[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480262,"mediaKeyId","5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe","parentId",5689840,"title","Austin honors founding commissioner Brandon Willerson with distinguished service award","audioSeconds",176,"startMs",1518000,"endMs",1694000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe&start=1518&end=1694","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe/thumbnail_1518000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480262/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-honors-founding-commissioner-Brandon-Willerson-with-distinguished-service-award","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480262-03c369dd3b07069558f1d4a4c40debeb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746938&Signature=Do0LwONIhFBgURUNd5UXwbIOBRIpMMx5RhgUjB2O5AmXNnGETXsCxlO77aMd54h8Xrx1865-AkGTew9skf3E-TYM66dqSzO289epe~GwfXjiNj7-VwHak4l5BUNidOtmasakJag3KkO6ApeR09xqiM3GKO4XsvIYVFYag85rXwGYxibOZkBSvplqP3c0XDRBXIrCCPplockGRTHZfyH5GNuSW52XWQOLkEFasWIGYY1igw6roI9KXo7aeHC-kXB9ZAw1dbjjVjPDHbgTFLyaNZXUyovETrnvuyMePN4gp8xyzrxGQc7oXdiwVoTfybCjocdLwJ8i-ZUDllLj8j4yWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-08-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Austin City Council and the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission presented a distinguished service award on Aug. 28 to Brandon Willerson for his decade of service and leadership on the commission.

A council representative said Willerson was a founding member who helped shape the commission’s mission, structure and priorities and described him as a “steady and thoughtful presence” whose questions moved discussions forward. Willerson accepted the award and, speaking as a former commissioner, said he was grateful for the work the commission has done and expressed support for continuing engagement with the community.

The presentation was ceremonial and intended to recognize Willerson’s long-term civic and nonprofit involvement; no council actions or policy changes were announced as part of the award.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - City Council Proclamations","oneSentenceSummary","The Austin City Council and the LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission presented a distinguished service award to founding commissioner Brandon Willerson for a decade of service to the commission and the LGBTQ community.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480267,"Council recognizes Chris Baker for homelessness work; proclaims Aug. 28 Chris Baker Day",278,1115000,1393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe&start=1115&end=1393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe/thumbnail_1115000.jpg","/articles/6480267/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Council-recognizes-Chris-Baker-for-homelessness-work-proclaims-Aug-28-Chris-Baker-Day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480267-db21eabea838d993569ac13923d8e5c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746938&Signature=HQsp1-H8CVn6UMhmLthDpKnEsIAY-l-H1BLFkMQeubzdI9IbvIrU~aQvmENEQkUeGMXQwyKMkJA8InouS68bL7sPvuQpDzkP6Zz4DjQXJ2v4hAUy6xKGxDyz3HOL74Va8IlpojvmUZkDDEB1agLf1vB31P4sRQsa1uvhNs9ZHqhjCh~OrIfpAVUaSPb0vPPH1zwYNJeau7gkCvLaytffvPurVaejMNch8jCiL4bTMaEg-Ki5M3M8EnPJllrwQnfSX6ncreXlr-YzhTaG-PZN-eXvMvk-z6rt3AG5B11EGQmd7Ew5rQXXOqYskJwV1Fkp-2mqwL14Apqwx1S~2WTmvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council member Ryan Alter presented a proclamation on Aug. 28 honoring Chris Baker for his leadership with The Other Ones Foundation and declared the date Chris Baker Day in Austin.

Alter praised Baker’s eight years of leadership and the foundation’s programs that provide shelter, work opportunities and support at Esperanza Community. “We are better off as a city because of the work that Chris has done over the past eight years,” Alter said.

Chris Baker, who identified himself as the nonprofit’s executive director, accepted the recognition and emphasized the collaborative nature of the work. He named local allies, including David Gomez and staff in the city’s Homeless Strategy Office, and said the organization has benefited from increased mayoral and council support for addressing homelessness. “We do have the ability to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring in our community,” Baker said.

