[Proclamation – Emergency Medical Services Week– To be presented by Mayor Kirk Watson]
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I TELL EVERYBODY ELSE TO DO THAT.
WHY CAN'T I DO IT?
UM, I WANNA SAY GOOD MORNING TO EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE A BUSY DAY AHEAD OF US, BUT IT'S A GOOD DAY AND PART OF THE REASON IT'S A GOOD DAY IS WE'RE GONNA KICK IT OFF WITH A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION HONORING PEOPLE THAT I FEEL VERY CLOSE TO AND, UM, THE WHOLE CITY DEEPLY, DEEPLY APPRECIATES.
SO, LET READ THIS PROCLAMATION THAT'S BEING HELD BY OUR CHIEF ROB LOOKIT, UH, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROFESSOR, UH, I TALKED FOR A LIVING, LEMME START THAT OVER.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS SERVE AS A VITAL COMPONENT OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, PROVIDING RAPID LIFE-SAVING CARE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF AUSTIN AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
AND WHEREAS FOR 50 YEARS, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, RESPONDING TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CALLS FOR SERVICE AND CONTINUALLY ADVANCING THE PRACTICE OF MOBILE HEALTHCARE.
AND WHEREAS AUSTIN'S EMS PROFESSIONALS EMBODY A PROGRESSIVE APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE BY STRIVING TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT RESOURCE TO THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME, IMPROVING OUTCOMES WHILE RESPONSIBLY STEWARDING PUBLIC RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS PARAMEDICS, EMTS, TELECOMMUNICATORS AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL WORK IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH HOSPITALS, PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE A COMPREHENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM.
AND WHEREAS DURING TIMES OF CRISIS DISASTER AND DAILY EMERGENCIES ALIKE, EMS PROFESSIONALS DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, COMPASSION, AND DEDICATION, OFTEN MAKING CRITICAL DECISIONS UNDER THE MOST CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND WHEREAS EMS WEEK PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS, SACRIFICES, AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE ON THE FRONT LINES OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 17TH THROUGH 23RD, 2026 AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M GONNA ASK, I'M GONNA ASK OUR GREAT CHIEF, UH, TO SAY A FEW WORDS, UM, AND ON BEHALF OF, UH, OUR EMS AND, AND I WANNA SAY E EVEN WITH THE PROCLAMATION, IT, IT BEARS UNDERSCORING AND UNDERLINING HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FOLKS DO.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT ALL OF OUR, UH, AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS MEDICS, CLINICAL SPECIALISTS, AND SUPPORT STAFFS DO, UH, EVERY SINGLE DAY.
THIS PAST YEAR, UM, HAS REALLY BEEN A MONUMENTAL YEAR FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF VARIOUS EVENTS, UH, AND EVERY SINGLE TIME THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS HAVE STEPPED UP TO SERVE BOTH, UH, THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, AND QUITE FRANKLY, ALL OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW HUMBLED I AM TO BE THEIR CHIEF AND HOW PROUD I AM.
I WILL SAY I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, MAYOR.
AND, UM, SO I THINK BACK TO THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU WERE MAYOR BACK IN YOUR FIRST SET OF TERMS, YOU WERE ABOUT 10, RIGHT? ABOUT THAT.
IN 2001, 25 YEARS AGO, THE THEME FOR EMS WEEK WAS ANSWERING THE CALL.
THIS YEAR, THE THEME FOR EMS WEEK IS IMPROVING OUTCOMES TOGETHER.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, AND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO HERE WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MAYOR WATSON, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE MANY YEARS OF SUPPORT TO HELP GROW THIS DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE EVOLUTION OF EMS AND CHANGING HOW IT IS THAT WE THINK ABOUT RESPONDING TO CALLS, UH, AND TRANSITIONING FROM ANSWERING CALLS TO REALLY CHANGING HOW THE COMMUNITY IS.
UM, AND WE'RE SO PROUD AT AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT AND TO BE LEADING THE CHARGE IN THIS COUNTRY FOR HOW IT IS THAT WE HANDLE, UH, EMS IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.
APPRECIATE WE TAKE, YOU WANNA TAKE A PICTURE OVER HERE? WE, WE HAVE WITH US, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER JOSE VELASQUEZ, AND COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN.
WHY DON'T YOU COME UP AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH US.
OH, I SEE COUNCIL MEMBER ZO CADRY BACK THERE TOO.
[Proclamation – We Outside ATX Day – To be presented by Council Member José Velásquez]
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GOOD MORNING.I AM COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ, AND IT IS A GREAT DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, ACTUALLY, AS THE MAYOR STEPPED OUT YET, 'CAUSE I'M NOT ALLOWED TO SAY THAT WHILE HE'S IN THE ROOM.
