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WELCOME EVERYBODY.[Mayor Back to School Press Conference on June 22, 2023. ]
IF YOU DON'T MIND TAKING A SEAT OR STANDING OFF TO THE SIDE.THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.
I WORK IN MAYOR JOHNSON'S OFFICE.
UM, WE HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE LONG LINEUP OF SPEAKERS THIS MORNING, AND SO WE'LL KICK IT OFF WITH MAYOR JOHNSON AND, AND THEN AT THE END, ONCE ALL THE SPEAKERS, UM, ARE FINISHED, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR JUST A FEW QUESTIONS.
AND SO, UM, WITH THAT, WITH NO FURTHER ADO, IT IS A DISTINCT PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE YOUR 60TH MAYOR OF DALLAS, ERIC JOHNSON.
YEAH, WE NEED CHAMP AT CITY HALL EVERY WEEK, DON'T WE? COUNCIL MEMBERS? WE COULD USE CHAMP BEFORE OUR MEETINGS EVERY WEEK, MAYBE GET HIM DO THAT VIDEO INTRODUCTION THING THAT WE HAVE NOW.
I, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FIRST FOR ALL OF YOU BEING HERE.
I MEAN, WHAT AN AMAZING CROWD.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FIRST SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT OF MY SECOND TERM AS THE DALLAS MAYOR.
SO I COULDN'T, COULD, COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH ALL OF YOU.
AND FOR THAT FIRST SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT OF MY SECOND TERM TO BE, TO KICK OFF THE 27TH.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 27 YEARS NOW.
27TH ANNUAL MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, YOU KNOW, AT THE CITY OF DALLAS INAUGURATION CEREMONY ON TUESDAY, I SPOKE ABOUT WHY DALLAS HAS IN ME ITS NUMBER ONE CHAMPION AND ITS NUMBER ONE CHEERLEADER.
I SAID, AND I SAID THAT THE REASON WAS BECAUSE I HAVE BENEFITED SO MUCH PERSONALLY FROM THIS CITY'S GREATNESS.
MY DREAMS CAME TRUE IN THIS CITY BECAUSE OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THE DALLAS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY I'VE MADE IT MY LIFE'S MISSION TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE IN THIS CITY FOR THEIR DREAMS. WHATEVER YOUR DREAMS ARE, WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME TRUE HERE IN THIS CITY.
I'M JUST LOOKING AT MY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB KIDS OVER HERE AND I CAN'T STOP SMILING CAUSE I, I DID THAT.
I WAS A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB MEMBER, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF MY CHILDHOOD IN WEST DALLAS.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE WEST DALLAS BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND THEN THE EAST DALLAS CLUB.
SO THIS IS GREAT TO SEE Y'ALL HERE.
BUT THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF WHY DALLAS REALLY IS A GENUINE PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE.
THIS NOW SIGNATURE EVENT IS A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND OF COURSE OUR AMAZING PARTNERS AT DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO, AND WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THEM A LITTLE BIT LATER.
DALLAS IS LITERALLY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AND NATIONALLY KNOWN PHILANTHROPIC AND NONPROFIT COMMUNITY.
OUR CORPORATIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO EQUIP OVER 10,000 DALLAS STUDENTS IN GRADE LEVELS, PRE-K ALL THE WAY THROUGH SENIOR YEAR WITH BACK TO SCHOOL ESSENTIALS THAT THEY'RE GONNA NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE COMING SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS FAMILY FRIENDLY FAIR HAS BECOME A BELOVED, IF I WILL, UM, ANNUAL TRADITION HERE IN THE CITY.
PEOPLE LOVE THIS EVENT AND I'VE COME TO REALLY, REALLY LOVE IT MYSELF.
AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR IN TERMS OF, UM, THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
AND IT'S BECAUSE THIS EVENT SERVES AS A ONE STOP SHOP FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HELP THEM GET ALL THE THINGS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF.
RIGHT? AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT EVERY KID START OFF THAT SCHOOL YEAR WITH EVERY SUPPLY THEY NEED AND NOT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEHIND, OR THAT THEY'RE STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF, UM, WITHOUT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE GET THESE AMAZING DONATIONS OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES, IMMUNIZATIONS, DENTAL SCREENINGS, VISUAL EXAMS, AND OTHER HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY MORE THAN A HUNDRED DIFFERENT VENDORS.
SO MANY COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE FOUR YEARS VOLUNTEERED AT THIS EVENT TO HELP US ENSURE ITS CONTINUED SUCCESS, INCLUDING D I S D TEACHERS AND STAFF.
THEY COME OUT AND HELP THIS YEAR.
WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR A MAJOR CHANGE IN HOW WE'RE GONNA PUT THIS.
