[00:00:01]
ADVOCATES, AND[Press Conference: “Domestic Violence Awareness Month"]
SURVIVORS.MY NAME IS EMILY WHITEHURST AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, BETTER KNOWN AS HAWK.
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
THIS IS THE MONTH WHERE WE REMEMBER THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIC OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE.
I'M GONNA GET CLOSER TO THE MIC
UH, BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT, SO I REALLY DO WANT YOU TO HEAR THIS.
AT HAWK, WE BELIEVE IN A FUTURE DEFINED BY SAFE COMMUNITIES, CARING FAMILIES, AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.
WORKING WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE ARE ON A MISSION TO MAKE THAT FUTURE A REALITY.
IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR SISTER AGENCIES, MANY OF WHOM ARE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY, WE SERVE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR, ESCAPING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND TRAFFICKING.
SINCE 1977, WE HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WITNESSING SURVIVORS TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES FREE FROM VIOLENCE, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR COURAGE.
WE ARE CONVINCED THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS CAN AND MUST BE STOPPED.
THANKFULLY, WE ARE JOINED IN THAT EFFORT BY INCREDIBLE ELECTED OFFICIALS, MANY OF WHOM ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY, SOME OF WHOM YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM DIRECTLY IN A MOMENT.
IN ADDITION, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABAZZ AND COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER.
WELL, ALL THOSE FOLKS ARE GETTING TO TALK.
BUT LISTEN, THIS IS, I REALLY WANNA ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE MAYOR PRO TIM ELLEN COHEN.
WHO SERVED AS THE CEO OF THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER FOR 18 YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE HER WITH US TODAY.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE THAT THIS ORGANIZATION SIMPLY WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS TODAY WITHOUT HER LEADERSHIP.
AND LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAWK IS TODAY AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
HAWK'S PROFESSIONAL AND COMPETENT ADVOCATES ARE ON THE FRONT LINES SUPPORTING SURVIVORS SAVING LIVES.
WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO PREVENT VIOLENCE.
WE OFFER FREE 24 HOUR CRISIS COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, INFORMATION, AND REFERRAL.
OUR FREE HOTLINE IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS AND MANAGES MORE THAN 24 HOURS A DAY AND MANAGES MORE THAN 50,000 CALLS A YEAR STAFFED BY TRAINED ADVOCATES.
THE HOTLINE IS TRULY A LIFELINE FOR ANYONE, A SURVIVOR, A FRIEND, A FAMILY MEMBER, SEEKING EXPERT ADVICE ON A PATH TO SAFETY.
WE PROVIDE FREE REAL-TIME SAFETY FOR THOSE FLEEING VIOLENCE.
THE SAFETY IS FOUND IN OUR FREE SHELTER PROGRAM, WHICH HOUSES OVER 100 WOMEN AND CHILDREN ON EVERY NIGHT IN OUR CITY.
WITH ROUND THE CLOCK ADMITTANCE, WE EMPOWER SURVIVORS WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO HEAL IN THE WAKE OF HARM AND TO ESTABLISH INDEPENDENT LIVES.
HOPS FREE HOUSING, COUNSELING AND LEGAL PROGRAMS SERVE THOUSANDS OF SURVIVORS EACH YEAR BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT HEALING TAKES TIME AND THAT HOUSING AND FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE ARE THE MOST CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO TERM SECURITY IN THIS ANNIVERSARY YEAR.
AND AFTER AN ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY NEEDS, WE ARE GOING FUTURE FORWARD WITH AN AMBITIOUS PLAN TO REIMAGINE OUR ORGANIZATION TO ADDRESS THE ESCALATION WE ARE SEEING IN HOUSTON, THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE.
WE WILL EXPAND OUR RESIDENTIAL CAMPUS, TRIPLING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE CAN SAFELY HOUSE ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT, THANKS TO A SIGNIFICANT INITIAL INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY.
WE EXPECT A GREAT BREAK GROUND IN DECEMBER ON A NEW FOUR STORY EMERGENCY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUILDING THAT WILL BE ONE OF A KIND.
WE WILL OPEN THREE NEW SURVIVOR EMPOWERMENT HUBS TO STRATEGICALLY IMPROVE ACCESS TO SERVICES.
THIS MEANS THAT INSTEAD OF THE ONE FRONT DOOR WE USED TO HAVE, WHICH IS BEHIND ME AND WILL BE NO LONGER, WE WILL HAVE THREE NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATIONS WHERE SURVIVORS CAN WALK IN AND ACCESS SERVICES.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE FULLY OPERATIONAL BY THE FIRST QUARTER OF JANUARY 21ST, QUARTER OF 2026.
[00:05:03]
AS THOUGHT LEADERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROACTIVE WITH POLICIES AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT STOP VIOLENCE BEFORE IT STARTS.THANKS TO THE PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FROM GENEROUS HOUSTON DONORS AND THE REMARKABLE DEDICATION OF STAFF MEMBERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN HERE OVER 20, EVEN 30 YEARS.
I SEE SOME, IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE OVER 20 YEARS, RAISE YOUR HAND AT WORKING AT HAWK.
BECAUSE OF THEIR DEDICATION, THAT HAWK HAS BEEN MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND INNOVATING OUR SERVICES FOR 45 YEARS.
AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, THERE ARE SOME BRICKS.
AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME WE OFFICIALLY GATHER AT 10.
THIS BUILDING USED TO BE THE UNITED WAY BUILDING, AND THEN IT'S BEEN OUR LOCATION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
IT HAS DONE GOOD WORK FOR THIS COMMUNITY, BUT WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER FOR HAWK TO BE WHO WE NEED TO BE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO 10 10 WA.
THANK YOU FRIENDS FOR INVESTING IN EFFORTS TO END SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND FOR JOINING US ON THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY.
AS WE CELEBRATE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE OUR 45TH ANNIVERSARY AND WE SAY GOODBYE TO THIS BUILDING.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT TOO OFTEN THE STORIES THAT DOMINATE THE NEWS AND OUR IMAGINATIONS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE TRAGIC AND DEFEATIST.
SURVIVORS ARE DOING THEIR PART EVERY DAY TO OVERCOME SHAME, TRIUMPH, OVER ABUSE, TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES SAFE.
AND TOGETHER, THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO GIVE UP.
THEY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WONDER WHETHER THIS PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED.
THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF CYNICISM.
