[00:00:03]
UH, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
BLEND TOGETHER, 9:01 AM ON THE 30TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2023.
WE'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA? HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT.
UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS TODAY.
[Approval of Minutes ]
OF WHICH OH, IS OUR, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 19TH.SO I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE I MOVE.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? CLARIFICATION, HEARING NONE.
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
FOR OUR ACTION TODAY IS THE APPOINT APPOINTMENT OF A, THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD.UM, GOVERNANCE C COUNCIL COMMITTEE WILL INTERVIEW 11 CANDIDATES AND RECOMMEND TO THE FULL COUNSEL, UH, TO FILL NINE AT LARGE POSITIONS TO THE SA READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD FOR NEW TERMS OF OFFICE TO EXPIRE ON MAY 31ST, 2025.
UM, AND WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL APPLICANTS WHO ARE HERE TODAY IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES.
UH, WE DO HAVE SOME WRITTEN STATEMENTS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MORNING'S MEETINGS.
UH, SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS, UM, HEAR FROM, UH, THE APPLICANTS FOR, UH, NEW APPOINTMENTS.
AND I'LL MAKE NOTE OF FOLKS WHO ARE, UH, IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES.
UM, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CATEGORIES WE ARE GONNA BE HEARING FOR CATEGORIES, TRAINING PROVIDER SLASH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION.
WE HAVE ONE SEAT TO FILL THERE.
WE HAVE ONE SEAT IN THE TRADE AND LABOR ORGANIZATION CATEGORY.
WE HAVE ONE SEAT IN THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CATEGORY.
WE HAVE FOUR SEATS AND LOCAL EMPLOYER IN DEMAND, OCCUPATION, UH, CATEGORY.
AND THEN THE FINAL CATEGORY FOR WHICH WE WILL FILL TWO SEATS, UH, IS CURRENT OR PREVIOUS WORKFORCE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT.
UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND START WITH, UH, THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS JUST HAVE EVERYBODY EXIT THE ROOM, UH, WHO ISN'T BEING INTERVIEWED.
UH, LET ME MAKE SURE I'M GETTING, GETTING OUR ORDER RIGHT.
SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA START WITH, UM, THREE APPOINTMENTS.
WELL, THEY'RE NOT ALL HERE YET FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.
SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH PRISCILLA, IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH.
SO IF EVERYBODY COULD DEPART, WE HAVE A, A NICE ROOM.
WE CAN GET YOU SOME REFRESHMENTS AND EVERYTHING AS YOU WAIT.
UH, ACTUALLY BEFORE YOU LEAVE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM, UH, THE COUNCIL, EXCUSE ME.
WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM EACH APPLICANT A TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
AND SO WE'LL JUST GO THROUGH EACH OF THE APPLICANTS AND CALL YOU IN SEPARATELY, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO MAKE, MAKE THE DETERMINATIONS.
SO IS EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THAT? ALRIGHT.
AS FOLKS ARE FILTERING OUT, UM, MS. AGUILAR, IF YOU COULD WAIT JUST ONE MOMENT.
I'LL ASK MY COLLEAGUES IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON PROCEDURE BEFORE WE BEGIN, UH, WITH THE INTERVIEWS.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, THEN, UH, OUR FIRST APPLICANT, AND THIS IS IN THE TRADING PROVIDER, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION CATEGORY, IS MS. PRISCILLA AGUILAR.
SO, WELCOME MS. AGUILAR, IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE US A OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO QUESTIONS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW.
I'M BORN AND RAISED IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.
I WORK FOR PALO ALTO COLLEGE, A PART OF THE ALMA COLLEGE DISTRICT.
I ACTUALLY BEGAN WORKING THERE AS A WORK STUDY, UM, WHEN I WAS A STUDENT.
FAST FORWARD 12 YEARS LATER, I AM NOW A SENIOR COORDINATOR, UM, AND A CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.
I COME FROM A COMMUNITY HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED WITH LESS THAN 50% GOING TO COLLEGE.
I FEEL PROUD TO BE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY I COME FROM, BUT I KNOW FIRSTHAND QUALITY ACCESS MAKES THOSE WHO TRADITIONALLY HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
I OVERSEE A PROGRAM CALLED EDUCATE SOUTH.
THE MISSION OF EDUCATE SOUTH IS TO END GENERATIONAL POVERTY THROUGH EDUCATION.
WE BELIEVE IN QUALITY ACCESS FOR ALL.
[00:05:01]
MAIN INTEREST IN SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK BOARD IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN QUALITY ACCESS.I KNOW TO START WITH, WE HAVE STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH ESSAY READY TO WORK THROUGH THE ALAMO COLLEGE, OUT THROUGH THE ALAMO.
COLLEGES LIKE PROGRAMS LIKE ALAMO PROMISE AND OUR CENTER EDUCATION TRAINING CENTERS READY TO WORK IS DOING SOMETHING TRANSFORMATIONAL.
IT'S PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY, GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES FULL CIRCLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WANTING TO BETTER THEIR LIVES.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WANNA BE A PART OF.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT THESE PROGRAMS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN FAMILY'S LIVES BECAUSE MY MOTHER TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A PROGRAM SIMILAR, LIKE READY TO WORK.
SHE WENT BACK, BACK TO COMPLETE HER, COMPLETE HER EDUCATION.
AFTER 15 YEARS OF DROPPING OUT.
WE ACTUALLY ATTENDED CLASSES TOGETHER AT PALO ALTO COLLEGE, AND I WITNESSED THE TRANSFORMATION THAT MADE IN MY LIFE AND MY FAMILIES.
AND I WANNA BE A PART OF DOING THAT FOR OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING NOT ONLY CHANGES LIVES, BUT IT SAVES THEM.
AND WITH MY BACKGROUND, I BELIEVE I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS WITH MY LONG BACKGROUND IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
I HAVE, I HAVE, UM, EXPERIENCE IN PROGRAMS LIKE G E D ADVISING AND CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
I WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU MS. AGUILAR, FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS NOW FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, PRISCILLA, FOR YOUR, YOUR INTEREST IN APPLYING.
UM, I'M GONNA START OFF WITH A QUESTION.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CRITICISM YOU HAVE OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP FIX IT? I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW THERE'S MANY PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVIDING QUALITY ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, BUT THERE'S SOMETIMES A STRUGGLE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEIZING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, I WOULD BEGIN, UM, IN FINDING WAYS TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BETTER WITH THESE PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY'RE TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE AT HAND.
UM, I KNOW, UM, FROM A COMMUNITY LIKE MY CULTURALLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S, IT'S A STRUGGLE TO ASK FOR HELP.
UM, BUT I BELIEVE IN CLOSING THAT GAP BECAUSE THERE IS ACCESS THERE AND THERE IS OPPORTUNITY AND I, THERE IS INDIVIDUALS WHO, IF PROVIDED THAT OPPORTUNITY, COULD TAKE FULL ACCESS OF THAT.
UM, I JUST BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES THAT GAP IS THERE AND ENSURE FOR THEM TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE FULL CIRCLE.
AND WITH READY TO WORK, IT REALLY PROVIDES ACCESS FOR, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY SAY FULL CIRCLE BECAUSE THERE IS MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCIAL AID, THE, THE COACHING WITH THAT ONE-ON-ONE ACCESS.
AND I THINK THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT, I DON'T THINK THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE A NUMBER.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THE ACCESS THAT'S BEING PROVIDED.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR ROLE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE? I BELIEVE THAT MY ROLE IS TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE IN MY BACKGROUND IN HIGHER ED.
I THINK IT'S NOT JUST MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND, BUT THEN ALSO AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER TOO.
I, I'VE EXPERIENCED THOSE WHO NEED PROGRAMS LIKE READY TO WORK.
UM, BUT THEN WITHIN, WITHIN MY HIGHER ED EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH READY TO WORK ALSO THROUGH OUR, UM, EDUCATION TRAINING CENTERS, THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE ALAMO PROMISE.
UM, SO I BELIEVE MY ROLE IS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE WITHIN THE HIGHER ED FIELD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE ROLE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT PARTNER WITH READY TO WORK? THE BUSINESSES THAT PARTNER? I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS, TO THIS ACCESS THAT'S BEING PROVIDED, UM, AND BEING ABLE TO PARTNER THEM FOR POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT FOR THE, THE STUDENT, THE STUDENTS THAT COME THROUGH THE PROGRAMMING.
SO WE KNOW THAT WE NOT ONLY WANNA TIE THEM TO HIGHER ED OR, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, G E D PROGRAMS, BUT WE WANT THEM TO BE EMPLOYED AFTER.
SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ENTRY TO EXIT, THAT THEY'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THEY'RE BEING PARTNERED WITH THE EMPLOYERS THAT ARE NEEDING PROFESSIONS IN THAT TRADE.
AND WE KNOW THAT, THAT RIGHT NOW THERE'S THAT GAP, UM, IN THE FIELD OF HAVING SKILLED WORKERS.
SO I BELIEVE THROUGH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, IT HELPS STRENGTHEN THOSE TIES TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE, THE STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH OR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH ARE REALLY BEING TIED TO STRONG PARTNERSHIPS, UM, AND EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LOOKING TO HIRE, UM, MANY OF THE RIGHT TO WORK PARTICIPANTS GET OUT OF TRAINING OR THE EDUCATION THROUGH THE PROGRAM WITHOUT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN WHATEVER THEY'VE JUST BEEN TRAINED IN.
UH, SO HOW SHOULD BUSINESS PARTNERS CONSIDER THAT? WELL, I BELIEVE PROGRAMS LIKE INTERNSHIPS, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WITH THE GAP RIGHT NOW, AND LIKE I
[00:10:01]
SAID, IN THE SKILLS TRADE, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, THEM NEEDING TO FIND, UM, SKILLED EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES, UM, I MEAN, WE CAN'T, I KNOW THERE'S NOTHING REALLY TO BE DONE.WE CAN'T GIVE 'EM THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, BUT WE CAN, WE ENSURE THAT THEY'RE UPSCALED AND TRAINED, RIGHT? THAT ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT BE ENTERING YEAR ONE WITH THEIR EMPLOYER, THAT THEY'RE JUST AS SKILLED AND HAVE AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE OF THAT WHO MAYBE HAS BEEN THERE WITH 10 OR 15 YEARS WITH THE COMPANY.
SO PROVIDING STRONG, UM, TRAINING AND, AND, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY INTERNSHIPS WITH THE EMPLOYER.
UH, THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO ASK IS, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST MEMBERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH TRAINING, BUT WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES THAT THE RIGHT TO WORK PARTICIPANTS FACE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THOSE BARRIERS? UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHEN TRYING TO GO THROUGH PROGRAMMING TRAINING OR HIGHER ED IS LIFE.
UM, THEIR AT HOME LIVES, YOU KNOW, CHILDCARE, UM, UTILITY ASSISTANCE.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO HELP THEM MAKE THE SACRIFICE THEY'RE TAKING TO STOP WORKING AND, YOU KNOW, INVEST IN THEIR, IN THEIR EDUCATION OR PROGRAM OR TRAINING.
SO THE RESOURCES THAT ARE KIND OF ALREADY BEING OFFERED, YOU KNOW, UM, UM, THE, THE UTILITY ASSISTANCE, UM, FINANCIAL AID, UM, HEALTHCARE, UM, MENTAL HEALTH, THOSE ARE, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AND IF THE, THE STUDENT OR THE PARTICIPANT'S GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT.
COUNCIL MEMBER GIBE HAVE A DIFFERENCE.
AND THANK YOU FOR APPLYING FOR THIS IMPORTANT BOARD.
UM, HOW DO YOU SEE READY TO WORK GROWING AND EVOLVING IN THE UPCOMING YEARS? YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT FOR STARTERS, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK CRADLE TO COLLEGE, THE CRADLE TO COLLEGE MODEL THAT NOT ONLY THE CITY IS LOOKING INTO, BUT MANY HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS IS BIG.
AND WITHIN THAT, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A GAP FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEEDING TO GET THEIR G E D OR, UM, FIND SKILLED, UM, TRAINING OR EMPLOYMENT.
SO I SEE IT GROWING TREMENDOUSLY.
I THINK THAT, UM, WITH THE RIGHT OUTREACH AND CONTINUED SUPPORT, THE PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS WILL AS WELL.
DO YOU SEE ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION? YES, I BELIEVE WITH, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE ALAMO COLLEGES, WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR, UM, COMMUNITY CENTERS LIKE OUR SETI AND WET C UM, THOSE HAVE HIGH EMPHASIS ON SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK AND PROVIDING, UM, REALLY CONNECTING THE STUDENT OR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH PROGRAMS LIKE READY TO WORK.
UM, THESE ARE, THEY'RE, THE DOLLARS HAVE BEEN INVESTED.
THEY'RE NEW, THEY'RE NEW FACILITIES.
UM, THEY'RE REALLY TARGETING THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE LOCATED AT.
AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO BE LOCATED AT EVERY PART OF THE CITY WITH, UM, INVESTMENT AND INTENTION LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S NO WAY THE PROGRAM WOULDN'T GROW.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KHAMA, I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, MS. AGUILAR, IS, UM, A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION AROUND READY TO WORK AND OTHER WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, UH, TO ME IS, IS ALMOST DISTILLED TO, UH, A DEBATE OF WHETHER OR NOT PUBLIC DOLLAR IS INVESTED IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY IS A WORTHWHILE AND AN EFFECTIVE INVESTMENT PERIOD.
SO I GUESS FOR YOU, UH, APPLYING TO THIS BOARD MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT YOU THINK IT IS.
