Good evening, folks, and welcome to the twenty-seventh meeting of the twenty-fifth city council.

We'll call this meeting to order.

All of our counselors are present this evening, with the exception of Counselor Basson, who's joining us by Zoom, and Councillor Benton, who will be excused until he's not, and he'll be joining us in a few minutes.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, at this time we'll have a moment of silence, and then a pledge the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councillor Lewis, and then the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish by Counselor Sanchez.

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So they're with the Barrett Foundation.

The interim executive director and director are here, as I stated.

And then we have all the counselors that are have agreed to join in.

And I know that it's kind of towards the end of the month, but better late than never.

So I just want to thank you for being here last year and this year for accepting this proclamation.

With that, we will start with the reading, and I think we're starting with Counselor Lewis.

As he's locating it, I just want to say the Barrett Foundation serves approxim approximately 300 women and children each year and provides 34,000 meals, more than 11,000 bednights, and over 1,000 hours of case management to help obtain stable housing.

Counselor Lewis.

Whereas National Women's History Month was established in 1987 as a way to celebrate women across the nation and their efforts to make the country and the world a better place for women of all ages and races.

Whereas women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.

And whereas women play critical economic, cultural, and social roles in every sphere of life and constitute a significant portion of the labor force by working inside and outside the home and whereas women from all walks of life have served as early leaders at the forefront of every major progressive social change movement and whereas women in the United States have been leaders not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist emancipation, industrial labor, civil rights, and peace movements.

And whereas in 2018, the city of Albuquerque created the Office of Equity and Inclusion aimed at addressing racial disparities and achieve equity in local government, including gender inequality, and whereas the City of Albuquerque partners with local service providers like the Barrett Foundation that have a mission to end the experience of homelessness for women and children in our community by providing shelter, housing, and supportive services.

And whereas in night in 2020, the Albuquerque City Council enacted an ordinance ensuring pay equity reporting requirements as part of the city's procurement process.

And whereas the City of Albuquerque has not only taken on a variety of initiatives aimed at supporting women, but the community has a rich history of remarkable women leaders, entrepreneurs, business professionals, educators, and many more who have significant contributions to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of women residing in our community.

Be it proclaimed that the city council, the governing body of the city of Albuquerque, hereby declares March 2023 Women's History Month and proclaims March 8th as International Women's Month.

So thank you for being here.

Well, first of all, it's just such an honor and I'm humbled to accept it on the behalf of all the case managers and resident advocates at Barrett who work so hard to help women experiencing homelessness find stability, find their goals in life and reach them to make a difference to the community.

So thank you for honoring all of the work that they do.

I just wanted to thank the council for this recognition.

But it's really the work of our employees and members of the community that contribute to the success of Barrett and all that they do for the women in our community.

And so I'm appreciative to our staff.

Thank you very much for being here.

I think every talk with me today.

John, she's not here, and then members of the committee, Lala, Chuy, Pietriz, Josie, Anna, Rosendo, Callie, and Jean.

So if you want to come up to and we'll start um reading the proclamation, did you all want to come up together or just and so we'll get started as you're coming to the podium?

Um Councilor Feeblecorn will start.

Thank you.

Whereas Cesar uh Estrada Chavez was a migrant farm worker during the Great Depression and experienced harsh working conditions faced by many agricultural workers, and Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta continues to fight the harsh working conditions faced by many agricultural workers, and whereas Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta have dedicated their lives work towards pursuing equality, justice, and dignity for all Americans, and whereas Cesar Chavez left behind a legacy of humble service and extraordinary achievement.

Dolores Huerta continues to this day to fight for equality, justice, and fairness for all Americans, and whereas in 1994, Cesar Chavez was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 2012, Dolores Huerta was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

This is America's highest civilian award, and whereas Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta gave our nation and each of us unique example, and a unique example to live our lives by a selfless dedication to the rights of all workers, to economic justice, civil rights, environmental justice, peace, nonviolence, and empowerment of the poor and the disenfranchised.

And whereas Cesar Chávez died, a local community members established the Recuerdo Cesar Chavez Committee, whose mission is to educate people about the life and work of these great American leaders and to encourage each of us to carry on their values and timeless vision for a better world.

Today, the Lores Huerta carries on the work to honor the values and the vision that they aspired to and have worked tirelessly towards a vision for a better tomorrow.

Be it proclaimed that this council, the governing body of the city of Albuquerque, hereby recognizes and shows their appreciation for Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta and their work, their work legacies as we celebrate the 30th annual celebration of their work on March 25th, 2023.

Thank you, ladies, for being here.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

My name is Linda Garcia Benavides.

I'm the chair of the Recuerdo Cesar Chavez.

Valerie St.

John is the vice chair.

She was going to be here, but she ran into some car problems.

And so several others were going to be here as well.

We are so honored and so appreciative for getting this proclamation.

This is the 30th annual celebration of Cesar Chavez and Dolores de Lotus Huerta on the work.

The only one in the nation that celebrates Cesar Chavez and the Lotus Huerta.

And we're also going to have it at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, which is also the only one in the nation that has a center of this type.