THEY ARE DOING THEIR PART WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY HAVE.
AS ADVOCATES FOR SURVIVORS AND CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE, WE MUST BE FOCUSED ON SOLUTIONS.
UNLESS WE ELEVATE OUR EFFORTS TODAY, ONE IN FOUR WOMEN AND ONE IN 10 MEN WILL BE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIMES.
BY REMOVING THE STIGMA AND WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE.
LOOK AROUND YOU, EACH ONE OF YOU TO TELL OUR STORIES, TO FUND OUR WORK, AND TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE ARE MAKING AS PART OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
PLEASE CONSIDER GOING ONLINE AND FUNDING OUR MISSION.
NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MAYOR TURNER UP TO THE PODIUM, OUR AMBASSADOR IN CHIEF, WHO HAS DONE SO MUCH IN THIS CITY TO IMPROVE THE SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS.
AND, AND, UH, LET ME JUST, UH, UH, SAY PRETTY MUCH I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
SO I'M GOING TO SHORTEN MY COMMENTS BECAUSE, UM, I AGREE A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EMILY WHITEHURST FOR JUST AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
UH, SO GIVE GIVE IT UP TO EMILY, ELLEN COEN AND THOSE WHO CAME IN WITH HER, UH, 18, I MEAN YEARS AGO, 18 YEARS UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, JUST DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB AND LAYING A VERY STRONG FOUNDATION FOR HEART.
UH, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ELLEN COHEN, NOT JUST AS THE DIRECTOR OF HEART, BUT A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR, PRO TOWN AND HER LEADERSHIP.
ELLEN, THANK YOU, UH, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND THEN LEMME JUST START OFF BY THANKING THE SURVIVORS.
FIRST, LET ME THANK THE SURVIVORS, UH, UH, FOR JUST STANDING FAST, MOVING FORWARD, BEING RESILIENT, NOT GIVING UP, UH, PROVIDING HOPE AND INSPIRATION, UH, TO SO MANY OTHERS.
SO LET ME, LET ME JUST THANK THE SURVIVORS, UM, UH, FOR JUST BEING YOU BEING STRONG.
UM, YEAH, PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO ALL THE SURVIVORS.
EMILY MENTIONED THE SUPPORT COMING FROM THE CITY, BUT I WILL TELL YOU, UH, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT SUPPORT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
SO I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER SHABA, COUNCIL MEMBER PLUMMER, COUNCIL MEMBER ABBY CAYMAN, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER LETICIA PLUMMER,
[00:10:01]
AND ALL OF THE OTHERS WHO ARE NOT HERE, UH, BECAUSE IT TAKES THEIR SUPPORT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.AND, AND SHORT ORDER, THERE'LL BE ANOTHER MEASURE BEFORE THEM SEEKING THEIR SUPPORT.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM STANDING HERE IN THE SENSE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE AMBASSADOR FOR THE CITY.
UH, BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MINO PATEL DAVIS, WHO IS OVER THE, UH, DOMESTIC ABUSE HUMAN TRAFFICKING DIVISION FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UH, MY SPECIAL ASSISTANT, SO MINO, PAT MINO MINO, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
AND THEN A LOT OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE RECEIVED, THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED UNDER ONE SAFE HOUSTON TWO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THOSE DOLLARS HAVE COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE OPERA FUNDING.
I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO, UH, NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
AND, AND THANK, UH, CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SUPPORTED CONGRESSMAN.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE PARTNERS.
WHEN I SAY THIS, I'LL BE, I MEAN, I'M PRETTY MUCH WE'LL BE DONE
UM, WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE PARTNERS.
UH, THE COUNTY HAPPENS TO BE ONE.
UH, THEY HAVE WORKED WITH US, UH, VERY CLOSELY.
OUR RELATIONSHIP PROBABLY HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER.
UH, SO COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA, UH, THANK YOU AND ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, I CANNOT LEAVE OUT HPD.
HE'S REPRESENTED TODAY BY CHIEF HATCHER.
BUT ALL THE MEMBERS OF HPD, THOSE WHO ARE HERE, THOSE WHO ARE NOT HERE FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE, AND LET ME UNDERSCORE THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK, UH, IN THIS AREA.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP TO HB AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
LOOK, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON AN EPIDEMIC THAT OFTEN GOES UNNOTICED BY MUCH, BUT REQUIRES ALL, ALL OF OUR ATTENTION.
AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK HEART FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE OVER 45 YEARS.
I DREAM OF THE DAY, UH, WHEN WE ARE NOT HAVING TO MEET.
UH, I DREAM OF THE DAY WHEN THE, THE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE NOT GOING UP.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE GOING DOWN, THEY'RE NOT GOING DOWN ENOUGH.
UNTIL WE GET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ZERO.
WE HAVE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY AND AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS SOMETHING THAT JUST DOESN'T EXIST.
AND WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT COMFORTABLE FOR ANYONE TO COMMIT SEXUAL ABUSE OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO I DREAM OF THAT DAY, AND I THINK THAT DAY CAN HAPPEN IN HOUSTON IF WE WORK COLLECTIVELY AND COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER UNDER ONE SAFE HOUSTON, UM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO DEAL, MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
WE ALLOCATED ABOUT $10 MILLION TO DOMESTIC ABUSE.
UM, AND WE'VE DONE THAT THROUGH THE OPERA FUNDING, BUT THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
AND WE NEED, WE NEED TO DO A LOT MORE.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS SINCE THIS YEAR HAS GONE DOWN, THE HOMICIDE RACE HAS PRETTY MUCH REMAINED STAGNANT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
SO WE REALLY HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT IN REAL TIME.
WE RECOGNIZE THE OVERARCHING NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK, UH, TO CONTINUE THIS WORK IN COMMUNITIES WHO MAY NOT REPORT INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC, UH, VIOLENCE.
SO TO DEAL AND TO DRILL DOWN EVEN MORE INTO THESE COMMUNITIES.
THIS YEAR'S AN ADDED INITIATIVE OF THE ONE SAFE HOUSTON PLAN.
THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DREW DOWN $3 MILLION OF CITY, UH, OF HOUSTON OPERA FUNDS TO BE AWARDED THROUGH A NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
THE MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY DOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION INITIATIVE WILL WORK PROACTIVELY BEFORE VIOLENCE OCCURS AND REDUCE DANGEROUS AND COSTLY RESPONSES DURING OR AFTER AN INCIDENT.