I'M SO EXCITED AND I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS IS GOING TO BE HELPING PLAN, PROMOTE, AND EXECUTE THIS YEAR'S FAIR.
SO THE JUNIOR LEAGUE IS GOING TO LEVERAGE ITS INCREDIBLE NETWORK
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AND THEIR INCREDIBLE EXPERTISE TO HELP US RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND SUPPORT MORE THAN 500 VOLUNTEERS.THE JUNIOR LEAGUE IS GOING TO TEAM UP WITH MY OFFICE TO HELP US DEVELOP A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLAN TO MAKE SURE, AND THIS IS SO CRITICAL, AND I NEED EVERYONE'S HELP IN THIS ROOM TO DO THIS.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU HOW LATER WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT EVERY ELIGIBLE FAMILY KNOWS ABOUT THE EVENT AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE JUNIOR LEAGUE IS GONNA HELP US WITH.
CAUSE WE WANNA DO AN EVEN BETTER JOB THAN WE'VE DONE WITH THAT.
THIS YEAR'S FAIR IS GONNA TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 4TH AT FAIR PARK.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT VENUE FORCE INSIDE THE AUTOMOBILE BUILDING AND THE CENTENNIAL HALL.
THIS IS GONNA BE THE SECOND TIME.
AW, SHUCK, RIGHT? GOTTA LOVE BIG TECHS.
SO THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT WE'RE RETURNING TO AN IN-PERSON FAIR SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE EXPECT YOU READY AT LEAST 30,000 STEPHANIE, 30,000 STUDENTS IN THEIR FAMILIES THIS YEAR.
SO BEGINNING TODAY, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY THAT FAMILIES CAN NOW REGISTER THEIR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS I MENTIONED BEFORE.
AND IT'S THE FIRST DAY THAT VOLUNTEERS AND VENDORS CAN REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE AND TO HELP US SET UP OUR FAMILIES FOR SUCCESS AS VOLUNTEERS.
SO PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS SUPER IMPORTANT, CHAMP.
MAKE SURE THEY, THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS PART.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL FAMILIES.
WE CAN'T ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE JUST SHOWING UP THE DAY OF WHO HAVE NOT PRE-REGISTERED.
WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE LIST CAUSE THEY'VE PRE-REGISTERED JUST LIKE IN PAST YEARS.
ELIGIBLE FAMILIES HAVE TO BE DALLAS RESIDENTS OR HAVE A STUDENT ATTENDING A DALLAS I S D SCHOOL.
AND THEY MUST MEET CERTAIN 2023 FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES.
SO WE'RE GONNA OFFER, AT LEAST AS A CITY OF DALLAS, AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO OUR PARK AND RECREATION STAFF FOR THIS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THREE IN-PERSON, AT LEAST THREE IN-PERSON REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMING WEEKS.
AND WE'RE GONNA DO THOSE AT OUR TEEN LATE NIGHT EVENTS.
THEY'RE CALLED TEEN LATE NIGHTS, AND THEY'RE HOSTED BY THE DALLAS PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE AT LEAST THREE OF THOSE SO YOU CAN SIGN UP IN PERSON, BUT THAT'S JUST AN IN-PERSON OPTION THAT WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH TO GIVE YOU EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES TO SIGN UP.
THE MAIN WAY YOU'RE GONNA WANNA REGISTER IS TO GO ONLINE.
SO HERE'S THE WEBSITE AND YOU CAN START RIGHT NOW.
MAYORS, THAT'S WITH AN S, MAYORS, PLURAL, MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, ALL SPELLED OUT.COM.
MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.COM.
SO IF YOU WANNA GET RELEVANT UPDATES BETWEEN NOW AND THE FAIR, YOU WANNA GO TO THAT WEBSITE AND YOU CAN ALSO ACTUALLY CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DALLAS MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR PAGE ON FACEBOOK.
SO, UM, I REALLY WANT TO WRAP UP HERE SOON, BUT I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FIRST TO D I S D.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS WHO'S GONNA TAKE THIS THING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL AND BIG TECHS.
I WANT TO THANK THE FAIR PARK FOR MAKING THIS, UH, MEANINGFUL EVENT POSSIBLE BY GIVING US AN AMAZING VENUE.
IT'S SO HELPFUL FOR US TO HAVE IT AT THE SAME PLACE, UM, EVERY YEAR.
AND IT'S SUCH AN ICONIC PLACE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW TO FIND.
WE, WE WANNA MAKE THIS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE.
SO I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU, BUT I ALSO WANNA THANK ALL OF OUR GENEROUS PARTNERS AND SPONSORS.
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM SEVERAL OF THEM, UM, SOON.