AND TODAY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WE CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE WE OUTSIDE A TX BORN FROM AN IDEA THAT HEALING AND HEALTH MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AND THEY MUST BE CENTER AND THEY MUST CENTER CULTURE AND COMMUNITY.
WE OUTSIDE A TX HAS REDEFINED WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN AN INCLUSIVE WELLNESS SPACE MORE THAN JUST A RUN CLUB.
WE OUTSIDE A TX HAS CONNECTED HUNDREDS OF INDI INDIVIDUALS TO A GROWING COMMUNITY THAT MOVES TOGETHER, SERVES TOGETHER, AND EXPERIENCES LIFE OUTSIDE TOGETHER.
RECENTLY, WE OUTSIDE A TX, WERE ONE OF THE TWO WOMEN-LED RUN GROUPS THAT HELPED ME OPEN THE NEW WISHBONE BRIDGE IN DISTRICT THREE.
ALSO, I, I FIRST, UH, LEARNED ABOUT WE OUTSIDE A TX AFTER A, ABOUT A THREE MILE RUN THAT I WAS COMING BACK AND I WAS HEAVING BECAUSE I COULD BARELY BREATHE.
'CAUSE WHILE OTHER FOLKS MAY BE GAZELLE'S, THIS IS A MACK TRUCK AND IT TAKES A LOT FOR ME TO GET UP TO SPEED.
I WAS COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGE ENTERING, UH, WHERE THEY HAVE A, A PARK NAMED AFTER MY GREAT UNCLE, THE ROY VELASQUEZ SENIOR COMPLEX.
AND THERE WAS THIS AMAZING ENERGY OF FOLKS THAT WERE JUST, I MEAN, LIVING IT UP RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE FIELDS.
AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT ARE FOLKS DOING AT 8:00 AM IN THE MORNING OUTSIDE WITH THAT LOUD MUSIC? I WAS PUMPED.
IT, IT WAS AN ENTIRE, AN ENTIRE VIBE.
AND I WAS SO EXCITED TO CONNECT WITH THEM, AND WE IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED THAT DAY.
UM, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION MY ANA, THE INCREDIBLE MERCEDES COLLINS FOUNDER OF WE OUTSIDE A TX, WHO SAW THE DESIRE AND NEED FOR COMMUNITY LIKE THIS AND MADE IT HAPPEN.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, FOLKS DEPEND ON A SAFE, UPLIFTING COMMUNITY.
AND GROUPS LIKE WE OUTSIDE A TX ARE LEADING THE WAY, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS WE OUTSIDE A TX WAS FOUNDED IN RESPONSE TO LACK OF WELCOMING, CULTURALLY AFFIRMING SPACES FOR BLACK RESIDENTS IN AUSTIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO GATHER, MOVE, AND EXPERIENCE BELONGING IN OUTDOOR AND WELLNESS SPACES WHERE THEY HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH WEEKLY RUNS, OUTDOOR RECREATIONS, WELLNESS PROGRAMMING, AND CULTURALLY GROUNDED COMMUNITY EVENTS, WE OUTSIDE A TX PROVIDES CONSISTENT LOW COST AND NO COST OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOVEMENT, MENTAL, UH, MENTAL WELLNESS AND SOCIAL CONNECTING, REMOVING COMMON BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION.
AND WHEREAS BY ACTIVATING PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES AND CENTERING COMMUNITY CULTURE AND WELLBEING, WE OUTSIDE A TX CONTRIBUTES TO A MORE EQUITABLE, CONNECTED AND INCLUSIVE AUSTIN, WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE GREATER ACCESS TO HEALTH, BELONGING, AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY CENTERED LIFESTYLES.
AND WHERE BLACK PRESENCE, JOY AND BELONGING ARE VISIBLE AND CELEBRATED.
AND WHEREAS WE OUTSIDE A TX COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO WELLNESS AND OUTDOOR RECREATION, WHILE UPLIFTING BLACK LED INITIATIVES, VENDORS AND PROFESSIONALS ACROSS AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS WE OUTSIDE ATX HAS EXPERIENCED RAPID AND ORGANIC GROWTH WITH HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS CONSISTENTLY SHOWING UP, REFLECTING A STRONG AND ONGOING DEMAND FOR ACCESSIBLE SPACES, ROOTED IN CONNECTION, WELLNESS, AND CULTURAL BELONGING.
NOW THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND THE ENTIRE DIOCESE DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 21ST, 2026 AS WE OUTSIDE DAY IN A TX AND THAT IS YOURS.
UH, FIRST THANK YOU JOSE, THANK YOU FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, MEETING PAST WITH US ON THE TRAIL.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS INCLUDING US IN ALL THE INITIATIVES THAT YOU DO HERE IN THE CITY.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO ALL FOR SERVING HERE, AND THANK YOU TO SOME OF THESE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE WITH ME AND SOME WHO COULDN'T MAKE IT.