THIS WILL BE AN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THESE AREAS BECAUSE WE WANT TO DRILL DOWN IN THOSE COMMUNITIES PRIMARILY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, WHERE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ARE NOT MAKING OR NOT REPORTING AND THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, PENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AND CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL, UH, WE ARE PROUD TO INVEST $15.85 MILLION OF HOME ART DOLLARS TOWARDS THE VISION OF EXPANDING ACCESS TO REAL TIME SAFETY TOWARDS WHAT EMILY WAS SPEAKING ABOUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT, UH, IN THAT INITIATIVE AS WELL.
LASTLY, WHAT I WOULD SIMPLY SAY, UM, WE SIMPLY HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SIMPLY DO NOT OCCUR.
[00:15:01]
ANYTHING SHORT OF THAT, IT'S NOT BEING BOLD ENOUGH, IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.WE HAVE TO SAY IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE COMMITTING SEXUAL ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
NOW LEMME BRING UP, LEMME BRING UP CHIEF CHIEF HATCHER.
SHE'S REPRESENTING, UH, CHIEF FINN TODAY, UH, AND REPRESENTING, UM, UM, THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF HATCHER BECHER.
MAYOR HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.
TO ALL OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND ALL OF OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, I AM ASSISTANT CHIEF CHANDRA HATCHER, AND ON BEHALF OF CHIEF TROY FINNER, WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS TO OUR CITIZENS FOR HELPING US, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR HELPING US IN FIGHTING CRIME AND SPECIFICALLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRIME.
THE SAD REALITY IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE KILLS THROUGH THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
WE'VE RESPONDED TO 55 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED HOMICIDES.
THAT'S 55 INNOCENT LIVES LOST DUE TO THIS TRAGIC AND HORRIFIC CRIME.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES THAT WE ARE DEDICATING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
OUR PATROL OFFICERS ARE OUT ON THE STREETS EACH AND EVERY DAY.
OUR FAMILY VIOLENCE UNIT AND THEIR INVESTIGATORS ARE INVESTIGATING THESE CRIMES.
AND WE ARE PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE RESOURCES TO HELP VICTIMS FEEL COMFORTABLE AND SAFE IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE PARTNERS WHO HELP US TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE.
WE CANNOT TACKLE THIS CRIME ALONE.
IT TAKES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE SEEING OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS LEAD TO SOME TRAUMATIC AND AMAZING RESULTS.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN A 9% DECREASE IN REPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS THIS YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 65 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED HOMICIDES.
SO A 55, UH, DECREASE OF 15% OF 55 INCIDENTS THIS YEAR IS ALSO IMPROVEMENT.
OUR WORK IS NOT DONE THOUGH, BECAUSE ANYTIME THERE'S AT LEAST ONE VICTIM OF FAMILY VIOLENCE RELATED INCIDENTS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED INCIDENTS, THAT'S ONE TOO MANY.
SO WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED HELP AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, PLEASE KNOW THAT THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HERE FOR YOU.
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE ALSO HERE ASSISTING US TO HELP YOU.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S STANDING UP AGAINST THIS VIOLENT CRIME DURING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
WE WILL CONTINUE THE GOOD FIGHT UNTIL NO ONE HAS TO DEAL WITH FEAR AND VIOLENCE IN THEIR HOMES.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER AEN KAMAN ABBY CAYMAN.
AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED, UM, FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION IS ONE OF THE MOST VOLATILE AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT THEY DO RESPOND TO.
UM, SO AGAIN, I EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THEM FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR OUR SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MAYOR TURNER.
MAYOR, WITHOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE COULD NOT HAVE USED THOSE ARPA DOLLARS TO MOVE THE BALL FORWARD.
[00:20:01]
BE A STAUNCH ADVOCATE AND ALLY TIME AND TIME AGAIN THROUGH SOME OF OUR MOST CHALLENGING TIMES.AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO YOU AS WELL AS MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, UH, MY, MY PARTNERS, MY SISTERS, UH, AND ALL OF COUNCIL THAT'S A UNIFIED VOICE AND ADVOCATING AND EDUCATING ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND OF COURSE, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY OUR DEAR CONGRESSIONAL PARTNERS, UH, SOME OF WHO YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM SHORTLY, BUT ALSO COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
AND LASTLY TO THE STAFF AT HAWK EMILY UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING LIGHT TO SO MANY AND STRENGTH TO SO MANY AND ABOVE ALL TO OUR SURVIVORS.
IF WE COULD GIVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR SURVIVORS.
AND I, AND I ALSO SEE CHIEF PENA IS HERE.
UM, SO I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF PENA IS HERE AS WELL.
FOR 45 YEARS, HAWK HAS BEEN, HAWK HAS BEEN A BEACON OF HOPE AND A VOICE FOR JUSTICE.
AND IT'S WITH MIXED EMOTIONS AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER IN THIS AREA, UH, THAT WE SAY GOODBYE TO THE WA BUILDING.
UH, BUT I KNOW THAT HAWK IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE ON A COLD DAY LIKE TODAY, WE THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT OUR HOMES ARE AND SHELTER IS.
AND THE FACT THAT, UH, HAWK IS GOING TO BE TRIPLING THEIR CAPACITY TO HOUSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN ON THEIR NEW CAMPUS, I THINK IS A BLESSING AND A GIFT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'LL ALSO HAVE IMPROVED ACCESS TO COUNSELING, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, HOUSING AND LEGAL SERVICES AND SURVIVOR EMPOWERMENT HUBS, AS EMILY SAID, THAT ARE LOCATED ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THOUGH, AND I'D ASK OUR MEDIA PARTNERS TO REALLY BE PUTTING THIS OUT.
IN ORDER TO ACCESS THOSE SERVICES, WE HAVE TO COMBAT THE STIGMA AND PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL EMPOWERED TO CALL.
SO I'M GONNA LIST THE HOTLINE.
THE HAWK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE IS 7 1 3 5 2 8 2 1 2 1.
AND THERE'S ALSO A RAPE CRISIS HOTLINE.
AND IF OUR PARTNERS COULD PLEASE CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT OUT SO PEOPLE CAN ACCESS SERVICES, I WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL.
AS YOU'VE HEARD THE STATISTICS, THIS WORK CONTINUES TO BE IMPORTANT MORE THAN EVER.
AND AS WE'VE SEEN, THE NUMBERS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN OUR STATE IS STAGGERING.
