AND THESE ARE ALL MY FRIENDS, OKAY? THESE ARE PEOPLE I KNOW AND THEY'RE PART OF NACP BY SPIRIT AND PHYSICALLY AS WELL.
NOW, THE BUSINESS AT HAND, NAACP, UH, THERE'S A HISTORY AS WELL.
YOU GUYS KNOW THAT BEFORE 1909, THERE WAS A GROUP THAT HAD TO MEET IN, IN CANADA OF ALL PLACES ON THE CANADIAN BORDER SIDE OF NIAGARA FALLS, BLACK PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T MEET IN THE UNITED STATES.
DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR? THEY GOT TOGETHER IN CANADA, THEN THEY ORGANIZED AGAIN.
AND IN 1909 THEY FORMED THE, THE NAACP NATIONALLY.
WE WERE FIGHTING ANTI-LYNCHING, UH, THE RIGHT, UH, TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO BE TREATED AS HUMAN BEINGS.
SO THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION WAS BORN IN 1919.
THE AUSTIN CHAPTER WAS BORN RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
IT'S A LONG TIME AGO, RIGHT? IT WAS A VERY TRAGIC EVENT IN MANY WAYS.
'CAUSE PEOPLE GOT HURT DURING THE FORMATION.
PEOPLE GOT THREATENED DURING THE FORMATION.
AND SO IT WAS VERY, VERY BAD SITUATION, TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENED AS A RESPONSE TO US BEING, BEING FORMED NOW GOING FORWARD.
A LOT OF WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT WORKED IN THE CITY OF THE PAST, WHAT, ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS, OVER A HUNDRED YEARS NOW, TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE.
PEOPLE LIKE ARTHUR BEATIE WITTY, WHO FOUGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS IN THE CITY AND FORCED FOLKS TO TALK ABOUT HAVING A GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO VOTE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES.
TEN ONE CAME, BECAME A REALITY DISTRICT BASED SYSTEM.
A LOT OF OUR PEOPLE AS WELL, AND OF COURSE, FORMER OVERTON, WHO FOUGHT FOR INTEGRATION AND DESEGREGATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION TO FIGHT RACISM, WILL ALL COULD BE TREATED EQUALLY AND ON AND ON.
SO MANY MEMBERS THAT DID THE SAME THING.
BUT THOSE GUYS WERE OUR FRONT LEADERS.
HERE'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT TODAY.
THIS IS, UH, WHAT, 2026, RIGHT? AND DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE.
SO WHY IS DEMOCRACY JAIL AT STAKE? WE
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HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS TIME, LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED, AND GO FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE AND KNOWING THAT WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.SO WHEN THIS DAY OCCURRED TODAY, I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT BEING HERE BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL WERE INVITED AND ALSO INCLUDED BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE THAT VERY MUCH AT WORK.
I SEE PEOPLE THAT COME AND THEY GO, BUT IN ONE OCCASION, AT ONE SPECIAL MOMENT, AT THIS IMPORTANT TIME.
I MEAN, THAT'S VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY POWERFUL.
I WANNA MENTION THINGS I WANT YOU TO DO FOR ME AS WELL.
THIS IS A BOOK HERE THAT NOBODY READS ANYMORE.
IT'S CALLED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCE ADVISOR COMMISSION.
FIRST ONE WE CREATED IN THE CITY OF ALSO BLACK PEOPLE DID THIS, BY THE WAY.
A LOT OF WORDS HERE, A LOT OF WORK HERE.
BUT IF YOU DON'T READ IT, GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE NOT GONNA UTILIZE IT.
SO PLEASE READ THAT BOOK AND KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CITY OF THE PAST, WHAT, 15 YEARS SO YOU CAN EMBRACE IT AND USE IT.
BECAUSE EVERY OTHER COMMISSION TODAY DID THE SAME THING AFTER US.
NOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NAACP, BUT THERE'S A THING CALLED THE AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER.
YOU MIGHT WANNA GO THERE AND READ ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE THERE.
I MEAN, JUST TAKE YOUR KIDS THERE AND SHOW THEM THE FOLKS WHO DON'T GET NAMED AT THESE COUNTER EVENTS AND CEREMONIES AND SEE WHAT THEY DID TO THIS CITY.
THERE'S A THEME CALLED THE OVERTON PAPERS.
BY THE WAY, YOU EVER HEARD OF OVERTON PAPERS? MM-HMM.
MAKE SURE YOU SHARE THAT MESSAGE.
'CAUSE HE WAS A INCREDIBLE MAN.
AND BY THE WAY, I MET, I MET, UH, MR. OVERTON, WORKED WITH HIM PERSONALLY.
LEARNED A LOT FROM ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION.
AND I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE AT 26 YEARS, I'M PRETTY CLOSE TO BEEN THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER, MAYBE ONE OR TWO.
BUT THANKS TO YOU, I'VE HAD YOUR SUPPORT.
I MAKE SURE I SACRIFICE FIRST BECAUSE I THINK THAT LEADERS, THEY HAVE TO LEAD.
YOU HAVE TO DO THE WORK, SET THE EXAMPLE AND MAKE SURE THE WORK IS BEING DONE.
SO WHEN I SAY FRIENDS, I REALLY MEAN THAT, OKAY? I REALLY MEAN THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SO DEDICATED, AND I WANNA CLOSE BY SAYING THIS, FOLKS, UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT AUSTIN TODAY, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE STILL FIGHTING, BEEN FIGHTING FOR TOO LONG, FOLKS.