AND THE COMMUNITY, EVERYONE WHO'S EVER SHOWED UP TO AN EVENT WHO'S A SPOKEN WORD ABOUT US A TOLD A FRIEND, OR EVEN SHARED A POST OR AN EVENT THAT WE DO, WE ARE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO BE A LIGHT IN THIS CITY AND SHOW UP FOR THE UNDERREPRESENTED.
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CITY FOR LIKE, OVER A DECADE AND I'M LIKE, I NEED MORE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE LIKE ME CAN COME TOGETHER AND JUST FEEL GOOD AND HAVE FUN.AND OUTSIDE OF THIS, I'M SUPER DUPER ENERGETIC AND I WAS LIKE, LET'S JUST GET PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
UM, SO TO JUST BRING THE THINGS THAT I LOVE TOGETHER AND SEE THAT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE LOVE IT AS WELL, IS IT IS SUCH AN HONOR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I CAN SAY THE WORD HONOR, UM, MAYBE A FEW MORE TIMES.
UH, BUT THANK YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR, TO THESE AMAZING PEOPLE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE NEW INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE COMING TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE UNDERREPRESENTED IN THIS CITY.
[Proclamation – Taiwanese American Heritage Week – To be presented by Council Member Zohaib 'Zo' Qadri]
UH, WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.I'M, I'M RIFFING OFF OF, UH, COUNCILOR VELASQUEZ AND THE MAYOR.
UH, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO THIRD.
BUT WHAT A, WHAT, WHAT A HONESTLY, UH, A GREAT DAY, UH, TODAY, UH, TO BE CELEBRATING THE TAIWANESE COMMUNITY HERE AT AUSTIN CITY HALL.
UH, THE ONE THING THAT I THINK WE ALL LOVE ABOUT AUSTIN IS THE DIVERSITY THAT MAKES US STRONGER AND BETTER.
UH, AND, AND WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, A LOT, A LOT FULLER.
UM, SO I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY, UH, WITH OUR, UH, TAIWANESE, UH, NEIGHBORS, UM, TO, TO CELEBRATE TAIWANESE AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
UH, AND I, BEFORE, BEFORE I GET INTO READING THE PC, UH, I'M GONNA HAND IT OFF TO ANGELA YARBOROUGH, UH, TO SAY FEW WORDS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE, AND ALSO THANK YOU, UH, MAYOR KIRK WATSON AND, UM, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO, UH, TO PRESENT THIS BEAUTIFUL PROCLAMATION.
AND MY NAME IS ANGELA YARBOROUGH.
I'M A SOFTWARE ENGINEER, AND AFTER GRADUATING FROM UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON IN 2002, I CAME TO AUSTIN AS AS SOON AS I COULD AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.
HERE WITH ME TODAY ARE FRIENDS, UH, WHO REP, UH, WHO ARE, UH, THE LEADERS OF, UH, SEVERAL TAIWANESE AMERICAN GROUPS.
AND AMONG THEM, UH, ARE GRADUATES FROM UT AUSTIN, FROM THE, UH, FROM THE 1970S.
AND, UH, WE, WE HAVE, UH, THE ONES, UH, UH, DOING PHD PROGRAM AND ALSO THE ONE WHO JUST GRADUATED, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO.
TAIWANESE AMERICANS ARE PROUD OF OUR ROOTS AND DEEPLY PROUD THAT TAIWAN IS RANKED NUMBER ONE DE, UH, DEMOCRACY IN ASIA.
AND SINCE WE ARE IN AUSTIN, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUSINESS.
TAIWAN IS THE NINTH LARGEST EXPORT MARKET FOR US, US AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, MOSTLY FROM TEXAS OVERALL.
TAIWAN IS THE FOURTH LARGEST TRADING PARTNERS OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND IN 2025, TRADE BETWEEN TEXAS AND TAIWAN EXCEEDED 28 BILLION AND CONTINUES TO GROW VERY GOOD.
IN FACT, THE STATE OF TEXAS ESTABLISHED A TAIWAN OFFICE IN TAIWAN IN 2024, FURTHER STRENGTHENING THIS ALREADY VIBRANT PARTNERSHIP.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN DEEPER MUTUAL INVESTMENT.
TAIWAN OFFERS EVERYTHING SEMICONDUCTING AND TEXAS OFFERS AN INTEGRATED INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM.
TOGETHER WE CREATED EXCEPTIONAL TEAMWORK IN THE GLOBAL AI COMPETITION.
AT THE SAME TIME, TAIWAN CONTINUES TO STAND STRONG IN THE FACE OF EXTERNAL PRESSURES, DEFENDING ITS FREEDOM AND CORE VALUES.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT TAIWAN AND THE UNITED STATES SHARE A COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
THROUGH CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY.