AND A LARGE PORTION, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE HOMICIDES THAT YOU HEARD FROM CHIEF HATCHER ABOUT ARE WITH A FIREARM.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND SAFETY BECAUSE IT IS SO INTERCONNECTED WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THAT I CALL ON THE STATE TO DO.
AND I'M SO GLAD WE HAVE ONE OF OUR ADVOCATES HERE WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING A VOICE AS WELL.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU EARLIER,
SO WE HAVE OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WITH US, AND I'M SUPPOSED TO, UH, INTRODUCE THEM.
BUT REALLY QUICKLY, EMILY, UH, THE MAYOR HAD A PROC, UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR TODAY.
SO IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I'D LIKE TO JUST REALLY QUICKLY ASK THE MAYOR TO COME PRESENT.
AND IF MAYOR PRO TEM COHEN WOULD ALSO DO THE HONORS OF PRESENTING THE PROCLAMATION, UH, SHE HAS DONE THIS SO MANY TIMES.
AND IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT WE GET TO HAVE HER WITH US.
WHY AM I GOING SOMEWHERE
WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS VERY DAY WITH MEASURES THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.
SO PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE AND GIVE UP, GIVE IT UP TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE LACEY HALL.
AND I'M NOT GONNA READ THE ENTIRE THING.
WHERE'S EMILY? EMILY, YOU SHOULD BE
BUT IT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, UH, WHERE PURPLE DAY.
UM, AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, UH, SINCE THE FOUNDING BY A GROUP OF EDUCATED VOLUNTEERS IN 1977, THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER HAS HELPED SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE HEAL, RESTORE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE AND LIVE SELF-DETERMINED LIVES.
AND WHEREAS EVERY YEAR, HAWK SERVES MORE THAN 63,000 ADULTS AND CHILDREN THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.
[00:25:01]
WHEREAS ON OCTOBER 18TH, 2022, THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER WILL ENCOURAGE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO JOIN FORCES TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.WHEREAS THE CITY OF HOUSTON COMMENDS THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER FOR ITS LEADERSHIP AND EXTENDS BEST WISHES.
THEREFORE, I, SYLVESTER TURNER MAYOR CITY OF HOUSTON, HEREBY PROUDLY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2022 AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, UH, IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR TURNER.
AND WITH THAT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO, UH, INTRODUCE SOMEBODY THAT I LOOK UP TO AGAIN.
WE HAVE INCREDIBLE, UH, WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH STRONG CONGRESSIONAL, UH, REPRESENTATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FIRST, I BELIEVE WE'LL BE HEARING FROM CONGRESSMAN GREEN.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND, UH, I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.
I THINK WE AH, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
WHAT? QUITE A DIFFERENCE, ISN'T IT? YEAH.
I'M EXCEEDINGLY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO THIS LOCATION.
BUT I'M VERY, VERY PLEASED THAT AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO THIS LOCATION, WE'RE SAYING HELLO TO A LOCATION THAT WILL BE LOCATED OVER IN THE NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, UH, WHICH IS MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT'S HERE FOR THE NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, PLEASE.
I'M ALSO EXCITED TO SAY TO YOU THAT THIS LOCATION HAS SERVED US WELL.
IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN, NOT ONLY TO MAKE THEM SURVIVORS, BUT TO ALSO MAKE THEM THRIVERS.
TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON AND HAVE A MEANINGFUL LIFE.
TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT THEY COULDN'T DO.
AND TO ALSO HELP OTHER PERSONS BECOME SURVIVORS.
AND THRIVERS, GIVE THE SURVIVORS AND THRIVERS A BIG EXPRESSION OF LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR EACH OTHER, FOR EACH OTHER.
UH, THE STATISTICAL INFORMATION, QUITE FRANKLY, SPEAKS VOLUMES.
I LIKE TO MAKE ONE POINT, WE SAY ONE IN FOUR WOMEN, BUT THAT'S 25%.
25% OF WOMEN OVER 18 ARE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
25% IS TOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY, AND COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
WE HAVE A DUTY, A RESPONSIBILITY, AND AN OBLIGATION.
WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE MOST OF THIS VIOLENCE IS BEING PERPETRATED BY MEN.
AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
WE'VE GOT TO SPEAK UP WHEN WE SEE SOMETHING.
SILENCE IS PERCEIVED AS ACCEPTANCE.
WE CANNOT GIVE THE APPEARANCE THAT WE ACQUIESCE TO THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR.
IT'S TIME FOR MEN TO SPEAK UP AND STAND WITH WOMEN WHO ARE BEING VIOLATED.
I HAD TO GET THAT OFF MY CHEST.
I, UH, I AM WITH MY COLLEAGUE SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO'S HERE TODAY.
THE MAYOR WAS VERY KIND TO US, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE.
AND HE INDICATED THAT SOME OF THESE FUNDS THAT ARE UTILIZED EMANATE IN CONGRESS.
SO I WANT TO DO TWO THINGS ON THIS POINT.
I'VE GOT TO THANK THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON, WHO IS A GOOD STEWARD OF PUBLIC FUNDS, GOOD STEWARD OF PUBLIC FUNDS, COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE GOOD STEWARD OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
AND I WANT TO ADD THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF PUBLIC FUNDS AS WELL.
I HAVE TO BRING IN COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER GARCIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND I WANTED TO KNOW THAT, UH, MY COLLEAGUE AND I AND FLETCHER, WHO'S NOT HERE, AS WELL AS GARCIA, WHO IS NOT HERE, UH, WE WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE WE BRING THESE DOLLARS HOME SO THAT THEY CAN BE USED EFFICACIOUS HERE IN A CITY THAT NEEDS THEM MORE THAN SOME OTHER PLACES.
SO TO THIS END, UH, I AM GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
[00:30:01]
CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE IS FAMOUS FOR INVITING PEOPLE OVER WHEN SHE MAKES HER PRESENTATIONS.I'D LIKE TO EXTEND THE SAME COURTESY TO HER TODAY.
CONGRESSWOMAN, WOULD YOU KINDLY JOIN ME AS I PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECORD MISSION? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GIVE CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE A HAND, PLEASE.
I, I'M NOT ALLOWED TO MENTION EVERYBODY.
SO ELLEN, I CAN'T MENTION YOU.
AND, UH, THE, I CAN'T MENTION YOU REPRESENTATIVE.