AND I THINK IT'S ALSO, LIKE I SAID, JUST INCREDIBLE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY KIDS FOR THE, FROM THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HERE TODAY.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU GUYS.
WHOEVER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB KIDS GOT HERE.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE AS I SAID TO THE INAUGURATION, THANK YOU.
DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COVER THE GRATITUDE THAT I HAVE AS A KID WHO GREW UP RIGHT HERE.
I GREW UP IN WEST DALLAS AND WE MOVED TO OAK CLIFF.
I'M FROM THIS CITY AND I OWE MORE PEOPLE THAN I COULD EVER REMEMBER TO THANK FOR BEING ABLE TO, TO BE HERE TODAY, NOT JUST AS YOUR MAYOR, BUT JUST TO, JUST TO BE ALIVE AND A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN.
I JUST, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO SO MANY PEOPLE, I COULDN'T EVEN BEGIN TO THANK 'EM ALL.
BUT I, I WANT YOU ALL TO, TO HAVE THAT SAME EXPERIENCE.
I, I WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU WANT TO BE, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
I WAS LITERALLY IN THE SEATS THAT YOU'RE SITTING IN.
I, I LITERALLY HAD THOSE SHIRTS.
I HAD MY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB CARD AND ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN THIS CITY.
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AND THAT'S WHAT THIS FAIR IS ALL ABOUT.SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO NOW.
A NOT JUST AN AMAZING LEADER, BUT A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE, DR.
STEPHANIE ELLIS ALDE, WHO IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF D I S D.
NOW, STEPHANIE, BEFORE YOU, BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, GAY WILLIS, JASON MORENO, ADAM BAA, 10 ATKINS, KARA MENDELSON, DO I MISS ANYBODY? BUT THESE ARE YOUR GREAT DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO'S HIDING? WHO, WHO AM I MISSING? OH, CAROLYN KING ARNOLD.
I MEAN, I'VE KNOWN CAMILLE FOREVER.
IF I MISS YOU, I'M SORRY, BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING SO SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE FOR OUR KIDS.
SO FOR THAT, STEPHANIE, IT'S ALL YOURS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH MAYOR JOHNSON.
AND LET'S, UM, LET'S GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE BEGINNING HIS SECOND TERM.
DO I HAVE PERMISSION NOW? CAN I GO NOW? WE'RE GOOD.
UM, SO, AND THANK YOU ALL EVERYONE FOR TAKING TIME, UM, TO BE HERE.
YOU KNOW, OFTEN IT IS SAID ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS THAT WE CAN GIVE EACH OTHER IS TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S SUCH A PERSONAL, UH, INVESTMENT.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S HERE TODAY AND TO EVERYONE WHO'S HELPED PUT ALL OF THESE EVENTS ON BACK TO SCHOOL, THE 27TH ONE THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, IN DALLAS, ALL THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE AND THE ONE THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, OUR PARTNERS.
WE KNOW THAT THE FUTURE OF DALLAS IS IN OUR STUDENTS.
IT IS, THOSE ARE OUR NEXT SET OF MAYORS.
AND THAT'S OUR GOAL IS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, UM, IN THE DALLAS COMMUNITY, WE WANT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO BECOME A MAYOR, A COUNCIL PERSON, A DISTRICT LEADER, A, A SUPERINTENDENT, IF THEY SHOULD.
UM, SO GOD HAVE A LITTLE LEVITY EVERY NOW AND THEN.
UM, SO I'VE GOT TWO OR THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK TODAY.
AND THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW ME JUST KNOW HOW ASPIRATIONAL THAT IS.
CUZ ONCE I GET A MIC, SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TAKE IT AWAY.
UH, WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, MY MOM TOLD THE TEACHER, WELL, IF YOU NEED HER TO STOP TALKING, YOU NEED TO PUT HER IN A CORNER.
AND THE TEACHER SAID, BUT THAT'S MEAN.
AND MY MOM SAID, WELL, YOU'RE EITHER GONNA HAVE TO BE MEAN OR SHE GONNA TALK IN YOUR CLASS.
SO, UM, SO I JUST WANNA TAKE A FEW MINUTES, UM, TO KIND OF STAY WITHIN MY CONSTRAINTS.
I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE DALLAS, I S D PARTNERS WITH THE CITY, UM, AND WITH OTHER PARTNERS FOR ONE PURPOSE AND ONE PURPOSE ONLY.
EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS.
NOT SOME, NOT MOST FOR ALL STUDENTS.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE EVENT THAT WE GET TO BE A PARTNER WITH OUR MAYOR.
THIS WONDERFUL IDEA OF LET'S HAVE OUR KIDS GET STARTED ON THE RIGHT FOOT BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU WAKE UP AND YOU HAVE A BAD HAIR DAY, THE REST OF THE DAY GOES KIND OF THE SAME WAY.