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TAIWANESE AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK GIVES US A CHANCE TO REFLECT ON THE REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF TAIWANESE AMERICANS, ARTISTS, SCIENTISTS, EDUCATORS, ENGINEERS, ENTREPRENEURS, AND ADVOCATES.HAVING REACHED EVERY PART OF OUR SOCIETY, IT'S ALSO A TIME TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US.
MANY OF THEM TOOK GREAT RISK TO AFFIRM THEIR TAIWANESE AMERICAN IDENTITY AND TO ADVOCATE DEMOCRACY ON TAIWAN.
THEIR COURAGE IS SO, OUR HERITAGE AND THEIR STORIES CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US.
WE CARRY THE HERITAGE FORWARD BY STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES, SHARING OUR CULTURE, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE BROADER AMERICAN STORY.
WE ARE DEEPLY HONORED AND GRATEFUL FOR MAYOR KIRK WATSON FOR PRO CLAIMING TAIWANESE AMERICAN HERITAGE HERITAGE WEEK.
LOOK FORWARD TO STRENGTHENING OUR TIES EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND OF COURSE, WE PROMISE TO KEEP AUSTIN WEIRD.
DO YOU WANNA HOLD THIS? GREAT.
UH, AND WITH THAT, I WILL PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION, UH, BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS AMERICA IS CONTINUALLY RENEWED BY THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO COME HERE AND BECOME FELLOW CITIZENS, AND WHEREAS EACH BROUGHT ELEMENTS OF THEIR OWN HERITAGE, WHICH OVER TIME BECAME PART OF OUR SHARED HERITAGE, AND WHEREAS GENERATIONS OF ASIAN AMERICANS HAVE, HAVE HELPED MAKE, UH, AMERICA WHAT IT IS TODAY.
AND WHEREAS THERE ARE MORE THAN 700,000 TAIWANESE AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES WITH A SIGNIFICANT TAIWANESE AMERICAN POPULATION IN TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS TAIWANESE AMERICANS HAVE MADE ENORMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY WHILE PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM.
AND WHEREAS TAIWANESE AMERICANS HAVE SUCCEEDED AS NOTABLE ARTISTS, NOBLE, UH, NO NOBLE, MODERATE SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS, SCHOLARS, PROFESSORS, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS.
AND WHEREAS TAIWANESE AMERICANS ARE PROUD OF THEIR ROOTS AND HERITAGE, DEFINED BY A QUEST FOR FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND SELF-DETERMINATION.
AND WHEREAS THE YEAR OF 2026 MARKS THE 47TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENACTMENT INTO LAW, THE 1979 TI UH, TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT, WHICH TOGETHER WITH THE 19 82 6 ASSURANCES FORMS A CORNERSTONE OF US TAIWAN RELATIONS.
AND WHEREAS TAIWAN HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED RESILIENCE AND, AND PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF EVER-GROWING GEOPOLITICAL CHALLENGES.
AND WHEREAS TAIWAN AND TEXAS WORK IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP VIA STATE OF TEXAS TAIWAN OFFICE TO DRIVE THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION WITH OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM TO GROW ECO, UH, ECONOMIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
AND WHEREAS THIS WEEK RECOGNIZES THE LONGSTANDING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND TAIWAN.
AND WHEREAS DURING THE SPECIAL WEEK, UH, TAIWANESE AMERICANS CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE OCCASION.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER ZOGA ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 10TH TO MAY 17TH, 2026 AS TAIWANESE AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[Proclamation - Hoover Alexander Day - To be presented by Council Member Zohaib 'Zo' Qadri]
MORNING AGAIN.UH, IT'S COUNCILMAN ZARI, UH, HERE AT AUSTIN CITY HALL, AND I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS NEXT PROC.
UM, I, I LIVE IN THE, IN THE MILLER NEIGHBORHOOD, AND MY ROUTE HOME, I ALWAYS PASS BY HOOVER'S.
UH, AND I, I KNOW MOST PEOPLE CAN'T TELL, BUT I'VE PROBABLY GAINED AT LEAST 20 POUNDS SINCE I MOVED TO THE MILLER NEIGHBORHOOD
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BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF TIME I I EAT AT ED HOOVER'S, UH, HOOVER'S OFTEN, UH, IS SERVED DURING, UH, CITY HALL COUNCIL MEETINGS.UH, SO I, I DON'T, I DON'T FIT INTO MY SUITS AS I, AS I USED TO, BUT, UH, I, I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE WORLD.