The proclamation was ceremonial; no council vote or funding action was taken at the presentation. The text cited the foundation’s founding year (2017) and described partnerships and services intended to reduce unsheltered homelessness.","Council member Ryan Alter presented a proclamation honoring Chris Baker and The Other Ones Foundation for services addressing unsheltered homelessness; Baker reflected on partnerships and the city's homelessness strategy office.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480272,"Council proclaims Aug. 28 Mina Davis Day for Valley of Hope’s food-distribution work",108,863000,971000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe&start=863&end=971","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe/thumbnail_863000.jpg","/articles/6480272/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Council-proclaims-Aug-28-Mina-Davis-Day-for-Valley-of-Hopes-food-distribution-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480272-061af7ead229994c1b1a4308c0c7ea64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746938&Signature=T2are0pyCylWeGCQq630xa-ZJeECJ5ZgJjzeOKshfV6KWsDlYh9-m1HMtDjZRgh0nf1wF-ese8k8-WEIZxMZ89-DdChdB5WfFJYjeG7OoS9ZHCtmGTFpvV59rNvma0CIOFXBkleCFO6~bBsqJOPr824UEreewffTciPHkyKWF~GdV2XSScGQ97eGybDp30nAk6veqM99R6Rv4t0tytpuHSVh845D-Q23RNIrfrmcvkjzXaoymB8QpBEmv0rFLv0bg-m2CjLnDoBozRJeVdY~u1-ZiLnVwHy87AdwIoPiFOk5pjMQjo~4xNyXcwvflDCk1Z7Ru6oVL5u6bWWaGissWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council member José Velázquez presented a proclamation on Aug. 28 recognizing Mina Davis for her work with Valley of Hope and declared the date Mina Davis Day in Austin.

Velázquez said Valley of Hope has collaborated with local food pantries, food banks and businesses to deliver “reliable, nourishing, and healthy food” to neighbors in need, and he cited the proclamation’s claim that the organization has moved more than 1,000,000 pounds of food throughout the Austin metropolitan area since 2021.

Mina Davis, the founder of Valley of Hope, accepted the proclamation and said the organization’s growth reflected community innovation and dedication. “When you put your mind to it, there’s no stopping,” Davis said, adding that the work to address food insecurity “never stops.”

The presentation was a ceremonial recognition. No council vote or funding action accompanied the proclamation.

The proclamation text noted Davis’s background, her nonprofit’s mission to reduce food waste and increase food access, and her continuing work toward addressing food insecurity through partnerships across the city.","Austin City Council recognized Mina Davis and her nonprofit Valley of Hope for moving food through local partnerships; the proclamation credited the organization with distributing more than 1,000,000 pounds of food across the Austin metro area.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480278,"Austin proclaims August 2025 National Breastfeeding Month, highlights support programs",285,425000,710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe&start=425&end=710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe/thumbnail_425000.jpg","/articles/6480278/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-proclaims-August-2025-National-Breastfeeding-Month-highlights-support-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480278-63fa43a90c2cb113cedc6115b2efe06e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746938&Signature=f4IPjya6RO~SZZmH5JnitQkN8zP0HHz7LrLfbpkZYi~97FEyVdgz-MGHMRn5BN2P8oqrkEjjhZKYEXWtT7mHLVRvxe1~jmDo0K8psyVBTs~HwBceBT-RzMYI4zmWgn6ljAR0g~YK1P7HDzPCEM-mVBp7DY2fE6yvtBPEv1IVLWOC~H15wDWOLlrxgLiqq2W81yUbKdRTqhm~A3HMZ3cy2fRtVd~StdTthsfa5ODkdn-QFAi4tKQWiRNtF-~iODRV4dtfsR2sKR2-DXekOuBdhbJIFwdvPGv34oqqAGEQ68T1-ImMA8DBldJmGIX4WNsikLlu9aIjekIgfPrqkrr67w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vanessa Fuentes, mayor pro tem and Austin City Council member, presented a proclamation at Austin City Hall recognizing August 2025 as National Breastfeeding Month and underscoring city efforts to support lactating families.

“As chair of our public health committee, I’ve seen firsthand how our policies that support maternal and infant health strengthen our entire community,” Fuentes said, noting local programs and thanking groups that provide lactation support.

An Austin Public Health representative at the meeting listed local programs by name, including the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinic, the city’s Mother-Friendly Worksites Program, the Mom’s Place Lactation Support Center, the Maternal Infant Outreach Program and Family Connects. The speaker also cited partnerships with community organizations such as the Mother’s Milk Bank of Austin, Healthy Families of Travis County, Black Mamas ATX and local doula and birth-support groups.