SO SAME IS TRUE FOR OUR KIDDOS WHEN WE GET 'EM STARTED ON THE RIGHT FOOT, THEY HAVE THAT KIND OF WONDERFUL SCHOOL EXPERIENCE LIKE THE ONE THAT I HAD AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT.
UM, AND I THINK IN EARLY GRADES AS OUR MAYOR DID IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS WELL.
AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE OUR KIDS KNOW.
WE DO NOT HAVE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN DALLAS, I S D.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S WRONG OR MISSING WITH OUR CHILDREN.
IT'S IN HOW WE MEET THEM AND HOW WE INSPIRE FOR THEM TO REACH THE EXCELLENCE THAT WE KNOW EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR KIDS HAS.
AND SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON INCREASING THE LEVEL OF RIGOR AND RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS AT DALLAS.
I S D, AND I'LL TAKE A MOMENT ALSO, ONE OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND SOME STA STAFF MEMBERS ARE HERE IF YOU'LL KIND OF WAVE SO WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF OUR DALLAS I S D FOLKS AS WELL.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE BEST EDUCATORS, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS, AW.
AND SO ALL OF US SHOULD REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE PROFESSION, EVERY SINGLE CAREER WAS CREATED BY A TEACHER.
SO TEACHERS ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SO THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO MAKE THE GAINS THAT WE'VE MADE AND TO BUILD UPON THOSE IS IN FACT IN WORKING
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TOGETHER AND ENRICHING THESE EXPERIENCES.UM, ALL DALLAS ISD KIDS SHOULD GET THE GOOD STUFF.
AND SO WE ARE INCREASING THE LEVEL OF RIGOR IN EVERY CLASSROOM AND WE'RE DOING IT IN A FUN WAY SO THAT WE CAN MAKE LEARNING MORE RELEVANT, BOTH FROM A REAL WORLD AND A CULTURAL WORLD.
OUR KIDS NEED TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THE TYPES OF LITERATURE AND HISTORY THAT THEY'RE STUDYING AND THAT IS NOW EMBEDDED IN OUR CURRICULUM IN DALLAS, I S D.
AND THAT'S WHY PARTNERSHIPS LIKE THIS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE OUR KIDDOS ARE OUR FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU MAYOR JOHNSON FOR THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
WE ARE GOING TO, UM, PARTNER AND ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE ALL OF THE INFORMATION FOR EVERYONE TO PRE-REGISTER CUZ WE KNOW THAT'S A KEY COMPONENT.
AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO REACH OUT WITH THE PARKS AND REC GROUP TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP MAYBE HAVE ADDITIONAL SITES, UM, WHERE WE CAN HELP INDIVIDUAL PARENTS COME SIGN UP IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY OTHER IDEAS AND WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN PARTNER YOUR VOICE MATTERS.
UM, AND SO I WANNA SAY LIFT YOUR VOICE, COMMUNICATE WITH ANY OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS AT ANY TIME.
WE ARE GREAT LISTENERS CUZ WE WANNA BE LEARNERS FIRST BEFORE WE'RE TEACHERS.
LET'S MAKE THIS BE ANOTHER GREAT YEAR FOR OUR KIDS AND SEE EVERYBODY AUGUST 4TH.
AND I THINK WE HAVE CHRISTINE.
IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE THE ROOM, UM, FILLED.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINA EUBANKS AND I HAVE THE HONOR TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, GREAT, UH, HUGE CONGRATS TO THE MAYOR ON HIS SECOND TERM.
THE MAYOR'S UNWAVERING SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO HIS COMMUNITY IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
YOUR DEDICATION TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF DALLAS, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN, IS REMARKABLE.
AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAND IN HAND ON THIS PROJECT AND HOPEFULLY MANY MORE.
UM, ALSO HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO DR.
ELLIS ALDAY FOR YOUR INVALUABLE PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION.
WE WORK WITH THE D I S D ON SEVERAL PROJECTS.
UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ENTIRE LESS EFFORTS TO ENSURING QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS IS REALLY, IT REALLY DOES INSPIRE US.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK DR.
LINDSEY DAVIS, WHO IS OUR PROJECT CHAIR FOR THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR AND HER AMAZING COMMITTEE.
UM, LINDSAY, YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY WAS SO EVIDENT FROM THE FIRST TIME WE HAD OUR CONVERSATION.
UM, I JUST REALLY, TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR GRACE HERE.
THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS IS AN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN DEDICATED TO PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM, DEVELOPING THE POTENTIAL OF WOMEN, AND IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR EFFECTIVE ACTION AND LEADERSHIP OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS.