AND THINK ABOUT WHEN WE WERE FOUNDED, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 65, OR THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 64 OR THE EOC.
WE DIDN'T HAVE PLACES WHERE BLACK FOLKS, HISPANIC PEOPLE WOULD GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
BUT YOU KNOW, TODAY, IN 2026, OUR VOTER RIGHT ACT HAS BEEN DISMANTLED.
THE DOJ IS WELL OUT OF THEIR MINDS, FRANKLY.
YOU DON'T WORK FOR THE PRESIDENT, YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.
HOW DOES THAT GET UPSIDE DOWN? HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICERS, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DISCRIMINATION.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
THERE HAS LONG HISTORY DOWN IN AMERICA.
AND THE DEMOCRACY BASED ON THESE ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAS TO HELP CHECKS AND BALANCES.
RIGHT NOW, CHECKS AND BALANCES ARE NOT THERE.
SO GOING FORWARD WITH THE A CP AND ALL THESE OTHER BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL, GREAT PEOPLE THAT HERE, THIS MORNING, YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.
I WANT YOU TO STAND UP AND BE HEARD, THOUGH.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO ACCEPT ANYTHING, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE REALLY STRONG, YOU ARE GONNA BE OKAY.
BUT I THINK TODAY THERE'S TOO MUCH FEAR.
AND AS I CLOSE OUT, BASED ON WHAT I SAID I WOULD DO, THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR ANCESTORS WENT THROUGH, THE LYNCHINGS, THE BOMBINGS, THE THREATENING THEY WENT THROUGH TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
SO IF YOU REMEMBER THAT, THEN YOUR SACRIFICES AND YOUR SAFETY IS KIND OF MINIMIZED.
I WANNA THANK THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, MADISON, UH, THE REST OF THE COUNCILORS AS WELL, AND THE FOLKS WHO WORK HERE EVERY DAY BEHIND THE SCENES THAT DO THE WORK, LIKE THE CITY MANAGER, THE WORK THAT THEY DO, UH, ALL OF HIS ASSISTANTS AND HOW THEY WORK FOR US.
SO WHAT SHE DOES ABOUT THESE KIND OF EVENTS AND DOING OTHER THINGS THAT WE DON'T SEE, AND ALSO BRINGING FOLKS I NEED TO SEE TO HELP ME.
YOU GUYS DON'T REALLY SEE ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
OFTENTIMES, WHAT YOU DON'T SEE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.
AND ALSO KEEP PEOPLE IN YOUR PRAYERS.
I WAS ASKED LAST WEEK, UH, HOW ABOUT MY WORK? DO I LIKE IT? I SAID, WELL, I LIKE 96% OF IT, BUT THEN THERE'S 4%.
I SAID, BECAUSE DRAMA IS NEVER EASY.
I SAID, BUT THERE'S THERE, THERE'S, UH, A BRIGHT SIDE OF EVERYTHING, A LITTLE JOKE.
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UH, I MEAN, THERE, THERE, THERE, THERE'S HEAVEN.AND THERE'S HELL, I'M TOLD THERE'S EVEN NO DRAMA IN THERE ARE
AND WHAT I'M SAYING IS, FOLKS WORK BEYOND THE DRAMA, BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA ALWAYS HAPPEN.
WHEN I GOT FRIENDS LIKE YOU WHO KNOW ME, I'M GONNA BE OKAY FOR YOU AS WELL.
JUST KEEP PUSHING, KEEP DOING YOUR THING.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU, I GUARANTEE YOU IT'S GONNA WORK OUT.
BUT THERE ARE GONNA BE TOUGH DAYS AND TOUGH MOMENTS AND TOUGH PEOPLE.
BUT IF YOU EMBRACE YOURSELF AND DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.
ANOTHER PROCLAMATION, OKAY? SOON I WANNA SEE YOU EVERY DAY.
I'M ON 11TH STREET, BY THE WAY.
AND GUESS WHAT? WE DON'T GET PAID UNLESS YOU GIVE US CONTRIBUTIONS.
BY THE WAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PARDON ME? YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PROCLAMATION, SO YOU WANNA, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA SAY A WORD REAL QUICK.
I'M ALLOW YOU TO, I THINK IT MIGHT OFFER SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF INSIGHT.
MORNING, I AM COUNCIL MEMBER AND NATASHA HARPER MADISON.
I GET THE PROUD AND DISTINCT HONOR OF REPRESENTING THE PART OF EAST SIDE, AUSTIN, TEXAS, WHERE I GREW UP.
AND TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AMONGST OTHER THINGS, I WANNA SAY SOMETHING THOUGH.
I'M GONNA DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER
UM, TO MR. LINDER'S POINT,
IN THE 10TH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION.
THERE'S ONLY EVER BEEN ONE BLACK COUNCIL MEMBER AT A TIME.
ALL THAT TO SAY IS THIS THING, OH, THERE IT IS,
ALL THAT TO SAY, I'M PROUD TO REPRESENT, I'M PROUD TO SHOW UP, BUT I'M ALSO A HUMAN BEING.
EVERY RIBBON CUTTING, EVERY CEREMONY, EVERY PHOTO OPPORTUNITY.
IF I DON'T GO, THERE'S 10 OF US.
