[Childhood and Youth Committee on August 9, 2023.]
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WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 9TH, 2023 MEETING OF THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY, AND THANK YOU AS WELL FOR YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SUPPORTING THE SUCCESS OF OUR YOUNGEST RESIDENTS.
THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD IN HYBRID MODE AS BOTH AN IN-PERSON AND A VIRTUAL MEETING ON MICROSOFT TEAMS AND HTV AS THE CHAIR AND PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE COMMITTEE.
I'M PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE CHAMBER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.127 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE APPLICABLE TO A GOVERNMENTAL BODY THAT EXTENDS INTO THREE OR MORE COUNTIES.
UM, ALL OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE THE OPTION TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS. I'M COUNCIL MEMBER CARLOS CISNEROS, CHAIR OF THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE.
I'M JOINED, UM, WITH, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN CHAMBERS.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, UH, CAYMAN, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALCORN AND COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, MARTIN.
UM, OUR FOCUS TODAY IS ON UNICEF'S CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE.
BUT FIRST, A FEW HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS FOR THIS HYBRID MEETING.
COPIES OF TODAY'S AGENDA AND PRESENTATION ARE POSTED ON THE CITY OF HOUSTON WEBPAGE FOR CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.
WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP BY NOON TODAY TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, AND AS THE DEADLINE TO SIGN UP WAS AT, UH, NOON.
TODAY, WE WILL NOT HEAR FROM ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
SO LET'S BEGIN BY REVIEWING THE FOUR GOALS OF THIS COMMITTEE.
THEY ARE TO BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE BY INCREASING, UM, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND DIALOGUE ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF A CHILD AND THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT KIND OF PERSON THAT CHILD WILL GROW UP TO BE FOCUSING ON DATA AND WELLBEING INDICATORS AS TOOLS FOR POLICY DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY, SEEKING EQUITY AND WORKFORCE READINESS, BEGINNING AT BIRTH, AND SUPPORTING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN CITY DEPARTMENTS TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE WEB OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
I WANNA THANK OUR PRESENTERS FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR SHARING IMPORTANT INFORMATION WITH CITY COUNCIL.
SO LET'S BEGIN OUR TOPIC TODAY.
THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE IN HOUSTON WAS ORIGINALLY TO BE PRESENTED BY DIRECTOR OLI KOSKA, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, DIRECTOR KOSKA IS UNABLE TO PRESENT.
SO IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, TWO OTHER PRESENTERS WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION IN HER PLACE.
THEY ARE MR. MICHAEL NIEN, HOUSE, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT OF UNICEF, USA, WHO WILL BE JOINING US FROM NEW YORK.
AND MS. LAURA CUELLAR, THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE UNICEF CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION ON BOTH OF THEM WILL BE JOINING US VIRTUALLY.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OBJECT OBJECTIONS TO HEARING FROM THESE PRESENTERS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
UM, I SEE WE ALSO HAVE, UH, STAFF ONLINE, UM, FROM COUNCIL MEMBER PECK, AND ALSO COUNCIL MEMBER EVAN SHABA, AND COUNCIL MEMBER POLLARD.
SO TO OUR PRESENTERS, I KNOW WE HAVE, UM, MS.
SO, MS. CUE, UH, PLEASE BEGIN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY AND CELEBRATING THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION.
UM, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT ALSO IN THE, UH, AT THE, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE HAVE NANCY MARYANNE AND TRACY NAJERA, WHO IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF US PROGRAMS FROM UNICEF, USA, AND FLEW OVER TO HOUSTON, UM, THIS MORNING TO BE HERE WITH US.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND, AND FOR JOINING US.
UM, AND THEN MICHAEL IS HAVING SOME, UH, DIFFICULTIES, BUT HE WILL JOIN US HOPEFULLY, UM, TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
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YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD, THE, THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON WAS THIS MORNING UNICEF ANNOUNCED THAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME THE FIRST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE RECOGNIZED BY UNICEF AS A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY.FOLLOWING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER CELEBRATED THIS MOMENT AND EXPRESSED HIS EXCITEMENT TO RECEIVE THIS IMPORTANT RECOGNITION FROM UNICEF.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS PROUD TO JOIN OVER 3000 CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS THE WORLD COMMITTED TO ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
AND THUS FAR, THE CITY HAS DEMONSTRATED A STRONG COMMITMENT TO MEANINGFUL YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
AND TO, TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS.