I MAY HAVE MENTIONED YOU, BUT I CAN'T MENTION YOU AGAIN.
UH, CHIEF, I CAN'T, I'M SORRY.
I CAN PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE OF SPECIAL CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION TO THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.
AND I DO SO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSTON DELEGATION, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE FLETCHER GARCIA AND OF COURSE JACKSON LEE ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS OF ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS, NOT JUST THE NINTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
I SALUTE YOUR 45 YEARS OF SERVICE AND SUPPORT TOWARDS VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AS WELL AS YOUR COMMITMENT TO DOING WHAT THE MAYOR SAID.
AND THAT IS ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SOMEBODY PLEASE TAKE THIS PICTURE.
YOU, AM I TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT PERSON? YES, ADRIAN.
I'M SHOWING THAT THE NEXT PERSON IS MY DEAR FRIEND, A GREAT COLLEAGUE, THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER ADRIAN GARCIA.
GIVE HIM SOME LOVE, PLEASE, AS HE COMES FORWARD.
UH, LET'S CAP IT UP FOR CONGRESSMAN, UH, AL GREEN AND ONCE AGAIN, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
AND, AND LISTEN, UH, EMILY AND TO ALL OF THE HAWK TEAM, UH, LET'S CONGRATULATE THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD STEWARDS OF THE FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED.
AND MAYOR PRO TIM COHEN, I CAN MENTION YOU
UH, UH, BUT THIS IS, LOOK, THIS IS A, A, A BITTERSWEET DAY.
UM, IT WOULD BE NICE, AS MANY HAVE ALLUDED TO THAT WE DID NOT NEED THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.
UH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE.
BUT THANKFULLY, UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE 45 YEARS OF SUCCESS AND PROGRESS AND INNOVATION, UH, THAT HAS TRANSPIRED AT THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION.
I WAS ASKING SONYA, WHAT'S GONNA BECOME OF THIS LOCATION? AND SHE SAID, IT'S GONNA BE JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE YOU'RE SITTING AROUND HERE.
IT'S GONNA BE MIXED, UH, DEVELOPMENT, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, UH, RESIDENTIAL AND RETAIL, BUT DON'T BE SOMETHING SACRED ABOUT THIS LAND.
AND I THINK FOLKS WHO DO NOT KNOW THE HISTORY OF HK BEING HERE, HAVING BEEN HERE WHEN THEY WALK INTO WHATEVER STORE IT MAY BE, OR WHEN THEY TAKE RESIDENCE OF WHATEVER CONDO THEY MAY HAVE OR WHATEVER FLOOR IT MAY BE, THEY'RE GONNA WALK IN AND SAY, I'M HOME.
THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PLACE.
AND IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER AND ALL OF THE LOVE, ALL OF THE COMPASSION, ALL OF THE PASSION THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED, THE UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS THAT HAVE MADE THEIR WAY HERE.
AND SO THIS WILL BE HOLLOWED GROUND.
AND, UH, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT, UH, THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER WAS BORN HERE AND DID THEIR PHENOMENAL WORK HERE FOR THAT, UH, FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME.
BUT, YOU KNOW, CONGRESSMAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I WAS ALSO CONTEMPLATING MAKING REMARKS TO THE MEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES DO IT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO IT IS, UH, AND I WOULD JUST SAY, UM, IT'S NOT RIGHT.
IT'S NOT BEING A MAN, UH, TO COMMIT VIOLENCE ON A WOMAN.
AND SO, AS THE NUMBER, UH, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER CAME IN HAS SHARED FOR THE, UH, THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE, LET ME ALSO JUST SHARE THE MENTAL HEALTH NUMBER, THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH NUMBER 9, 8, 8.
IF YOU ARE HAVING STRESS AND CHALLENGES WITH DEALING
[00:35:01]
WITH YOUR EMOTIONS AND YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO ACT OUT VIOLENTLY, THEN KNOW THAT THERE'S HELP, THERE'S HELP BEFORE YOU DO SOMETHING ATROCIOUS.AND THERE'S HELP BEFORE HANDCUFFS HAVE TO BE PLACED ON YOU, BUT HANDCUFFS WILL BE PLACED ON YOU.
AND SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO BE HERE TO SAY THAT HARRIS COUNTY LOOKS TO CONTINUE, UH, TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE HOUSTON AIR WOMEN'S CENTER AND ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK, UH, THAT'S BEEN DONE HERE.
ALSO LOOKING, UH, FOR WAYS TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS, UH, INTO THIS INCREDIBLE WORK.
AND I AM JUST SO PROUD THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING, UH, SOMEONE WHO HAS GROWN UP IN THIS ORGANIZATION.
SONYA RALES HAS, UH, BEEN WITH HAWK.
SHE WAS FOUND ON A, UH, IN A BASKET.
UH, 'CAUSE I WAS TELLING HER FOR 30 YEARS, YOU WEAR IT WELL, AND DOESN'T SHE? RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ADVOCACY.
BOARD MEMBER AND, AND FORMER BOARD MEMBER.
ADRIAN WAS A FORMER COMMISSIONER.
GARCIA WAS A FORMER, UH, BOARD MEMBER.
SO BEFORE I ACTUALLY SAY SOME REMARKS, UM, I WANNA INTRODUCE SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION HERE, UH, REPRESENTATIVE LACEY HU UM, WHO IS A FIERCE ADVOCATE AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE HERE.
ALL OF THE ADVOCATES, UH, THANK YOU ALL.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO HAWK THIS 45 YEARS.
THIS IS SO INCREDIBLE, YOU GUYS EXPANDING, BEING ABLE TO HELP SO MANY MORE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS IS JUST ABSOLUTELY, UM, INCREDIBLE.
AND I WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND, UM, FOR THOSE LISTENING TO, TO THE VICTIMS HAWK CAN BE AN INCREDIBLE PLACE FOR YOU, UM, TO SAFETY PLAN FOR EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY SHELTER COUNSELING SERVICES.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER CAYMAN, UM, REPEATED THE PHONE NUMBER EARLIER.
UH, SO PLEASE, PLEASE REACH OUT.
AND IF YOU'RE WONDERING, I KNOW SO MANY SURVIVORS, UH, SOMETIMES CALL THE HOTLINE AND ASK THE QUESTION, IS WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING, UH, BECAUSE MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOESN'T START AS, UH, A PUNCH TO THE FACE.