AND THE MAYOR, IF I DON'T GO, WE AREN'T PICTURED.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? IN WHICH CASE, INADVERTENTLY THE CITY, MY COLLEAGUES WHO I LOVE DIFFER TO ME AND MY BLACKNESS TO FILL IN ALL THE SPACES, PLACES, CAUSES CONCERNS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR BLACK FOLK.
BUT IT TURNS OUT I ONLY REPRESENT ONE DISTRICT, 46 SQUARE MILES AND A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE.
THE REST OF THE CITY IS NOT MY CHARGE ON PAPER, BUT I DON'T CARE WHERE THEY LIVE.
LULING, BASTROP, NIEDER, WALL, TAYLOR, TYLER, HARKER HEIGHTS, THEY CALL ME IF IT'S A BLACK PEOPLE ISSUE, IN WHICH CASE I ACCEPT I'M DOWN TO DO IT.
BUT THAT SUPPORT THAT MR. LINDER MADE REFERENCE TO THAT SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I GOT ARREST TOO.
IN WHICH CASE I, UH, I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING WHEN WE WERE GONNA PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION THAN I THOUGHT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WANT ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER, ANOTHER COLLEAGUE TO DO THIS.
UM, BECAUSE ANOTHER COLLEAGUE CAN DO THIS.
BLACK PEOPLE STUFF IS NOT JUST A BLACK COUNCIL MEMBER'S STUFF.
IF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS AN EQUITABLE CITY WHERE WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL RESIDENTS NEEDS, WANTS, DESIRES, CAUSES AND CONCERNS, IT'S ALL OF OUR ISSUE.
IF IT'S A BLACK PEOPLE ISSUE, JUNETEENTH IS ALL OF OUR HOLIDAY.
I DON'T WANT NOW ANOTHER PERSON TO SAY HAPPY JUNETEENTH, BUT NOT PLAN ON PARTICIPATING BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOUR HOLIDAY.
THE EMANCIPATION OF A PEOPLE IS EVERYBODY'S YOUR NEIGHBORS ANCESTORS BEING EMANCIPATED IS CALLS FOR CELEBRATION.
YOU THINK I'M NOT WHOOPING AND HOLLERING AND SHOWING OFF MY GITA ON CIN DE MAYO.
THE BLACK AND BROWN CONNECTION IN MY FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE IS UNDENIABLE.
AND SO JUNETEENTH BLACK HISTORY MONTH, EVERY OTHER, TO YOUR POINT, MR. LINDER PROCLAMATION OPPORTUNITY THAT'S ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.
I WANT Y'ALL TO DO ME A SOLID.
IF YOU ASSUME I'M GOING TO DELIVER IT, THEN YOU'RE VALIDATING THE POINT THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE THE SINGULAR ONE LIKE YOU YEAH.
WORK AT MUNICIPAL POLICY THAT YOU HOPE WILL EXIST IN PERPETUITY WHILE ALL THE WHILE SOMETIMES THEY LOOK LIKE YOU WHEN THEY CALL YOU NASTY NAMES.
BUT THE REST OF THEM AND THE WAY THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN BOLD, AND LET'S JUST SAY BY THE ENVIRONMENT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING TO ME THAT I WOULD NEVER
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REPEAT TO MY MOTHER, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.UM, SO I AM HAPPY TO HAND THE MIC OVER AND
POWERFUL WORDS, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND, UH, ALWAYS PROUD TO, TO STAND WITH YOU AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
UH, AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US AND IT'S ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS, AND IT'S ABOUT THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'RE ALWAYS PROUD TO, TO STAND WITH YOU.
THAT SAID, LET ME READ THE PROCLAMATION.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER HERE TOO, FROM, UH, BACK IN THE DAY NOW IN THE STATE HOUSE.
BUT, UH, AGAIN, PART OF THE, THE LONG HISTORY OF, UH, OF, UH, EXCELLENT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EXCELLENT REPRESENTATION THAT, THAT, UH, WE'VE HAD.
SO ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE SHERIFF COLE.
I SAID, YES, I'M SORRY TO SAY.
BUT, UH, IT'S GOTTA IT'S GOTTA, UH, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS 2026 MARKS THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF US BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHICH BEGAN IN 1926 WHEN HISTORIAN DR. CARTER G WOODSON, OFTEN CALLED THE FATHER OF BLACK HISTORY, ESTABLISHED NEGRO HISTORY WEEK TO ENSURE THE HISTORY, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WOULD BE STUDIED, PRESERVED, AND CELEBRATED.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING BLACK HISTORY, HERITAGE, AND CULTURE, AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO REFLECT UPON THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN SHAPING, SERVING, AND PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY, CITY AND NATION.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS LONG BEEN COMMITTED TO PRESERVING THE LEGACY, HERITAGE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THROUGH ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES THE HISTORIC SIX SQUARE AND IS ALSO PROUD TO BE HOME TO HOUSTON TILL IT'S IN UNIVERSITY, A DISTINGUISHED, HISTORICALLY BACKED BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.
AND WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENTS, AND EMPLOYEES ACROSS ALL SECTORS TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EXPERIENCES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
AND WHEREAS BY ACKNOWLEDGING THIS MILESTONE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND CELEBRATING AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND HERITAGE, FOSTERING, UNDERSTANDING, INCLUSION AND APPRECIATION OF THE DIVERSE STORIES THAT ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FORMALLY RECOGNIZES THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS OVER THE LAST A HUNDRED YEARS NOW, THEREFORE, I MAYOR PRO TEM CHITO VELA ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON, AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL DO, HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026 AS THE BLACK HISTORY MONTHS CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, UH, SO, SO, UH, MUCH FOR, FOR COMING.