MY, I THINK MY AUDIO IS, THANK YOU.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN CHILDREN'S RIGHTS.
THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITY DESIGNATION REAFFIRMS HOUSTON DEDICATION TO PLACE THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN.
FIRST, LISTEN TO USE CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVOCATE FOR AND PROTECT CHILD RIGHTS AS STATED AS THEY AS STATED IN THE UN CONVENTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD.
SO, IN THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE, UM, THAT THE CHILD, THE, THE UN CONVENTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD IS A VERY HOLISTIC, UM, DOCUMENT.
IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO BE, CREATE MORE AWARENESS ABOUT THIS, THIS, UM, DOCUMENT AND THIS BILL THROUGH THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITIES INITIATIVE.
TO GAIN THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CONDUCTED A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS ON THE STATE OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN THE CITY AND INTERGENERATIONAL WORKSHOPS TO SELECT PRIORITY ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACED BY HOUSTON AND CHILDREN YOUTH.
THE RESULTS WERE USED TO DEVELOP THE HOUSTON CFCI ACTION PLAN, WHICH PROVIDED A ONE YEAR ROADMAP WITH CITY LEVEL THEORIES OF CHANGE AND CITYWIDE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
SINCE MARCH, 2022, THE CITY HOUSTON HAS EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS, ENGAGED HOUSTON YOUTH, AND WORK WITH CITY LEADERS TO ADDRESS THE PRIORITIES LISTED IN THE CFCI ACTION PLAN AND COMPLETE THE IDENTIFIED BENCHMARKS.
AND IN THE SPRING OF 2023, AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR REVIEWED ACTIVITIES COMPLETED AND PRESENTED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEXT STEPS.
AND THEN IN THIS SLIDE, YOU SEE THE CFCI PRIORITIES, WHICH INCLUDED YOUTH PARTICIPATION, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE ACCESSIBILITY, AS WELL AS, UM, EMERGENCY PREPARATION.
THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT IS MARKED BY THE COMPLETION OF ALMOST ALL OF THESE ACTIV, ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES DESIGNATED IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON CFCI ACTION PLAN, WHICH I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND YOU TAKE A LOOK AT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, I'LL PUT THE LINK ON THE CHAT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE NEXT, WHILE I WILL SHARE SOME OF THE, WHAT, WHAT WERE THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT WE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO BECOME A CHILD FRIENDLY CITY INITIATIVE.
TO SUPPORT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND CREATE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION EXPANDED TO INCLUDE YOUTH, EXPANDED THE OFFICE TO INCLUDE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION IS NOW MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, WHICH THIS OFFICE WILL STRIVE TO SUPPORT ALL PEOPLE AGES ZERO TO 24 BY RECURRING A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE BASED ON THEIR INTERESTS AND PASSIONS.
THE MOEI AIMS TO EXPAND ITS OUTREACH AND SUPPORT TO MARGINALIZED CHILDREN AND YOUTH BY CONNECTING THEM TO ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM THRIVE PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY.
MOST RECENTLY, THE MOEI FACILITATED AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND PROVIDE YOUTH FRIENDLY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES WITH CONTACTS AND ACTIONS TO TAKE TO PREPARE FOR AN EMERGENCY AND LOCATE
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SUPPORT.SO IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY FOLLOWED US, FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM TO CHECK OUT THE CAMPAIGN AND CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.
WE HAVE, UM, A LOT OF RESOURCES THERE ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
WE ALSO HAVE WORKED ON THE CHILDREN'S OUTDOOR BILL OF RIGHTS THAT WAS PUBLISHED, UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS YOUTH THINK YOUTH ADVOCACY TRAININGS.
AND WE ARE CURRENTLY ON, IN THE WORKS OF PUBLISHING A CHILD RIGHTS PODCAST CALLED ANOTHER STEP FOR YOU.
THE MOEI WILL SEEK TO ELEVATE YOUTH VOICES BY EMPOWERING YOUTH WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT THEM.
THE MOEI PLANS TO FURTHER ITS REACH THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF OUR TEAM, AND IN, IN TURN, SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ENSURING HOUSTON IS A SAFE, EQUITABLE, JUST INCLUSIVE AND YOUNG PEOPLE RESPONSIVE CITY.
