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El Mirage proclaims September suicide‑prevention and ovarian cancer awareness; organizers promote youth prevention conference
Summary
At its Sept. 3 meeting the El Mirage City Council issued proclamations for National Suicide Prevention Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Month; organizers said a regional youth prevention conference will be held in mid‑September and public comment urged city engagement on childcare shortages.
The El Mirage City Council issued three proclamations on Sept. 3 recognizing National Suicide Prevention Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Month and heard a public comment on childcare shortages.
Amber Wakeman introduced the proclamations and read background information on each observance. The council formally proclaimed September 2025 as National Suicide Prevention Month and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in El Mirage, and also proclaimed September as Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Month to support a regional youth prevention effort.
Representatives of the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life movement addressed the council. Gina Godby, identified in the meeting as a co‑founder, described the program’s goals and said it teaches students and school staff to identify warning signs and connect young people to resources. Godby told the council the conference has run for multiple years and has reached hundreds of young people; in the meeting she said, “we already have 800 kids registered from almost 50 schools that will be attending across the West Valley.”
Joseph Ortiz, introduced as director of public relations and marketing for the Tolleson Union High School District, thanked the council for the proclamation and emphasized the importance of community support. Both speakers encouraged council members and community members to attend or support the event.
The staff announcement identified a conference date of Sept. 16, 2025, and said the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life conference will be held at Grand Canyon University. During her remarks Godby said this year’s conference would be at Millennium High School; the transcript records both locations as described by different speakers.
During the call to the public, Theresa Christiansen, speaking on behalf of Bright Beginnings and Building Bright Futures, urged the council to begin conversations about the local childcare shortage and offered to work with the city to develop a sustainable childcare ecosystem. Christiansen said she has spoken to other nearby cities and offered her assistance and contact information; staff said they would pass her business card and information to the city manager for follow up.
The council did not take formal action on the proclamations during the meeting beyond presenting them and receiving remarks from organizers and the public. The city indicated it will share the proclamations with the Speak Up Stand Up Save a Life organizers and that staff would follow up on public‑comment offers to engage on childcare issues.