UH, WE, WE, UH, APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE AND WE HONOR, UH, THE HUNDRED YEAR HISTORY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, UH, AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF, UH, AFRICAN AMERICANS IN AUSTIN AND REALLY ALL OVER THE, THE COUNTRY.
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THURSDAY, UH, I AM COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE QUEZ[Israel Lopez Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
OF DISTRICT THREE AND UNG GRAND IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.UH, TODAY I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE A GREAT LEADER, A MENTOR WHO HAS MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR EAST AUSTIN KIDDOS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR MENTALIS COMMUNITY.
ISRAEL LOPEZ IS A LONGTIME YOUTH SPORTS ADVOCATE WHO HAS SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MONIS LITTLE LEAGUE FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO DECADES NOW.
DURING HIS SERVICE, HE'S PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF KIDS ACCESS TO COMMUNITY AND SAFETY, AND HAS HELPED GENERATIONS OF YOUTH DEVELOP LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS AND ES ESSENTIAL SKILLS LIKE TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, AND LEADERSHIP.
AND IT IS TRULY AN HONOR AS A, UH, BORN AND RAISED EAST AUSTINITE TO BE ABLE TO HONOR ONE OF OUR HEROES, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS ISRAEL LOPEZ HAS SERVED AS THE LEAGUE'S PRESIDENT FOR OVER 25 YEARS WITH AN ESTIMATE OF OVER 30,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS TO THE MONIS LITTLE LEAGUE.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE IN THAT ALONE.
AND WHEREAS HE HAS PROVIDED A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR YOUTH AND THE YOUTH OF THE MONIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
AND WHEREAS HE HAS SERVED OVER 60,000, OR EXCUSE ME, 6,000 YOUTH PARTICIPANTS IN THE MONIS LITTLE LEAGUE THE PAST 25 YEARS.
AND WHEREAS HE HAS LED OVER 50 PLUS YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TEAMS TO LITTLE LEAGUE DISTRICT GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS IN THE PAST 25 YEARS.
AND WHEREAS HE HAS SERVED AS A MENTOR TO THE YOUTH OF THE MENTALIS COMMUNITY THROUGH VARIOUS A ISD PROGRAMS. NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, THE MAYOR PRO TEM CHITO VELA AND COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, THE ENTIRE DAIS, AND THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 26TH, 2026 AS ISRAEL LOPEZ DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT ALL THAT INFORMATION.
'CAUSE I HAVE SAID NOTHING
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE CROWD UP HERE BECAUSE I GENUINELY DO BELIEVE THAT.
UH, AND AND HE'LL ADMIT IT TOO.
I DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT WHAT I DO.
PEOPLE STILL LOOK, AND ISRAEL, YOU STILL THERE? YEAH, THAT MEANS I'M STILL DOING MY PART ON THE FLOOR, ON THE GROUND, MAKING IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY.
WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE HUGE ADVOCATES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE DON'T GET PAID FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SOMETIMES IT COMES OUT OF OUR POCKET.
CITY OF AUSTIN IS STARTING TO HELP OUT.
NOW THAT'S, IT'S A HUGE HELP FOR US.
OUR FIELDS LOOK GOOD AT MONTOPOLIS, BUT LIKE I SAID, IT TAKES PEOPLE LIKE US, MY SONS THAT, YOU KNOW, HELP OUT THEIR UMPIRE, CUT GRASS AND, AND DO WHAT WE DO, BUT OUR FEET ARE ON THE GROUND.
SOME PEOPLE FAKE IT TO MAKE IT.
THEY DO JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY AND TAKE THE PLAN, THE CLAIM FOR IT, TALK ABOUT IT.
THE PROOF IS IN WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE KIDS.
THE PROOF IS IN HOW MANY KIDS WE'VE PUT IN COLLEGE.
WHEN PEOPLE TELL YOU, IF I DO JUST ENOUGH AND I DO IT, ONE KID MAKES IT.
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YOU AIN'T DONE ENOUGH.YOU'VE DONE DONE ENOUGH TO GET, YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH TO GET BY.
AND FOR ME TO GET RECOGNIZED LIKE THIS, I DIDN'T.
I'M LIKE, WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? ALL RIGHT, I'M IN.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, COUNCILMAN VELASQUEZ WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT IT.
I'M LIKE, WHY? WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON? BUT IT'S, IT SURPRISED ME.
AND IT'S, UH, MY KIDS WILL TELL YOU IT'S, I USUALLY STAY OUT OF THIS SIDE.
I LET EVERYONE ELSE DO THEIR PART AND TALK IN FRONT AND WHATEVER.
MY DAY IS OPENING DAY, AND THAT'S THE ONLY DAY I TALK TO PEOPLE IN, IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
AND AFTER THAT, IT'S BACK TO THE MACHINES, IT'S BACK TO EDEN.
DEALING WITH PARENTS, DEALING WITH KIDS, HELPING 'EM OUT AS MUCH AS I CAN.
I REALLY AM CAUGHT BY SURPRISE WITH HIS NUMBERS.
