* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:05] GOOD MORNING [Austin Breast Cancer Awareness on October 29, 2026.] EVERYONE. HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY? SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I KNOW, UH, WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN, BUT WE'RE, WE WANT TO ASK IF YOU CAN COME A LITTLE CLOSER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO ALLOW FOLKS TO FIND THEIR SEATS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GOOD MORNING. ON THE BEHALF OF COUNCIL'S DISTRICT ONE AND TWO, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO STRENGTH BEYOND THE PINK RHYTHM. A MOMENT DEDICATED TO HONORING COURAGE, CELEBRATING SURVIVAL, REMEMBERING THOSE WE'VE LOST, AND REMINDING ONE ANOTHER THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO FACE CANCER ALONE. BEFORE WE START, I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU ALL THAT THIS PROGRAM IS BEING RECORDED AND WILL BE AVAILABLE 48 HOURS AFTER THE PROGRAM. MY NAME IS FAAH MUY AND I SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE SOME CITY OFFICIALS THAT WE HAVE IN A ROOM. WE HAVE OUR DIRECTOR, CARRIE LANE. CAN WE PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND? WE HAVE OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, STEPHANIE HAYDEN HOWARD, PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND. WE HAVE SHAINA, KAKI. SORRY IF I SAID THAT WRONG. OUR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER, PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND. WE HAVE DR. LINDSEY WILSON, THE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION. HERE. PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND. AND WE ALSO HAVE ERICA BRADY, OUR CITY CLERK HERE. PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO'S HERE IN THIS ROOM, PLEASE GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, , OUR COUNCIL MEMBER VANESSA FUENTES, AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, MARK DUNIN. PLEASE GIVE THEM A HAND AS WELL. TODAY IS ESPECIALLY PERSONAL FOR ME. I STAND HERE IN HONOR OF MY GRANDMOTHER, FATA HOLLOWAY, A FOUR TIME CANCER SURVIVOR. MY GRANDMOTHER HAS FOUGHT BREAST CANCER TWICE AND HAD TO HAVE BOTH OF HER BREASTS REMOVED. SHE HAS BATTLED CERVICAL AND A TUMOR. AND THROUGH IT ALL, SHE'S STILL STANDING AT 85 YEARS YOUNG. SHE'S MY ONLY LIVING GRANDPARENT. SHE HAS RAISED THREE GENERATIONS OF OUR FAMILY AND HAS LIVED TO WELCOME A FOURTH. WHEN I THINK ABOUT STRENGTH BEYOND THE PINK RIBBON, I THINK ABOUT HER. I THINK ABOUT HER RESILIENCE, HER SACRIFICES, HER COURAGE AND THE LEGACY SHE CONTINUES TO BUILD. SHE'S A LIVING REMINDER THAT CANCER MAY CHANGE YOUR BODY, BUT IT DOES NOT GET TO DEFINE YOUR SPIRIT OR ERASE YOUR LEGACY. SO TODAY WE HONOR THE FIGHTERS, THE SURVIVORS, THE CAREGIVERS, THE FAMILIES, AND THE BEAUTIFUL SOULS WHO MEMORIES CONTINUE THROUGH US. DUE TO THE TIME WE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE PROGRAM. RIGHT NOW OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, UNFORTUNATELY, NATASHA HARPER MADISON IS UNDER THE WEATHER, SO SHE WILL NOT BE JOINING US. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER AS A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR AND AS SOMEONE WHO INSPIRED THIS EVENT. SO CAN WE PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE HER A HAND AS WELL? AND RIGHT NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME OUR FIRST SPEAKER, COUNCILWOMAN, VANESSA FUENTES, REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE. THANK YOU. UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I JUST WANNA SEND MY, UM, THOUGHTS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON. SHE ACTUALLY WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE, [00:05:01] ONE OF MY FIRST COLLEAGUES THAT I CALLED WHEN I ANNOUNCED THAT I HAD BREAST CANCER. 'CAUSE I KNEW THAT SHE HAD ALSO GONE THROUGH THE STRUGGLE IN HER THIRTIES, UM, I THINK ABOUT A DECADE AGO. AND SO IT WAS HER IDEA TO BRING US TOGETHER AND FOR US TO HAVE AN EVENT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE CAN ALL ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A CLUB THAT NOT MANY OF US WANT TO BE A PART OF . BUT WHEN WE GET THE CALL, IT'S ONE THAT WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING OTHERS AROUND US TO HELP US GET THROUGH. UM, HAVING THIS EVENT IS IMPORTANT FOR, FOR ME PERSONALLY, BECAUSE I NOW RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING SUPPORT, THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AROUND YOU TO GET THROUGH THE BATTLE OF CANCER. AND RIGHT NOW, I AM STILL IN MY FIGHT AGAINST CANCER. IN FACT, I HAD MY SURGERY LAST WEEK AND SO I'M WAITING ANY DAY NOW TO HEAR FROM MY DOCTOR ON MY PATHOLOGY REPORT AND WHETHER OR NOT I CAN BE OFFICIALLY