UH, SO IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHY YOU THINK, UH, ESPECIALLY IN SAN ANTONIO, AN INVESTMENT LIKE THIS IS SO CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT SKILLS TRADE, UM, CONTINUING EDUCATION IS, IS NEEDED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
LIKE I MENTIONED, LESS THAN 50% ARE GOING TO COLLEGE AND NOT, COLLEGE IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S PROGRAMS LIKE THESE, UM, THAT WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND, AND GRASP THAT OTHER POP, YOU KNOW, 50% POSSIBLY THAT THAT'S MAYBE NOT INTERESTED IN HIGHER ED BUT STILL WANTS TO BETTER THEIR LIVES.
UM, I BELIEVE THE NEED IS THERE.
AND MY INTEREST IS BECAUSE I SEE MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I LIVE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, UM, THERE IS A NEED AND NOT JUST A NEED TO, YOU KNOW, OFFER A PROGRAM, BUT FULL CIRCLE THAT MENTAL HEALTH, THAT UTILITY ASSISTANCE, THE G E D PART, THE SKILLED TRAINING.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT WHAT'S DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS THAT THERE'S THAT EMPHASIS IN ENSURING THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, BUT THEY'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THEY'RE ENDING WITH A SKILLED, YOU KNOW, TRADE OR GOING STRAIGHT INTO EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE THERE'S THAT EMPLOYER ASPECT OF IT.
AND THAT'S SO NEEDED BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN GO THROUGH PROGRAMS, BUT WITHIN THE END, YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT IN HIGHER ED TOO.
ARE THEY FIND THAT EMPLOYMENT OR DO THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO? DO THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO FIND THAT EMPLOYER THAT'S GOING TO INVEST IN THEM BE, EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE COMING FROM A DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC OR A DIFFERENT BACKGROUND, BUT WE'RE PROGRAMS
[00:15:01]
LIKE THESE ENSURE THAT THAT RESOURCE IS THERE AND THAT THEY'RE HAVING THAT GUIDANCE THEY NEED TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL.THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. AGUILAR.
I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR QUESTIONS, SO APPRECIATE IT.
UH, WE WILL HAVE YOU WAIT WITH THE OTHER APPLICANTS WHILE WE DELIBERATE WITH YOU.
UM, MOVING TO OUR TRADE IN LABOR ORGANIZATION CATEGORY.
OUR FIRST APPLICANT IS GER MORA.
MR. GURA, HOW YOU DOING, MAYOR? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
WE'LL, UM, GIVE YOU A TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT THAT'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
I, CURRENTLY, I SERVE AS A PRESIDENT OF C W A LOCAL 61 43, AND NOW CURRENTLY THE NEW PRESIDENT OF, UH, THE A F L C I O HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.
UM, I APPLIED FOR THE, UH, THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT BRINGS TO OUR CITY.
UH, I'VE WORKED IN LABOR ORGANIZATION FOR 23 YEARS FOR AT AND T, UH, HAVE A GREAT PENSION, UM,
UH, AND I ALSO WORK AND COLLABORATE WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT UNIONS HERE TO PROVIDE, UH, DIFFERENT TRADE SKILLS AND, UM, APPRENTICESHIP PER PROGRAMS WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL.
UH, JUST RECENTLY WE HAD A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING, UH, A MILLION $3,000 TO THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, UH, THROUGH, UH, REPRESENTATIVE, REPRESENTATIVE HENRY CUELLAR, UH, JUST TO ASSIST THE ACTUAL PROGRAM ITSELF.
I'M EXCITED THAT WHAT, WHAT, UH, THE ACTUAL PROGRAM HAS, UH, YOU KNOW, HAS IN STORE WHAT IT COULD BRING TO THE, TO OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GURA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT WITH THE HENRY QUAY.
UM, WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CRITICISM THAT YOU CAN GIVE OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP FIX THAT, CHRIS? UM, ACTUALLY I JUST HEARD THAT THERE WAS BASICALLY, UH, HARD WAYS TO GET A AHOLD OF IT, BUT I THINK AS, AS, UH, TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM AS FAR AS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT'S AT, HOW IS IT LOCATED, WHAT IS IT ABOUT, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
HOWEVER, WORKING WITH THE COLLEAGUES ON SET, UH, JUST SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK, UH, IT'S VERY, WE JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT.
UH, PUT IT IN OUR ACTUAL, UH, UH, SCHOOLS, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, APPLY, JUST BEAT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, EXPOSE IT MORE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD, I WOULD BE, WOULD BE DOING.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, FURTHER QUESTIONS.
AMAL, SIR, APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
UH, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR ROLE ON THE, UH, ON THE ADVISORY COMMISSION? IT WOULD BE A COLLABORATE TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL FOR YOUNG ADULTS, UH, AND EVEN ADULTS THAT DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OR A CAREER PATH TO BUILD THAT INTEREST OF THEM, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FIND A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED, UH, WITHIN, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND IN A JOB AS WELL.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE, UM, A LOT OF THE UNIONS THAT HAVE, UH, APPRENTICE PROGRAMS ARE, ARE PARTNERED OR ALLIED WITH THIS EFFORT? UH, AND IF NOT, HOW CAN WE BRING MORE OF 'EM IN? AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK THAT THERE IS ONLY, UH, ONE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ASSEMBLED WITH SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK RIGHT NOW, BUT WE HAVE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS WITHIN THE ACTUAL UNION COMMUNITY, UH, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN HOURLY WAIT, UH, RATE WHILE YOU'RE ACTUAL LEARNING AND, AND, AND ACTUALLY GUARANTEED A JOB AND, AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE FUTURE AS WELL.
SO, UH, WITH THAT QUESTION, I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF LOGISTICS IN, IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE GOOD JOBS FOR, UH, FOR, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WILL YOU ADVOCATE FOR THAT WITH YOUR MEMBERS? OH, YES.
NEXT TIME WE'LL HAVE, UH, SPURS INTRO MUSIC.
UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THE, THE, THE OPPORTUNITY OF KNOWING THAT ONCE YOU'RE IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND THEN GO INTO STEP TWO, WHICH IS A, A JOB, UH, WHICH GIVES YOU GOOD HOURLY, UH, RATES, A PENSION, A 4 0 1 K PLAN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR OUR WORKERS.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KUBE, HOWEVER, TO, UH, GERONIMO, IF YOU NOW COULD ZOOM OUT JUST FOR A MINUTE.
UM, A LOT OF THE CRITICISM, UH, AND DISCUSSION ABOUT READY TO WORK AND OTHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IS REALLY ABOUT THE USE OF PUBLIC DOLLARS TO INVEST IN ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND, AND JOB TRAINING.
UM, COULD YOU, AND, AND I TAKE IT THAT YOU BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, COULD YOU TELL ME WHY THAT IS, PARTICULARLY FOR A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO? BECAUSE, UH, COLLEGE ISN'T FOR EVERYONE, MAYOR.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A STEPPING STONE FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL, AND EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR JOB
[00:20:01]
OUT, OUT IN THE STREET RIGHT NOW.UH, I, I THINK SAN ANTONIO READY TO WORK IS A GOOD PROGRAM.
YOUR INITIATIVE THAT YOU BROUGHT IN, UH, I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE OUR CITY TO FOR SUCCESS.
YOU KNOW, UH, WHO DOESN'T WANT A JOB, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO TRAIN TO BE ABLE TO BE THE BEST WORKER, UH, BEST EMPLOYEE FOR THE, FOR THE, YOU KNOW, FOR ANY EMPLOYER THAT'S OUT THERE.
SO, UM, I THINK THE DOLLARS ARE WELL SPENT BECAUSE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH, UH, A GOOD PAYING JOB.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. GURA.
IS THAT IT? I THINK THAT'S IT FOR QUESTIONS.
SO, UM, WE'LL BRING IN OUR NEXT APPLICANT AND WE'LL THANK, THANK Y'ALL.
SO THE NEXT APPLICANT, UM, FOR, AND I'LL, I'LL MAKE A NOTE.
UM, THE NEXT APPLICANT IS ALI PEREZ.
ALLY IS ACTUALLY, UM, AN APPLICANT POTENTIAL FOR THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, TRADE, LABOR ORGANIZATION, UM, LOCAL EMPLOYER AND UM, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.
SHE IS, UM, ELIGIBLE, UH, FOR THREE CATEGORIES TODAY.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR OPENING STATEMENT, THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
UM, I'M A NATIVE SAN ANTONIAN, BORN AND RAISED, AND WE WENT TO INCARNATE WORD HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, MY FAMILY MOVED TO NEW YORK WHEN I WAS, UH, YOUNG, AND SO I GOT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME UP THERE.
WENT TO COLLEGE UP THERE AND WAS A GRADUATE OF NEW YORK UNIVERSITY.
UM, I DOUBLE MAJORED AND MINORED NOT IN ANYTHING CONSTRUCTION RELATED, UH,
SO THIS WAS NOT IN MY FUTURE BY ANY MEANS.
UM, BUT ONCE I GRADUATED, I HAD, UM, I WAS FORTUNATE.
I HAD SCHOLARSHIP, FAMILIAL SUPPORT, BUT I STILL HAD A HEAP LOAD OF DEBT, AND I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY SKILL TO GET TO WORK.
THERE WAS REALLY NOT MUCH I COULD DO, AND I HAD ALL THIS DEBT TO PAY, SO I GOT TO WORK RIGHT AWAY.
SO MARKETING'S REALLY MY FIRST TRADE, AND I CREATED A MARKETING CAREER FOR MYSELF.
AND THROUGH THAT, FOUND THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES AND I FELL IN LOVE, AND I WAS SURPRISED, I WAS SHOCKED.
HOW COME NO ONE HAD TOLD ME ABOUT THIS BEFORE? I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THIS AT MY COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL.
I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THIS IN THE WORLD.
WHY, WHY HADN'T I, IT WAS SUCH A NATURAL FIT FOR ME.
UM, SO INSTANTLY I STARTED LOOKING AROUND FOR OTHER WOMEN LIKE MYSELF, PEOPLE WHO HAD FOUND THIS INDUSTRY AND THESE TRADES AND LOVED IT.
AND, AND THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF RESOURCE THERE.
UM, SO I STARTED AN ORGANIZATION CALLED TEXAS WOMEN AND TRADES TO BRING MORE WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE SKILLED TRADES.
UM, I'VE SPENT THOSE LAST 10 YEARS.
I ALSO RUN A PLUMBING COMPANY HERE LOCALLY, GEORGE PLUMBING.
AND, UM, I'VE SPENT THOSE LAST 10 YEARS REALLY, UH, TRYING TO BE A RESOURCE FOR OTHER PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, WOMEN, UM, TO, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS INDUSTRY IS, WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE, YOU KNOW, UM, IN A SKILLED OCCUPATION, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY HAVE ALL OF YOUR TRAINING PAID FOR A JOB RIGHT AWAY AND NO DEBT, RIGHT? SO THAT'S A, A REALLY GREAT SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE.
I'VE ALSO BEEN FORTUNATE, AND I'VE SERVED ON THE NATIONAL TRADES WOMEN TASK FORCE, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TEXAS WOMEN IN TRADES, BUT FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
SO THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WAY OLDER THAN TEXAS WOMEN IN TRADES, THERE'S CHICAGO WOMEN IN TRADES, OREGON WOMEN IN TRADES.
THEY HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING, PRE-APPRENTICESHIP, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. THEY'RE DOING THE WORK.
SO I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH THOSE, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AND LEARNING, RIGHT? AND SAYING, OKAY, WHAT CAN I BRING BACK FOR SAN ANTONIO? RIGHT? SO I LOVE MY CITY AND I LOVE TO SEE US THRIVE.
I THINK THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN, UM, A HOT TOPIC LATELY, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK, AND I FEEL LIKE I COULD HELP PROVIDE SUPPORT FROM A VOICE THAT WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR, RIGHT? SO A LOT OF TIMES I'M THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE ROOM, IN THE CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENT.
I'M USUALLY THE ONLY BROWN PERSON IN THE ROOM, AND I'M USUALLY THE ONLY PERSON UNDER 40.
I'VE GOT THAT FOR ONE MORE YEAR.
THANK YOU MS. PER THANK YOU MS. PEREZ.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS NOW.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, ALI, FOR YOUR INTEREST.
UM, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CRITICISM YOU HEAR OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP FIX IT? OKAY.
I THINK THAT JUST PERSONALLY HAVING WORKED WITH IT, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CALL IT A CRITICISM, BUT MORE OF A CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE, UM, WOULD BE PRE-APPRENTICESHIP.
AND THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT IS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
SO, READY TO WORK IS IN A FANTASTIC JOB OF CREATING A PIPELINE.
ONCE YOU'RE IN IT, IT'S GREAT.
YOU CAN REALLY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED TO PROGRESS AND GROW.
THE CHALLENGE IS, YOU KNOW, WITH A CONSTRUCTION CAREER, IT'S NOT LIKE GOING AND BECOMING A SECRETARY OR A NURSE.
YOU'VE GOTTA BE REALLY KIND OF PREPARED FOR THIS LINE OF WORK.
SO ALMOST LIKE A CRASH COURSE OR A BOOTCAMP, PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING IS ONE OF THOSE CHALLENGES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S READY TO WORK, PROBLEM TO SOLVE, BUT I THINK IT WOULD HELP THEM IF SOMEONE COULD SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, UM, TO REALLY KIND OF FILTER MORE PEOPLE INTO THIS ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED PROGRAM.
UM, ALSO I THINK THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WHAT CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS.