THAT JUST TELLS YOU HOW OLD I AM,
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT THERE AT THE T-BALL LEVEL, COACH PITCH LEVEL, AND IT MEANS A LOT WHEN I SEE THEM AROUND OR THEIR MANAGERS AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS OR LIVE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THEY STILL CALL ME AND TALK TO ME LIKE JUST LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY REMEMBER EVERYTHING FROM YESTERDAY.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE HERE STICKING AROUND, LISTENING AND ESPECIALLY TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MR. VELASQUEZ TO, TO PUT US UP HERE AND, AND, AND LET US KIND OF SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE DO WITH OUR FEET ON THE GROUND.
[The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS – To be presented by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes]
VANESSA FUENTES, AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN AND CHAIR OF REPUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE.TODAY I'M JOINED ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON.
AND WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS.
A TIME TO HONOR THOSE IMPACTED BY HIV AIDS AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE DEFINED THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY UNDER THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION, FAILED TO ACT WITH THE URGENCY AND COMPASSION AS HIV DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES
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ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, THAT SILENCE AND INACTION COST LIVES, ESPECIALLY AMONG OURT, LGBTQIA PLUS INDIVIDUALS, OUR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, AND THE PEOPLE ALREADY PUSHED TO THE MARGINS.STIGMA WAS ALLOWED TO FESTER MISINFORMATION SPREAD AND AN ENTIRE GENERATION BORE THE CONSEQUENCES.
AS PUBLIC HEALTH CHAIR, I BELIEVE THAT HEALTHCARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.
YET TOO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITIES STILL FACE BARRIERS TO TESTING, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION, REFLECTING A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM THAT REMAINS FAR TOO INACCESSIBLE.
DIGNITY MUST BE AT THE CENTER OF ANY PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
IT'S A CORE VALUE THAT CONTINUES TO GUIDE OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE MANY COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WHO DO THE HARD WORK, OFTEN THE UNSEEN WORK OF PROVIDING LIFESAVING CARE TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
I JUST WANNA SAY YOUR PARTNERSHIP IS WHAT MAKES THIS WORK AND THIS PROGRESS POSSIBLE.
NOW, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION TO OUR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR ADRIAN STIRRUP, AS WELL AS OUR PROGRAM HEALTH COORDINATOR, DEBRA DUNCAN, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS 2026 MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS IN AUSTIN, A LONGSTANDING TRADITION THAT EDUCATES THE COMMUNITY, HONORS THOSE IMPACTED BY HIV AIDS, AND REFLECTS DEEP GRATITUDE TO OUR FAITH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING GREATER LOVE, BAPTIST CHURCH, FREEDOM, HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH, GREATER MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH, DAVID CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH, ST.
JAMES MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH DIAGNOSED MINISTRIES FOR OF 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE GROUNDED IN COMPASSION AND IN HEALING, WHEREAS THE WORK REMAINS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AS AN ESTIMATED 31,800 PEOPLE ACQUIRED HIV NATIONWIDE IN THE MOST RECENT REPORTING PERIOD, THAT'S 31,800 PEOPLE.
AND ALTHOUGH NEW INFECTIONS HAVE DECLINED 12% SINCE 2018, MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH HIV UNDERSCORING, THE ONGOING NEED FOR EDUCATION, PREVENTION AND ACCESS TO CARE.
WHEREAS LOCAL DATA FURTHER HIGHLIGHTS THIS URGENCY IN TRAVIS COUNTY WHERE 215 NEW HIV DIAGNOSIS WERE REPORTED WITH A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON LATINO WITH 140 40 CASES.
AND BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESIDENTS WITH 34 CASES EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR TARGETED OUTREACH AND PREVENTION EFFORTS, WHEREAS PERSISTENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES INEQUITIES CONTRIBUTE TO THE, THE, TO DRIVE THESE, THESE DISPARITIES WITH BLACK AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN TRAVIS COUNTY, EXPERIENCING AN HIV PREVALENCE RATE OF 1258.5 PER 100,000 WELL ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGES, DEMONSTRATING THE VITAL ROLE OF FAITH-BASED LEADERSHIP IN REDUCING STIGMA, PROMOTING HEALING, AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY WELLBEING.
NOW THEREFORE, I VANESSA AUSTIN CITY COUNCILMAN VANESSA FUENTES, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH, MARCH 1ST THROUGH MARCH 7TH, 2026, AS NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS IN AUSTIN.
MY NAME IS DEBOR DUNCAN, AND I BRING YOU GREETINGS FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND I'D LIKE TO JUST HONOR AND GIVE, UM, SOME, UM, DUE TO OUR DIRECTOR AND OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OUR MANAGER, AS WELL AS OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HERE AND ALL OF THE COUNCIL, MS. HARPER MADISON, MS. PUENTES, AND ALL THE OTHERS, UH, THE MAYOR, PRO TIM, AND THE MAYOR, AND MS. COLE, WHO WAS HERE, OUR, OUR CONGRESSPERSON.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS WAS INITIALLY FORMED IN 1989 AS THE HARLEM WEEK OF PRAYER IN NEW YORK BY DR.
AND SHE WAS THE FOUNDRY AND CEO OF THE BOMBING GILEAD.
AND THIS PARTICULAR WEEK OF PRAYER HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED IN NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES UP EAST FOR 40, 39 YEARS.
AND IN AUSTIN, THIS IS OUR 25TH YEAR TO DO IT HERE.