DECLARED NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. SO PLEASE KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYER SO THAT I CAN GET THAT CALL AND I CAN OFFICIALLY MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PART OF MY, MY PROCESS. AND, UM, WHY I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THIS EVENT WITH THOSE OF US WHO WORK AT THE CITY IS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT CANCER IS INDISCRIMINATE. AND WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE CANCER, MANY OF US ARE PROBABLY AT OUR WORKPLACE, RIGHT? AND FOR ME, UM, I WAS HAVING A VERY INTENSE MEETING WITH JOHN FORTUNE, AND I STILL HAVE NOT TOLD HIM WHAT WAS GOING ON DURING THAT MEETING ON MY SIDE OF THINGS. BUT I REMEMBER I WAS IN THIS MEETING WITH HIM AND, UH, MY PHONE KEPT RINGING AND BUZZING AND I COULD SEE THE NAMES ON MY PHONE POP UP. AND IT WAS MY PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR. AND IT WAS, UM, AUSTIN BREAST IMAGING WHERE I HAD MY SCANS DONE. UH, AND THEN IT WAS MY OBGYN CALLING ALL WITHIN THIS 30 MINUTE SEGMENT. AND SO I KNEW RIGHT THEN AND THERE THAT THE NEWS I WAS ABOUT TO GET WAS NOT GONNA BE GOOD. SO I QUICKLY WRAPPED UP THAT MEETING, WENT OUT TO THE PARKING GARAGE AND CALLED THEM BACK. AND THAT'S HOW I LEARNED THAT AT 37 WEEKS PREGNANT, THAT I WAS CARRYING BREAST CANCER AS WELL. AND IT WAS DEVASTATING. IT WAS A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM. I HONESTLY BELIEVE FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I JUST COULDN'T PROCESS AT THAT POINT WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME. UM, ALL I CARED ABOUT WAS BEING ABLE TO DELIVER MY BABY AND THAT SHE WOULD BE OKAY, AND THAT I COULD STILL, UM, HAVE MY PREGNANCY PLAN, UH, WHICH SIDE NOTE DID NOT GO HOW I WANTED IT TO GO, BUT THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER STORY. UM, BUT LUCKILY, YOU KNOW, I WAS ABLE TO DELIVER HER AND SHE'S A HEALTHY BABY AND SHE'S ALMOST SIX MONTHS NOW. UM, AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AND SO I THINK PART OF, UM, GOING THROUGH CANCER IS JUST RECOGNIZING THAT CANCER PATIENTS SHOW UP. THEY SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY. WE SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, WE RAISE OUR FAMILIES, AND LIFE MOVES ON. AND THAT'S WHY HAVING A SUPPORT NETWORK AROUND YOU IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S HOW YOU GET THROUGH IT. IT'S HOW YOU UNDERSTAND AND, AND REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU'RE DIAGNOSED WITH IT, IT DOESN'T JUST AFFECT YOU, RIGHT? IT'S YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, IT'S YOUR CIRCLE. AND THEN IT ALSO, UM, AFFECTS YOUR WORKPLACE. 'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME. AND SO I JUST WANTED US TO COME TOGETHER, TALK ABOUT WHAT GOING THROUGH CANCER IS LIKE, AND ALSO HEAR EACH OTHER'S STORIES. UM, BECAUSE I HEARING, AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SHARED WITH ME YOUR STORY, BECAUSE IT REALLY JUST HUMANIZES ALL OF US AND RECOGNIZES THAT, MY GOSH, WE ARE GOING THROUGH SOME REALLY CHALLENGING THINGS IN OUR LIVES AND WE SHOULD ALL BE MORE COMPASSIONATE WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE IS STRUGGLING OR WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH. AND SO I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO ALSO JUST, JUST TO PUBLICLY SAY THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, COUNT ON MY SUPPORT. IF THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE DOING MORE OF AND THAT WE SHOULD, UM, BE FOCUSING ON, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I'M HAPPY TO, TO CONNECT WITH YOU AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN BE DOING BETTER. BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. UM, NOW I WANNA, UH, SHARE WITH YOU, SO I TALKED ABOUT HOW COUNCILOR HARPER MADISON ALSO HAD BREAST CANCER. UM, I HAVE ANOTHER COLLEAGUE WHO, UH, ALSO WENT THROUGH CANCER AS WELL AND HAS A DEEP CONNECTION WITH BREAST CANCER. UM, AND HIS STORY, UM, HE'LL SHARE ABOUT HERE SHORTLY. BUT JUST KNOWING THAT OF OUR DIETS THAT SO MANY OF US, INCLUDING MAYOR WATSON HAS ALSO GONE THROUGH CANCER, UM, JUST SHOWS THE PREVALENCE OF IT IN OUR SOCIETY, IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHY WE REALLY HAVE TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS, BOTH THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND ALL OF THE SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT SO THAT, UM, WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO FIND CURES FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF CANCERS. AND, UM, SO JUST KNOW THAT. BUT WITH THAT, I'LL WELCOME UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN. [00:10:06] THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. UH, SHE