SO I THINK TRAINING PEOPLE UP THAT IT IS A VIABLE AND VALID CAREER SOURCE, UM, FOR
[00:25:01]
PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT NECESSARILY WANNA PICK THAT FIRST THING, YOU KNOW.SO I THINK THAT, UM, THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME INFLUENCE AND HELP TO IMPROVE THOSE FOR THE PROGRAM IN OF ITSELF.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER KIRCH.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO EXPOUND A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID BY SAYING WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR ROLE ON THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, TO SERVE AS THAT VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS, UH, TO REALLY REPRESENT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT WHO IS AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION TODAY ON THEIR WAY HERE? IT'S A PROBLEM.
WE ALL WERE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A SKILLED LABOR GAP AND, AND A FEW OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE IN PLAY.
SO I FEEL LIKE WITH MY EXPERIENCE OVER THE PAST DECADE, I CAN HELP ELUCIDATE WHAT THOSE CHALLENGES ARE AND PROBABLY ALSO HELP TO FIND SOME SOLUTIONS FOR IT.
YOU MENTIONED CHALLENGES, AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES, THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS USUALLY FACE GETTING INTO THE PROGRAM, AND WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT? YEAH, I THINK THAT, UM, THE PROGRAM IN AND OF ITSELF IS, IS NEWER, IT'S FRESH, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT MAYBE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE SEEN GREAT MARKETING ABOUT IT, BUT I, I FOLLOW THOSE PAGES.
SO I THINK, UH, BRAND AWARENESS IS A HUGE THING.
UM, I THINK BRAND AWARENESS IS A, IS A HUGE PART OF IT.
AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROGRAM IS, WHO IT'S AVAILABLE FOR, AND ALL OF THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT IT CAN PROVIDE, NOT JUST FOR APPLICANTS, BUT ALSO FOR EMPLOYERS WHO ARE DOING THEIR OWN RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
CAN COUPLE WITH READY TO WORK TO REALLY GET MORE PEOPLE INTO THAT PIPELINE.
THANK YOU ALLY FOR, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
HOW DO YOU SEE READY TO WORK EVOLVING AND EXPANDING IN THE UPCOMING YEARS? I THINK THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP.
I THINK THAT IT'S GOT REALLY GOOD BONES, AND I THINK WE JUST NEED MORE PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S CONSTANTLY FORUMS AND FEEDBACK SESSIONS.
I THINK READY TO WORK HAS A GROWTH MINDSET, NOT A FIXED MINDSET, WHICH IS IMPERATIVE, UH, FOR SEEING CHANGE IN PROGRESS.
SO I THINK THAT JUST FOLLOWING WITH THE PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE DOING, UH, JUST HELPING AS A BOARD, AS A, AS A CITY TO GET MORE PEOPLE FUNNELED INTO IT, IT'S JUST GOING TO HELP THOSE NUMBERS ADVANCE EVEN MORE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KA HDA, COUNCIL MEMBER PAL, THANK YOU FOR APPLYING MS. ALALA.
THE, UH, IT TALKS ABOUT ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT BRANDING AND MARKETING.
I, I, I THINK ALL OF US AGREE, RIGHT? THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THIS, BUT BE SPECIFIC.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENT THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT DOING NOW? UM, TO SPREAD THE WORD FOR SURE.
FIRST OFF, I'M IN YOUR DISTRICT, SO THANK YOU,
WELL THEN, THEN A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.
WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE CITY COUNCIL?
UM, WHAT CAN WE DO? WOW, MARKETING.
UM, SO I THINK THAT IN GENERAL, UM, SOME OF THESE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN READY TO WORK FOR SPECIFICALLY CONSTRUCTION, I THINK IT HAS SOME NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS, RIGHT? THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT A CONSTRUCTION WORKER IS.
I, I'M A PLUMBER, I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S NOTHING MORE DISGUSTING ABOUT BEING A PLUMBER THAN THERE IS BEING A MOM.
YOU KNOW? SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY WORK THAT PEOPLE CAN DO.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO BRING LIGHT THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT.
LIKE, IF IT WERE ME, LET'S FOCUS ON TESTIMONIAL.
LET'S FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE PROGRAM OR ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AND LET'S SHARE THEIR, THEIR STORIES.
I THINK SAN ANTONIANS ARE NATURALLY KIND OF, UM, SUSPICIOUS, RIGHT? WE THINK, OKAY, WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
SO I THINK REALLY BRINGING TO LIGHT OTHER SAN ANTONIANS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND SUCCEEDED IS ONE PART OF IT.
UM, I THINK ALSO, UH, MONEY
UM, ALLY, THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS, UH, JUST REALLY TAKING A, A, A BROADER VIEW OF WHY A PROGRAM LIKE READY TO WORK OR, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY IS IMPORTANT FOR A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S HOW WE ELEVATE THOSE AMONGST US TO THE TOP TIERS IN PROVIDING THEM ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD BEFORE.
I THINK CONSTRUCTION IN GENERAL, IS A LOW COST OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A HIGH COST OUTCOME.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT SAN ANTONIO IS ABOUT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT YOUR TERMS HAVE BEEN ABOUT, IS REALLY HELPING TO ELEVATE, UM, THE, THE MEEKEST AMONG THE, THE MEEKEST AMONG US, RIGHT? AND BRING THEM UP TO A LEVEL WHERE THEY ARE COMPETITORS IN THE JOB MARKET AND IN THE WORKFORCE, UM, PERSONALLY.
BUT THEN ALSO WE NEED WORKERS.
I MEAN, OUR CITY IS GROWING, WE'RE LUCKY, I THINK ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE AREAS OF DEPRESSION, NOT HERE.
WE'VE BEEN GROWING THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WE GOT 20 MORE YEARS TO GO, AND IT'S SMART TO
[00:30:01]
FOCUS ON OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE BY HAVING THE WORKERS TO FUEL THAT GROWTH.SO I, I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE.
AND IF YOU COULDN'T TELL THAT THIS IS MY PASSION, I BLEED FOR THIS.
WE'LL, UH, BRING IN OUR NEXT APPLICANT AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE DELIBERATION.
UM, THIS WILL BE NOW SHIFTING TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CATEGORY.
WE'LL START WITH JENNIFER COOK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
UM, YOU'LL HAVE A TWO MINUTE, UH, OPENING STATEMENT, THEN WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
UM, I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND IMPACT AT THE SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION, BUT I'M BIG ON RELATIONSHIPS, SO I WANNA SPEND, UH, JUST A QUICK SECOND TELLING YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO I AM.
UM, I CAME TO SAN ANTONIO BY WAY OF BEING IN A MILITARY FAMILY, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CAME HERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, MOVED AROUND A LOT, CAME HERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE SAN ANTONIO THEN BECAME HOME.
MY PARENTS DIVORCED, UM, RIGHT BEFORE I WAS GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO GROWING UP, YOU KNOW, IN A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD WITH MY MOM, I QUICKLY LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT COMMUNITY SUPPORT WAS TO HELPING A FAMILY, PARTICULARLY A YOUTH OR A YOUNG PERSON SUCCEED.
MARY'S UNIVERSITY WHERE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY BASKETBALL AGAIN, FINDING THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND GOT A DEGREE IN COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS. SO IT MADE TOTAL SENSE FOR ME TO, UH, GO ON AND WORK IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR FOR 18 YEARS, RUNNING IN, IN DEVELOPING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE 7, 8 2 0.
MANNY, UM, IN THE 7 8 2 0 7 ZIP CODE.
UM, AND THROUGHOUT SOUTH TEXAS.
AND SO COMMUNITY WORK IS WHAT I KNOW.
IT'S WHAT I FEEL I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO DO.
AND THERE'S SO MUCH THAT I'VE LEARNED JUST FROM MY PERSONAL STORY AND EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES THAT I SERVED FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES, UM, WHEN I WAS AT GOOD SAM.
AND SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSFER THAT EXPERIENCE NOW TO THE FOUNDATION, SERVING IN A COMMUNITY ROLE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS AS IT RELATES TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL TO A PERSON'S SUCCESS.
UM, AND ALSO WHEN TRYING TO SCALE A PROGRAM LIKE READY TO WORK, WHAT MAKES IT SO CHALLENGING IS EVERYONE'S NEEDS ARE UNIQUE, AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT AT SCALE? UM, AND SO I JUST FEEL LIKE MY COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE SECTOR AND WORKING WITH SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS, SOME WHO, UM, PARTNER WITH THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM, UM, CAN HELP ADD VALUE, I HOPE, UM, TO THE CONVERSATION.
UM, SO IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME AND WHO I AM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. COOK.
WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS NOW.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER, FOR YOUR INTEREST.
UM, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY.
MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CRITICISM YOU HEAR OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP FIX THAT CRITICISM? I HEAR SEVERAL, IF I'M BEING VERY HONEST.
UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST BARRIERS IS, UM, HOW DO WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE CONSIDERING, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN CRITERIA OR CONSTRAINTS THAT ARE IN PLACE, LIKE ELIGIBILITY, UM, TRYING TO MEET PEOPLE WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE IN A TRAINING PROGRAM WHILE THEY MIGHT MEET ELIGIBILITY THERE.
BUT AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THOSE BASIC NEEDS, THOSE WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS, PROXIMITY, TRANSPORTATION, CAN I GET THERE? CAN I NOT CHILDCARE? IT? REALLY WHAT I HEAR A LOT IS REALLY, UM, THERE'S NO, AGAIN, ONE SOLUTION.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH NONPROFITS THAT ARE SERVING SO MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM.
UM, IT'S, IT'S HOW DO WE BREAK DOWN THE SILOS AND DO MORE OF THE WARM HANDOFF AND DO MORE OF THE RESOURCE SHARING AND INFORMATION SHARING SO THAT WE'RE TRULY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND, AND GET THEIR NEEDS MET.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
UH, THANK YOU MS. COOK FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR ROLE, OR WILL BE YOUR ROLE ON THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE? I FEEL LIKE MY ROLE WOULD BE TO HELP KEEP THE COMMITTEE INFORMED OF THE CHALLENGES THAT AREN'T ALWAYS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.
AGAIN, BEING POSITIONED WHERE I AM IN THE COMMUNITY SPACE AND WORKING WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT NONPROFITS, UM, WHO, AGAIN, ARE SERVING THESE PEOPLE IN NEED AND TRYING TO JUST GET THEM TO THE NEXT STEP, RIGHT? UM, I HAVE, BECAUSE OF MY PROFESSIONAL HISTORY AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF PEOPLE SHARE, UM, OR DISCLOSE INFORMATION WITH ME THAT THEY MAY NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING ELSEWHERE.
[00:35:01]
CAN I BE THAT VOICE FOR THEM AND BRING THOSE ISSUES TO THE TABLE? YEAH, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'VE MENTIONED, UH, CHALLENGES THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FACE GETTING INTO THE PROGRAM.UH, AND SO YEAH, THERE ARE BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES THAT, UH, THE RIGHT TO WORK PARTICIPANTS FACE.
UH, BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THOSE CHALLENGES? I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN BE DONE.
UM, MY FIRST IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION IS, LOOK TO THE PEOPLE FOR THOSE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS.
UM, AND HOW ARE WE LISTENING, TRULY LISTENING TO THOSE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP, AND TO THOSE THAT ARE SERVING THE INDIVIDUALS, UM, AND HOW DO WE LEAN ON THEIR EXPERIENCE, JUST LIKE I'VE LEANED ON MINE TO GAIN INSIGHT AND, AND TO CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR ME PERSONALLY OR THOSE THAT I WORK WITH.
UM, SO I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST SOLUTIONS IS HOW ARE WE ACTIVELY LISTENING AND PROVIDING RESPONSE TO THAT? UM, BUT ALSO I THINK THERE ARE SOME GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN OUR CITY, UM, IN OTHER COLLECTIVES OR INITIATIVES THAT WE CAN TAKE SOME BEST PRACTICE FROM.
UM, I KNOW WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NETWORK THAT'S DOING SOME REALLY INNOVATIVE WORK AROUND, UH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES.
THERE'S ALSO SOME WORK BEING DONE IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SPACE, AND I, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, HOW DO WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX TO CREATE, TO BRING IN SOLUTIONS, UM, THAT MAYBE WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF BEFORE, OR MAYBE TIMING WASN'T RIGHT FOR WHATEVER REASON.
THANK YOU MS. COPE, FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
HOW DO YOU SEE READY TO WORK EVOLVING AND EXPANDING IN THE UPCOMING YEARS? OOH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
UM, I THINK, WELL, ONE, IN TERMS OF EVOLVING, AND I, I FULLY DISCLOSE, I MIGHT BE BIASED, BUT YOU KNOW, AN AREA THAT I SEE SOME TREMENDOUS NEED IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.
UM, IT'S AN INDUSTRY THAT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED THAT ADDS, BUT IT ADDS BIG VALUE AND IMPACT TO THE ECONOMY.
UM, NOT JUST OURS, BUT OTHERS ACROSS THE US.
AND SO HOW ARE WE, HOW ARE WE LOOKING AT INDUSTRIES THAT MAYBE ARE, ARE ON THE RISE OR THAT ARE EMERGING, UM, THAT HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH ATTENTION BEFORE? AND I THINK FROM THERE, THAT'S WHERE WE SEE EVOLUTION, RIGHT? UM, WE'RE GONNA KEEP SOME OF THE, THE, THE HIGH DEMAND INDUSTRIES THAT WE'VE ALWAYS SEEN, YOU KNOW, IN, IN LIKE THE HEALTHCARE SPACES AND WHATNOT.
BUT THE REALITY IS, IS NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.