AND I'M SO PROUD TO SAY THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN THE
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FIGHT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.I STARTED THIS JOURNEY IN 1991 AT A TIME WHEN AIDS, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND IF THE FUNDING DOES NOT CONTINUE, WE DON'T WANNA REPEAT WHAT WE SAW.
SO THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ABOUT IT, DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
BUT I THINK IF I ASK EVERYONE A QUESTION TODAY, DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO HAVE HAD HIV AND AIDS TO STAND? I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD BE SITTING DOWN.
SEALS DECIDED WHEN SHE WAS WORKING AT HARLEM HOSPITAL, SHE BECAME SO EMOTIONAL SEEING THE DEATH AROUND HER, ESPECIALLY WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND JUST PEOPLE, MEN PRIMARILY AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN IT JUST STARTED TO SPREAD AMONG THE POPULATION, AMONG THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION.
AND ALSO THAT WAS A TIME WHEN DRUGS WAS EXTREMELY HEAVY AND THE WAR ON DRUGS, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT WE STILL HAVE A WAR GOING ON, AND THAT WAR IS STILL WITH HIV AND AIDS THAT MANY OF US DON'T TALK ABOUT ANYMORE.
WE ARE NOT EDUCATING ABOUT IT ANYMORE AS WE NEED TO, AND THERE'S NOT MONEY AROUND TO ADVOCATE AND GO OUT AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
SO SHE DECIDED THAT SHE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ONE MORNING IN HER APARTMENT, SHE BECAME SOMEWHAT OVERWHELMED BECAUSE SHE FELT THAT THE FAITH COMMUNITY JUST WASN'T DOING ENOUGH TO, TO SUPPORT THIS DEVASTATING SUFFERING THAT SHE SAW.
AND THIS IS HOW THIS GOT STARTED.
SO THIS LITTLE IDEA WAS THE BIRTH OF A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT THAT FAITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES CONTINUED TO USE STRATEGIES TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT FAITH-BASED SERVICES FOR HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT WERE IMPACTING THE PEOPLE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA.
HOWEVER, IT BEGAN TO SPREAD INTO OTHER POPULATIONS AS WE KNOW.
IT STARTED OUT IN THE LBGT COMMUNITY AND IT WENT ON AND IT MOVED OVER TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THEN IT MOVED TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
AND NOW WE'RE JUST SEEING SOME MORE THINGS THAT IN YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SO, HAVE SO MUCH LIFE AHEAD OF THEM, AND SOMETIMES THEY FEEL INVINCIBLE.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN JUST DO IT ALL AND GET IT ALL, DO IT ALL.
BUT YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL IF YOU WANT TO LIVE, TO BE AS OLD AS I AM.
SO, AND I THINK THAT'S A BLESSING.
AND NOW IT HAS IT, IT WAS THEN THE WEEK OF PRAYER IN HARLEM, THEN IT BECAME THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR, UM, THE BLACK CHURCH OUTREACH CHURCHES.
IT WAS THE, THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR, UM, BLACK CHURCHES, THE BLACK CHURCH WEEK OF PRAYER.
AND NOW IT CHANGED OVER TO THE NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF ACE BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION HAD TO BECOME INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE NAS TOUCHING EVERYBODY.
IT USED TO BE OTHER FOLK, BUT NA, EVERYBODY.
AND I HAD A LADY TO ASK ME ONE TIME, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT HIV AND AIDS? AND I SAID, WELL, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHAT WILL YOU DO IF IT KNOCKED ON YOUR DOOR? MM-HMM
IF IT KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR, WHAT WILL YOU DO? SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE PUT OURSELVES IN OTHER PEOPLE'S SHOES JUST FOR A MOMENT AND FEEL WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, MAYBE WE CAN HELP TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
I'M GONNA SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT RYAN WHITE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT RYAN WHITE, BUT RYAN WHITE WAS A LITTLE YOUNG, LITTLE ANGLO LITTLE WHITE BOY.
HE GOT SICK, HE HAD A BLOOD TRANSFUSION, AND HE WAS, HE WAS CLASSIFIED AS A HEMOPHILIAC.
AND BACK IN THE DAY, IT WAS GAY FOLK, BLACK FOLK IN HEMOPHILIACS WHO HAD TO HAVE A BLOOD TRANSFUSION WHO WERE SUFFERING.
AND BECAUSE THAT LITTLE BOY HAD NO, HADN'T HAD DRUGS, HAD NOT HAD A LIFESTYLE THAT PEOPLE FROWNED ON, WHETHER IT WAS DRUGS OR SEX, HE CHANGED THE WORLD.
IT WAS A PARADIGM SHIFT WHEN HE BECAME ILL.
AND TO THIS DAY, THERE'S STILL A GRANT IN HIS NAME, THE RYAN WHITE GRANT, AND THAT'S THE MONEY THAT ALL OF YOU, IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT HIV AND AIDS, GO FIGHT, GO GET THE MONEY BECAUSE IT'S STILL AMONG US.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS THE WEEK THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING, AND WE HAVE SOME CARDS THAT WE'RE GONNA PASS OUT TODAY.
SO IF YOU WANNA COME TO SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE THIS WEEK, WE'RE GOING TO BE AT HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY ON TUESDAY.
WE'LL BE AT GREATER LOVE BAPTIST CHURCH ON MONDAY, KICKING OFF EVERYTHING.