SAID, MARK UCHIN. I'M THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT 10 IN WEST AUSTIN. AND I'M GONNA IMMEDIATELY GO OFF SCRIPT AND JUST SAY TWO THINGS VERY QUICKLY. ONE IS, AND, AND SORT OF TO BUILD ON COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, DISCUSSION. ONE IS I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND BRING OUT AWARENESS FOR BREAST CANCER AND REALLY ALL KINDS OF CANCER, FRANKLY. AND THE SECOND THING IS, ONE THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS BEING ABLE TO CREATE SPACES WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT HEALTH, IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUES. AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE STILL NEED TO GO WORK ON, RIGHT? WHEN I RAN TWO YEARS AGO, I RECOGNIZED I COULDN'T FIND REALLY ANYBODY THAT HAD, UH, CHRONIC ILLNESSES THAT WAS SERVING IN GOVERNMENT AT LEAST, THAT WAS WILLING TO GO TALK ABOUT IT. AND SO FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THESE SORT OF SPACES TO GO TALK CANDIDLY ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCES WITH HEALTH ISSUES IS TO ME, VITAL TO MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF SERVING PEOPLE AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY GO THROUGH. SO, LIKE MANY OTHERS GATHERED HERE, I'M A CANCER SURVIVOR. AND ALTHOUGH MY CANCER WAS NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA, NOT BREAST CANCER, CANCER AND ESPECIALLY BREAST CANCER HAS SHAPED MY LIFE AND MY EXPERIENCE. MY SISTER HAD BREAST CANCER. MY MOM HAD BREAST CANCER TWICE MALIGNANT BREAST CANCER. AND THIS MORNING I WANNA TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY MOM'S STORY SINCE SHE'S NO LONGER HERE TO TELL IT. WHEN I WAS NINE YEARS OLD, WE WERE ON A FAMILY TRIP AND MY MOM DISCOVERED A LUMP. AND UNBEKNOWNST TO MY 9-YEAR-OLD SELF, SHE AND MY DAD IMMEDIATELY STARTED MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT THE MOMENT THAT WE RETURNED. AND THEY DISCOVERED QUICKLY THAT IT WAS BREAST CANCER AND THAT IT WAS SERIOUS. AND THE ONCOLOGIST TOLD HER TO START MAKING ARRANGEMENTS BECAUSE SHE'D ONLY HAVE A COUPLE YEARS TO LIVE AT BEST. MY MOM WOULD'VE BEEN AROUND 35 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME, AND SHE HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND SHE WASN'T ABOUT TO ACCEPT A DEATH SENTENCE. SO SHE WENT TO ANOTHER ONCOLOGIST, DR. DANIEL LEHAN, WHO OFFERED HER THIS, IF YOU'RE WILLING TO FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT, WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. AND SHE DID. AND DESPITE THE CANCER RETURNING AGAIN SEVERAL YEARS LATER WITH DR. HAN'S HELP, SHE'D GO ON TO LIVE ANOTHER 30 PLUS YEARS. AND SHE PASSED AWAY A FEW YEARS AGO, LARGELY FROM THE COMPLICATIONS DUE TO THE TOXICITY OF THE TREATMENT THAT SHE HAD BACK IN THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES. YOU'VE GOTTA UNDERSTAND THAT THAT TECHNOLOGY WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE'VE GOT TODAY. IT'S EVOLVED. WE LATER WOULD LEARN THAT SHE HAD WHAT'S CALLED BRACKET TWO, WHICH MEANT THAT WE ALL HAD TO GO GET TESTED. AND I'VE ALSO GOT IT. AND IT EXPLAINS WHY AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY, YOU KNOW, HEALTHY YOUNG MOM HAD TO OVERCOME CANCER, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE. AND HER EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME TWO INVALUABLE LESSONS THAT I VOLUNTEERED TO YOU ALL THIS MORNING. THE FIRST LESSON IS TO TAKE URGENT ACTION. DON'T WAIT. GO SEE THE DOCTORS, GO GET THE TESTS. KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH. CANCER DOESN'T MESS AROUND. WE SHOULDN'T EITHER. THE SECOND LESSON IS THAT WE'VE GOTTA BE OUR OWN BEST ADVOCATES FOR DEALING WITH CANCER. OR FROM MY EXPERIENCE, PRETTY MUCH DEALING WITH ANYTHING IN LIFE. SHE HAD TO GO STAND A FIGHT. SHE HAD TO GO FIND THE RIGHT DOCTOR, DOCTOR, SHE HAD TO GO FIND THE RIGHT TREATMENTS. IF SOMETHING ISN'T WORKING, YOU'VE GOTTA GO FIND THE RIGHT PERSON AND SOLUTION. NO ONE CAN BE EXPECTED TO DO IT FOR YOU. AND I KNOW THESE LESSONS MAY SOUND OBVIOUS OR SELF-EVIDENT, BUT THEY SAVED HER LIFE. THEY'VE HELPED ME BOTH NAVIGATE CANCER AS WELL AS DECADES OF CHRONIC ILLNESS. AND SO MY HOPE IS THAT THEY CAN BE HELPFUL TO ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S EITHER GOING THROUGH THIS OR NEED SUPPORT THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME, WHETHER IT'S BREAST CANCER OR ANYTHING ELSE. AND SO, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE ALL OF ALL OF YOU COMING FORWARD AND, UH, JOINING US THIS MORNING, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FEW THINGS, MY MOM'S STORY. AND WITH THAT, I'D LOVE TO HAND IT BACK OFF TO, UH, UH, TO THE DISTRICT ONE OFFICE. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR POWERFUL STORIES AND SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES. AND MAY YOU ALL BE INSPIRED. AND ALSO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU SOME LOVE COUNCIL MEMBER AS YOU CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH YOUR JOURNEY. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME I INVITE, INVITE EVERYONE IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [00:15:01] TODAY WE PAUSE TO HONOR CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES, OUR COLLEAGUES HERE AT CITY HALL, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, OUR LOVED ONES WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY ANY CANCER. WE CELEBRATE THOSE WHO HAVE SURVIVED, THOSE WHO ARE STILL FIGHTING, AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY WITH EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE. AND WE LOVINGLY REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED, WHO VOICES, LAUGHTER, LOVE, AND LEGACIES REMAIN WITH US FOR EVERY SURVIVOR, EVERY FIGHTER, EVERY CAREGIVER, AND EVERY ANGEL WE CARRY IN OUR HEARTS. LET US TAKE THIS MOMENT TOGETHER AND PAUSE. THANK YOU. NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL A PHENOMENAL POET HERE IN AUSTIN, SIMONE, MONIQUE BARNES TO COME AND SHARE A PIECE WITH US THIS MORNING. PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS SIMONE MONIQUE BARNES AND I STAND HERE TODAY AS AN EIGHT YEAR TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR. BUT I DON'T STAND HERE ALONE LOAN. THIS POEM WAS FOR SOME AUSTIN FRIENDS WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY FOR APRIL, WHO WAS BORN IN MAY AND DIED ONE JUNE FOR VANESSA, WHO CLOSED ON HER DREAM HOUSE AND WITHIN A MONTH SHE DIDN'T MOVE. FOR ASHLEY. A BIG FLASH OF A PRESENCE WHO TOOK UP SPACE IN EVERY ROOM FOR CARMEN WHO SMILE AND KINDNESS WAS LIKE SWEET PERFUME. THIS POEM IS FOR THE VOICES GONE TOO SOON. YOU ARE THE SUN, THE STARS, AND THE MOON. I INVITE YOU TO PLEASE SPEAK THE NAME OF SOMEONE WE HAVE LOST TO CANCER. MAY THEY BE OUR GUIDING LIGHTS, INSPIRING US TO QUICKLY LINK PEOPLE INTO SUPPORTIVE CARE, IMPROVE TREATMENT AND OUTCOMES, AND FIND CURES FOR THIS FAMILY OF DISEASES. THIS IS FOR THE VOICES. SOON. YOU'RE THE STARS AND THE MOON. YOU ARE THE STARS AND THE MOON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIMONE, FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL PIECE. AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME DR. DES MAR WA MEDICAL DIRECTOR WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH. TO SHARE REMARKS ON AWARENESS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION. PLEASE GIVE DR. WALKS AGAIN. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DR. DESMOND WA. I'M THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AUTHORITY AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH. I'M SORRY IF MY VOICE IS A LITTLE CRACKLY. UM, THAT WAS A VERY MOVING POEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS BREAST CANCER [00:20:01] MONTH, AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'M HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION ON BEHALF OF AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK BEING DONE ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO BREAST CANCER SCREENING, EARLY DETECTION TREATMENT AND SUPPORT. BREAST CANCER REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN IN TEXAS. BUT WE KNOW THAT EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES. DECADES OF RESEARCH HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT REGULAR MAMMOGRAMS CAN DETECT CANCER AT EARLY STAGES WHEN TREATMENT IS OFTEN LESS AGGRESSIVE AND OUTCOMES ARE BETTER. YET NOT ALL WOMEN EXPERIENCE THE SAME OUTCOMES. BLACK WOMEN ARE APPROXIMATELY 40% MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM BREAST CANCER THAN WHITE WOMEN AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP AGGRESSIVE FORMS OF THE DISEASE AT YOUNGER AGES. THESE DISPARITIES REMIND US THAT AWARENESS ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH. WE MUST ENSURE THAT EVERY WOMAN HAS ACCESS TO TIMELY SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS, AND QUALITY TREATMENT. IN TEXAS, APPROXIMATELY 67% OF WOMEN AGED 40 AND OLDER HAVE RECEIVED A MAMMOGRAM WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS. HERE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, THE NUMBER IS NEARLY 74%. WHILE WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, THESE NUMBERS ALSO TELL US THAT TOO MANY WOMEN ARE STILL MISSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY DETECTION. OUR GOAL MUST TURN AWARENESS INTO ACTION AND ACCESS INTO BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR WOMEN. AT AVERAGE, RISK ROUTINE MAMMOGRAMS SHOULD BEGIN AT AGE 40. WOMEN WITH A STRONG FAMILY HISTORY, CERTAIN GENETIC MUTATIONS OR OTHER HIGH RISK CONDITIONS SHOULD TALK TO THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ABOUT WHETHER EARLY OR ADDITIONAL SCREENING IS APPROPRIATE. WE ALSO KNOW THAT HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES, INCLUDING REGULAR EXERCISE ACTIVITY, MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WEIGHT, AVOIDING TOBACCO AND LIMITING ALCOHOL, CAN HELP REDUCE BREAST CANCER RISK. ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, DEDICATED PARTNERS ARE WORKING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO CARE. AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING FAMILY CONNECTS WIC AND MOM'S PLACE, LACTATION SUPPORT CENTERS PROGRAMS HELP CONNECT WOMEN AND FAMILIES WITH BREAST CANCER SCREENING RESOURCES. PARTNERS SUCH AS LONE STAR CIRCLE OF CARE, PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CLINIC CENTRAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY CARE HELP UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED WOMEN ACCESS, MAMMOGRAMS AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES AND PATIENT NAVIGATION. THE PINK BUS BRINGS MOBILE 3D MONO MAMMOGRAPHY DIRECTLY INTO NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE THE ADDRESSING CANCER TOGETHER COALITION STRENGTHENS COORDINATION AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, HOSPITALS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE WOMEN RECEIVE TIMELY FOLLOW-UP CARE. THESE PARTNERSHIPS DEMONSTRATE WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS ALL ABOUT, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE REMOVING BARRIERS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTHIER LIVES. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS OVERDUE FOR A MAMMOGRAM, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP. VISIT HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN.ORG AGAIN, I'LL SAY THAT, HEALTHY TEXAS WOMEN.ORG AND SEARCH FOR BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING SERVICES TO FIND SCREENING RESOURCES. AS WE RECOGNIZE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, LET US ALSO REMEMBER THAT THOSE WE HAVE LOST CELEBRATE SURVIVORS AND SUPPORT THE IN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CURRENTLY NAVIGATING A BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS. AND LET US RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL PRINCIPLE. NO WOMAN'S OPPORTUNITY TO SURVIVE BREAST CANCER SHOULD DEPEND ON HER INCOME, INSURANCE STATUS, RACE OR ZIP CODE. TOGETHER THROUGH AWARENESS, EARLY DETECTION, EQUITABLE ACCESS, AND STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WE CAN SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DR. WALKS, AND FOR ALL OF THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING WITH [00:25:01] AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH. NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL ELAINE GOMEZ, COMMUNITY EDUCATION MANAGER WITH THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER. GOOD MORNING. I'M ACTUALLY, MY NAME IS ELAINE GONZALEZ. UM, I AM THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION MANAGER AT THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER AND A 16 YEAR CANCER SURVIVOR. SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW, UM, THERE IS A LONG LIFE AFTER CANCER. UM, TREATMENT IS GETTING SO MUCH BETTER THESE DAYS, AND SO THEY ARE REALLY WORKING TO, UM, EXTEND OUR LIVES. SO, UM, I'M HAPPY TO SAY HAPPY AND HEALTHY AFTER 16 YEARS. THANK YOU. SO I CAME TO THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER, UM, WHEN I WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED. AND SO I KNOW THE IMPACT THAT, UM, BCRC HAS, UM, ON SOMEONE WHO'S FIRST DIAGNOSED. SO, BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER HAS BEEN SUPPORTING BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS FOR 30 YEARS, UM, OVER 30 YEARS. ACTUALLY, BCRC STARTED IN 1995 WHEN TWO SURVIVORS, UM, WERE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO MEET OTHER SURVIVORS, UM, AND GET RESOURCES. SO BCRC STARTED AS A RESOURCE LIBRARY, UM, AND HAS REALLY GROWN SINCE THEN. SO NOW, UM, 30 YEARS LATER, WE SERVE FIVE COUNTIES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, OFFERING OUR SERVICES FREE OF CHARGE TO ANYONE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER. LAST YEAR WE ENGAGED AND SERVED OVER 3000 CLIENTS, AND PHYSICIAN SENT US MORE THAN 700 REFERRALS. AS COUNCILWOMAN FUENTES SAID, SUPPORT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, UM, WHEN SOMEONE RECEIVES A DIAGNOSIS. SO PATIENT NAVIGATION IS THE HEART OF BCRC. ANYONE WHO COMES TO US WILL RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE FROM CERTIFIED NAVIGATORS WHO