AND THE REALITY IS, IS THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE JUST NEED EXPOSURE AND OPPORTUNITY TO OTHER THINGS TO FIND THEIR PASSION AND TO FIND THEIR INTEREST.
AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE, YOU KNOW, SOME, UM, EVOLUTION CAN TAKE PLACE, IS, AGAIN, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE TALK TO COMMUNITY AND FIGURE OUT WITHIN THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE PRESENT IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THE NEEDS ARE, AND FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS TO BRING THOSE, THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE TABLE.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER BERDA.
UH, LAST QUESTION, MS. COOK, UH, IS, WHY IS PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LIKE READY TO WORK SO IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY FOR SAN ANTONIO? WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, UM, BECAUSE IT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF CREATING A LIVABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY.
UM, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A THRIVING COMMUNITY AND, UM, WHAT QUALITY OF LIFE MEANS AND LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY IS A HUGE PART OF THAT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO HAVING A QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY OR THEY AREN'T GIVEN OPPORTUNITY, IT JUST HINDERS THAT PROGRESS TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND SO I WOULD, YEAH, I WOULD JUST SHARE THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. COOK.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR, UM, QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
SO WE'LL BRING BACK OUR NEXT APPLICANT AND THEN WE'LL BRING YOU BACK AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE WITH OUR DELIBERATION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT APPLICANT IN OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CATEGORY IS DR.
ALEK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION.
UH, AS YOU'VE HEARD, WE'LL HAVE A TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT THAT WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY AND PROVIDING LISA THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW.
I AM THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF A COLLEGE CAREER MILITARY READINESS FOR SAN ANTONIO, I S D.
AND IN THAT ROLE, I AM BLESSED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO HELP SUPPORT NOT ONLY STUDENTS THAT ARE GRADUATING, GET COLLEGE CREDIT, BECOME COLLEGE READY, GET INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS, BUT ALSO SUPPORT, UH, OUR ADULT ED PROGRAM THAT, THAT SERVES ABOUT 1200 ADULTS IN GETTING THEIR INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS, THEIR G E D ASSISTANCE, CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMS, EVEN PREPARING THEM TO ENTER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. AND SO ALL THESE SERVICES TOGETHER, UH, IN MY LAST 22 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION HAS ALLOWED ME THE
[00:40:01]
OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CREATE PROGRAMS AND DEVELOP PROGRAMMING THAT'S FOCUSED ON OUTCOMES AND ON IMPROVING OUR, OUR, OUR COMMUNITY, UH, AROUND NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS, BUT OUR FAMILIES AND OUR PARENTS WHO DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AS STUDENTS.AND SO, UM, HISTORICALLY I CAME FROM A RURAL, UH, POVERTY BACKGROUND FIRST TO GO TO COLLEGE TOO.
UH, VERY DIFFERENT FROM URBAN POVERTY, BUT IT DID GIVE ME A PERSPECTIVE AND HAS BEEN A PART OF MY PASSION TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IN IMPROVING THEIR EDUCATION TO COME OUT OF POVERTY.
AND SO THAT IS WHY, UM, I APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION AND WAS, UM, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE INTERVIEW.
VA HOLICK, UH, WE'LL GO AROUND WITH QUESTIONS.
WE'LL START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH DR.
ALEK, FOR YOUR INTEREST IN, IN THE POSITION AND FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE STUDENTS OF S A I S D.
UM, WHAT DO YOU HEAR IS THE BIGGEST CRITICISM OF THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM AND HOW WOULD YOU HELP FIX IT? UM, I, I THINK IT'S, UM, I THINK IT JUST COMES DOWN TO, UM, IS IT GONNA PRODUCE THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN IT? UM, WHEN I SEE, WHEN I LOOK AT, UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ADULT EDUCATION FIELD, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT PLAY IN THIS.
AND, AND SO HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE THEM QUICKLY ENOUGH TO GENERATE THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU WANT TO GENERATE? AND I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST YEAR WITH READY TO WORK IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING ALL THESE ENTITIES FROM STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES IF IT COMES TO HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD, THOSE KIND OF ITEMS, UH, HAVE ALL BEEN PART OF TRYING TO ORGANIZE AND BRING ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS TOGETHER.
BECAUSE TO ME, WHEN I GOT INTO THE ADULT ED WORLD AT SS I S D, I LEARNED THAT WE'RE SO MANY ENTITIES IN INVOLVED.
AND I THINK, UM, I THINK IT WAS LIKE, CAN YOU PIVOT AND MAKE ALL THESE ENTITIES WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE OUTCOMES THAT WE WANTED TO SEE? AND I THINK YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT OUTCOME A YEAR LATER.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHE GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
UH, THANK YOU MR. VA HOLICK FOR, YOU KNOW, STEPPING FORWARD FOR THIS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GONNA BE YOUR ROLE ON THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE? UM, I, I HOPE THAT I CAN HELP PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF EXPERIENCE TO THE TABLE BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH FAMILIES AND SS I S D AND MY PREVIOUS SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
UM, I'VE, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN RURAL, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN, UM, SUBURBAN AND IN, IN URBAN, AND SO I, I SEE HOW, HOW ALL THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AND HOW DIFFERENT THEIR CULTURES ARE.
UM, AND SO I'M HOPING I CAN PROVIDE THAT INPUT, BUT ALSO FOCUS ON OUTCOMES.
UM, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK, UM, WHERE ALL THESE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, AGAIN, CAN COME TOGETHER, EVEN FROM A PRE-K THROUGH 12, DIGGING DEEPER INTO HIGHER ED AND WORKFORCE AND BRINGING THOSE SYSTEMS TOGETHER.
EVEN THE MILITARY HAS A COMPONENT THAT, THAT, THAT WHAT YOU NEED TO GET INTO THE MILITARY AND HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER IS A STRONG ACADEMIC BACKGROUND.
BEING ABLE TO READ AND DO MATH AND HAVING THOSE STEM COMPONENTS.
SO BRINGING ALL THOSE SYSTEMS TOGETHER HAS BEEN MY PASSION AND MY WORK, AND I BELIEVE I CAN BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.
UM, WHAT DO YOU SEE ARE THE BARRIERS OR CHALLENGES THAT A LOT OF THE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS FACE? AND, UH, WHAT CAN READY TO WORK DO ABOUT THAT? UM, I THINK IT GOES BACK TO A QUOTE THAT I REALLY KIND OF IS LIKE MY, ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES, FAILURE'S AN EVENT, AND IT'S NOT A PERSON.
AND A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT READY WORK IS SERVING OR TRYING TO SERVE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE MISTAKES OR LIFE HAS FAILED THEM IN SOME WAY.
AND SO THEY FEEL LIKE FAILURES.
AND MANY TIMES IN MY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT WE JUST NEED TO WORK WITH THAT PERSON AND MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE A SECOND CHANCE FOR WHATEVER BARRIER OR REASON THAT'S THEY'RE FACING, THAT THEY CAN'T OVERCOME THAT, THAT THEY'RE NOT A FAILURE.
AND SO THAT'S, I THINK, THE BIGGEST FEAT IN MY UNDERSTANDING OF EDUCATION AND EDUCATING STUDENTS THAT THEY DON'T THINK THEY'RE WORTHY ENOUGH TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY OR THEY'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN THAT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SIDE TO BUILD UP, BECAUSE ONCE WE GET 'EM IN THE PROGRAM AND THEY SEE SUCCESS IN THEIR LIVES, THAT THEY FEEL THAT, THAT THAT'S A BIG COMPONENT OF SUCCESS FOR THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S REALLY LIKE, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE TECHNICAL STUFF THERE, YOU CAN HAVE THE DOOR OPEN, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET THEM TO WALK THROUGH IT.
AND SO THAT'S ONE THING I'VE LEARNED WORKING IN S I S D.
WE CAN CREATE ALL THE PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD, BUT WE'VE GOTTA WORK WITH THE STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PREPARED AND THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN WALK IN AND BE SUCCESSFUL.
HOW DO YOU SEE READY TO WORK EVOLVING AND EXPANDING
[00:45:01]
IN THE UPCOMING YEARS? WELL, I, I, WHAT I HAVE, UM, I, I KNOW IN MY THINKING, IN MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT I KNOW THAT THE TAX WON'T LAST FOREVER, RIGHT? IT'S, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, IT, IT CUTS OFF IN A FEW YEARS.AND SO HOW DO WE CONTINUE THAT WORK? HOW DO WE MOBILIZE OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS TOGETHER TO WORK TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM GOING? AND HOW DO WE USE ALL THOSE RESOURCES OUT THERE TO ACTUALLY CONTINUE WHAT THE GREAT WORK THAT WE ARE SEEING? WE DON'T WANNA LOSE THAT MOMENTUM AFTER THE, THE, THE WORK THERE.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF STRATEGIC WORK IN THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S SET UP WHERE THERE'S NOT A, A, A CLIFF FOR THE PROGRAM AND NOT A CLIFF FOR THE SUCCESSES WE BUILT IN THIS PROGRAM.
HALLOCK IS, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN THE ISDS, UM, YOU'VE ALLUDED TO THIS, BUT COULD YOU ARTICULATE WHY DIRECT PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, IS SO IMPORTANT? SO, UM, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IN S I S D IS WE HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRANT FAMILIES COMING INTO S I S D THAT ARE STAYING IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'VE NOT GONE TO COLLEGE AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS IMMIGRANTS, BUT THEY'RE, THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT POPULATIONS OF PARENTS WHO MAY HAVE DROPPED OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL, ARE IMMIGRANTS THAT WANT TO BECOME CITIZENS THAT WANT TO, UH, CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
PART OF THAT, WE ALSO HAVE A NEED TO BRING HIGHLY SKILLED WORKFORCE PEOPLE TO OUR CITY.
AND IT'S CHEAPER AND EASIER IF WE DID THAT WITH OUR CURRENT POPULATION.
WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS WITH STUDENTS.
WE ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT WEREN'T THERE WHEN WE WERE KIDS.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY FOR ADULTS THAT WANT TO COME AND BE PART OF THAT.
AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IS WE DID A PHARMACY TECH PROGRAM AT EDISON HIGH SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS.
UM, IT CAME UP FROM ONE OF THE PARENTS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE IT.
SO WE USED OUR ADULT ED PROGRAM TO OFFER THE SAME PROGRAM AT THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL AT NIGHT FOR THE SAME GROUP OF PARENTS THAT THEIR KIDS WERE GOING THROUGH IT.
SO THEY BOTH WERE PROVIDED A SET OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE DID THAT THROUGH GRANT FUNDS AND WE MADE THAT HAPPEN.
SO THAT PUBLIC INVESTMENT IS ALSO NOT ONLY IN INVESTING OUR, IN OUR CHILDREN, BUT IT'S ALSO INVESTING IN OUR ADULTS.
SO IT'S ALL, IT'S AN ALL IN ONE SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, IN A PERFECT WORLD, WE HAVE A ZERO THROUGH 99 EDUCATION SYSTEM, SO WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO RELEARN, UH, AT NO MATTER WHAT AGE WE'RE AT.
'CAUSE WE'RE ALL FACING DIFFERENT THINGS IN DIFFERENT TIMES OF OUR LIVES.
BUT THIS, THIS INVESTMENT HAS A HUGE IMPACT ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS.
I THINK THAT'S IT FOR OUR INTERVIEW HERE.
UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW IS, AND WE WILL ASK YOU TO WAIT WITH THE OTHER APPLICANTS.
WE'RE GONNA BRING ALL OF THE INCUMBENT, UM, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO ARE APPLYING FOR REAPPOINTMENT BACK TOGETHER AS A GROUP.
UH, SO THAT WILL BE, UH, JERRY GRABBER, AMANDA WRIGHT, JENNIFER CONTU, SONIA GARZA, AND BEN PEEVY.
WE HAVE, WE DO HAVE, UH, WRITTEN STATEMENTS, BY THE WAY, FOR, UH, UH, APPOINTMENT APPLICATIONS FROM JERRY GRABBER, UH, FROM SONY GARZA, AS WELL AS STEPHANIE GAINES.
UH, BUT WANTED TO BRING YOU ALL BACK HERE AS A GROUP.
MAYBE TAKE A MINUTE FOR AN OPENING STATEMENT.
WE, WE KNOW OF YOU, WE KNOW OF YOUR WORK, AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE, WE CAN HAVE YOU FIELD THEM TOGETHER AS A GROUP.
DO YOU WANNA START? THANK YOU.
UM, I'M THE, UH, OFFICE MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR ACCENTURE.
I'VE BEEN ON THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD FROM THE BEGINNING.
UM, IT'S, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ASKED TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AND I'VE BEEN THE CHAIR, UH, FOR THE LAST YEAR.
AND THIS, THIS, UM, ADVISORY COUNCIL'S BEEN, UM, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND I, I SEE, UH, HOW IMPACTFUL IT'S GONNA BE, UH, TO SAN ANTONIO.
AND I WANNA, UH, CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD TO HELP US GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO.
I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY PIVOTAL, PIVOTAL YEAR.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF US, UH, AND I THINK WE'VE MADE GREAT PROGRESS, UH, SO FAR TO GET TO WHERE WE'RE AT OF SETTING THE FOUNDATION.
I THINK THE MAIN THING WE REALLY DO NEED TO FOCUS ON IS GETTING EMPLOYERS ENGAGED IN AND TYING THE PIPELINE OF PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE PROGRAM, UH, MORE DIRECTLY INTO EMPLOYERS.
AND SO, UH, I KNOW THAT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE FOCUSES, UH, OF OUR BOARD OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS, BUT I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE PROCESS.