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AT NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH OUT ON DECA LAKE.THAT'S A PLACE WHERE IT'S A DESERT, WHERE THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH TO OFFER.
AND THEN ON THE LAST DAY, WE WILL BE AT FREEDOM HOME BAPTIST CHURCH THAT EVENING AT 6:00 PM WITH OUR RECEPTION AT 7:00 PM WITH OUR SERVICE.
AND IT'S THE 25TH ANNUAL NATIONAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF AIDS.
AND THEN DO YOU WANNA STEP PHOTO HERE OR GONNA SWITCH? GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN,
[Markeatha “Kiki” Simmons and My Sister’s Keeper ATX Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
TEXAS.I AM COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, PROUDLY REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
AND IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR THIS MORNING TO PRESENT A PRESENTATION, OR PARDON ME, A PROCLAMATION, UM, FOR MY SISTER'S KEEPER.
UH, WE ARE HONORED THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS WITH US TODAY, AND THEIR LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE WITH US TODAY.
UM, THE WORK TRULY EMBODIES COMPASSION, RESILIENCE, AND COMMUNITY CARE.
MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX IS A COMMUNITY CENTERED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND DIRECT SUPPORT.
I'LL BREAK SCRIPT FOR A MOMENT, MR. GRAY, YOU PROBABLY RECALL YESTERDAY OR TUESDAY RATHER, DURING OUR DISCUSSION, UM, FOR THE WORK SESSION, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY, STRATEGIC PLAN, AND, UH, SAFE PLACE
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WAS IN THE BUILDING THAT DAY.AND SO I, I'M BREAKING SCRIPT JUST TO REALLY PUT SOME EMPHASIS, THE NUMBERS THAT THEY SHARED WITH US ABOUT THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO END UP HOMELESS, UM, BY WAY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IT WAS JUST STAGGERING AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MY SISTER'S KEEPER.
NOT EVERYBODY CAN GO EVERYWHERE, IF YOU UNDERSTAND.
UM, I THINK MY MOM WILL OFFER ME PERMISSION TO SAY THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, A BRIEF STINT AT SAFE PLACE AND MY FORMATIVE EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, MY MOM HAD A PLACE TO GO, AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FOLKS HAVE PLACES TO GO.
I KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU DON'T.
UNDER THE EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP OF ITS FOUNDER, MARQUIA KIKI SIMMONS, THIS ORGANIZATION HAS BECOME A TRUSTED SOURCE OF HOPE, EMPOWERMENT, AND HEALING FOR SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE NEIGHBORS.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOUSING INSECURITY CONTINUED TO BE CRITICAL CHALLENGES THAT OUR CITY AND COMMUNITIES FACE THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMED, SURVIVOR-CENTERED AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
HOWEVER, MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX PROVIDES VITAL ADVOCACY, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMING THAT HELPS BREAK CYCLES OF ABUSE AND RESTORE DIGNITY AND STABILITY.
THEIR OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FURTHER REFLECTS A DEEP COMMITMENT TO MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE WITH COMPASSION.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WITH RESPECT.
TODAY, WE PROUDLY RECOGNIZE MARQUI, THE KIKI SIMMONS, ALONG WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS OF MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX, FOR THEIR UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO SERVICE EQUITY AND THE BELIEF THAT EVERYONE DESERVES SAFETY, RESPECT, AND OPPORTUNITY.
ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS, CONTINUED IMPACT ON STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES AND MORE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT FEBRUARY 11TH IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED IN HONOR OF MARQUITA, KIKI SIMMONS AND MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX, AN APPRECIATION OF THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ADVOCACY, HOMELESSNESS, SUPPORT, AND FOR THEIR CONTINUED IMPACT ON STRENGTHENING AND UPLIFTING COMMUNITIES.
UM, FORGIVE ME, BUT OH, THE TINY WRITING.
CAN YOU SEE IT? OH, THANK YOU.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT STUCK WITH THE TINY WRITING.
SO I'M GONNA, UM, PRESENT THIS, UH, I, YOU GUYS HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.
I AM REALLY TRYING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT I CAN ACTUALLY SEE THIS AND I CAN'T WEARING LUCK.
SO, UM, THE PROCLAMATION BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX IS A COMMUNITY CENTERED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SERVING WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOMELESSNESS THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND DIRECT SUPPORT SERVICES.
AND WHEREAS MARQUITA, KIKI SIMMONS, FOUNDER AND LEADER OF MY SISTER'S KEEPER HAS DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY VISION, COMPASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOUSING INSECURITY REMAIN CRITICAL, CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THE SAFETY, DIGNITY, AND STABILITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES REQUIRING TRAUMA-INFORMED SURVIVOR-CENTERED AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
AND WHEREAS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MARQUITA, KIKI SIMMONS, MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX, HAS PROVIDED VITAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCACY, INCLUDING SURVIVOR SUPPORT, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, EMPOWERMENT, PROGRAMMING, AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS AIMED AT BREAKING CYCLES OF ABUSE AND RESTORING HOPE.
AND WHEREAS MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX HAS ALSO PLAYED A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN SERVING INDIVIDUALS, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES, OUTREACH SERVICES, AND COMPASSIONATE CARE THAT PROMOTES DIGNITY, CONNECTION, AND PATHWAYS TOWARDS STABILITY.