ARE, UM, ALSO, UM, BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS THEMSELVES. WE OFFER 12 SPECIALIZED SUPPORT GROUPS, UM, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES INCLUDING FINANCIAL HELP FOR TREATMENT RELATED NEEDS. WE ALSO OFFER ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATION AS WELL AS INFORMATIONAL VIDEOS AND WEBINARS THROUGH OUR DEDICATED BREAST CANCER UNIVERSITY WEBSITE, EXCUSE ME, ALLERGIES. TODAY, WHEN SOMEONE FINDS US, THEY ARE CONNECTED TO A NAVIGATOR WHO HAS BEEN, UM, WHERE THEY ARE. AND SO THEY ARE ABLE TO CONNECT, UM, ON THAT LEVEL. AND IT MAY NOT BE THEY HAVE THE SAME TREATMENT, BUT THEY HAVE HAD SORT OF THE SAME EXPERIENCE AND KNOW WHAT THE FEELINGS ARE LIKE. UM, SO OUR NAVIGATORS, UM, CLOSELY WORK WITH CARE TEAM AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THEY HELP WITH PRACTICAL NEEDS, UM, OFFER EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. THEY CAN HELP NAVIGATE THE MEDICAL SYSTEM, PROVIDE QUESTIONS TO ASK THEIR DOCTORS, HELP PREPARE TREATMENT, UM, THEMSELVES FOR TREATMENT. AND THEN SO MUCH MORE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER. UM, TREATMENT DOES NOT END AND NEITHER DOES SUPPORT. WE OFFER TWO SUPPORT GROUPS, THE IVY LEAGUE AND A SUPPORT GROUP FOR 45 AND YOUNGER. WE HOLD AN ANNUAL METS RETREAT, GIVING CLIENTS A FULL DAY OF REST IN CONNECTION. WE ALSO OFFER ED EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, INCLUDING NEXT STEPS DI NEWLY DIAGNOSED METASTATIC NEXT STEPS, AS WELL AS WEBINARS FOCUSED ON TOPICS IMPORTANT TO OUR METASTATIC CLIENTS. AND THIS WAS OUR RETREAT. UM, THIS YEAR. WE ALSO HELD OUR THIRD ANNUAL BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER SUMMIT, UM, ON OCTOBER 17TH AT ST. EDWARDS UNIVERSITY. THE SUMMIT'S A FREE DAY, UH, CONFERENCE. EVERY SESSION RUNS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND WE PROVIDE A CHILDREN'S PROGRAM SO THAT PARENTS CAN ATTEND. THEY ARE, UM, GET TO EXPERIENCE WELLNESS ROOMS, UM, EXHIBITORS, AND JUST COME TOGETHER AND FORM COMMUNITIES. SO IT'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL DAY. SO WITH THAT, UM, THAT HAS BEEN A REALLY QUICK OVERVIEW OF OUR SERVICES. UM, SO AS A REMINDER, ALL OF OUR SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE. ANYONE CAN REACH OUT TO OUR HELPLINE, ENGLISH OR SPANISH SELF REFER. UM, THEY CAN CALL OR ON OUR WEBSITE, UM, BE REFERRED BY A FRIEND, A FAMILY MEMBER, BE REFERRED BY PHYSICIAN, A PHYSICIAN, UM, OR ANY ONE OF OUR MANY PARTNERS. SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, TO, UM, FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR BRINGING AWARENESS FOR INVITING BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER HERE TODAY. AND JUST FOR SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AND THRIVERS IN AUSTIN AND CENTRAL TEXAS. [00:30:10] THANK YOU, MS. GONZALEZ. SORRY ABOUT THE MESS UP OF YOUR LAST NAME. AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING AS WELL AND ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU'RE POURING INTO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. NOW WE WERE ABLE TO COMPILE STORIES FROM ALL OF OUR CITY OF AUSTIN EMPLOYEES, THOSE WHO WOULD'VE LIKED TO SHARE THEM. AND NOW WE'RE GONNA PLAY A REEL. BUT WITH THAT REEL, WE'RE GONNA BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN AMAZING VOCALIST, ARTIST, MUSICIAN, WRITER. AND HE'S GONNA SHARE SOME SAXOPHONE WITH US THIS MORNING. AND HE GOES BY THE NAME OF CHRIS T. CAN YOU ALL PLEASE WELCOME T TO THE STATE [00:35:25] . BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH CHRIS FOR THAT. AND NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY. TODAY. WE RECOGNIZE OUR CITY OF AUSTIN, EMPLOYEE AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE COURAGEOUSLY FACED CANCER. YOUR STORIES ARE NOT JUST STORIES OF ILLNESS, THEY ARE STORIES OF STRENGTH, PERSEVERANCE, FAMILY, HOPE, AND LEGACY TO EACH OF YOU, WE SEE YOU, WE CELEBRATE YOU, WE HONOR YOU. IF YOU OR ANY OF YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY ANY CANCER, WE ASK YOU RIGHT NOW TO PLEASE STAND. AND WE ARE ALL JUST GONNA SEND EACH OTHER A HUG. ALL RIGHT? WE'RE JUST GONNA SEND EACH OTHER SOME LOVE FROM WHERE YOU ARE. AND WE KNOW THAT CANCER, AGAIN, IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING. WE'RE CELEBRATING THOSE WHO HAVE SURVIVED AND OVERCOME. BUT WE JUST WANNA SEND YOU SOME LOVE FOR ANYONE WHO'S HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND WE TAKE THIS MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES. THANK YOU. NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME JOANNE LINDEN FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SUSAN G KOMEN OF CENTRAL TEXAS. PLEASE GIVE HER A HAND. WOW, THERE'S NOT A DRY EYE IN THIS PLACE. IS THERE ? I WANNA THANK AND