The proclamation text emphasized workplace lactation support, racial equity in breastfeeding outcomes, and inclusive language that recognizes chest-feeding and use of donor milk as options. Angela Bridge, identified at the meeting as the city’s WIC breastfeeding coordinator, received the proclamation on behalf of local breastfeeding-support services.

The presentation was ceremonial; no council action or policy adoption occurred during the proclamation. Speakers framed the recognition as a reaffirmation of the city’s existing programs and partnerships to support infant feeding and maternal health.","Council members proclaimed August 2025 as National Breastfeeding Month in Austin and highlighted local programs and partnerships that support lactating families, including WIC and City of Austin initiatives.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480283,"Austin proclaims Aug. 28 Social Security 90th Anniversary Day, urges federal action",0,264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe&start=264&end=264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5689840-4ccf72faaf67185e46c409dcebd3ffbe/thumbnail_264000.jpg","/articles/6480283/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-proclaims-Aug-28-Social-Security-90th-Anniversary-Day-urges-federal-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480283-afcd6cbdbd7e2545dfe2c28adae6a0c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770746938&Signature=RmwqUUYrmjtMncXIMGwn7GuD9rVDJuIH7ilrpLOr6JcrqAvTaI5PYJtBZwjoefrwzLnhCHm~t7aytePOYf5UrrM42ZX4m1CbSVRE7kv9oH~ih0w~vLk2D6g1lbnOenxQKFqhvHx0VssRbWSDHHzTIn8WeymJaxD7Zx9JORX3-pFWyJznlN01yhqkANWFg6UHyeYTPuPL6XTvHT9h4XyuT088zqL4cbP9Nm3XmfyNrkZ5oKKIBwTIVNYDOUokDGlcDT326rg9wz9obvJ8PzGNu1XZePDs7PCKsCMtiUOmeTrC3pTQkONXssZqgUXGwgkDyPrUCfd3OWkEW8d5cQGDlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Vanessa Fuentes, mayor pro tem and Austin City Council member, presented a city proclamation on Aug. 28 recognizing the 90th anniversary of Social Security and urging protection of the program for future generations.

“Social Security is here to provide dignity, stability, and the ability to meet basic needs,” Fuentes said during the proclamation presentation at Austin City Hall, citing the program’s role for retirees, people with disabilities and families who have lost a loved one. Fuentes thanked advocacy and service organizations including AARP, Age of Central Texas and Meals on Wheels for supporting older residents.

Jessica Lehman, senior associate of the state director of outreach and advocacy at AARP Texas, joined Fuentes for the proclamation and said Social Security is under fiscal strain: “Social Security is paying out more to beneficiaries than it is collecting in revenue. Unless Congress takes action by 2035, older Americans will see their Social Security payments reduced.”

The proclamation text, read at the meeting, included several statistical claims echoed by speakers: it said nearly 4.7 million Texans, including almost 3.3 million retired workers, rely on Social Security benefits; that Social Security lifted more than 1 million Texans age 65 and older out of poverty between 2018 and 2020; and that the program injects more than $72.8 billion into the Texas economy annually. Those figures were presented as part of the city’s rationale for reaffirming “our commitment to defending and strengthening Social Security for future generations of Austinites.”

No formal council action or vote followed the proclamation; the presentation was ceremonial. The council members framed the event as both a celebration of the program’s history and a call for vigilance and federal policy action to preserve benefits.

The proclamation closed with Fuentes officially designating Aug. 28, 2025, as Social Security 90th Anniversary Day in Austin.","Austin officials marked the 90th anniversary of Social Security with a city proclamation and called for federal action to shore up benefits, citing statistics on beneficiaries and the program’s economic impact in Texas.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Austin honors founding commissioner Brandon Willerson with distinguished service award

Council recognizes Chris Baker for homelessness work; proclaims Aug. 28 Chris Baker Day

Council proclaims Aug. 28 Mina Davis Day for Valley of Hope’s food-distribution work

Austin proclaims August 2025 National Breastfeeding Month, highlights support programs

Austin proclaims Aug. 28 Social Security 90th Anniversary Day, urges federal action