Welcome everyone to the special council meeting on the Council President's Awards.

I am your council president for the next uh hour or so.

So we uh pass the gavel on to our incoming president, uh Council President Designate Howland.

But uh before we get to that, I have some special awards and just some uh reflections on on the year, so no better way to uh reflect and to thank the people that have uh stood by you and and and provided amazing service to the community.

Uh so first we're gonna go a little off script out of order, as I tend to do, Mr.

Secretary.

We have the Jax Gents here and their founder.

So I would love if uh if you could read the um the proclamation and some of the notes for the gents, and I'll go down to the podium and we'll give them their uh their resolution framed and signed, and that's how we'll get started.

Then we'll go into the rest of the awards after that.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Tonight, the Jacksonville City Council is pleased to present a city council resolution honoring the Jax Gents Inc.

founder and executive director, Shamari Maury Gloucester, and the outstanding young men of the organization.

Founded in Jacksonville in 2016, the Jax Gents have become a model of mentorship, scholarship, leadership, and service, empowering young men to excel in the classroom, in their communities, and on the national stage.

Through through discipline, brotherhood, and a commitment to excellence, the organization has achieved a remarkable record of academic success while inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Earlier this year, the Jax Gents captured the Florida State Step Championship, earning the opportunity to represent our state in the prestigious Stomp Wars National Step Show in Dallas, Texas.

There, competing against the nation's best.

They claimed the title of national champion for the second time, bringing national recognition and pride to the city of Jacksonville.

You may remember them performing at Council President Carico's installation last year.

Their achievements reflect the very best of Jacksonville thought through talent, perseverance, discipline, and purpose.

Please join the Jacksonville City Council in congratulating the Jacks Gents Inc.

on their extraordinary accomplishments.

Did you hear that?

Not one but two-time national champion.

I'm not talking about just Jacksonville or just the state of Florida, but the national champions come right here from Jacksonville.

And uh first I want to thank Councilmember Johnson for taking the lead on getting the uh the wording and everything for the resolution done.

But we really want to honor them, and it's not just about stepping, it's not just about performing.

This group transforms young young men into men and prepares them for life and really um gives them uh hope and opportunity for taking on the next challenge and and what they have coming forward.

So their founder, I'm proud to say is a friend of mine, Mari.

So we want to present this to you.

And if you have some words or anything you'd like to say, we'd love to hear from you.

Thank you.

Uh I'll start by just saying that to the three young men behind me.

I just appreciate being your coach and your mentor.

That's why we do this hard work, which is sometimes hard work, but it's always hard work to the entire city council.

Thank you for your support over the last several years for the work that we do in our community.

Um I see some folks in some purple jackets back there, and every time I call the mighty men of Omega Sci-Fi, I never hear no.

And I see a frowning principal from John Rabot, because I see one of his students over here, so I just want to make sure I acknowledge Dr.

Boston and A School over there at Reball.

But to the city council and to everyone, to President Carrico outgoing and to Councilman Johnson.

Thank you so very much.

All right, we're just gonna turn around, pose for a quick photo, and then we'll get rolling with the program.

I'll mention.

Mr.

Council President, before we move on with the program, Councilman Terrence Freeman would like to say a few words if you can.

Uh thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

President Design.

To those young men, uh I didn't catch their grades.

Uh, what grades are they in?

So we have two young men who are graduated seniors and they're going to Morehouse.

Uh one is also going to Dillot University on a baseball scholarship.

That's awesome.

I thought I missed that part.

And then the last question to the three young men.

Which one is the best dancer out of you three?

Or Stepper.

Just thought I would ask.

All right.

Thank you guys for what you do.