WE ARE THE LARGEST JUNIOR LEAGUE OF NEARLY 400 IN THE WORLD WITH NEARLY, YEAH, WITH NEARLY 4,000 WOMEN THAT ARE DEDICATED TO DALLAS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE BEEN SERVING DALLAS FOR 102 YEARS.
WE CURRENTLY PARTNER WITH 28 LOCAL NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE FUNDING AND VOLUNTEERS SO THAT THEY CAN DO THE SPECIAL, THE SPECIAL WORK THAT THE COMMUNITY IS THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
WE FOCUS PARTICULARLY IN, UM, THREE SEP THREE AREAS OF EDUCATION AND THE ARTS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
AND IN A STRENGTHENING FAMILIES.
WE ALSO OPERATE SEVERAL SIGNATURE PROJECTS.
AND ONE OF THOSE, WHICH, UM, ALSO PARTNERS WITH D I S D, IS GRANTS FOR INNOVATIVE TEACHING, WHERE WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO DALLAS EDUCATORS FOR UNIQUE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHOOL'S BUDGETS, AS WELL AS OUR WOMEN LEAD PROGRAM, WHICH IS A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, UM, FOR WOMEN, UM, AND PURSUING THEIR EDUCATION, UM, POST HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WE PARTNER WITH THREE OF D I S C HIGH SCHOOLS, CON EMMETT J CONRAD, SOUTH OAK CLIFF, AND THOMAS JEFFERSON.
WE ALSO RECENTLY DEVELOPED A NEW PARK PROJECT PROGRAM, WHICH TIES NICELY INTO THE MAYOR'S THREE PS
UM, AND NOW WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO SELL, TO COLLABORATE WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ONCE AGAIN ON THE 27TH ANNUAL MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL AFFAIR TO BE HELD AGAIN FRIDAY, AUGUST 4TH.
UM, THIS SIGNATURE EVENT WILL EQUIP THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY SUPPLIES
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AND ESSENTIALS TO START THAT SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT.AND IN ADDITION TO THE THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES, UM, REGISTERED ATTENDEES, REGISTERED ATTENDEES, UM, WE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO JUST A WEALTH OF RESOURCES ON EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR CITY.
THIS COLLABORATION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE REALLY UNDERSCORES THE STRENGTH AND THE UNITY OF OUR CITY FOR ONE SHARED COMMON GOAL, WHICH IS TO UPLIFT OUR CHILDREN.
UM, AGAIN, REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY AND MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.COM OR FACEBOOK PAGE.
UM, YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF JUNIOR LEAGUERS IN THE BACK ALSO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE HERE AND WANT TO, TO, UM, ASK US.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF I DID NOT THANK OUR WONDERFUL SPONSORS, UM, THAT REALLY FUEL THIS EVENT.
YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS SUPPORT THIS EVENT YEAR AFTER YEAR INTO WHICH WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUT ON THIS EVENT WITH THE, UM, SUPPLIES THAT ARE NEEDED.
AND THEN LAST TWO ARE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS WITH OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS.
UM, IT, IT'S A HUGE COMMITMENT AND THEY TRULY ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE ORGANIZATION.
TIME IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN NEVER GET MORE OF, AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT YOU FREELY GIVE THAT TO US.
DALLAS IS A CITY KNOWN FOR ITS STRENGTH, THAT ITS STRENGTH LIES IN THE RESILIENCE AND GENEROSITY OF ITS PEOPLE.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE CHOSEN TO, TO RISE TO THE OCCASION TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE ALL CAN ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN OUR CITY HAS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND TO GROW.
UM, I LEAD OUR COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR AMAZON HERE IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO START EVERY DAY LIKE THIS WITH MASCOTS AND KIDS AND ALL OF THE GREAT ENERGY THAT IS IN THIS ROOM.
IT IS SO EXCITING AND WE ARE JUST SO DELIGHTED TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
YOU KNOW, AS KIDS RETURN TO SCHOOL IN AUGUST, ENSURING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ALL THE APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES TO SUCCESSFULLY START THE SCHOOL YEAR IS TRULY A PRIORITY FOR US AT AMAZON.
WE WANNA ENSURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE THINGS THEY NEED TO BE SET UP FOR SUCCESS THIS SCHOOL YEAR, THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR SUPPORTING THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.
AND WE'RE JUST REALLY DELIGHTED TO BE A PART OF SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY EVENT THAT HELPS SO MANY STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT AMAZON.
WE WORK EVERY DAY TO BE THE MOST TRUSTED COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS PARTNER IN THIS REGION.
WE OPERATE IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS NORTH TEXAS AND WE STRIVE TO NOT ONLY BE A GOOD EMPLOYER, BUT ALSO A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
THIS PARTNERSHIP IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY WAYS THAT WE GIVE BACK TO THE NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY.