[00:50:01]
OF SOUTH TEXAS AS ACCOUNTING AND HR ASSISTANT, AND I'M ALSO STAFF AT, UH, STRONG FOUNDATION MINISTRIES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE EMERGENCY HOMELESS SHELTERS HERE IN TOWN.UM, I'VE ENJOYED BEING ON THE BOARD, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR.
UM, BUT I ALSO WORK WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS, UH, 24 7.
'CAUSE AS STAFF, I'M ACTUALLY A HOUSE PARENT OVER ONE OF THE FACILITIES, SO, AND TEACH A THURSDAY NIGHT RECOVERY CLASS WITH THEM AS WELL.
SO I'M ENGAGED WITH THEM QUITE OFTEN.
AND, UM, I JUST THINK THAT BRINGS A GREAT PERSPECTIVE.
AND, UM, JUST OVER THE YEAR IT'S BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR SURE, UH, AMAZING PROGRAM.
I SEE HOW IT'S HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE, JUST EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT I'M IN TOUCH WITH ON DAILY BASIS THAT I'VE SEEN IT CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
BUT, UM, AS BEN SAID, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON THIS YEAR, AND I THINK IT IS A PIVOTAL YEAR.
THERE'S SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT NEED TO GO ON, ON THE BACK END, UH, WITH SOME OF OUR PROVIDERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT I'VE HAD MY EAR TO THE GROUND AND I LISTEN, I, UH, STAND BACK AND JUST WATCH.
AND THEN WHAT I HEAR THAT ARE RED FLAGS I BRING TO EVERYBODY ELSE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THINGS.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE YEARS TO COME AND I HOPE THAT I JUST CONTINUE TO BRING POSITIVE, UH, ATTRIBUTES TO THE WHOLE BOARD.
I AM THE SAN ANTONIO MARKET EXECUTIVE FOR BANK OF AMERICA.
I OVERSEE OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN S A R D TO WORK FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, UM, AND THE CHAIR OF THE EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR ABOUT THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
UM, AND WITH THAT, I GET ASKED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WHY AM I INVOLVED IN ESSAY READY TO WORK, ESPECIALLY BEING IN PHILANTHROPY AND, UM, I'M NOT IN HR.
UH, AND SO I GET ASKED, WHY DO I GET INVOLVED IN THIS? AND I WOULD SAY IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL CROSS-SECTOR, CROSS-INDUSTRY INITIATIVE.
AND FOR THAT REASON, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
UH, IT'S REALLY WORKING TOGETHER, IT'S COLLABORATING.
IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER IF WE JUST, WERE IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE NOT.
WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH ALL FOUR OF THE AGENCIES, WITH ALL OF THE SUB-AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH, WITH THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY, EDUCATING THEM, MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROGRAM IS AND HONESTLY WHAT IT'S NOT.
UM, AND THEN THE THIRD LEG OF THAT STOOL IS REALLY WORKING WITH THE EMPLOYERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AT THE TABLE, THAT THIS INITIATIVE IS REALLY GOING TO DO WHAT IT'S SET OUT TO DO TO INCREASE OUR TALENT POOL, TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, TO PROVIDE THE TALENT TO NOT ONLY OUR CURRENT EMPLOYERS, BUT FUTURE EMPLOYER DEMANDS.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY HERE, I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT AND WANNA CONTINUE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PIVOT AND EVOLVE.
NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER BEEN DONE BEFORE IN ANY CITY ACROSS SEVEN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.
AND THE REASON WHY WE SAY THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE CREATING IT.
AND WITH THAT, WE CAN ALSO PIVOT AND EVOLVE AS WE GO AND LEARN FROM IT.
SO WHEN WE LEARN THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES OR OBSTACLES, WHETHER THAT'S FOR EMPLOYERS OR PARTICIPANTS, OR FOR OUR ORGANIZATIONS, THAT OUR AGENCIES RUNNING THE PROGRAM, THEN WE CAN TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND WE CAN DO OUR BEST TO IMPLEMENT IT OR TO WORK TOWARDS A SOLUTION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A REALLY PIVOTAL YEAR FOR WHAT'S TO COME, ESPECIALLY IN HOW WE WORK WITH THE EMPLOYERS, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED, THAT HAVE GOTTEN A CERTIFICATION, A DEGREE INTO JOBS THAT ARE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
QUESTIONS FOR OUR INCUMBENT READY TO WORK BOARD MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, PUBLICLY THANK YOU ALL, UH, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO.
YOU DON'T MISS MEETINGS AND YOU'RE ALWAYS READY TO GO WITH A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK.
AND, UH, I RECENTLY HAD A CONSTITUENT COME UP TO ME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IN TEARS, UM, BECAUSE SHE STARTED THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.
SHE HAD JUST LOST HER DAD, AND SHE'S A SINGLE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS.
UM, SHE WAS GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME AND SHE SAID THAT SHE SAW HOPE AND READY TO WORK.
SO SHE SAID, PLEASE THANK THE PEOPLE.
AND I HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO, TO THANK YOU, BUT I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND, AND SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF AT LEAST ONE OF MY RESIDENTS, BUT THE MANY MORE THAT I HAVEN'T TALKED TO THAT I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE IMPACTING.
COUNCIL MEMBER ROJA GARCIA, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
I'VE GOT TWO QUESTIONS AND MAYBE YOU COULD ANSWER THEM INDIVIDUALLY OR MAYBE A COLLECTIVE ANSWER WOULD BE FINE.
THE FIRST ONE IS, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE ROLES PLURAL OF THE BUSINESS PARTNERS FOR THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM? YOU KNOW, AND THE SECOND ONE IS THAT MANY OF THE READY TO WORK PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE THEIR TRAINING AND THEIR EDUCATION, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE,
[00:55:01]
UH, IN THEIR NEW TRAINED JOBS.SO HOW SHOULD THE BUS BUSINESS PARTNERS CONSIDER THAT? SO JUMP IN OR YEAH, GO AHEAD.
UM, SO I WOULD SAY THAT'S ONE REASON WHY WE ARE SO INSISTENT ABOUT HAVING THE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT THE TABLE AND PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
AND SO WE DO THAT THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE EMPLOYERS ON THE ADVISORY COUNCIL AND ON THE EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL, BUT WE ALSO ARE HOSTING MONTHLY TALENT PIPELINE CONVERSATIONS THAT IS RUN BY SA WORKS.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THAT'S BRINGING IN.
WE HAVE 300 EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE SIGNED THE PLEDGE.
IT'S BRINGING IN THOSE EMPLOYERS EVERY MONTH TO TALK THROUGH WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO THEY HAVE, WHAT CHALLENGES DO THEY HAVE, AND WHAT ARE THOSE OBSTACLES? ARE THEY WILLING TO HIRE INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T HAVE THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OR WHO HAVE NOT HAD MULTIPLE INTERNSHIPS OR APPRENTICESHIPS OR OTHER THINGS IN THE INDUSTRY.
SO WE ARE TALKING WITH THE EMPLOYERS REGULARLY ABOUT THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THEIR BUY-IN.
WE KEEP BEING TOLD BY EMPLOYERS, THEY HAVE THE JOBS, THEY HAVE THE ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES HERE.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH THE AGENCIES, SO THAT WAY WE ARE GETTING ACCESS TO THAT TALENT AND THAT POOL THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
BUT WITH THAT, WE'RE ALSO BLENDING IN SOME OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT ARE GOING ON AT THE CITY WITHIN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WITH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, UM, THAT, OF COURSE THE CITY LANDED, WHICH WAS A VERY BIG DEAL, UM, AS WELL AS OTHERS TO SAY, OKAY, IF THAT IS SUCH A BARRIER, HOW DO WE SAY WE'VE GOT THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO'S FINISHED THE TRAINING PROGRAM? CAN WE GET THEM INTO AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM OR AS AN EMPLOYER, A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYERS HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY CAN START OUT AND MAYBE THEY CAN DO A ROTATIONAL PROGRAM OR AN INTERNSHIP OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE ARE TALKING TO THE EMPLOYERS REGULARLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRIDGING THAT GAP.
SO IF THEY'RE NOT READY TO HIRE THEM IMMEDIATELY, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE MAYBE SOME RESERVATIONS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE, HOW DO THEY WE GET THEM INTO A PROGRAM OR GET THEM INTO A COMPANY THAT DOES OFFER THOSE, UM, PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS.
BEN, WHAT WOULD YOU ADD? YEAH, TWO, TWO QUICK THINGS I WOULD ADD.
I WOULD SAY PART OF WHAT I THINK MAKES THIS PROGRAM VERY EFFECTIVE AND POWERFUL IS IT'S ITERATIVE.
SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING BACK AND TALKING TO EMPLOYERS BECAUSE THEIR DEMANDS CHANGE.
SO, YOU KNOW, PART OF THIS IS ESTABLISHING THE ECOSYSTEM SO THAT IT'S A SUPPLY AND DEMAND KIND OF EQUATION.
AND SO WE, WE NEED TO BE UP ON, OKAY, WHAT'S THE NEW CERTIFICATION THAT'S IN DEMAND NOW? OR, UH, NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE NEED TO TRAIN ON OR NEW SKILLS THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE.
AND SO IF EMPLOYERS SEE THAT THEY'RE BEING ENGAGED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY GET REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES TO COME THROUGH THAT PROCESS, THEY'RE GONNA GAUGE EVEN MORE.
RIGHT? THE THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY, UM, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WITH THAT EXPERIENCE, AND I WORK A LOT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND A LOT OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE, UH, CRITERIA UPFRONT AND WORK WITH EMPLOYERS TO SAY, WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS TO THESE PEOPLE SO THAT YOU USE IT AS PART OF YOUR, UH, HR TRANSFORMATION OR TALENT MANAGEMENT PIPELINE APPROACH SO THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE HAVING THIS BE MORE OF AN ENTRY LEVEL TYPE OF MODEL.
AND THEN IT'S GIVING THEIR OTHER EMPLOYEES MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW THEIR SKILLS AND BUILD FROM THERE.
SO IT'S MORE OF AN EDUCATION THING AND, AND LETTING PEOPLE SEE HOW IT COULD WORK.
UH, AGAIN, I ALWAYS SAY IF IT CAN WORK FOR US AND SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT, UH, WE REPRESENT, UH, I THINK OTHER COMPANIES CAN SAY, YEAH, WE COULD PROBABLY MAKE IT WORK FOR US.
I'D LIKE TO ADD JUST THE COMMUNICATION PART OF IT AS WELL.
UH, 'CAUSE I SIT ON THE COMMUNICATIONS BOARD AS CHAIR AND, UM, THESE TWO BACK HERE HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS JOB AS FAR AS ENGAGING EMPLOYERS, BUT A BIG PART OF THAT'S THE COMMUNICATION AND BRINGING THEM IN AT SUCH AN EARLY STAGE WITH ALL THE, UM, EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THE PROGRAM'S SUPPOSED TO BE AND WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED IT TO BE, AND COMMUNICATING THAT PROPERLY TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE EMPLOYERS OUT THERE THAT ARE GONNA BE DOING THE HIRING.
I THINK THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN, UH, BRIDGING THAT GAP AND GETTING THEM AT THE FRONT SIDE OF THIS SO THAT ALL THE TRAININGS THAT WERE OFFERED THROUGH READY TO WORK AS GEARED TOWARDS WHAT THEY ACTUALLY NEED AND WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE.
SO IT'S, IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS WORK THAT'S GONE ON THE FRONT END THAT I THINK OVER THIS NEXT YEAR, LIKE THEY SAID, GONNA BE A PIVOTAL YEAR OF NOW THAT WE'RE GETTING A BUNCH OF GRADUATES OUT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE EMPLOYERS.
SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
SO THE, THE THREE OF YOU, I, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE ROOM WHO'S GONNA DISAGREE WITH THIS, BUT THE THREE OF YOU ARE, UM, VERY GOOD, RIGHT? UM, AT, AT AT,
[01:00:01]
AT COMMUNICATING THE PRIORITIES OF THIS PROGRAM.YOU KNOW, CLEARLY YOU HAVE MASTERY OVER THE DETAILS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE GOALS, RIGHT? AND THE INNER WORKINGS OF, OF, UM, OF READY TO WORK.
I'M, I'M CURIOUS, UH, WHAT YOU THINK WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE, CAPITAL W WE CITY COUNCIL, RIGHT, AS FAR AS BLOWING WIND INTO YOUR SAILS, RIGHT? TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THING MOVES FORWARD, UM, AND, AND, AND, AND DOESN'T FAIL, RIGHT? AND SO Y'ALL ARE RECOGNIZED EXPERTS AND LEADERS WHEN IT COMES TO ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, YOU KNOW, CREATING ALLIANCES, CROSS SECTOR, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ALLIANCES, RIGHT? PROBLEM SOLVING.
I IMAGINE THAT THE THREE OF YOU ARE ADEPT AT DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, RIGHT? UM, AND SO I'M PROBABLY PUTTING YOU IN A, IN A DIFFICULT POSITION RIGHT NOW OF ASKING YOU, UM, TO TELL US OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, UH, AS IT RELATES TO US.
AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE THREE OF, YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE OF YOU GETS THROWN INTO THE DEEPEST.
I JUST ASKED THAT, UM, YOU, UM, KIND OF TRY TO GEAR YOUR MINDSET TO THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET INTO THIS PROGRAM.
UM, ONCE YOU GET TO A CERTAIN SUCCESS LEVEL IN YOUR LIFE, WE TEND TO FORGET ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AT THE BOTTOM.
AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVEN'T WALKED IN THEIR SHOES, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE, WHAT THEIR TRUST LEVEL IS.
AND THAT'S A BIG THING RIGHT NOW THAT I KIND OF WANNA BRING UP TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS I THINK WITH THIS NEXT YEAR GOING FORWARD, WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON GAINING THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO REACH AND HELP.
AND, UM, ALLOWING THEM TO SEE WE'RE HERE TO WALK WITH THEM BY BEING VULNERABLE OURSELVES AND JUST REACHING THEM A ONE-ON-ONE PERSON.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT AS COUNCILMEN AND WOMEN, THAT WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT YOU TRULY GET HONEST AND VULNERABLE WITH THEM AND ALLOWED THEM TO GAIN TRUST IN YOU SO THAT THEN THEY WILL IN TURN GO FORTH AND ATTEMPT THIS PROGRAM AND FOLLOW IT THROUGH.
'CAUSE IN THE VERY FIRST STAGES, YOU DO HAVE TO ANSWER A LOT OF VERY PERSONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF HELP DO YOU NEED? WHERE ARE YOU AT? UM, SOMEBODY WHO'S IN THAT POSITION FEELS VERY SHAMEFUL, REGRETFUL, UM, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF SELF-ESTEEM THAT MOST OF THEM DON'T HAVE TO SHARE THOSE STORIES ON THE FRONT END WITH PEOPLE THEY'VE NEVER MET, PEOPLE THEY DON'T TRUST BUT WANNA HELP THEM.
AND IF THEY'VE BEEN RUN OVER AND ARE IN A BAD SPOT IN THEIR LIFE, THAT TRUST AND JUST GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE HIGHER POSITIONS IN OUR CITY ARE ACTUALLY THERE FOR THEM AND WANT TO HELP THEM.
IT'S NOT JUST A POLITICAL MOVE FOR THEM.
THAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST ASPECT THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE THIS NEXT YEAR.
THAT WAS INCREDIBLY WELL SAID.
UM, AND I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE AS WE LOOK AT THE POPULATION AND THE INDIVIDUALS WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT I, WHEN I THINK ABOUT FROM MY LENSS, I THINK THERE ARE CERTAINLY OPPORTUNITIES IN, IN HOW WE HOLD OUR PARTNERS AND OUR, AND EVERYONE ENGAGED ACCOUNTABLE.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY BIG TARGETS.
UM, AND REALLY IN ORDER TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE, WE THEN HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND ALL HAVE TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER.
I THINK THE CITY HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AS WHEN THERE HAS BEEN CONCERNS.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE CREATING IT.
WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS, WHETHER THAT'S FROM EMPLOYERS OR FROM THE AGENCY PARTNERS OR UH, EVEN THE OTHER NONPROFIT PARTNERS OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT INVOLVED, THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON DID NOT SIGN ON.
I FEEL LIKE THE CITY HAS DONE A REALLY FANTASTIC JOB OF SAYING, WE WANT TO LISTEN AND LEARN.
SO I'VE SEEN AT MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE THE CITY HAS SAID, OKAY, WELL LET'S BRING IN THOSE PEOPLE.
LET'S TALK TO ONE ANOTHER AND WE'LL LISTEN AND HEAR FROM YOU.
SO I WOULD SAY FIRST FOREMOST, CONTINUE THAT.
UM, AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE IS WHERE WE DO HAVE COMMITMENTS.
WE NEED TO HOLD EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE, INCLUDING US AS BOARD MEMBERS, THAT WE ARE HELPING TO PUSH THIS FORWARD AND WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST SOME OF OUR NUMBERS.
WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST SOME OF OUR GOALS ALONG THE WAY AND RECOGNIZE HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE INTO THE PIPELINE THAT WE'RE HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO THROUGH AND ARE ABLE TO GRADUATE FROM THE PROGRAM, AND THEN THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GET JOBS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO I WOULD SAY THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE, UM, WHICH IS REALLY WHERE THE CITY CAN BE A HUGE HELP TO US.
[01:05:01]
IT'S HARD TO FOLLOW THOSE TWO.AND THIS IS PART OF WHAT I THINK MAKES THIS FORWARD SO GREAT.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE PEOPLE BRINGING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND AND ANGLES TO THIS.
UH, AMANDA ALWAYS FROM THE, THE HEART AND LOOKING AT IT FROM THE IMPACT, UH, I'M USUALLY LOOKING AT IT FROM A TECHNOLOGY OR A PROJECT PERSPECTIVE.
AND SO I'LL JUST TAKE THAT ANGLE REAL QUICK.
'CAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, UH, WE JUST RECENTLY HAD A HUGE INITIATIVE AND TRANSFORMATION, UH, WITHIN OUR, MY ORGANIZATION TWO YEARS AGO, I JUST WAS, UM, ASKED TO BECOME OUR CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER.
SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MOVE ALL OF OUR PEOPLE TO A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS, A NEW PLATFORM THAT'S MORE SECURE.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IT FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, AND THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON WHY WE COULDN'T DO IT, OR IT'S JUST EASIER TO WAIT AND HOLD OFF AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO IT LATER.
BUT IT JUST FINALLY GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF LIKE SKEPTICISM AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINKING, OH, WE'RE JUST GONNA GREATLY IMPACT OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOBS AND THIS IS JUST GONNA BE TOO DIFFICULT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT IS THIS CAN'T BE AN IT PROJECT.
UH, THIS NEEDS TO BE A BUSINESS IMPERATIVE PROJECT AND PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HAVE EVERYBODY BE ON ONE PLATFORM.
IT'S GONNA MAKE US MORE SECURE, IT'S GONNA BE EASIER TO COMMUNICATE AND ALL THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT SUPPORT, MANNY, TO YOUR QUESTION OF LIKE, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE THE CONSISTENT UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PURPOSE IS AND THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER BECAUSE THE DAY-TO-DAY IS WE'RE GONNA RUN INTO BUMPS IN THE ROAD.
IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH, AND YOU NEED PEOPLE TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE AND WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, UH, TO REALLY BE ABLE TO SEE IT TO THE END.
AND SO, UM, JUST THE END OF LAST MONTH, WE WENT LIVE EVERYBODY, AND WE DIDN'T IMPACT ANY OF OUR PROJECT TEAMS. OF COURSE THERE WAS ISSUES, BUT THEN IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, THE C E O AND THE C E O COME INTO OUR TEAM SAYING THAT IMPLEMENTATION WAS A 10 OUT OF A TENT.
AND, AND OUR TEAM WAS LIKE, MAN, BUT WE HAD SO MANY ISSUES AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING, BUT THEY SAID, NO, IT WAS A 10 OUT OF 10.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HARD WE KNOW IT WAS AND HOW MANY LATE NIGHTS YOU WORKED AND WHAT YOU GUYS HAD TO DO TO KIND OF GET THROUGH IT.
SO I JUST, I JUST ALWAYS FEEL LIKE AT THE END OF THE DAY, ANYTHING WORTHWHILE IS USUALLY REALLY HARD TO GET.
AND SO, UM, AGAIN, JUST, JUST MANNY, I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING YOUR SUPPORT IS INCREDIBLE.
I I JUST MET WITH, UH, ONE OF OUR INDUSTRY ANALYSTS YESTERDAY AND WE TALKED TALKING TO HIM, THE STORY, AND HE KEPT ASKING ME, WELL, WHY WAS IT SUCCESSFUL? WHY WAS IT SUCCESSFUL? HE ASKED ME LIKE FOUR TIMES AND I SAID, BECAUSE WE HAD THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP SUPPORT.
'CAUSE IT WAS JUST ME TRYING TO DO IT, IT WOULD'VE FAILED BECAUSE ANY PROJECT WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUSH BACK AND SAY, NO, WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT.
BUT WHEN YOU HAD THAT SUPPORT FROM THE TOP AND CONSISTENTLY UNDERSTANDING WHY WE'RE DOING IT, IT, IT JUST WORKED.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST MY, IF, IF WE COULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING THIS AT THE END OF THE DAY AND, AND WHAT AMANDA SAID, UM, WE'LL BE GOOD.
AND, AND I CAN TAKE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HEAR A LOT OF NOISE AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF SKEPTICISM.
AND I, I HEAR ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL AND THIS IS HARD, AND WHY ARE YOU SPENDING MONEY ON DOING THIS? I, THIS IS WHY, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GONNA START TO SCALE AND THIS IS GONNA HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON SAN ANTONIO FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS TO COME.
ON THAT NOTE, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE COMPLAINED AND GROWED FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS ABOUT THESE CHALLENGES, UM, PARTICULARLY OF, OF ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND, AND POVERTY IN OUR CITY.
AND I JUST, EVERY TIME I HEAR YOU SPEAK AND I THINK ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN THE TRENCHES ON THIS PROJECT, I THINK ABOUT A CITY THAT IS DARING GREATLY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF LOOKING THE OTHER WAY AS WE'VE DONE FOR GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS.
AND THAT, THAT, TO ME, EVERY TIME I HEAR THE, THE MAN IN THE ARENA QUOTE, IT'S, IT ALWAYS POINTS ME BACK TO THIS PROGRAM.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING THE MEN AND THE WOMEN IN THE ARENA TAKING THE ARROWS FOR DARING GREATLY TO SOLVE THIS MASSIVE CHALLENGE.
SO YOU'VE DONE INCREDIBLE WORK.
ALRIGHT, UM, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR OUR INCUMBENT INTERVIEWS AND, AND FOR OUR INTERVIEWS IN GENERAL.
[Executive Session ]
THAT WE ARE GONNA DELIBERATE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS.WE'LL COME BACK AND THEN, UH, WE'LL MAKE OUR DECISION THERE.
UH, SO IF Y'ALL WANTED TO STAY HERE, WE'LL BRING ALL THE OTHER APPLICANTS BACK.
THE COMMITTEE'S GONNA DEPART, UH, BRIEFLY INTO ANOTHER ROOM SO WE CAN DELIBERATE THERE AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
[01:10:02]
10:11 AM ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30TH, 2023.THE CITY COUNCIL, THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, EXCUSE ME, THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WILL NOW MEET IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND CONSULT WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 5 5, 1 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE AND DELIBERATE, OR DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS PUR PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.074, AND TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071.
UM, SO IF Y'ALL WANNA JUST RELAX, UH, WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
TIME IS 10:25 AM ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30TH, 2023.
THE CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE WILL NOW RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION.
NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, FIRST BEFORE, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, MY COLLEAGUE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THE APPOINTMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, UH, WHO'S TAKEN THE TIME TO APPLY FOR THE READY TO WORK PROGRAM.
IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT ALL OF THE APPLICANTS, UH, TODAY, UH, UNDERSTAND, UH, HOW CRITICAL THESE CHALLENGES ARE FOR OUR CITY AND ARE WILLING TO DEVOTE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY DESPITE BEING IN A FISHBOWL, UH, ON THIS ISSUE.
UH, AND JUST HOW DAUNTING THE TASK IS CONSIDERING WE ARE THE FIRST CITY IN AMERICA TO ATTEMPT AT SCALE TO BREAK CYCLES OF POVERTY AND TO CONNECT, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASPIRATIONS FOR GOOD JOBS WITH THE EMPLOYERS WHO NEED THEM.
UH, THIS IS NO SMALL TASK AND IT'S BEEN MADE VERY CLEAR AND ABUNDANT BY THE WAY FOLKS ARE, UH, VERY FOCUSED ON IT.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STEP FORWARD.
NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, THE, THE READY TO WORK ADVISORY BOARD IS FINITE, MEANING THAT THERE'S ONLY A FEW SLOTS, UH, AND WE'RE GONNA FILL THOSE SLOTS TODAY.
BUT, UM, I THINK I CAN SPEAK FROM MY COLLEAGUES IN SAYING THAT WE WERE IMPRESSED BY EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT CAME TO US TODAY.
AND THERE IS A ROLE FOR YOU, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT ON THE READY WORK ADVISORY BOARD, WE ARE GONNA KEEP YOU ENGAGED BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR VOICES, WE NEED YOUR ADVOCACY, WE NEED YOUR EFFORTS AND EXPERIENCE TO MAKE THIS, UH, A SUCCESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL BE IMPACTFUL FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO PLEASE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO KEEP YOU ENGAGED.
WE WANT TO, UH, MAKE, UH, USE OF YOUR WILLINGNESS, UH, TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, THANK YOU, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER CAB HDA, UH, TO BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION.
I MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING APPLICANT'S FOR THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES.
ALEXANDRA ALI BEES FOR THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CATEGORY, JERRY GRABBER AND AMANDA WRIGHT FOR THE PREVIOUS WORKFORCE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANT CATEGORY, JENNIFER KTU, STEPHANIE GAINES, SONYA GARZA, AND BENJAMIN PV FOR THE LOCAL EMPLOYER OF AN IN-DEMAND OCCUPATION CATEGORY, PRISCILLA AGUILA FOR THE TRAINING PROVIDER CATEGORY.
AND HI, HI, MODA FOR THE TRADE LABOR ORGANIZATION CATEGORY.
SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION OF THAT APPOINTMENT ROSTER TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, HEARING NONE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND, AND FOR YOUR EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD.
ALRIGHT, UH, WE'RE GONNA GO NOW TO ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS A COUNCIL CON CONSIDERATION REQUEST FILED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
UH, TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT SAFE BABY DEVICES HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND IF I MAY JUST, UH, PREDICATE THIS WITH A A FEW COMMENTS, TEXAS LEADS A NATION IN DEAD AND ABANDONED INFANTS.