THE OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, VOICES NEEDS AND PRIORITIES ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE PUBLIC POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND DECISION MAKING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK TODAY.
UM, OR PLEASE EMAIL US AT, UM, NEXT SLIDE AT THE M O@HOUSTONTX.GOV.
WE WANNA JUST THANK EVERYBODY WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE, THE INITIATIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING AND FOR THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF THE LEADERSHIP OF HOUSTON, INCLUDING MAYOR TURNER, OLIVER KASKA, NELSON NELSON, BO BOWMAN, AND ALL THE OTHER, UM, FU PAST AND FUTURE LEADERS OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE INITIATIVE AS WELL AS THE AMAZING HOUSTON YOUTH THAT HAVE BEEN A REALLY KEY ESSENTIAL PART OF CO COMPLETING THESE PROJECTS AND GETTING US TO BE THE FIRST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES TO BE CHILD FRIENDLY.
AND NOW WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INVITING MICHAEL NEHOUSE, UM, CEO OF UNICEF, USA.
WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE, MICHAEL.
I'D LIKE TO, TO THANK YOU, UM, MS. KUER FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND TO, TO WELCOME, UM, MICHAEL NEN HOUSE, TO, TO, UM, TO JOIN US.
I'M GLAD YOU ARE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE, THE TECHNOLOGY ISSUES THAT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY.
WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE IN NEW YORK.
UM, UM, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, I WANTED TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DAVID ROBINSON IS, HAS JOINED US ONLINE AS WELL.
SO, WELCOME, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, AND, AND MR. NIAZ, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE TECHNICAL GLITCHES.
UH, IN THE END, I HAD TO GET ON MY IPAD, WHICH, UH, SEEMS TO ALWAYS WORK.
UH, SO I'M GLAD TO, TO JOIN YOU AND, UH, AND REALLY TO JOIN YOU ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, DAY.
I WANNA JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, UM, TH TH THIS COMMITTEE IN PARTICULAR, AND THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, GENERALLY FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP OF THIS RELATIONSHIP AND THIS PROJECT.
AND, UH, HELPING TO MOVE THIS THROUGH THE, THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
WE WANNA SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO MAYOR TURNER FOR HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, UH, TO THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITY PROCESS, UH, CERTAINLY TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF EDUCATION, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT, HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE, UH, TO THEM AS PARTNERSHIPS, AND ALSO TO THE HEADS OF THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THE LOCAL CHILD SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE, IN, IN THE PROCESS SO FAR.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS A PRETTY RIGOROUS PROCESS.
UH, THE SITUATION ANALYSIS, THE LOCAL ACTION PLAN, UH, NOW THE, UH, LOCAL ACTION PLAN REPORT AND THE, AND THE, UH, INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF IT.
UM, REALLY, UH, OUR TESTIMONY TO HOW HARD EVERYONE HAS WORKED TO, TO MOVE THIS THROUGH.
UH, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE THREE GOALS THAT YOU'VE ESTABLISHED IN YOUTH PARTICIPATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
WE THINK THEY'RE, THEY'RE UNIQUE TO US, UH, TO HOUSTON AND, AND, AND REALLY DO, UM, UH, CONNECT TO THE, TO THE NEEDS THAT YOU IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE RESEARCH THERE.
YOU HAVE REALLY CHAMPIONED YOUTH INVOLVEMENT, WHICH IS SUCH A CRITICAL COMPONENT, UH, OF THIS PROCESS, UH, FROM THE CFCI YOUTH COUNCIL AND THE YOUTH ADVOCACY TRAINING SERIES THAT YOU DID.
THE, THE UP UPCOMING YOUTH-LED PODCAST, UH, CALLED, UM, UH, ADVOCACY, UH, UH, ANOTHER STEP, UH, FOR YOUTH AND TWO YOUTH ENGAGEMENT MANAGERS HIRED WITHIN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF OF EDUCATION YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
THESE ARE TANGIBLE, UH, STEPS, UH, THAT REALLY MODEL FOR ALL OF US, HOW TO ENGAGE YOUTH, UH, IN, UM, IN, IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT AND IN THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT YOU ARE JOINING NOW 3,500 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AROUND 40 COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE, UH, BEEN DESIGNATED AS CHILD-FRIENDLY CITIES BY UNICEF.