WE WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH PARTNERS HELPING TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THE COMMUNITY'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES.
WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR A MORE EQUITABLE FUTURE FOR ALL, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE THRILLED TO SUPPORT THE MAYOR'S MISSION OF ENSURING ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, MAYOR JOHNSON FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS PROGRAM AND TO ALL THE COMPANIES AND NONPROFITS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE FAIR.
I AM THE HEAD OF THE SANTANDER CONSUMER USA FOUNDATION AND SANTANDER COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
THANK YOU TO MAYOR JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS DR.
ALDE AND THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DALLAS FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS EVENT AND TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF DALLAS.
WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE HONOR TO COME BEFORE YOU AND SHARE ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL EFFORT, AS WELL AS THE MAYOR'S SMART SUMMER READING PROGRAM THAT JUST KICKED OFF.
AND I HOPE ALL OF YOU GUYS ARE READING THIS.
CONSUMER USA IS AN AUTO FINANCE COMPANY COMMITTED TO HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS AND PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY PROSPER.
OUR HEADQUARTERS IS HERE IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS, JUST A FEW STREETS OVER FROM CITY HALL ON ELM IN SAN PODER TOWER.
WE ARE DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND OUR FOUNDATION AND INVEST IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE REAL IMPACT.
IN 2022, WE INVESTED OVER 16 MILLION
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TO OVER 50 ORGANIZATIONS IN DALLAS, MESA, AND TAMPA, FLORIDA.JUST LAST WEEK, WE CONFIRMED OUR SECOND ROUND OF GRANTEES FOR 2023 WITH OVER 2 MILLION INVESTED IN EIGHT AGENCIES SERVING THOSE IN NEED HERE IN NORTH TEXAS.
WE ARE GLAD TO SUPPORT AND SERVE THE MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT BECAUSE WE KNOW THE VALUE OF EDUCATION AND THE HIGH COST OF MATERIALS EVERY CHILD DESERVES TO START OFF THE SCHOOL ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORTS TO HELP THEM MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL.
AND WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE BIG EVENT ON AUGUST 4TH WHERE OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE OUT THERE ALL DAY VOLUNTEERING AND SUPPORTING THIS MASSIVE EFFORT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING US BE A PART OF SERVING DALLAS SCHOOL CHILDREN.
MY NAME IS CARLOS EVANS, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY HERE AT THE CITY OF DALLAS.
UH, ON BEHALF OF O E Q S, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN THIS YEAR'S EVENT, UH, WITH OUR SPONSORS.
UH, THIS IS A CROWN JEWEL EVENT, MAYOR JOHNSON FOR US.
UH, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE UH, PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF FREE BACKPACKS FOR OUR KIDS AND WE PLAN ON DOING THE SAME THIS YEAR.
SOMEONE CAN SAY, AH, YEAH, FREE BACKPACKS
UH, JUST BRIEF BRIEFLY ABOUT THE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
UH, AS OUR NAME WOULD SUGGEST, WE'RE NOT CREATIVE.
WE, UH, OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, AND ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
UH, AS PART OF THAT, ONE OF OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS.
SO, THANK YOU JOHNSON MAYOR JOHNSON, FOR GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS, UH, AND MAKING SURE, UH, THAT WE HAVE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS.
AND I'LL JUST SAY A QUICK PLUG TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
UH, I WAS, UH, A LITTLE KID IN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB FROM LIKE SEVEN TO 15 YEAH.
DON'T PUT CALIFORNIA AGAINST ME, BUT, UH, I SOMEHOW BECAME AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER.
SO IF YOU WANNA BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER, YOU KNOW, LET ME KNOW
SO, UH, AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY, UH, PART, UH, EVENT WHERE WE ENGAGE OUR KIDS.
UH, WE PARTICIPATE IN, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER A 100 CAREER DAY EVENTS ANNUALLY.
UH, WE PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER CAMPS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW AND ONLINE, UH, VIRTUAL, UH, PROGRAMMING.
SO, UH, THIS YEAR WE PLAN ON GIVING OUT, UH, FREE BACKPACKS AGAIN, UH, 3,500 FREE BACKPACKS TO OUR KIDS.
UH, AND, UH, WE LOOK TO PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT AGAIN.
AND, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR JOHNSON.
MY NAME IS TINA BENIT AND I'M PROUD TO BE HERE WITH WALMART TODAY.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WALMART IS ONE OF DALLAS'S LARGEST RETAILERS OFFERING WALMART STORES, NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETS, SAM'S CLUBS, AND EVEN OUR INNOVATION CENTER.