OUR OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN TO ADDRESS THIS ALARMING STATISTIC, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE DOBBS DECISION BY THE SUPREME COURT.
THIS INITIATIVE INCLUDES THREE MAIN PARTS TO ADDRESS THIS.
NUMBER ONE IS EXPANSION OF ACCESS TO THE BABY MOSES LAW THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES.
NUMBER TWO IS CREATION OF A CRISIS HOTLINE TO CONNECT PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING MENTAL, PHYSICAL, OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO HELP DURING THAT PREGNANCY, UH, RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIRD, EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY SPECIFIC MARKETING AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS OF THE BABY MOSES LAW, THE CRISIS HOTLINE, AND THE NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES TO ENSURE THAT ALL WOMEN AND FAMILIES UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THE BABY MOSES LAW WAS CREATED AS A LAST RESORT FOR FAMILIES AT THE POINT
[01:15:01]
OF INFANT ABANDONMENT OR AN INFANTICIDE.IT IS MEANT TO BE AN OPTION FOR WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS AT THE POINT OF EXTREME CRISIS OF ACTIVELY CONSIDERING KILLING OR HARMING THEIR INFANT OR LETTING IT SUFFER IN AN UNSAFE ABANDONMENT SITUATION.
THIS LAW WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO OTHER SOURCES, UH, OR OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES, INCLUDING ADOPTION OR LOW COST, AFFORDABLE PRENATAL CARE OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR OTHER SOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH EXISTING CHILDREN.
TEXAS IS STILL SEEING LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DO NOT CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THE BABY MOSES LAW.
NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES OF ONE FINAL ACCESSIBLE AND LEGAL OPTION FOR AN INFANT, UH, TO SAVE THAT INFANT'S LIFE OR ANOTHER IS FOUND AND BEFORE ANOTHER IS FOUND, UH, IN A WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE CREATION OF AN UNBIASED AND INFORMED CRISIS HOTLINE FOR PREGNANT PEOPLE IS AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR ENSURING THAT WOMEN AND FAMILIES NEVER GET THAT.
TO THAT POINT, THERE ARE MANY, MANY REASONS WHY PARENTS MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN CRISIS.
AND WE ARE A COMPASSIONATE CITY, AND WE SHOULD WORK TO ACTIVELY ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS SO THEY FEEL EMPOWERED WITH ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO MAKE SAFE AND HEALTHY DECISIONS WHEN THEY'RE FACED WITH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SPENDS A LOT OF MONEY TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE NOT, MAY, MAY NOT BE INFORMED ABOUT.
AND THE CRISIS HOTLINE SHOULD FOCUS ON CONNECTING PEOPLE THROUGH HOLISTIC WHOLE FAMILY APPROACHES TO THESE RESOURCES, INCLUDING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT HELP WITH KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER.
THERE ARE MANY TIMES AND REASONS WE NEED TO CONNECT PREGNANT WOMEN WITH RESOURCES THAT MAY NOT BE, THAT MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS, BUT THAT CITY GROUPS, OUR, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS CAN HELP WITH.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HOMICIDE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PREGNANT WOMEN IN THE US.
WE WANT TO CONNECT WOMEN WITH OPTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP ENSURE THEIR SAFETY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT TEXAS HAS BEEN RANKED THE WORST STATE FOR ACCESS TO PRENATAL MATERNAL CARE.
WHETHER A WOMAN IS CHOOSING TO KEEP HER INFANT UTILIZE ADOPTION OR ACCESS SURRENDER LAWS USING A NEW BABY SAFETY DEVICE, SHE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO CARE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE MOM JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS ABOUT THE BABY, AND WE HAVE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ASSIST HER.
THIS INITIATIVE IS ONLY EFFECTIVE IF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.
BABY BOXES, SAFE BABY DEVICES HAVE AND WILL SAVE LIVES, BUT ONLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THEM IN THE COMMUNITY.
TEXAS HAS NOT PROVIDED FUNDING FOR EDUCATION EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS ABOUT THE BABY MOSES LAW SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1999.
THE CHANGING OF THE LAW TO INCLUDE THESE DURING THIS PREVIOUS LEGISLATION SESSION DID NOT INCLUDE FUNDING FOR MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS CHANGE.
THIS IS WHY WE WANNA GO AHEAD FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM.
WE WANNA GO AHEAD AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO MORE UNSAFE ABANDONMENT OF INFANTS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
WE HAD ONE JUST LAST MONTH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SAFELY AND LEGALLY SURRENDERED AT ANY OF THE SAFE HAVEN SITES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HAD PEOPLE BEEN BETTER EDUCATED, THE LAW REQUIRES ON PEOPLE LIKE PAMELA ALLEN OR COMMUNITY GROUPS TO CREATE AND TRY TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON THE LAW TO THE PUBLIC.
PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES HAVE REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE TO DESCRIBE HOW EFFECTIVE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS BASED ON TARGETED AUDIENCES AND MESSAGING THAT PLANS ON LONG-TERM SUCCESS, HAS SHOWN A LARGE DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DEAD AND ABANDONED INFANTS IN THEIR MULTI-STATE REGION.
SO THIS BRINGS US TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
IN ADDITION TO THE CITY'S OWN LEGISLATIVE TEAM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SENATOR JOSE MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE TREY MARTINEZ FISHER FROM THE BAYAR COUNTY DELEGATION FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE FILING BILLS AND BRINGING SUPPORT TO THE INCLUSION OF NEWBORN SAFETY DEVICES UNDER TEXAS LAW COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
I'M GONNA PAUSE YOU RIGHT THERE BECAUSE, UM, LIZ HAS A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE TWO ITEMS. I'M GONNA LET YOU FINISH UP AFTER SHE MAKES THAT PRESENTATION.
[01:20:06]
LIZ PROVENCIO, FIRST ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND HERE TODAY MARRIOTT, TO ADDRESS ITEMS THREE AND FOUR.IF I MAY GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE TOGETHER, THAT'D BE FINE.
AND I'LL, I'LL, UM, GIVE THE FLOOR BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER KURTZ SO WE CAN UNDERSCORE, UH, THE POINT ON THE THIRD ITEM.
AND TODAY WE'RE HERE, UH, FOR A BRIEFING ON TWO CCRS, UM, THAT WERE ADDRESSED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND SO WE JUST WANNA RECAP THAT FOR PURPOSES OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT PUT THOSE CCRS FORWARD.
AND SO TO BEGIN WITH, WE HAD A C C R THAT WAS PUT FORWARD IN FEBRUARY OF, UH, 2023 BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ.
THIS INVOLVED CREATING A RESPECTFUL AND OPEN WORLD FOR NATURAL HAIR.
AND WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER MCKEE RODRIGUEZ SAT IN THE C C R AND THOSE THAT AUTHORED THE C C R WITH HIM WAS TWOFOLD.
ONE WAS FOR US TO AMEND OUR NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE TO CAPTURE THAT COMPONENT, UM, WHICH EFFECTIVELY ENSURES THAT THERE IS NOT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON NATURAL HAIR TYPES.
AND SECONDLY, TO INCLUDE IT IN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, UM, SO THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF A STATEWIDE INITIATIVE.
AND SO WE WANNA REPORT BACK HERE TODAY, UM, MAYOR AND SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT OF COURSE IT WAS INCLUDED, UM, AS PART OF THE STATE'S WORK AND EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY IS THE CROWN ACT, WHAT PROVIDES THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROTECTIONS, UM, FOR NATURAL HAIR, AND THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE LABOR CODE, WHICH, UM, PROHIBITS THE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON NATURAL HAIR TYPES.
UM, IT'S AN EDUCATION CODE WHICH WILL AFFECT GROOMING POLICIES FOR, UM, PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES, AS WELL AS THE PROPERTY CODE, WHICH IS ALSO GOING TO ENCOMPASS, UM, HOUSING.
AND SO FOR THAT, UM, WE WILL HAVE EFFECTIVELY, UM, STATEWIDE LAW IN BOTH, IN ALL THREE OF THOSE AREAS.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, AS FOLLOW UP ON OUR NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, THERE WAS WORK WHEN IT WENT TO THAT COMMITTEE THAT WAS REQUESTED, UM, THAT WE MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO BE ABLE TO GET ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK ON THE NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE.
UM, OUR CIVIL RIGHTS MANAGER, SAMANTHA SMITH, WHO'S HERE IS IN CHARGE OF THAT AND IS STILL WORKING WITH THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO HER.
WE EXPECT THAT WORK TO TAKE US THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THEN COMING BACK TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND EARLY NEXT YEAR WITH THAT FEEDBACK.
AND THEN AT THAT POINT, WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED WILL BE INCLUDED WITH, UM, THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO OUR NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE THAT WILL ALSO INCLUDE, UM, THE CROWN ACT WITH REGARD TO ITEM THREE ON, UH, SAFE BABIES.
AS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE MENTIONED, UM, HE AUTHORED THAT ALONG WITH OTHER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.
AND TWO REQUESTS WERE MADE IN THAT C C R ONE WAS THAT IT BE INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SPECIFICALLY SO THAT THE, UH, ANONYMITY PROVISION WAS ELIMINATED, UM, FOR PURPOSES OF, OF SURRENDERING AN INFANT.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, THAT IT BE INCLUDED FOR CITYWIDE CONSIDERATION TO HAVE THOSE DEVICES INSTALLED, UM, IN, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES.
AND SO, AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER WAS, UM, DESCRIBING THAT, UM, BILL WAS PASSED AND WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE THIS FRIDAY, AND IT EFFECTIVELY AMENDS THE FAMILY CODE THAT ELIMINATES THAT ANONYMITY PROVISION, UM, OR THAT PROHIBITION RATHER THAT EXISTED, UM, PRIOR TO THIS.
SO WITH REGARD TO THE REQUEST, UM, IN THE C C R FOR IT TO BE PART OF A STATE EFFORT THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED, UM, AND WITH REGARD TO INSTALLATION OF THOSE DEVICES IN PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, THAT IS UNDER CURRENT CONSIDERATION AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
AND SO, UM, THAT IS A STATUS UPDATE, NO ACTION REQUIRED FROM THE COMMITTEE.
SO LEMME TURN IT BACK OVER TO COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE TO, UM, CLOSE HIS COMMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
UH, AGAIN, WE WANNA THANK OUR, OUR CITY STAFF, UH, FOR WORKING UP IN AUSTIN TO HELP US MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND, UH, AS I MENTIONED, BOTH SENATOR MENENDEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE TREY MARTINEZ FISHER REALLY WORKED HARD ON PUSHING US THROUGH, UH, AND REPRESENTATIVE FISHER
[01:25:01]
WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TODAY, BUT REPRESENTING HIM AS, UH, HIS DISTRICT DIRECTOR, KATHY VAIL.AND KATHY, WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE WORK THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE PUT THROUGH ON THIS EFFORT.
ALSO, WE HAD MORE LOCAL SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY FROM OUR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOE GONZALEZ.
HE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING, ASKING FOR, UH, AN INTERPRETATION FROM THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ON HOW WE COULD MOVE FORWARD ON THIS, UH, REPRESENTING, UH, DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOE GONZALEZ RIGHT NOW AS CHRISTIAN HENDRICKSON, THE FIRST DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S, UH, DISTRICT, UH, ATTORNEY.
WOULD HE LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A COMMENT OR TWO ON BEHALF OF JOE? ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
UM, YEAH, MY NAME'S CHRISTIAN HENDRICKSON.
I'M THE FIRST ASSISTANT AT THE DA'S OFFICE, UH, HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR DA JOE GONZALEZ.
UM, MOST, OR AT LEAST MANY OF THE DEATH CASES THAT WE DEAL WITH IN OUR FAMILY VIOLENCE DIVISION, UH, INVOLVE THE, THE DEATH OF A, OF A BABY OR A CHILD.
UM, THESE ARE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT CASES.
I HAVE PROSECUTORS IN MY OFFICE WEEKLY BRIEFING ME ON THESE CASES.
UH, LIKE OUR PARTNERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR PROSECUTORS SEE THE WORST OF THE WORST.
UH, THEY'RE TOUGH, BUT THESE ARE THE CASES, UH, WHERE THEY'RE IN MY OFFICE BREAKING DOWN IN TEARS.
UM, THESE ARE, UH, AWFUL, UH, THINGS TO DEAL WITH AND, AND WE HAVE TOO MANY OF THEM.
UM, MOST OF THE CASES THAT COME THROUGH OUR OFFICE WHERE A CHILD OR A BABY HAS DIED, UM, IS THE RESULT OF ABUSE.
UM, THOSE CASES CAN BE DIFFICULT TO, TO WIN BECAUSE THESE, THIS TYPE OF ABUSE HAPPENS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
UH, BUT WE AGGRESS, WE PROSECUTE THEM AGGRESSIVELY.
BUT IN, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE TASKED WITH PROSECUTING CASES WHERE CHILDREN ARE ABANDONED.
WE, WE SEE, UH, WE SEE THOSE CASES FREQUENTLY, FORTUNATELY, MOST OF THOSE CASES DON'T END IN DEATH, BUT, BUT SOMETIMES THEY DO.
AND AS COUNCILMAN COURAGE MENTIONED, JUST LAST MONTH THERE WAS A CASE, UH, OF A CHILD, A BABY, A ONE DAY, ONE DAY OLD INFANT BEING ABANDONED AT A CHURCH, UH, BY TWO INDIVIDUALS.