WHEREAS THE DEDICATION OF MARQUIA KIKI SIMMONS, ALONG WITH THE VOLUNTEERS AND SUPPORTERS OF MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX, REFLECTS ITS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO SERVICE EQUITY AND THE BELIEF THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL DESERVES SAFETY, RESPECT, AND OPPORTUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I COUNCIL MEMBER NATASHA HARPER MADISON, ALONGSIDE MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBER SIEGEL WHO'S JOINED US THIS MORNING, AND THE MAYOR KIRK WATSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT THIS DAY IS HEREBY RECOGNIZED IN HONOR OF MARQUIA KIKI SIMMONS AND MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX IN APPRECIATION OF THEIR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ADVOCACY, HOMELESSNESS, SUPPORT, AND FURTHER CONTINUED IMPACT AND STRENGTHENING AND UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? HOPEFULLY YOU BROUGHT YOUR READERS.
FIRST I WANNA SAY, UH, I GREW UP IN A CHURCH, SO I GOTTA GIVE ON IT TO GOD.
WITHOUT HIM, NOTHING IS POSSIBLE.
UM, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY SOMEONE, UH, THAT
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STANDS FOR ME AND RIDE WITH ME HOLY WINTER HERE IN A HOOD.SO ME DOING THIS AND COMING OUTTA MY COMFORT ZONE TO HELP OUT LOUD OR DO ALL THE THINGS IS SOMETHING THAT BECAME NEW IN 2024.
UM, TODAY IS JUST NOT A PROCLAMATION.
TODAY IS PROOF, UH, PROOF THAT WHAT STARTED AS PAIN, MOST DEFINITELY CAN BE TURNED INTO PURPOSE AND POWER.
UM, I TOOK MY PAIN AND TURNED IT INTO POWER, AND MY POWER INTO PURPOSE, AND MY PURPOSE BECAME MY PASSION.
UM, SURVIVOR CAN BE COMES SERVICE.
PROOF THAT WHEN ONE WOMAN SAYS NO MORE GENERATION SHIFT.
YES MA'AM, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A SURVIVOR.
BUT MORE THAN JUST THAT, I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A BUILDER.
YEARS AGO, I WAS NAVIGATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UNCERTAINTY, FEAR, AND THE QUIET SHAME THAT TOO MANY WOMEN CARRY ALONE.
I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO SMILE IN PUBLIC AND TO CRY IN PRIVATE.
I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO WONDER HOW WILL I MAKE IT? AND I ALSO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN GOD WHISPER YOU WILL NOT ONLY MAKE IT, YOU WILL HELP OTHERS MAKE IT TOO.
THAT WHISPER BECAME MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX THROUGH MY SISTER'S KEEPER, A TX.
WE SERVE WOMEN AND CHILDREN IMPACTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I TELL YOU, WHEN IT COMES TO MY PEOPLE, DON'T LET IT COME TO MY PEOPLE.
MARGINALIZED YOUTH ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS.
WE PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, HYGIENE, SUPPLIES, HOUSING, NAVIGATION, THERAPY, CONNECTION.
SO ASSISTANCE AND REAL HANDS ON OUTREACH IN THE STREETS AND ENCAMPMENTS BECAUSE LOVE SHOWS UP.
WE DO NOT JUST TALK ABOUT CHANGE, WE WALK IN IT.
THIS PROCLAMATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION, IT IS ABOUT THE WOMAN WHO FOUND SAFETY, THE MOTHER WHO SECURED HOUSING, THE CHILDREN WHO SLEPT PEACEFUL.
THE YOUNG GIRLS WHO LEARNED THEIR WORTH, AND THE SURVIVORS WHO FOUND THEIR VOICE.
AGAIN, IT IS ABOUT COMMUNITY TO OUR CITY LEADERS.
UM, THANK YOU FOR SEEING THE GRASS WE WORK.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT BLACK LED, WARM LED ORGANIZATIONS MATTER.
THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PROXIMITY TO PAYING PRODUCE POWERFUL SOLUTIONS TO EVERY VOLUNTEER DONOR, PARTNER AND PRAYER WARRIOR.
YOU ARE A PART OF THE PROCLAMATION.
EVERY $5, EVERY PHONE CALL, EVERY RIDE, GIVEN EVERY LATE NIGHT CONVERSATION, IT ALL MATTERS.
AND TO THE WOMEN WHO ARE STILL IN IT, STILL SURVIVING, STILL FIGHTING, STILL HOPING THIS DAY IS FOR YOU.
PROCLAMATION DAY IS A REMINDER THAT WHEN THE ENEMY MEANT FOR HARM, GOD CAN TRANSFER HIM.
INTO HEALING, INTO LEADERSHIP, INTO LEGACY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD SARAH'S PLACES AND SAFE SPACES FOR WOMEN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
WE CONTINUE TO BREAK CYCLES BECAUSE WHEN ONE WOMAN RISES, SHE LIFTS AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY WITH HER.
THANK YOU FOR HONORING THIS WORK.
THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN THE MISSION.
AND THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH MY SISTER'S KEEPER BECAUSE I AM JUST THAT MY SISTER'S KEEPER.
TELL ME, YOU GREW UP IN THE CHURCH WITHOUT TELLING ME YOU GREW UP IN THE CHURCH, CAME UP HERE AND PREACHED A WHOLE SERMON DROP.
16 BAR BALL, 16 BARS UP IN HERE.
LET'S SQUEEZE RIGHT ON AROUND Y'ALL.
SHE'S A POET, A RAPPER, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.