SO IT STARTS WITH OTHER THINGS LIKE EMOTIONAL ABUSE, PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, RELIGIOUS, UH, RELIGIOUS ABUSE, FINANCIAL ABUSE.
SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING, PLEASE CALL.
THEY CAN HELP AND THEY CAN HELP YOU.
SAFETY PLAN, LEAVING IS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS TIME.
PLEASE DON'T JUST GET UP AND LEAVE.
PLEASE CALL, PLEASE MAKE A SAFETY PLAN.
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO CALL HAWK AND MAKE A SAFETY PLAN.
SO THANK YOU TO HAWK AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
THIS 45 YEARS, Y'ALL HAVE DONE AMAZING, AMAZING THINGS HELPING SURVIVORS ACROSS, ACROSS THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
SO I HAVE A RESOLUTION TO PRESENT, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE TEXAS HOUSE.
UM, RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
AND I WANT TO, TO PRESENT IT TO Y'ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR AMAZING WORK.
AND THIS WAS ONE, UM, IT'S ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSE AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY WHERE ALL 150 MEMBERS ADD THEIR NAMES TO A RESOLUTION.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
ALL 150 MEMBERS ADDED THEIR NAME TO THIS RESOLUTION, UH, RECOGNIZING, UH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.
LOVE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU GUYS.
I ACTUALLY WANT, UH, PRESENT SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE SHEILA JACKSON LEE, WHO IS A FIERCE, FIERCE ADVOCATE.
SOMEBODY I LOOK UP TO, SOMEBODY I'VE LOOKED UP TO FOR 30 YEARS, JUST AN AMAZING WOMAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO YOU TO HOLD SOME OF THAT FOR YOU.
YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE I GOT A LOT.
I WAS JUST AN OLD LAWYER IN ME.
WHAT A POWERFUL MOMENT THIS IS.
[00:40:01]
TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE GATHERED HERE TOGETHER.AND I WILL JOIN, UH, SINCE SONYA INTRODUCED ME IN SAYING, UH, WHAT, WHAT A LIGHT, UM, WHAT A, UH, PERSON WHO PIERCED, UH, THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WHEN NO ONE WAS REALLY TALKING, UH, TO DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.
I'M SIR GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND LET ME SAY TO ALL THE SURVIVORS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HEROES YOU ARE TO THOSE WHO ARE COWERING IN PLACES AND DON'T BELIEVE THEY CAN EVER FIND HOPE.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, CHIEF.
AND WHAT H-P-D-H-P-D IS A BRIGHT LIGHT.
AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THANKING EVERY, BUT I REALLY HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS, DOES IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
AND THEY CAN BE A ROLE MODEL FOR HOW TO DO IT.
AND THEY HAVE CONFRONTED DEADLY.
I STAND HERE IN THE NAME OF SERGEANT PRESTON.
DEADLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES AND LOSING THEIR LIFE HAS NOT BEEN SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH.
SERGEANT PRESTON LOST HIS LIFE, AND WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE HIM BY AN APPLAUSE.
HE LOST HIS LIFE IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE.
SAVING THE LIVES OF THE MOTHER AND SON.
LIEUTENANT, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE CRISIS VICTIMS, UH, ASSISTANCE THAT I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO DO WITH LIZZIE FLETCHER AND HELPING YOU WITH VICTIMS. UM, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE, UH, A COMMISSIONER LIKE COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
HE HAS A DEAL AND A SOLUTION FOR THE BUDGET.
AND FORGIVE ME, MAYOR, FOR, UH, GETTING INTO THE QUAGMIRE AND, UH, TO EMILY, WHO I'LL SPEAK ABOUT IN JUST A MINUTE.
UH, BUT IF THE FOLK WOULD JUST COME TO WORK, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA HAS A WAY OF HELPING THE COUNTY.
CHIEF, WE THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
AND, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AND, UH, THE MAYOR IN HIS ABSENCE, ABBY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER AS WELL.
LET, LET ME JUST, UH, QUICKLY GO.
I I WILL SAY THIS, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AS CONGRESSMAN GREEN, MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE WHO MENTIONS CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA AND LIZZIE FLETCHER, WE ARE UNITED AND CANNOT BE SEPARATED ON THIS ISSUE.
BUT AS HE HAS INDICATED IT IS THE MEN.
BUT LET ME STEP AWAY FROM THE MEN.
LET ME SPEAK TO THE SISTERS AND MOTHERS AND AUNTS.
LET ME ASK YOU TO UNSHACKLE YOURSELF FROM FEAR.
ONE, THE VICTIMS. I KNOW YOU MAY NOT BE HEARING MY VOICE, BUT SOMEBODY IS HEARING MY VOICE.
LET THE VICTIMS KNOW THAT THERE IS RELIEF.
GET THE VICTIMS AND THE CHILDREN AWAY FROM THE ABUSER.
DON'T SAY IT'S HER HUSBAND, HER BOYFRIEND.
I CAN'T SHOW UP AT THE FRONT DOOR.
NOW, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO BE POLICE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN LIVING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOR CENTURIES.
AND ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT OUR CENTER GOES BACK IN THE LAST CENTURY? NOT MANY OF US WOULD.
UH, WE ALWAYS THINK OF THOSE FOLK THAT SAY THE LAST CENTURY.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE LAST CENTURY.
AND I WAS ON THE BOARD IN THE LAST CENTURY AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR WHAT THIS AGENCY DOES.
THANK YOU TO ELLEN COHEN WHO LIFTED HER UP AND GUIDED HER ON THE SHIP SELECTED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.
I WAS A BABY MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AND I SAID, I'M GETTING ELLEN COHEN ON THE VIOLENCE TASK FORCE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
I WAS SO PROUD OF THAT APPOINTMENT.
AND YOU DID SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
WHEN A BABY CONGRESSWOMAN CAN TELL THE PRESIDENT, YOU GOTTA PUT THIS WOMAN ON THIS BOARD
AND TO HEAR HIM SAY, BOY, I'M SO THANKFUL THAT YOU INTRODUCED ME TO ELLEN COHEN, BUT HOW HAPPY WE ARE.
I GUESS I CAN, UH, INDICATE NO BEDS ARE HERE.
WE WE WOULDN'T ALLOW YOU TO BE WHERE BEDS ARE.
THAT'S HOW DANGEROUS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GROWN ANYMORE.