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THE VERY FIRST ONE, UH, IN THE UNITED STATES.SO, NOT ONLY ARE YOU DOING SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN OF YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT YOU'RE MODELING FOR OTHER CITIES, UH, AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, WHAT CAN BE DONE, UH, TO BENEFIT CHILDREN.
WE HAVE OTHER CITIES, UH, IN, IN THE PIPELINE FOLLOWING YOU, MINNEAPOLIS, SAN FRANCISCO, UH, JOHNSON CITY, TENNESSEE, UH, DECATUR, GEORGIA, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND NOW BOULDER, COLORADO JOINING AS WELL.
UH, I WAS IN MINNEAPOLIS LATE LAST YEAR WHEN THEY LAUNCHED THEIR, UH, LOCAL ACTION PLAN JUST BEHIND, UH, HOUSTON AS A MATTER OF FACT.
AND AS I WAS TALKING TO THE MAYOR AND THE, AND THE LEADERS THERE, UH, AND TOLD 'EM THAT THEY WERE SECOND BEHIND HOUSTON, THEY, THEY DID ASK ME, HOW DO WE BEAT HOUSTON TO THE FINISH LINE? AND, UH, I SAID, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT.
UH, HOUSTON IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO IT.
UH, SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO, UH, TO SEE, UH, HOUSTON ACTUALLY CROSS THAT FINISH LINE, UH, DESPITE, UH, MINNEAPOLIS'S, UH, ENVY OF IT, BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THEY WILL BE FOLLOWING, UH, CLOSELY BEHIND.
SO, UH, FINALLY, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE, UH, YOU HAVE OUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO WORK, UH, WITH YOU, UH, AS YOU LIVE INTO THIS DESIGNATION AS A CHILD-FRIENDLY CITY.
IT IS BOTH, UH, UH, I THINK AN HONOR FOR THE CITY, BUT ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CITY TO ACTUALLY LIVE INTO THAT, UM, DESIGNATION FROM UNICEF.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK.
SO MANY CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE ENTIRE UNICEF TEAM GLOBALLY AND OUR TEAM HERE AT UNICEF, USA THAT HAS WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH YOU.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
UM, I WANTED TO JUST QUICKLY GO BACK TO, UM, SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UM, LAURA CUE MENTIONED, AND THAT WAS THE, UM, THE, THE ACTION PLAN, THE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON CHILD FRIENDLY, UM, CITY INITIATIVE ACTION PLAN.
UM, IT'LL BE ON THE COMMITTEE WEBSITE.
AND, AND I THINK SHE'S ALREADY PUT IT INTO THE CHAT FOR THE, THOSE THAT ARE ONLINE WITH THIS MEETING.
BUT IT'S A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION AND GUIDANCE FOR ENGAGING WITH YOUTH, PARTICULARLY AROUND THE THREE GOALS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC TO HOUSTON, YOUTH PARTICIPATION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND, UM, RESOURCE ACCESS AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
SO, SO THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT, LAURA.
AND, UM, AND, AND, UM, I WANTED TO SEE IF, DO WE, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? HAS ANYONE GOT A QUESTION? HOW ABOUT THE PUBLIC? UM, WE, NO SPEAKERS.
PARDON? WE HAVE PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT WILL BE AFTER THE MEETING, BUT, BUT, UM, BUT THIS IS QUESTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO FOR THIS TIME, THE ONE THAT'S GONNA AFFECT, WE, WE WILL TAKE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, JUST HOLD ON, SIR.
WE, WE HAVE SIGNED UP SPEAKERS AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL, UM, WE'LL GET TO YOU IF YOU'VE, IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP TO BE A SPEAKER TODAY.
SO, UM, WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
SO, UM, WE'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE, UM, A UNICEF CHILD FRIENDLY CITY, UM, FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
TO HAVE SECURED THIS DESIGNATION FOR THE FIRST IN OUR NATION IS THE TESTAMENT TO THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN.
IT'S A PROMISE TO KEEP THE WELLBEING AND SUCCESS OF CHILDREN IN MIND AS CITY LEADERS DO CITY WORK, MAKING DECISIONS, ENACTING PUBLIC POLICY AND ALLOCATING FUNDING.
THIS DESIGNATION IS A REMINDER OF WHAT WE HOLD MOST DEAR AND WHERE THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY TRULY LIES.
SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU MR. NEHOUSE.
THANK YOU LAURA CUELLAR, UM, FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THERE ARE TWO PUBLIC SPEAKERS WHO SIGNED UP TODAY, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME THEM.
UM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED, PLEASE WALK UP TO THE PODIUM.
YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
SO, UH, FIRST ON THE LIST, WE HAVE ANGEL CORTEZ ON AND SHE WANTED TO GO WORK ON ANGEL CORTEZ.
DO YOU HAVE COME ON UP TO THE PODIUM AND UM, YES, PLEASE STAND IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE MICROPHONES AND, UM, VERY FAMILIAR, RIGHT? YESTERDAY, YEAH,
SO WE REPRESENT, UH, PRAYER WARRIORS UNITE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO STAND AND SEE FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE YOUNG YOUTH HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
AND, UH, OUR CONCERN IS, UH, THE 10 THAT LOST THEIR LIVES.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE WEARING RED IN HONOR OF THOSE THAT LOST THEIR LIVES.
AT TRAVIS SCOTT'S ESTHER ROYAL CONCERT, WE HAVE ANOTHER DEMONIC SATANIC SIGNED UP FOR HOUSTON.
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SCOTT WAS HERE IN NOVEMBER, TWO YEARS AGO.LITTLE LUCIFER'S COMING TO HOUSTON
WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP TO STOP THIS CONCERT.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE 10 MORE LIVES.
THEY'RE SATANIC, THEY'RE VERY WELL KNOWN.
THEY, THEY, HE, UH, LITTLE LUCIFER AT HIS LAST CONCERT SAID, EVERYONE HERE WILL BE GOING TO HELL WITH ME.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE I KNOW I'M GOING.
AND I SPOKE TO THE, UH, PERSON I LIKE, IF YOU GET IN CONTACT WITH ME, THE HIP HOPPER YESTERDAY, 50TH ANNIVERSARY, TOOK HIM OUTSIDE AND INFORMED HIM.
IT SAYS, THE FUTURE OF HIP HOP IS DEMONIC BECAUSE OF THESE PEOPLE HERE.
IF WE CAN GET ANYONE WITH CLOUD OR UNDERSTANDING, HELP US WITH A PETITION.
HELP US, UH, MUSIC HALL TO STOP LITTLE LUCIFER COMING AND DOING THE SAME THING.
THAT TRY THEY DO SATAN RITUALS, SATANIC RITUALS IN THEIR CONCERTS.
AND WE DON'T WANNA LOSE 10 MORE.
WE'RE PLEADING WITH MAYOR TURNER.
SO WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON DEAF EARS, BUT THIS GUY SIGNED UP AND IS COMING IN NOVEMBER.
IF ANYONE IN THE COUNCIL OR ABOVE CAN STOP THIS AND HELP US OUT, WE'D SURE APPRECIATE IT.
'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE STANDING FOR IS THE TIM, THE TIM THAT LOST THEIR LIVES.
AND THEN, SO I STILL HAVE TIME.
SECOND CHRONICLES SEVEN 14 SAYS, IF MY PEOPLE, IF MY PEOPLE WILL SEEK MY FACE AND FALL IN THEIR FACE, CALL OUT MY NAME, I WILL HEAR THEIR PRAYER AND HEAL THEIR LAND.
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH US ABOUT THIS.
SO, UM, ANGEL CORTEZ, I AN, I'M SORRY, AN ANGEL CORTEZ, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP.
I KNOW THIS IS ON THE COUNCIL THING FOR SCHOOL AND, AND CHILDREN STUFF.
UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR KIDS HERE.
THEY CAN PHILADELPHIA AND ALL THOSE CITIES, THEY AIN'T DOING ANY BETTER.
WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OUR KIDS HERE.
'CAUSE THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA BRING THAT FOR PROTECTION IS IF WE KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING.
BUT THESE LITTLE PROGRAMS THAT THEY COME AND TELL US AND DELEGATE HOW THEY'RE GONNA DO THINGS, WHAT'S THE INTEGRITY THAT THEIR ORGANIZATION IS A PART OF? WE CAN'T HAVE THIS MR. KNIGHT HOUSE COMING AND SHARING WITH OUR KIDS WHAT THEY'RE GONNA TEACH THEM.