UH, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NEXT TO HOOVER'S IS AMY'S, AND WHETHER IT BE AMY'S OR WHETHER IT BE, YOU KNOW, TORCHY'S OR KIRBY LANE, THEY ARE JUST AS MUCH OF, OF AUSTIN AS HOOVER'S IS.
IT'S, IT'S AN ICON, UH, IN THIS CITY.
UH, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A FOREVER IN, IN THIS CITY.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY, UH, TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION, UH, FOR HOOVER ALEXANDER DAY HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
BUT BEFORE I GET INTO PROCLAMATION, BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION, I'M SORRY.
UH, IT'S, IT'S FITTING THAT THE MAN OF THE HOUR SHOULD HAVE SOME WORDS.
SO I'M GONNA PASS IT OFF TO MR. HOOVER, UH, FOR A FEW WORDS.
THIS IS, UH, TRULY AN HONOR AND NOT JUST FOR ME PERSONALLY.
I REALLY CONSIDER MYSELF A, UH, PLACEHOLDER, A CARETAKER, A STEWARD OF THIS ENTITY CALLED HOOVER'S COOKING.
BUT, UH, BEING A, UH, FIFTH GENERATION TEXAN AND BORN AND RAISED IN EAST AUSTIN, IT'S ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL FOR ME.
I'M REPRESENTING NOT ONLY THE RESTAURANT, BUT REALLY THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF MY TIME HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, THESE WONDERFUL FRIENDS ARE EXTENDED FAMILY, UH, REPRESENT DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS THAT LED TO THE CAREER PATH THAT LED TO HOOVER'S COOKING.
AND FOR STARTERS, UH, MY MOTHER'S NOT PHYSICALLY ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT I'M REPRESENTING THE LOFTON'S AND, AND THE, THE EARLS, UH, WITH A, A COUSIN FROM THAT SIDE, ANOTHER COUSIN FROM THE COLLINS AND ALEXANDER SIDE TO JUST COMMEMORATE AND APPRECIATE THE SHOULDERS THAT WE STAND ON AS FAR AS BEING IN THE FOOD BUSINESS.
'CAUSE I'M THE FIRST GENERATION BORN IN THE CITY, BUT THEY CAME FROM RURAL BACKGROUNDS AND NOW PEOPLE CALL THAT THIS THING FARM TO TABLE.
BUT THAT'S, THAT WAS HER LIFESTYLE BACK THEN.
MY MOTHER COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT SHE WAS MY FIRST INSPIRATION AND MY FIRST, UH, UH, COOKING INSTRUCTOR.
I REMEMBER A FEW YEARS AGO SHE WAS BEING INTERVIEWED FOR A NATIONAL SHOW, AND SHE TOLD THE, THE REPORTER, I DIDN'T KNOW THE BOARD WAS PAYING ATTENTION,
AND SO I REALLY HONOR WHAT SHE HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
SO, SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTING MY WHOLE SPECTRUM, AS I SAID, GROWING UP HERE IN AUSTIN, STARTING WITH, UH, MY RELATIVES, BUT ALSO, UH, OUR LADY GUADALUPE.
AND I TELL FOLK THAT THAT WAS KIND OF MY SECOND FOOD GROUP OF INFLUENCE, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP THERE AND FROM, FROM THE YEARS OF MANY, MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE KNOW ABOUT THE NIGHTHAWK RESTAURANT.
AND I WAS STARTING MY CAREER NOT THINKING IT WAS GONNA BE A CAREER.
IT ENDED UP BEING IN HINDSIGHT, A A PARALLEL TRAINING GROUND.
AND, UH, THE THINGS THAT THEY BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, IF YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY HAS BEEN REAL MEANINGFUL FOR ME, ALL THE WAY FROM NIGHTHAWK.
AND I'VE GOT SOMEONE REPRESENTING THAT PERIOD, BUT OTHER PARTS OF MY LIFE, INCLUDING, UH, WORKING AT STEAK AND NAIL AND TO LOSE AND GOOD EATS CAFE.
AND SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTING THAT.
I'VE GOT OTHER PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE, HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD TO HELP ME WITH MY CAREER PATH, INCLUDING SOME OF MY FRATERNITY BROTHERS, ALPHA PHI ALPHA.
AND AS I WAS AT NIGHTHAWK AND WORKING THAT, FIGURING OUT A PATHWAY FORWARD, THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE BACK FROM COLLEGE DAYS ALL THE WAY FORWARD HERE.
AND TO FAST FORWARD TO THE RESTAURANT NOW, UH, SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF ME REPRESENTING THEM AGAIN, UH, I CALL THEM MY FAMILY, ONE OF THE GUYS HERE, I CALL HIM MY NUMBER ONE SON.
WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER 30 PLUS YEARS, EVEN MY GOOD EACH DAYS, AND ALSO BEHIND THE SCENES, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE KEPT US ALIVE AND BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT, INCLUDING MY LONG TIME, MORE THAN TWO DECADES, UH, UH, LANDLORD.
AND I'VE GOT A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH MY NEW LANDLORD THAT'S BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER AND ADVOCATE FOR US FOR OUR, I'M WHAT THE BUZZ WORD IS, RETIRING.
I'M BORROWING A PHRASE FROM A FRIEND OF MINE.
ONE OF MY THEMES IS THE BISHOP ON MAINOR ROAD.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BRING FOLK TOGETHER MORE THAN EVER THESE DAYS AS DEVICES THAT WE BECOME.
SO MY WORK AIN'T DONE YET, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO USE FOOD AS A PRISM IN THE LESS DEMANDING WAYS AS I WORK ON MY HEALTH AND BALANCING QUALITY OF LIFE.
BUT, UH, THE MISSION BEYOND MAINOR ROAD IS STILL WHERE I WANT TO GO.
AND THESE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN JUST AN INCREDIBLE PART OF THAT STORYLINE.
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ONE PERSON WHO DOES NOT GET ENOUGH CREDIT WAS MY INITIAL PARTNER AND INVESTOR, AND HIS BROTHER IS HERE REPRESENTING HIM, VERNON O'ROURKE.HE ALSO WAS ANOTHER NIGHTHAWK CONNECTION.
BUT SO MANY PEOPLE THAT I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF AND REPRESENTING IS ALL A PART OF THE STORYLINE THAT I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR.
GLAD TO REPRESENT THEM AND STAY TUNED.
THERE IS GONNA BE THANKS TO MY NEW LANDLORD AND FRAN AND SOME OTHER FOLK, INCLUDING, UH, JACK ALLEN, WHO'S HERE SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU AT, JACK.
BUT SEVERAL OF THESE GUYS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER WHAT I'M CALLING A HOOVER PALOOZA
AND THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING, THEY'RE, THEY'RE HANDLING ALL THE DETAILS, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A CELEBRATION OF WHAT THIS DAY IS ABOUT AND WHAT I CONTINUE TO DO AS FAR AS BRINGING FOLK TOGETHER WITH FOOD AND MUSIC AND ACTIVITY.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A COMMUNITY-WIDE INVITATION, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN REPRESENT ALL FOUR CORNERS TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF WHAT HOOVER'S COOKING US ALIVE AND WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
UH, AND I ALSO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
I FORGOT TO DO IT IN THE, IN THE LAST READING, BUT, UH, WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER MARK DECHEN, UH, WITH US TODAY, UH, AS WELL, UH, JOINING US FROM, FROM DISTRICT 10.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION, UH, BEING KNOWN THAT WHEREAS HOOVER ALEXANDER HAS DEVOTED MORE THAN FIVE DECADES TO SERVING THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN THROUGH, THROUGH CULINARY EXCELLENCE, MENTORSHIP, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS AS THE FOUNDER OF HOOVER'S COOKING, HOOVER ALEXANDER CREATED MORE THAN A RESTAURANT.
HE BUILT A GATHERING PLACE WHERE NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES AND VISITORS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE COULD COME TOGETHER IN FELLOWSHIP, UNDERSTANDING AND CELEBRATION OF TEXAS HERITAGE AND CULTURE.
AND WHEREAS HOOVER ALEXANDER HAS LONG CHAMPION COMMUNITY OUTREACH, YOUTH MENTORSHIP, LOCAL, LOCAL AGRICULTURE, NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION, AND THE ENDURING VALUES OF SERVICE AND HOSPITALITY, EMBODYING HIS BELIEF TO RAISE YOUR FORKS AND LOWER YOUR SWORDS AND DIFFERENCES.
AND WHEREAS WE HONOR HOOVER ALEXANDER AS A BELOVED COMMUNITY LEADER, CULTURAL AMBASSADOR, AND PROUD SON OF S AUSTIN, WHOSE LEGACY OF COMPASSION, UNITY, AND SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND BEYOND.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, COUNCIL MEMBER ZOGA, UH, ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THE REST OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 21ST, 2026 AS HOOVER ALEXANDER DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND I'VE GOT TWO MORE DO YOU WANT TO GIVE TO ANYONE ELSE?
[Proclamation - National Public Works Week - To be presented by Council Member Paige Ellis]
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.I'M AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS, AND I'M HAPPY TO JOIN YOU TODAY TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING THE 66TH ANNUAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.
A PROCLAMATION LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO HELP US PAUSE AND RECOGNIZE THE ENGINEERS, CREWS AND STAFF WHO KEEP THE WATER RUNNING, KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, AND KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE.