AND IT RUNS A RATE PRICES LIVE AND IT'S PROVIDED LIFE SAVING SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF WOMEN OVER THE, OVER THE DECADES, BUT ALSO THE CHILDREN BECAUSE THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES ARE THE VICTIMS. AND I HAVE HAD STORIES OF LITTLE BABIES BEING IN BEDS OF MOTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN SHOT IN THE BED BY THEIR ABUSER.
AND THE LITTLE BABY IS LAYING THERE AND A LITTLE GIRL HAS TO RUSH OUT OF THE HOUSE TO GET THE NEIGHBORS.
THIS IS WHAT IS BEING CONFRONTED AROUND THE CLOCK, MAYBE EVEN AS WE SPEAK HERE TODAY.
AND IT IS NOT, IT IS NOT LIMITED TO PHYSICAL HARM, BUT INCLUDES MENACING OR VERBAL THREATS.
[00:45:02]
AND SO WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO WARNING SIGNS AND DO NOT HESITATE TO GET THE HELP THAT WE NEED.AND IF YOU'RE AWARE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU KNOW THE MANY NUMBERS.
LET ME JUST BRIEFLY TELL YOU ABOUT HOW HARD WE WORKED TO PASS THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT.
THAT WAS BLOCKED BY EVERY TURN, BY OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE IN WASHINGTON.
AND LET ME BE VERY CLEAR, WE HAD A WONDERFUL BIPARTISAN BILL AND CONGRESSMAN FITZPATRICK FROM PENNSYLVANIA WAS WONDERFUL, A FORMER FBI AGENT, AND HE WAS MY PARTNER IN THIS, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AND WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT REGARDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND WE DID IT IN THIS LEGISLATION, ULTIMATELY SIGNED WITH MODIFICATIONS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND WE GAVE YOU LAW ENFORCEMENT NEW TOOLS TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING GRANTS THAT ARE INTENDED TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY, REDUCE THE HOMICIDES.
AS COUNCIL MEMBER CAME AND SAID, THE, THE, THE, THE GUNS, THE TOOLS THAT ARE USED TO KILL THESE VIOLENCE, THESE VICTIMS, IT STRENGTHENS THE LAW OF ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE AND INSTANCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT, WE DEVELOP STATEWIDE DATABASES.
WE WANT THESE GRANTS TO BE USED, DEVELOP STATEWIDE DATABASES CONTAINING INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS TAKING PLACE.
WE WANT TO ENSURE HOW TO MANAGE ARRESTS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS, PROMOTING THE USE OF VICTIM ORDERED CENTERED POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS SO THAT AS YESTERYEAR, OLD TIMERS, THE VICTIM WOULD BE ARRESTED.
WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE VICTIMS BEING ARRESTED.
WE WANT PROTOCOLS WHERE VICTIMS ARE NOT FRIGHTENED TO COME FORWARD AND TELL THEIR STORY.
WE WANT US TO UNDERSTAND THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS NOT ALWAYS BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND WIFE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER AND SOMEONE IT IS CHILD AND PARENT.
IT IS ELDER AND CHILD OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT.
IT IS A VERY TERRIBLE SITUATION OF THE WOMAN THAT MET HER IN, IN THE TRUNK OF A CAR FOUND IN NEBRASKA WITH A YOUNG SON DRIVING THE CAR.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS, BUT SHE'S DEAD.
AND SO OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVERED ALL OF IT.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE, THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, INCLUDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES PROVIDED BY A LICENSED ATTORNEY.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN ANYMORE.
WORKING WITH IMMIGRANTS AND MAKING SURE THAT IF THEY'RE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION.
THE WOMAN CAN BE SAVED WITH THE CHILDREN DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AND UPDATING A GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GIVE CULTURAL CHANGES AND CULTURAL, UM, TRAINING TO BOYS AND MEN OF HOW TO DEAL, UH, WITH THE ISSUES THAT THEY FACE AND WIND UP BEING THE PERPETRATORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO I HOPE THIS MONEY WILL FLOW TO THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HOPE IT WILL FLOW TO HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER.
I HOPE THE DNA DOLLARS WILL FLOW TO THE PROSECUTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DNA KITS ARE DONE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND I HOPE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I PRESENT THIS TO THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER, THAT IT IS NOT JUST WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
AND ACKNOWLEDGING IT IS A LATE NIGHT CALL THAT I MADE TO EMILY AND HAVE MADE OVER THE YEARS, BUT IN PARTICULAR DURING I THINK THE PANDEMIC WHERE A MOTHER WAS SCREAMING TO ME AND I WAS REACHING TO EMILY AND IT WAS 1112 MIDNIGHT.
WHERE CAN WE GET THIS WOMAN TO GO WITH HER CHILDREN? AND EMILY WHITEHURST ANSWERED THE PHONE, STOOD ON THE PHONE WHILE WE PROCEEDED TO TRY AND FIND A PLACE FOR THIS VICTIM, THIS FRIGHTENED PERSON.
THIS IS WHAT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER IS.
THIS IS WHAT THEY WILL DO ON AND ON AND ON.
AND THIS IS THE LIFELINE THAT THEY GIVE TO THOSE WHO, BUT FOR THEM WOULD BE DEAD.
I'M EAGER TO HAVE ALL OF YOU STAND AROUND AS I PRESENT THE HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER 45TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION.
UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, YOU SAID THIS IS HOLY GROUND.
UH, AND I'M DELIGHTED THAT MY COLLEAGUE WILL BE THE GREAT HOST OF THE NEW CENTER THAT WILL BE WELCOMING TO ALL OF US AND, AND WELCOMING IN PARTICULAR TO THE FIGHT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND I PROCLAIM BESIDES THAT, YOU'RE DESERVING OF THE RESPECT, ADMIRATION, AND COMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
I PROCLAIM THAT YOUR CHARGE IS TO PUT YOURSELF OUT OF BUSINESS.
THAT IS WHAT WE WANNA SEE HAPPEN.
PUT US ALL OUT OF BUSINESS WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND LET WOMEN LIVE AND MEN LIVE, BUT LET
[00:50:01]
CHILDREN LIVE IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY MAY SURVIVE.I THINK I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER SHABAZZ, AND I'M GONNA DO LIKE THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CONGRESSMAN GREEN DEAD AND VENTURE NAMES THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO MENTION.
AND JUST LOOK IN THE THANK YOU.
SO THE GOOD NEWS, I'M THE LAST SPEAKER
SO BEFORE I, BEFORE I UH, SAY MY REMARKS, I WANTED TO, UH, RECOGNIZE A FEW PEOPLE.