COMMEND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR BRINGING AWARENESS AND ATTENTION TO THIS DISEASE. AND I AM A PROUD AUSTINITE, AND I'M EVEN MORE PROUD STANDING HERE ALONGSIDE YOU. ENDING BREAST CANCER NEEDS ALL OF US. AND AT SUSAN G KOMEN, OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE, IS TO SAVE LIVES. AND OUR VISION IS TO IMAGINE AND LIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT BREAST CANCER. JUST THIS LAST YEAR, OUR IMPACT HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANT. WE HAVE INVESTED SINCE 19 82, 1 $0.1 BILLION IN BREAST CANCER RESEARCH. THIS IS FUNDED 31 OF THE 32 BREAST CANCER TREATMENT MEDICATIONS AND DRUGS. JUST THIS LAST YEAR, SUSAN G KOMEN SERVED NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT. WE HAVE UNITED WITH OVER 30 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN THE BREAST CANCER COMMUNITY. AND RIGHT HERE LOCALLY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. WE UNITED MORE THAN 6,000 PEOPLE AT THE AUSTIN MORE THAN PINK WALK LAST WEEKEND AT BARTON CREEK MALL. WE HAVE MOBILIZED OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE TO ADVOCATE FOR PATIENT RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BREAST CANCER, WE TALK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF TREATMENT, THE HARDSHIP OF FIGHTING THIS DISEASE, BUT A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL OR MENTAL HEALTH TOLL THAT PEOPLE GO THROUGH, NOT ONLY WHY THEY FIGHT THE DISEASE, BUT FOR MANY YEARS AFTER LAST WEEK, I WAS TALKING TO A SURVIVOR THAT SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER SIX YEARS AGO. AND ALTHOUGH SHE WAS FREE OF BREAST CANCER TODAY, SHE SAID THE EMOTIONAL TOLL AND THE THE MENTAL HEALTH TOLL STILL AFFECTS HER TODAY. AND I EMPATHIZE WITH HER AND I SAID, I CAN'T IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU GO THROUGH AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH NOW. SO EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE SURVIVE AND THEY CAN LIVE HEALTHY AND LONG LIVES, WHAT THEY GO THROUGH IN THEIR HEART, IN THEIR MIND, IN THEIR FAMILIES, LAST A LIFETIME AT SUSAN G KOMEN, WE'RE THERE FOR THE WHOLE WOMAN, NOT ONLY IN THEIR BREAST BREAST CANCER JOURNEY, BUT THERE FOR THE EMOTIONAL SIDE, THE FINANCIAL SIDE, AND IN THE NAVIGATION OF THEIR JOURNEY. I WANNA RECOGNIZE TODAY OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR [00:40:01] STAFF THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY THAT STAND WITH SUSAN G KOMEN EVERY SINGLE DAY IN THIS COMMUNITY. SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR STAFF, AND OUR VOLUNTEERS, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU TODAY FOR THE HARD AND TIRELESS WORK THAT YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS DISEASE. ACCESSING SERVICES AND INFORMATION AT KOMEN IS SIMPLE. YOU CAN GO TO KOMEN.ORG AND WE ALSO HAVE A HOTLINE THAT IS 24 7 ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD. AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCIL PERSONS AND MEMBERS FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES AND FOR THEIR COURAGE AND BEING OPEN ABOUT WHAT THEY EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY. I ALSO WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU. I LOOKING SO GOOD IN YOUR PINK TODAY FOR BEING HERE AND STANDING IN SOLIDARITY DURING NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. THANK YOU. I, AND NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE ARE GONNA BE JOINED BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU THAT WE WOULD WANT TO END OUR AWARENESS EVENT WITH THIS PROCLAMATION AND RECEIVING THIS PROCLAMATION. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, AS WELL AS SUSAN G KOMEN CENTRAL TEXAS, BE IT KNOWN THAT WHEREAS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH SERVES AS A TIME TO HONOR THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH RESILIENCE OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY BREAST CANCER, WHILE RAISING AWARENESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, EARLY DETECTION, AND ACCESS TO LIFE SAVING SCREENINGS. AND WHEREAS THIS OBSERVANCE IS HOSTED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER, NATASHA SHARPER MADISON, VANESSA FUENTES, AND SUPPORTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MARK UCHIN, WHO THEMSELVES STAND AS LIVING TESTAMENTS TO THE RESILIENCE AND FORTITUDE OF SURVIVORSHIP, TRANSFORMING THEIR PERSONAL BATTLES INTO PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT OTHERS ARE SEEN AND SUPPORTED. AND WHEREAS WE SOLEMNLY HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE WE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO BREAST CANCER, ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR LASTING LEGACIES AND THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES WHO CONTINUE TO CARRY THEIR LOVE, COURAGE, AND MEMORIES FORWARD. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND CELEBRATES ITS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS, WHOSE JOURNEYS REFLECT THE EXTRAORDINARY PERSEVERANCE, HOPE, STRENGTH, AND WHOSE STORIES INSPIRE COMPASSION, SOLIDARITY, AND ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS AUSTIN IS STRENGTHENED BY PARTNERS WHO MEET THE DISEASE AT EVERY STAGE, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH CONNECTS RESIDENTS TO EDUCATION AND SCREENINGS. THE BREAST CANCER RESOURCE CENTER, WHOSE SURVIVOR-LED STAFF HAVE OFFERED FREE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT TO CENTRAL TEXANS FOR THREE DECADES. AND SUSAN G KOMEN, WHICH FUNDS LIFE-SAVING RESEARCH WHILE GUIDING PATIENTS THROUGH CARE TOGETHER FORMING A CONTINUUM THAT CARRIES OUR NEIGHBORS FROM AWARENESS TO DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND SURVIVORSHIP. AND WHEREAS THROUGH THE STRENGTH, BEYOND THE PINK RIBBON, WE REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO PROMOTING BREAST HEALTH EDUCATION, ENCOURAGING RECOMMENDED SCREENINGS AND EARLY DETECTION, SUPPORTING THOSE CURRENTLY NAVIGATING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, AND ENSURING THAT NO ONE FACES THIS JOURNEY ALONE. NOW THEREFORE, I VANESSA FUENTES AUSTIN CITY COUNCILWOMAN, ALONGSIDE MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMAN MARK UCHIN ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AND ALL OF AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 29TH, 2026 AS STRENGTH BEYOND THE PINK RIBBON BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. I WILL KICK IT BACK FOR OUR FINAL CLOSING. THANK YOU. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SOME PICTURES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MORE OF OUR, SORRY, GOT QUITE A FEW PAPERS UP HERE. MORE OF OUR CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE HERE OR HAVE STOPPED BY. WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SAMMY KLESS, CHIEF ADMIN OFFICER OF AUSTIN HUMAN RESOURCES, UM, MS. CARDENAS OF AUSTIN COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT, DR. CHI, UH, EUGENE, I'M SORRY, CHIQUITA YOUTH AND FAMILY OUTREACH. [00:45:01] ANNA SOPHIA CHOPPA, CITY HALL EVENTS COORDINATOR, KEVIN JONES, OUR IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST, AND BURTON PITMAN, OUR VIDEO TV PRODUCTION MANAGER. THANK YOU ALL. WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY. THE PINK RIBBON IS A SYMBOL, BUT THE TRUE STRENGTH IS FOUND IN THE PEOPLE WHO WEAR IT, THE FAMILIES WHO STAND BESIDE THEM, AND THE LIVES THAT CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US. MAY WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR EARLY DETECTION, ACCESS TO CARE AND SUPPORT FOR EVERY PERSON IMPACTED BY CANCER. THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF STRENGTH BEYOND THE PINK RIBBON, AND WE HOPE YOU ALL HAVE AN AMAZING DAY. PLEASE JOIN US FOR REFRESHMENTS IN OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSION ROOMS. WE HAVE SOME TABLES IN THE BACK WITH RESOURCES. WE ALSO ASK YOU AS YOU ARE LEAVING OUT, PLEASE BE MINDFUL AGAIN THAT THIS IS AN EARLY VOTING SITE, SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR VOICES DOWN AS YOU ARE TRAVELING IN BETWEEN SPACES. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A MOMENT AND HAVE SOME PICTURES. SO, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'RE GONNA DO AN ORDER. OH, ALSO WE HAVE OUR FRIEND BEN HERE, WHO HAS PARKING VALIDATIONS VALIDATION. YES. SO IF YOU NEED THOSE PARKING VALIDATIONS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THEM. THEY'RE ON THE TABLE, AND, OR YOU CAN FIND A STEADY STAFF AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ONE. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME PHOTOS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE PHOTOS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY IN HERE AS WE ALL ARE, UH, GETTING READY TO GO OVER TO HAVE SOME REFRESHMENTS. FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR CITY OFFICIALS, SO OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OUR CITY OFFICIALS, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PICTURES WITH THEM FIRST, AND THEN WE WILL INCLUDE OUR SPEAKERS, AND THEN WE WILL INCLUDE OUR PERFORMERS, AND THEN WE WILL INCLUDE EVERYONE. SO IT'S A SCAFFOLD. IT'S A SCAFFOLD HERE. PLEASE BEAR WITH US. WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR CITY OFFICIALS FIRST. ALL RIGHT? SO ALL OF OUR CITY OFFICIALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE PHOTO, PLEASE COME AT THIS TIME. AND THEN WE WILL HAVE OUR SPEAKERS IMMEDIATELY AFTER. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.