WE ARE PROUD TO EMPLOY OVER 9,000 LOCAL EMPLOYEES, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST PROUD ABOUT IS GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE VERY PASSIONATE TO SUPPORT THE BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR FOR OVER TWO DECADES NOW, AND WE'RE PROUD TO DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR, NOT ONLY WITH SOME FINANCIAL GRANTS, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THERE TO VOLUNTEER ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT.
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PARTNERS PROVIDE FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS.
THE DAY OF THE EVENT, GIVING BACK TO KIDS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT MAYOR JOHNSON HAS INVITED US TO BE A PART OF THIS GREAT EVENT AND KEEP GIVING BACK.
THANK YOU GUYS BACK AGAIN FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
MY NAME IS SEAN REED AND I'M THE SENIOR MANAGER OF THE DALLAS MAVERICKS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TEAM.
SO FIRST I APOLOGIZE FOR CHIMP'S BEHAVIOR.
UM, LA LAST YEAR WE HAD A DEEP CONVERSATION ABOUT AFFIRMATIONS AND HOW TO BEHAVE.
HOW MANY OF YOUR PARENTS HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH Y'ALL ON HOW TO BEHAVE BEFORE YOU GO TO SCHOOL?
WE ACCEPT HIM FOR WHO HE IS AND HE MAKES US ALL BETTER.
SO, AGAIN, MY NAME IS SEAN REED AND I AM THE SENIOR MANAGER OF, UH, MASTEC ACTION.
MASTEC ACTION IS OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUITY DIVISION OF OUR COMMUNITY RELATIONS TEAM.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WE INVEST IN COMMUNITIES THAT NEED US THE MOST.
AND I INVITED ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, MISS C, FROM DALE TURNER HERE.
UM, BECAUSE EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO US, AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DALE TURNER IS IMPORTANT TO US.
NOT ONLY DO WE SUPPORT THE MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, BUT WE SUPPORT OUR ADOPTED SCHOOL, ADE ADELE TURNER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BY SHOWING UP TO THEIR CAMPUS THREE TIMES PER WEEK.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE 200 EVENTS, 81 GAMES WE HAVE PER YEAR, WE'VE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THIS DISTRICT AND SUPPORTING THIS SCHOOL.
AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO EDUCATION
[00:30:01]
AND MAKING YOUR LIVES BETTER.WE KNOW AT THE DALLAS MAVERICKS THAT IT TAKES, IT TRULY TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE, UH, OUR YOUTH AND GET YOU ALL TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WALK ALONGSIDE EXPERTS AND, UH, TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THE DALLAS MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FESTIVAL AGAIN.
UH, WE WILL BE DONATING SEVERAL BACKPACKS TO THAT BACK TO SCHOOL FESTIVAL, AND EVERY STUDENT IN DALLAS I S D WILL RECEIVE A CLEAR DALLAS MAVERICKS BACKPACK.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE DALLAS MAY MAYOR, THANK YOU TO, UH, SUPERINTENDENT ALDAY.
ALSO THANK YOU TO, UM, TRUSTEE FOREMANS NOT HERE, BUT FOR ALLOWING US TO COME INTO HER SPACE.
IN ADDITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL PERSON, FORMER CITY COUNCIL PERSON, UH, COUNCILMAN THOMAS, BUT NOW IS THERE IN GRACIE.
WE LOVE THE WORK THAT WE DO AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO BEING A SUPPORTER AND PARTNER.
I'M SORRY, HOW DO I FOLLOW THAT UP? I MEAN, REALLY, I CAN DO IT RIGHT.
I, I, YOU KNOW, HE'S BETTER LOOKING THAN ME.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR RECOVERY RESOURCE COUNCIL.
UH, OUR AGENCY SERVES NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITIES WITH THE PURPOSE OF MAKING MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN THE, IN THE CITIZENS WHO RESIDE HERE.
OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS, UH, AND RECOVERY FROM DISORDERS RELATING TO ALCOHOL, SUBSTANCE USE, TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH.
AT RECOVERY RESOURCE COUNCIL, WE HOUSE OUR COMMUNITY COALITION DALLAS AREA DRUG PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP, ALONG WITH THE PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER, REGION THREE, WHICH AS DESIGNATED BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, UH, OF TEXAS.
THE AGENCY, THE PRC THREE AND OUR COMMUNITY COALITION ARE VERY PLEASED TO SUPPORT HSCS TURN TO CAMPAIGN.
THE TURN TO CAMPAIGN IS, IS HELPING TO SPONSOR THE DALLAS MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR.
AND WE'RE VERY, WE FEEL VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, THE CAMPAIGN IS REALLY TO HELP CONNECT TEXANS TO THE SUPPORT AND THE RESOURCES THAT THEY MIGHT NEED AS THEY, THEY CAN USE THESE TO COPE SUCCESSFULLY WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES INSTEAD OF TURNING TO SUBSTANCES LIKE ALCOHOL AND OR DRUGS.