ONE OF THEM IS OUR AWESOME AND AMAZING BOARD CHAIR, UH, JESSICA LUDWIG
AND I ALSO WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, OUR SISTER, UM, AGENCIES, OUR SISTER SHELTERS, BARRIER TURNING POINT, UM, UH, FRESH SPIRIT, UH, WELLNESS, UH, AND, UH, HARRIS COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL.
I BELIEVE I SAW THEM OUT HERE, UH, FOR BEND COUNTY WOMEN'S CENTER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE BRIDGE IS HERE, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THEM BECAUSE WE ARE IN THIS FIGHT TOGETHER.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CONGRESSMAN.
I GAVE YOU A PROMOTION, UH, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
UM, A QUICK STORY ABOUT COMMISSIONER GARCIA.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE 30 YEARS AGO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS ACTUALLY A POLICE OFFICER AND HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER.
I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR THAT LONG AND HE ACTUALLY USED TO TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY IN SPANISH.
SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR ADVOCACY.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER GRACIA, UM, BUENO.
MY NAME IS, UH, SO PERES AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS HAWK'S DEPUTY CEO.
UH, MY REMARKS THIS MORNING ARE GOING TO BE IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH.
IF THEY DON'T FLY AWAY, THEY WILL NOT.
AND I, ALONG WITH, UH, MY HAWK COLLEAGUES AM HONORED THAT BEAR TURNER AND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE STANDING HERE TODAY, ALONG WITH, UM, ALL OF THE HEROES, UM, AND LONGTIME CHAMPIONS OF SURVIVOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE TO COMMEMORATE HAWK'S 45TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND, UH, DURING THIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, UH, THIS IMPORTANT AWARENESS MONTH LAUNCHED NATIONWIDE IN 1987 TO CONNECT AND UNITE THOSE RAISING AWARENESS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TO HONOR LIVES LOST.
I APPLAUD MY FRIENDS, ALL OF YOU AND MY COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, LIKE MY FRIEND OVER HERE, UH, LIEUTENANT, UH, PLEASANT, UH, FOR UNDERSCORING AND TAKING THE LEAD ON ENDING DOMESTIC ABUSE AND STANDING ALONGSIDE US AS WE LOOK TOWARD THE FUTURE.
SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE HAS BEEN HUCK'S MISSION FOR 45 YEARS.
AND IT'S WORK THAT I'VE DONE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.
I BEGAN WORKING IN THE ANTI-VIOLENCE MOVEMENT FIELD IN 1992 BEFORE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT.
IN 1994, WE MOVED TO THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, UH, BEHIND US, OBVIOUSLY IN 1995, SHORTLY AFTER THE PASSAGE OF VOW, WHICH HAS LONG PROVIDED THE BLUEPRINT FOR OUR ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS, THE STRENGTH OF THIS ANTI-VIOLENCE MOVEMENT, EMPOWERED SURVIVORS TO COME FORWARD AND SEEK HELP.
BUT WE KNOW WE THAT WE MUST DO MORE.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM OUR SPEAKERS TODAY ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HARRIS COUNTY AND IN HOUSTON ALL FOCUS ON VERY SOBERING INFORMATION FROM THE TEXAS COUNCIL ON FAMILY VIOLENCE, THE HONORING TEXAS VICTIMS REPORT.
IN 2021, UH, THE REPORT DOCUMENTED THE THIRD LARGEST NUMBER OF INTIMATE, INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDES IN THE LAST DECADE.
204 TEXAS VICTIMS WERE KILLED BY THEIR PARTNERS.
THIS INCLUDES 169 WOMEN, 35 MEN, AND 12 LGBTQ PLUS VICTIMS. 46 OF THOSE WERE RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY HOMICIDE.
PERPETRATORS ALSO SHOT AND KILLED.
22 FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND BYSTANDERS.
NEARLY HALF OF THE VICTIMS HAVE SEPARATED OR ENDED THE RELATIONSHIP.
LEAVING DOES NOT END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND OFTEN IT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME.
PLEASE, I URGE YOU TO GO TO OUR HAWK WEBSITE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT SAFETY PLANNING.
BUT I WANNA SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.
LEAVING DOES NOT END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OFTEN IT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME.
[00:55:19]
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IMPACTS EVERYONE AND CROSSES ALL SOCIOECONOMIC, RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL LINES.IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR FROM COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY HISTORICAL AND ONGOING OPPRESSION.
IT IS THROUGH COLLABORATION THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY, RESPOND, AND PREVENT DOMESTIC ABUSE.
THREE MAIN DIRECTIVES WE CAN ALL SUPPORT HAVE EMERGED OVER THE YEARS.
NUMBER ONE, LEARN THE STORIES.
COMMUNITIES CAN LEARN THE PATTERNS OF INTIMATE PARTNER HOMICIDE.
NUMBER TWO, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BY BELIEVING IN SUPPORTING SURVIVORS AND HELP THEM GAIN ACCESS TO SERVICES.
AND NUMBER THREE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE.
YES, WE ALL HAVE THE ROLE, WE HAVE ALL HAVE, WE ALL HAVE A ROLE AND CAN INTERVENE IN POTENTIALLY LETHAL CASES AND FORM A TRUE COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING THE CORE SOCIETAL NORMS AND REALITIES THAT PERPETUATE INTIMATE, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.
AND LASTLY, IT IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU THAT MORE AND MORE SURVIVORS ARE COMING FORWARD AND RECEIVING INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED LIFE SAVINGS, TRAUMA-INFORMED AND HEALING CENTERED SERVICES THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HAWK AND LIKE OUR SISTER AGENCIES AND THROUGH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO HELP SURVIVORS MOVE FORWARD, IMMEDIATE PAST THE CRISIS, TO STABILITY AND HOLD PERPETRATORS ACCOUNTABLE.
AND JUST VERY LASTLY, I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, TO MAKE, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, BUT I WANTED TO MENTION IT AGAIN, THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO, FOR ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US ACROSS THE STREET AT JOHNNY MCILROYS, UM, FOR OUR 45TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND I THINK IT'S JUST ACROSS THE STREET AND BACK THAT WAY.
IF YOU WANNA BREAK THERE, $45.
THE RECEPTION'S OVER HERE, THERE'S GONNA BE AT LEAST 45 PEOPLE THERE.