IT'S PARTICULARLY GOOD TIMING AS WE TAKE ON SOME OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY, FOLKS MAY GET A LITTLE SURPRISE WHEN THEY START SEEING ORANGE CONES POP UP AND WORK CREWS SHOW UP.
UM, BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF PATIENCE, WE KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS WORKING HARD TO MAKE OUR
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COMMUNITY STRONGER, BETTER, AND MORE RESILIENT.WE HAVE BEEN LAUNCHING A LOT OF INITIATIVES THAT ARE IMPROVING OUR ROADS, IMPROVING OUR PARKS, UM, AND I'M HAPPY TO BE JOINED TODAY BY SO MANY LEADERS FROM OUR PUBLIC WORKS ARENA.
SO WE HAVE OUR A CM OVER MOBILITY HAS JOINED US TODAY, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE FOLKS FROM WATERSHED PROTECTION, UM, AND A LOT OF OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY CAN RUN AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO THIS WEEK IS A CHANCE TO SAY WHAT OFTEN GOES UNSAID.
WE SEE YOU, WE THANK YOU, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I'M NOW GONNA TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR MENDOZA OF TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC WORKS TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION.
I'M RICHARD MENDOZA, DIRECTOR FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE MOST EXCITING WEEK OF THE YEAR FOR ME AS A PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR.
IT'S THE OCCASION WHERE ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, CITIES, COUNTIES, AND EVEN STATES ARE RECOGNIZING THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS TAKING CARE OF THE, THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES AND MAINTAINING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
THE, UH, SLOGAN FOR THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IS, UH, ROOTED, ROOTED IN SERVICE AND POWERED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT COULD NOT BE MORE BETTER SAID THAN FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WE WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE RECEIVE TO PROVIDE THESE CRITICAL SERVICES.
I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE MY PEER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS AND SOME OF THEIR DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE HERE.
WATERSHED AUSTIN, WATER RESOURCE RECOVERY, FLEET SERVICES AND CAPITAL DELIVERY SERVICES.
ALL OF THEM, IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION AND I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO A COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND I WILL NOW READ THE PROCLAMATION AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT I ALSO HAVE MARK UCHIN, OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT 10, JOINING ME FOR THIS MOMENT OF APPRECIATION.
WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES, AND SERVICES THAT ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND TO PUBLIC HEALTH, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN.
AND WHEREAS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES AND SERVICES COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING, IMPROVING, AND PROTECTING OUR NATION'S TRANSPORTATION, WATER SUPPLY, WATER TREATMENT, SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR CITIZENS.
WHEREAS IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR THE CITIZENS, CIVIC LEADERS AND CHILDREN IN AUSTIN TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND MAINTAIN AN ONGOING INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE YEAR 2026 MARKS THE 66TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, I PAIGE ELLI ON BEHALF OF KIRK WATSON, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 17TH THROUGH 23RD NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
[Proclamation – Brandon Madyun and i3Essential Marketing Day – To be presented by Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison]
GOOD MORNING, Y'ALL.I'M MIKE SIEGEL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN.
AND TODAY I HAVE THE HONOR, UH, OF PINCH HITTING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, NATASHA HARPER MADISON, REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT ONE, UM, WHOSE TEAM BROUGHT FORWARD THIS AMAZING PROCLAMATION.
UM, TODAY WE'RE HERE, UH, REALLY EXCITED AND PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVER THEIR VOICE, DEVELOP THEIR TALENTS, AND SEE NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR THEIR FUTURE.
JUST RECENTLY, CITY COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION TO STRENGTHEN YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO MENTORSHIP SKILLS, TRAINING AND CREATIVE OUTLETS, IT CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THEIR LIVES.
ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BE ESSENTIAL ARE ALREADY DOING THAT WORK FOUNDED BY BRANDON MADDEN, BE ESSENTIAL.
CREATE SPACES WHERE STUDENTS CAN EXPLORE PHOTOGRAPHY, FASHION, ART, CREATIVE DIRECTION, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING, WHILE ALSO BUILDING CONFIDENCE, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
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AND COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON ASKED ME TO SAY THAT FOR HER PERSONALLY, WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP, OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS WOULD'VE MADE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.PROGRAMS THAT INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S CREATIVITY AND LEADERSHIP HELP THEM SEE THAT THEIR VOICE, THEIR TALENT, AND THEIR FUTURE TRULY MATTER.
THE VALUES AT THE HEART OF BE ESSENTIAL, BEING EXQUISITE, SUPPORTIVE AND ESSENTIAL REMIND US THAT WHEN WE INVEST IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE WORK OF BRANDON MADDEN AND BE ESSENTIAL IN THE IMPACT THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE ON STUDENTS ACROSS AUSTIN.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'LL PASS THE MIC TO BRANDON BEFORE READING THE PROCLAMATION.