AS A SPONSOR OF THE DALLAS MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR, THE TURN TO CAMPAIGN, WE'LL BRING TOGETHER LOCAL PROVIDERS LIKE OURSELVES AT RECOVERY RESOURCE COUNCIL.
BUT WE ARE ALSO COLLABORATING AND PARTNERING WITH OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE GRANT HALLIBURTON FOUNDATION, THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY OF CREATIVE ARTS AND MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER DALLAS.
IT IS OUR DESIRE TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
WE KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ARE INTERTWINED.
AND IT IS OUR DESIRE TO CREATE, TO, TO BUILD AWARENESS OF THESE ISSUES AND TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES.
WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE THEM, BUT MOST OF ALL, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THEM.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US JUST TO HAVE RESOURCES.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHERE TO FIND THOSE.
WE WANT TO EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE WANT OUR YOUTH TO SUCCEED AND BE THE VERY BEST THAT THEY CAN BE.
FOR THAT REASON, WE ARE SO HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH, WITH HHS C AND THE TURN TWO CAMPAIGN AND WE'RE SO HAPPY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT THE DALLAS MAYORS BACK TO SCHOOL.
I AM THE ASSETS PROTECTION DIRECTOR FOR TARGET, ALL OF NORTH TEXAS.
UM, WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOLLARS MAYORS EVENT.
UH, TARGET UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH.
THERE ARE FUTURE AND WE KNOW THE POSITIVE IMPACT.
THIS WAS, THIS WILL AND DOES CREATE.
TARGET HAS OVER 20 PLUS STORES JUST IN OUR DALLAS COUNTY AREA, AND WE WANNA THANK MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON, REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHER LEADERS HERE, AND OUR COURSE TO EVERYONE THAT HAS PUT THIS AMAZING EVENT TOGETHER.
WE WILL SEE YOU GUYS ON AUGUST 4TH.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
[00:35:01]
WE ARE MAKING DALLAS GREAT.I'M DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS.
YOU BETTER KNOWN US IS SPECTRUM.
WE ARE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS DALLAS, UH, EVERY DAY.
WE HAVE 14,000 EMPLOYEES ACROSS TEXAS.
OF THOSE 14,000, 4,000 ARE HERE IN DALLAS.
AND WE WELCOME THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE'RE AGAIN PARTICIPATING IN THE MAYOR'S BACK TO SCHOOL FOUNDATION, I MEAN, BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM.
AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE PROVIDERS OF INTERNET, PHONE AND VIDEO, UH, MOBILE SPECTRUM.
MOBILE IS ONE OF THE FASTEST IN THE UNITED STATES GROWING RIGHT NOW.
AND WE WANNA APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR LETTING US STAY IN NEIGHBORHOODS, WORK IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BE THERE AS A RESOURCE.
AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE ON AUGUST 4TH.
I'M THE PR MANAGER AT HALF PRICE BOOKS.
GOT OUR BOOKWORM HERE TODAY TOO.
UH, WE WERE FOUNDED IN A CONVERTED LAUNDROMAT OVER ON LOVERS IN INWOOD BACK IN 1972.
SO WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH, UH, YEAR.
UH, OUR FOUNDERS HAVE ALWAYS FOUND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF BOOKS AND LITERACY AND GETTING THEM INTO THE HANDS OF PEOPLE THAT NEED THEM.
SO, UH, WE DONATE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS EACH YEAR.
UH, WE ARE PLEASED TO DONATE, UH, MORE THAN 5,000 BOOKS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THIS YEAR'S FAIR ON AUGUST 4TH.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE BOOKS IN THE HOME AND THAT CAN PUT THEM BEHIND, UH, IN SCHOOL.
SO WE ARE HOPING THESE BOOKS, UH, HELP FOSTER A LOVE OF LIFELONG READING.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS AND SPONSORS.
WE NOW HAVE TIME FOR JUST ABOUT THREE QUESTIONS, SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, CAN YOU PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND? I WILL CALL ON YOU AND THEN STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR OUTLET, AND YOUR QUESTION, AND WE'LL MOVE ON FROM THERE.
ANY, NO MASCOTS CAN ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
WELL, WITH THAT WE'RE GONNA WRAP IT UP.
IF OUR SPONSORS CAN PLEASE COME UP TO THE STAGE, WE WANNA GRAB A QUICK PHOTO WITH ALL THE SPEAKERS.
I'M SO, THIS IS GONNA BE THE GAME CHANGER, HAVING YOU GUYS INVOLVED.