IF ALL THEY'RE DOING IS PRODUCING SAME CITIZENS OF A SOCIAL SECURE NATION, THAT WE'RE JUST NOW VALUING OURSELVES IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS THAT WE NEED TO BE RAISING OUR OWN KIDS IN.
'CAUSE IT IS GOD'S WORD THAT WAS IN, UH, INSPIRED FOR US TO KEEP THE ORDER OF TRUTH IN OUR FAMILY SO THAT WE DON'T LET ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS CONTINUE TO JUST OVERRIDE OUR AUTHORITY.
AS PARENTS, WE HAVE THE FIRST PAGAN CELEBRATION OF A PRIDE PARADE OVER IN PASADENA BECAUSE OF A PRIVATE BUILDINGS THAT THEY'RE DON'T HAVE ANY JURISDICTION OVER.
WE HAVE PRIVATE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON THAT ARE COMATOSE OUR KIDS WITH THE MUSIC THEY'RE BRINGING IN.
LET ME TELL YOU THAT EVAN EISENBERG SAID THAT THE ACT OF LIVING WITH MUSIC AND LISTENING TO ALBUMS IS A SEANCE WHERE WE GET TO PICK OUR OWN GHOSTS.
WE KNOW THAT THE MUSIC THAT WE HEAR IN ALL THIS PROPAGANDA THAT IS INSTILLED IN US WILL KEEP US COMPLACENT TO WHAT OUR EYES ARE DRIVEN BY.
AND ALL THIS HERE THAT IS A PART OF US, WE'RE JUST TOLD WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO, AND WE HAVE NO OPINION OF WHAT THEY ARE EVEN, UH, ABOUT.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IS THAT IF IN THEIR INTEGRITY ABOUT THEIR LITTLE COVENANT OF HOW THEY KEEP THE ETHICS OF THEIR STANDARDS, IF THEY'RE NOT BASED ON BIBLICAL FOUNDATION AND JESUS ISN'T, LORD, THEN WE'RE JUST STILL RENDERING TO THE MOLE SYSTEM OF THIS GOVERNMENT.
AND IF WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED THAT THE WORD GOVERNMENT IS A TRANSLATION OF MINDS GOVERNED.
THANK YOU, MS. LET NOT BE MR. CORTEZ.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CORTEZ.
UM, SO, UH, THIS CONCLUDES OUR LIST OF SPEAKERS TODAY.
UM, I DID ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT WE HAD TWO OTHER, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UM, AND STAFF THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN ON LOGGED IN ON THE MEETING.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFFMAN IS, IS PRESENT ONLINE AND STAFF FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, DARSA JACKSON'S ONLINE.
SO, SO NOW WE'RE AT MY CLOSING REMARKS.
I JUST WANNA THANK OUR PRESENTERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR TUNING IN AND PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S MEETING, PRESENTERS AND, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNICEF.
PLEASE STICK AROUND AFTER THE MEETING SO WE CAN TAKE SOME PHOTOS TO COMMEMORATE THIS HISTORIC DAY.
UM, TODAY'S PRESENTATION AS WELL AS PAST MEETINGS ARE POSTED ON THE COMMITTEE WEBSITE, AND I HOPE YOU ALL, UM, PLEASE JOIN US FOR NEXT MONTH'S CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 13TH.
THIS CONCLUDES TODAY'S SCHEDULE MEETING OF THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH COMMITTEE.
OH, I DID, I DID I GET TO SEE MY,
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NO, I LEFT OUT SOMETHINGMY PAPERS HAVE GOTTEN KIND OF SHUFFLED HERE.
UM, SO, SO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE, I DIDN'T SAY THIS.
SO WE'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A UNICEF CHILD FRIENDLY CITY FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
TO HAVE SECURED THIS DESIGNATION, THE FIRST IN OUR NATION, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO CHILDREN.
IT'S A PROMISE TO KEEP THE WELLBEING AND SUCCESS OF CHILDREN IN MIND AS CITY LEADERS DO CITY WORK, MAKING DECISIONS, ENACTING POLICY AND ALLOCATING FUNDING.
THIS DESIGNATION IS A REMINDER OF WHAT WE HOLD MOST DEAR AND WHERE THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF OUR CITY TRULY LIES.
SO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO OUR SPEAKERS AND TO EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN PRESENT AND PARTICIPATING TODAY.
UM, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.