AND, UH, THAT THAT BABY WAS, UH, NOT ABANDONED IN A SAFE WAY AND, UH, SAT THERE FOR 20 HOURS ON A DAY WHERE TEMPERATURES GOT UP TO 110 DEGREES, UM, BUT LUCKILY SURVIVED.
UM, THE, THESE ARE, UH, THESE ARE DIFFICULT CASES.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT CASES WHEN WE HAVE A CHILD'S DEATH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO, TO PREVENT THAT DEATH IN THE FIRST PLACE IS, IS A WORTHWHILE EFFORT, WHICH IS WHY, UH, OUR DA JOE GONZALEZ HAS SUPPORTED, UM, COUNCILMAN COURAGES EFFORTS, UM, TO, TO INSTALL THESE BABY BOXES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UM, PARENTS, WHEN THEY DO DO THIS, HAVE THE THE BEST SAFEST OPTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. HENDRICKSON.
I'VE ALSO INVITED PAMELA ALLEN, THE C E O OF EAGLES FLIGHT ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH TO BE WITH US TODAY.
PAMELA HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES AS WELL AS REFUGEE FAMILIES.
AND IT WASN'T, WASN'T UNTIL 2013 WHEN A BABY BOY WAS DISCOVERED AT SAN ANTONIO WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY THAT SHE BECAME A BABY MOSES ADVOCATE.
SHE'S DONE SO MUCH WORK AND WORKED SO HARD TO SAVE SO MANY CHILDREN'S LIVES.
UH, I JUST WANTED HER TO GO AHEAD AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THIS ACTION NOW.
I APPRECIATE, UH, BEING HERE AND, AND YOU ASKING ME AND WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU HAS JUST REIGNITED UM, OUR PASSION TO SAVE OUR BABIES SINCE, UM, 2013 WHEN ALL OF US WERE WATCHING THE NEWS AND SAW A BABY AT A WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY, IT WAS JUST SO UNNERVING.
AND IT WAS THEN THAT WE DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE DECIDED TO SPREAD AWARENESS AS WE CAN.
NOW, WE KNOW THIS LAW WAS PASSED IN 1999, AND WE KNOW THAT, UM, FORMER MAYOR PHIL HARDBERGER USED $20,000 OF HIS OWN TO BUY BILLBOARDS TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE BABY MOSES LAW.
WELL, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M A SMALL NONPROFIT AND, UH, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
WE'VE, UH, PRINTED ABOUT 5,000 BABY MOSES BROCHURES.
WE'VE TAKEN THEM TO HIGH SCHOOLS, TAKEN THEM TO CLINICS, TAKEN THEM WHEREVER WE COULD, MADE T-SHIRTS WITH THE BABY MOSES LAW.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I HAVE SOME OF THE GUARDIANS HERE WITH ME TODAY.
AND, UH, THEY WOULD WEAR OUR SHIRTS AND TAKE OUR BROCHURES AND
[01:30:01]
TAKE THEM TO RESTROOMS AND TO RESTAURANTS AND, AND HELP US GET THE WORD OUT.AND JUST RECENTLY WE'VE MADE A P SS A, UH, MYSELF AND, UH, SHERIFF SALAZAR, AND THAT'S BEEN, UH, BEEN ON MANY STATIONS AND IT'S BEEN ALARMING TO KNOW HOW MANY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS LAW.
YOU CITED THE RECENT CASE WHERE THOSE TEENAGERS LEFT THAT BABY, I'M SURE THEY, THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE BABY MOSES LAW.
WHEN WE WANNA TALK ABOUT THOSE THAT HAVE ENDED UP IN THE TRASH CAN SINCE 2013, WE'VE BURIED EAGLES FLIGHT, HAS BURIED FIVE ABANDONED BABIES, FIVE OF THEM.
WE'VE ALSO BURIED THREE DOZEN ABUSED INFANTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SURRENDERED, HAD THESE PARENTS KNOWN ABOUT THEM.
WE'VE WORKED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WITH THE DA'S OFFICE, WE'VE WORKED WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS HERE TO TRY AND GET THE WORD OUT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.
WE'VE WORKED, WORKED EIGHT YEARS TO GET BABY BOXES IN TEXAS, SO I WILL PROBABLY BE THE LOUDEST ONE IN THE STREETS COME FRIDAY, JUST CELEBRATING THE FACT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. ALLEN.
I'M GONNA PAUSE THIS ITEM JUST MOMENTARILY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A 12 O'CLOCK ADJOURNMENT.
WE NEED TO TAKE UP ITEM FOUR OR ITEM FIVE, EXCUSE ME.
WE NEED TO MAKE ACTION ON THAT.
SO, AND THEN WE WILL, WE'LL CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION.
SO LET ME CALL ITEM NUMBER FIVE AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
OH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
UH, CHAIR ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS, UH, BOARD MEMBERSHIP, UH, FOR THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF, UH, THE, UH, REAPPOINTMENT, UH, TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT REAPPOINTING, JON BENI, EVELYN BROWN, LENCIA HAYES, AND RASINE RAHI TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF A TERM OF OFFICE TO EXPIRE ON MAY 31ST, 2025.
OKAY, THERE'S A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR, UH, REAPPOINTMENT OF THOSE POSITIONS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT THAT WILL GO TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE.
WE'LL GO BACK NOW TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
LET ME RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER KE HDA, AND THEN I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
THANK YOU, UH, TO COUNCILMAN COURAGE FOR THIS IMPORTANT, UM, ITEM AND I, I, I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.
UM, ON, UM, ITEM FOUR, UH, THANKS TO COUNCILMAN MCKEE RODRIGUEZ FOR DRAFTING THE C C R.
I ALSO WANNA THANK THE YOUNG WOMEN OF THE LEMONADE CIRCLE WHO ADVOCATED FOR THIS.
THE BILL WAS FIRST INTRODUCED LAST SESSION, BUT, BUT DIDN'T PASS.
THE LEMONADE CIRCLE DID NOT GIVE UP.
AND THIS SESSION, UM, THE BILL WAS PASSED.
THANKS TO THEIR ADVOCACY, THEY'VE BEEN MOCKED FOR WORRYING ABOUT HAIR, BUT THIS DISCRI DISCRIMINATION IS REAL AND THEIR ADVOCACY BRINGS PROTECTION AND RECOURSE FOR THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION.
UM, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
THIS WILL BE ADDED TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE N D O, IS THAT, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE YES, COUNCILWOMAN.
WHEN WE BRING BACK THE N D O TWO COMMITTEE, THIS, UM, AMENDMENT WILL BE INCLUDED.
UH, NOW BACK TO YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE.
AND I, UH, APPRECIATE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE TO SEE THIS THROUGH.
UH, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UH, TEXAS SENATOR JOSE MENENDEZ, WHO IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THIS IN THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
THANK YOU SENATOR FOR BEING HERE.
APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, FORESIGHT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME AND, UH, MY COLLEAGUE IN THE HOUSE, UH, CHAIRMAN TREY MARTINEZ FISHER TO, UH, WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT, UM, HAD OBVIOUSLY SO MUCH SUPPORT STATEWIDE THAT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAD BEEN WORKING ON IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE AS WELL.
AND SO WE SIGNED UP AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE POLICY HAS PASSED, BUT, UH, UH, YOU AND, AND THE CITY COUNCIL WERE ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE IDEA AND BRINGING IT FORWARD.
AND SO WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON IT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO SEE, UH, CHAIRMAN BRIAN HUGHES AND I SAID TO HIM, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS IDEA AS WELL.
HE SAID, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A WHILE.
IT'S OBVIOUS BASED ON THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT, UH, WHICH BILL WAS GONNA MOVE FASTER.
AND SO IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU JUST SIGN UP AND, AND SUPPORT IT AND MAKE, MAKE THE POLICY WORK.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE THAT I'D LOVE TO WORK WITH ALL OF Y'ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT IS WHEN WILL THE ROLLOUT OCCUR? WHEN WILL WE SEE THESE BOXES? AND SO, UH, IF YOU ALL COULD JUST SHARE WITH OUR OFFICE, OUR TEAM, SO THAT WHEN WE GET THE QUESTIONS, WHEN AND THE WHERE AND THE HOW, UH, WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
[01:35:01]
UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING, WE'RE ON, UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE SECOND OF THREE, UH, TOWN HALL MEETINGS, LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, AND WE WANNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.HAD THE FIRST ONE AT THE TOOL YARD.
RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS FROM THE, UH, FACILITY, THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR HAVING THAT FACILITY.
AND, UH, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GOOD EFFORT.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR, I, I TOLD PEOPLE AND I TOLD THEM AT THAT TOWN HALL, AND I CONTINUED TO TELL 'EM AT MANY TOWN HALLS THAT THE BEST IDEAS FOR LEGISLATION NEVER COME OUT OF MY HEAD.
THEY COME OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF, OF THAT.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR, UH, EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR RUDE REMARKS.
BUT, UH, IT'S A, IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT Y'ALL AT CITI IN, IN AUSTIN.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, UH, BUT IT'S, WE DO THE BEST WE CAN.
AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL FOR THE HARD WORK.
I I'VE SEEN MANY, IF NOT ALL OF YOU, ALL IN AUSTIN AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
AND WHEN YOU DO GO AND YOU DO, UH, VISIT WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, YOU ACTUALLY MAKE MY JOB EASIER.
YOU MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO MAKE THE CASE.
UH, AND THIS LAST SESSION WAS ONE OF THOSE SESSIONS WHERE THERE WERE SOME VERY DANGEROUS PIECES OF LEGISLATION BEING, UH, UH, POTENTIALLY PUT FORWARD THAT COULD HAVE IMPACTED OUR BUDGET.
SO I'M GLAD THAT, UH, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN ALWAYS SO PROACTIVE AND SO, UH, EAGER TO HELP, UH, REPRESENT US IN AUSTIN.
SO THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND, AND I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS THE ELECTEDS, ALWAYS GET THANKS.
BUT ALSO THANKS TO THE CITY MANAGER AND, UH, YOUR TEAM, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB AND SO APPRECIATE IT.
I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, FOR YOUR INDULGENCE TO INTRODUCE ONE MORE VERY SPECIAL GUEST, UH, BELLA COBB.
BELLA, CAN YOU COME ON UP? AT THE AGE, A VERY YOUNG AGE OF 12, SHE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH MANY LEADERS IN LEGISLATORS IN ORDER TO SPREAD AWARENESS OF THE BABY MOSES LAW.
BELLA HERSELF IS A BABY, MOSES BABY, AND SHE HAS SHARED HER STORY OF TRIUMPH IN HOPES THAT HER STORY MAY INSPIRE MOTHERS WHO ARE AT A CROSSROAD.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE IN CELEBRATION OF THE BILL PASSED BY THE TEXAS HOUSE THAT WILL EXTEND BABY MOSES LAW AND ALLOW SAFE BABY BOXES THROUGHOUT OUR GREAT CITY.
WHEN I WAS A COUPLE DAYS OLD, I WAS DROPPED OFF AT A FIRE STATION HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
IT'S EXCITING TO KNOW BECAUSE OF THESE BABY BOXES, THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE SAFE AREAS TO PLACE BABIES IN OUR CITY.
THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF BABIES LIKE MINE.
MY PARENTS TOLD ME THIS STORY ABOUT MY NAME WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED AT THE HOSPITAL TO MEET ME.
MY NAME WAS ACTUALLY BABY MOSES.
AND THAT THEY WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO NAME ME.
THEY CHOSE THE NAME ISABELLA, MEANING BEAUTIFUL AND GRACE, MEANING A SECOND CHANCE, A BEAUTIFUL SECOND CHANCE.
THIS IS GONNA BE AN AMAZING YEAR FOR ME.
I'M IN THEATER, ARTS AND BAND, AND MY FREE TIME.
I LOVE TO DANCE AND PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS.
I LOVE WATCHING THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS WITH MY DAD.
I JUMPED OFF THE COUCH WHEN I GOT THE NUM WHEN WE GOT THE NUMBER ONE PICK.
AND I
AND I CAN'T FORGET HOLDING AND SQUEEZING MY COUSIN CASSIE.
SO FOR THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY, FOR THE LONGEST TIME, MY PARENTS ARE SHARING MY STORY FOR ME.
BUT NOW THAT I'M GETTING OLDER, I CAN START TO SHARE MY STORY AND TELL YOU HOW IT FEELS MYSELF.
GOD USED THE BABY MOSES LAW TO GIVE ME AN AWESOME LIFE WITH MY PARENTS', FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
BEING A BABY MOSES WILL FOREVER BE PART OF MY STORY FOR WHICH I'M THANKFUL.
I'M HOPING MY STORY CAN HELP ELECTED OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT CAN GIVE OTHER KIDS THE SAME CHANCE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
ALL KIDS DESERVE THAT IN HONOR OF BABY MOSES LAW BEING EXTENDED.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO GIVE THEM A BEAUTIFUL SECOND CHANCE TOO.
UH, AT THIS TIME MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE ITEM NUMBER THREE, UH, SAFE BABY BOXES.
UM, COUNCILMAN THIS, UH, ITEM DOESN'T REQUIRE ANY ACTION.
IT WAS JUST A BRIEFING, SO THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING TO APPROVE, OKAY? IT'S ALREADY MOVING FORWARD.
IN THAT CASE, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER FOR INCLUDING UP TO, UH, I BELIEVE POSSIBLY AS MUCH AS $400,000 TO BE USED, UH, TO GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT THIS.
UM, WELL WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING OUR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, BELLA, YOU WERE THE BEST CLOSER OF THE DAY.
SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
[01:40:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE, UH, TO MY COLLEAGUES, THE TIME IS 10:54 AM ON THE 30TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2023 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.