AND UH, JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, AROUND 2019, I KIND OF WAS LOST IN, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS LOST.
A COUPLE OF MY SIBLINGS WERE LOST TOO.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, WE CAME TOGETHER AND A LOT OF IDEAS SPELLED OUT, AND I'M NOT GONNA LIE, I'M UP HERE AND I'M NERVOUS.
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, AND NOW IT'S HERE.
AND SO I'M JUST BLESSED TO BE HERE.
UM, MY SISTER, SHE KIND OF TOLD ME SOME THINGS WERE HAPPENING AT SCHOOL AND IT WAS STARTING TO AFFECT HER ACADEMICS AND, YOU KNOW, I SET ASIDE AND I TOOK MY CRAFT AND THE THINGS THAT I LOVE TO DO, AND I FOUND THE THINGS SHE LOVED TO DO AND WE STARTED TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
UM, FROM PHOTOGRAPHY TO PAINTING, UM, DOWN TO SEWING AND JUST CRAFTING, UH, SHE TOOK THOSE TALENTS TO SCHOOL AND THEY STARTED TO HELP HER INCREASE HER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
AND FROM THERE I REALIZED THAT I WANTED TO BE A TEACHER.
AND SO I DECIDED TO APPLY TO GO TO SCHOOL, UM, IN 2021 TO HOUSTON TILLISON UNIVERSITY.
AND I RECENTLY JUST GRADUATED, UH, CLASS OF 2025.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY FRESHMAN YEAR, MY FRESHMAN YEAR I DID, I STARTED AN ORGANIZATION BE CENTRAL MARKETING TO PRETTY MUCH GIVE THE TALENTS THAT I HAD TO OFFER TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT WERE ON MY CAMPUS FOR FREE OF SERVICE, JUST SO THAT WAY I COULD SEE THEIR VISIONS COME TO LIFE.
AND, UM, I HAVE PEOPLE UP HERE WHO SUPPORTED ME THROUGHOUT THE, THE ENTIRE JOURNEY, TRAVELING FROM DIFFERENT CITIES, JUST SO THAT WAY WE COULD SHOWCASE WHAT I HAD TO OFFER AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAD TO OFFER SO THAT WAY PEOPLE COULD SEE THE VISION.
AND HONESTLY, I JUST AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL OF Y'ALL'S SUPPORT, UM, THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE JOURNEY.
UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO TELL YOUR STUDENTS, TELL YOUR SCHOLARS AND TELL EACH OTHER ONE, BE EXQUISITE BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING DIFFERENT.
TWO, BE SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE IT DOES HELP THE COMMUNITY GROW.
DO IT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO, NOT BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO.
UM, THESE ARE THE COMPONENTS OF SELF-LOVE AND THERE IS NOTHING GREATER THAN SELF-LOVE.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE WORLD TO BE ESSENTIAL MARKETING.
I READ THE, ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR BRANDON.
AND, UH, HERE'S THE PROCLAMATION AND THEN I'LL, I'LL READ IT OUT, BUT, UH, MAYBE, UH, YEAH, SURE.
BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS IS IT ONE THREE OR IS THAT JUST ESSENTIAL MARKETING? BE ESSENTIAL.
UH, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS BE ESSENTIAL MARKETING IS A STUDENT FOCUSED ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO GROW, BUILD CONFIDENCE, AND ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS THROUGH C, CREATIVITY, MENTORSHIP, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, AND SELF-EXPRESSION.
AND WHEREAS BRANDON MADIAN, FOUNDER OF BE ESSENTIAL MARKETING, HAS DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY DEDICATION, VISION, AND COMMITMENT BY PERSONALLY FUNDING, OPERATING AND DESIGNING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR TALENTS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS.
AND WHEREAS UNDER BRANDON MADDEN'S LEADERSHIP BE ESSENTIAL, MARKETING HAS HOSTED EVENTS AND PROGRAMS IN COLLABORATION WITH HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AS WELL AS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE AUSTIN AREA, OFFERING STUDENTS EXPERIENCES IN PHOTOGRAPHY, FASHION, ART, SEWING, CREATIVE DIRECTION, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING WHILE PROMOTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND WHEREAS BE ESSENTIAL, MARKETING'S PROGRAMS CULTIVATE THE IMPORTANT PILLARS OF BEING EXQUISITE, SUPPORTIVE, AND ESSENTIAL, INSPIRING STUDENTS TO EMBRACE INDIVIDUALITY, STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION, AND BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND RESILIENCE.
NOW THEREFORE, I'M MIKE SIEGEL.
ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER NA NATASHA HARPER MADISON AND MAYOR KIRK WATSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 21ST, 2026 AS BE ESSENTIAL MARKETING DAY IN AUSTIN.