[Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on June 9, 2025.] [00:00:03] GOOD MORNING IT IS NOW 9:01 AM, AND I AM CONVENING THE JUNE MEETING OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE ON THIS JUNE 9TH, 2025. OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE MAY 19TH, 2025, QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED. NEXT ITEM IS ITEM A CITYWIDE ARTS AND CULTURE EVENTS AURORA. GOOD MORNING, CHAIR RIDLEY. THIS IS MARTIN PHILIP, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE. I WANTED TO INTRODUCE OUR SPECIAL GUEST THIS MORNING. IF YOU DON'T MIND, HERE WE HAVE MR. JOSHUA KING, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE AURORA FESTIVAL, AND HE WILL BE PRESENTING A BRIEFING ABOUT THIS KEY SIGNATURE EVENT IN OUR CITY. HELLO. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY. IT IS AN HONOR TO GIVE YOU ALL MORE ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF AURORA. MY NAME IS JOSHUA KING. I AM ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS, ARTISTS OF THE CITY OF DALLAS WITH VALETTA FORSYTHE LILL AND SHANE PENNINGTON. WE STARTED AURORA ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2010, AT THE DALLAS HERITAGE VILLAGE, JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE. SO WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS. SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FIRST PRESENTATION OVERVIEW. YEAH. AS WE'LL SAY. CAN I JUST HIT THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, GUYS? I GUESS WE'LL GO LIKE THAT PRESENTATION TODAY ABOUT THE PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF AURORA, THE GROWTH OPPORTUNITY THAT WE SEE HERE IN DALLAS. THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND TEAM THAT HAVE MADE IT HAPPEN OVER THE SO MANY YEARS. A FEW TESTIMONIALS AND THE NEXT STEPS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO WHEN WE STARTED AURORA IN 2010 AT THE HERITAGE VILLAGE, WE REALLY SAW THAT ART SHOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY. AND THAT BECAME ONE OF OUR MAIN PURPOSES, THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE ONLY IN THE WALLS OF INSTITUTIONS, BUT SHOULD BE ON THE GROUNDS OF OUR CITIES, ON THE PLAZAS, STREETS, PARKS, EVERY CORNER THAT WE COULD TAKE ART TO. AND TECHNOLOGY WAS THAT CONDUIT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ART ANYWHERE WE WANTED TO. BUT WE ALSO SAW THAT IT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MILLIONS OF PEOPLES AND DOLLARS TO THE CITY OF DALLAS. BECAUSE WE REALIZED WE DID NOT HAVE A SIGNATURE EVENT THAT BROUGHT AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HERE AND INVITED OUR CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT PAYING AN EXORBITANT TICKET PRICE. SO WE WANTED TO ESTABLISH AURORA AS A DALLAS SIGNATURE EVENT. NEXT SLIDE. OVER THE YEARS, DALLAS AURORA HAS HAD OVER 200,000 VISITORS TO OUR PROGRAMS. WE'VE COMMISSIONED OVER 413 ARTISTS FROM OVER 70 COUNTRIES ON OVER 200 ACRES OF PUBLIC LAND IN DALLAS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS. WE HIT A PINNACLE MOMENT IN 2015. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WHEN WE FILLED THE ARTS DISTRICT FROM KLYDE WARREN PARK ALL THE WAY TO ONE ARTS PLAZA WITH THE HELP OF VALETTA LILL , THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, WE HIT OVER 52,000 PEOPLE IN ONE NIGHT FOR ONE EVENT. NEXT SLIDE. BUT IT'S ABOUT THE MEDIA, AND IT'S ABOUT THE IMPRESSIONS AND ABOUT HOW MUCH ATTENTION WE'RE GARNERING AND HOW MANY PEOPLE HEAR THE NAME DALLAS AND AURORA TOGETHER. AND OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, WE'VE HAD OVER 90 MILLION MEDIA IMPRESSIONS DUE TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND OUR COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES. NEXT SLIDE. BUT WE ALSO HAD OVER A MILLION LIKES, 200 I'M SORRY, A MILLION SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS, 202,000 LIKES AND 23,000 SHARES FOR ONLY ONE EVENT. AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE AN EVENT THAT COULD GO VIRAL AND HAVE EVERYBODY HEAR THE NAME DALLAS. NEXT SLIDE. BUT WE ARE JUST AT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG RIGHT NOW. AND WE NEED SOMETHING TO TAKE US INTO THE NEXT STRATOSPHERE. THERE 'RE TWO EVENTS THAT YOU CAN COMPARE AURORA TO GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT LIGHT, VIDEO AND SOUND AND TECHNOLOGY AND ART ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IN OUR ECOSYSTEMS. THE FIRST ONE IS NUIT BLANCHE OUT OF TORONTO. THIS WAS STARTED IN 2006 AND HAS LED TO OVER $489 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE CITY OF TORONTO. [00:05:04] AND THIS EVENT IS COMPLETELY FREE AND ONE NIGHT A YEAR. NEXT SLIDE. THE OTHER EVENT IS CALLED VIVD SYDNEY. AND IN 2023, THEY HIT RECORD ATTENDANCE WITH 3,280,000 PEOPLE COMING TO SYDNEY FOR THEIR EVENT. SO THERE IS GROWTH, OPPORTUNITY AND A HUGE DESIRE FOR THE ARTS TO BE FOR EVERYONE ON THE STREETS AND IN OUR CITY. NEXT SLIDE. WE THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE OR WE'RE SITTING IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT NOW'S THE TIME FOR DALLAS TO HAVE AN EVENT THAT CAN BECOME A CORNERSTONE NAME FOR OUR CITY. AND DALLAS AURORA COULD JOIN THE GREATS LIKE NUIT BLANCHE, VIVID SYDNEY, THE BOSTON MARATHON. THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE. THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL. AUSTIN CITY LIMITS AND SXSW . ALL OF THESE HAVE CHANGED THE LEGACY OF THOSE CITIES, AND WE NEED SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO EVOLVE OUR LEGACY AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE. BUT IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE JUST THROW NOT OUT AN EVENT THAT COMES AND GOES ONCE A YEAR OR IS ONLY DESIGNED TO INCREASE TOURISM FOR OUR CITY. WE NEED TO HAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR CITY'S QUALITY OF LIFE, AND IT JUST CAN'T BE IN ONE SPACE OR ONE DISTRICT. WE NEED TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS THAT CAN IMPACT EVERY DISTRICT IN DALLAS. SO IN 2020, AURORA CREATED OUR ANNUAL PROGRAM OF EVENTS THAT HAVE A PURPOSE AND FOCUS ON CREATING LASTING CHANGE, LIKE VIDEO ART NIGHT, WHERE EVERY APRIL WE PROJECT THE WORK OF 11 REGIONAL ARTISTS IN A PUBLIC SPACE THAT CREATES CULTURAL ACCESS POINTS AND NEW FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR DALLAS ARTISTS. NEXT SLIDE. WE ALSO IN 2020 CREATED ARTQUEST, AND ARTQUEST INSPIRES A JOURNEY ACROSS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE UNEQUAL ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND ART. NEXT SLIDE. AND WE CREATED ARTQUEST NOT JUST BY OURSELVES, BUT WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH PARTNERS IN THE PLEASANT GROVE, BACHMAN LAKE AND SOUTH DALLAS COMMUNITIES. WE JOINED LOS PRIMOS, DALLAS, JUBILEE PARK, FAIR PARK FIRST, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, RIVER RANCH, TEXAS HORSE PARK, DALLAS PARKS AND RECREATION, DALLAS OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, THE TRINITY RIVER AUDUBON CENTER, PLEASANT GROVE UNIDOS, BONTON FARMS, GALLERY 86, THE WALLS PROJECT, OUTLOUD, LUMIN EDUCATION AND EQUEST SO WE COULD CREATE A COMMUNITY PROGRAM THAT WAS WITH THE COMMUNITY BY THE COMMUNITY. I'D ALSO LIKE TO INVITE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO OUR NEXT ARTQUEST ON JUNE 21ST AT GALLERY 86 IN PLEASANT GROVE. SO YOU CAN COME AND DISCOVER A SCAVENGER HUNT THAT WE BUILT WITH THREE OTHER PLACE BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES THAT A LOT OF US HAVE NEVER BEEN TO IN PLEASANT GROVE. NEXT SLIDE. BUT NONE OF THIS COULD BE JUST POSSIBLE WITH A COUPLE ARTISTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE AURORA BOARD TODAY BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THEM, THEY'VE BEEN CHAMPIONING OUR ORGANIZATION AND LEADING US INTO WHERE WE HAVE, LIKE SO MANY OF US, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD IS HOW WE GET THINGS DONE. WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE FROM FOUNDATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES, OUR CITY, CIVIC CENTERS, DEVELOPMENT LAWYERS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ALL WITH THEIR HANDS ON THE WHEEL, STEERING WHAT AURORA'S TO BECOME AND WHERE DALLAS IS GOING IN ITS FUTURE. BUT PROGRAMS LIKE THIS TAKE DONORS, SPONSORS AND PARTNERS JUST TO READ A FEW. THE MCDERMOTT FOUNDATION, THE J. ERIK JOHSSON FUND, THE ADDY FOUNDATION, THE LEVY FAMILY FOUNDATION, AND THE THOMA FOUNDATION HAVE ALL SUPPORTED US FINANCIALLY. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS LIKE VISIT DALLAS, DOWNTOWN DALLAS, INC. OFFICE OF ARTS AND CULTURE, DFW AIRPORT, AND DART. WE'VE HAD GREAT CORPORATE SUPPORT BACK IN THE DAYS LIKE AT&T, AMERICAN AIRLINES, RELIANT, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, HOQUE GLOBAL, COMERICA BANK, AND PNC BANK. SOME OF THE PROGRAMING PARTNERS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST ARE THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, BRUCE WOOD DANCE, CEDARS UNION, DALLAS CULTURAL CENTERS, DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND REC CENTERS, THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART AND THE DALLAS CONTEMPORARY TO READ A FEW. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SOME OF THE KINDEST WORDS I'VE EVER HEARD WERE SPOKEN BY OUR FORMER MAYOR, MIKE RAWLINGS, WHO SAID, AURORA IS A CORNERSTONE EVENT FOR THE ARTS IN NORTH TEXAS. [00:10:01] IT HAS RESHAPED ART VIEWING EXPERIENCES FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND SHOWS THAT DALLAS IS A UNIQUE CULTURAL DESTINATION THAT CAN HOST AN INTERNATIONAL ART EVENT OF THIS MAGNITUDE. JENNIFER SCRIPPS SAYS DOWNTOWN DALLAS IS A PLACE KNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE SKYLINE, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE LIGHTS THAT MAKES US STAND OUT. DOWNTOWN DALLAS, INC. HAS BEEN PROUD TO WORK WITH AURORA AND BRING THEIR BEAUTIFUL AND INTERACTIVE, LIGHT-BASED ART TO LIFE HERE AND FURTHERMORE, TO SUPPORT THE ARTISTS WHO CONTINUE SO MUCH TO DALLAS WHO CONTRIBUTE SO MUCH TO DALLAS. LILY WEISS ONCE SAID, ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE ASPECTS OF AURORA IS ITS VISIONARY APPROACH TO REFLECTING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH IMMERSIVE PUBLIC ART. EVERY EXPERIENCE IS TRANSFORMATIVE AND ENGAGES AUDIENCES TO THINK IN NEW WAYS. NEXT SLIDE. SO WE HAVE A 15-YEAR HISTORY, BUT IT IS TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS IF WE WERE TO JOIN THE GREAT EVENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE NEED TO SET THE ATTENDEE THE FOOTPRINT AND THE TIMELINE FOR TRUE GROWTH AND FINANCIAL IMPACT TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITY. WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A TRUE LONG-TERM COMMITMENT AND A CITY ALLIANCE WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS SO WE CAN IDENTIFY THE FUNDING AND THE RESOURCE SHARING THAT WE CAN HAVE TO GROW THIS EVENT AND THE BRAND AND COMMUNITY OF DALLAS AURORA. WE NEED A NATIONAL COMMUNICATION PLAN, ONE THAT IS NOT GEARED TOWARDS CONVENTIONS NOR TO THE DRIVE THROUGH MARKET. BUT HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE HERE FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD? BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAM. SO WE'RE NOT JUST AN EVENT THAT COMES IN HERE AND SIZZLES OUT AFTER THREE NIGHTS OR WEEKS OF PROGRAMING. OUR BOARD AND I BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER, DALLAS CAN MAKE THE ARTS ACCESSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. KING. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE? YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MISS SCHULTZ, THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO AURORA A FEW YEARS, AND I'M WONDERING, I THINK THAT IN TERMS OF YOUR GOALS, WHICH I DIDN'T SEE WHAT THE GOALS ARE SPECIFICALLY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE ON WHEN EVENTS ARE ORGANICALLY SUPPORTED, THEN THE TOURISTS TEND TO FOLLOW, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOU'RE THE EIFFEL TOWER OR SOMETHING, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE LOCALS AVOID. SO WHAT I WONDER IS I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC THAT YOU'RE SPENDING REAL TIME IN PLEASANT GROVE, BACHMAN LAKE AND SOUTH DALLAS. BUT I WONDER WHETHER OR NOT, IF YOU'VE GOT A GOAL TO HIT THAT, YOU KNOW, 50, 2000 EVERY NIGHT, HOW YOUR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT YOUR BOARD IS ESTABLISHING TO REALLY MAKE THIS A BELOVED AND ANTICIPATED COMMUNITY BASED EVENT, WHICH THEN THROUGH THEIR POSTINGS AND OTHER THINGS, THEN IT BECOMES A REALLY VITAL TOURIST EVENT. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO WE HAVE BEEN SO FORTUNATE, LIKE SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS, TO SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC. AND THAT WAS WHAT WE DID IS CREATE A COMMUNITY PROGRAMING THAT COULD MAKE US A LARGER ORGANIZATION WITH DEEPER IMPACT. AND SO NOW WE ARE THINKING ABOUT GROWTH. AND THAT IS A PART VERY MUCH OF WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY IS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND ORGANIC IS A GREAT AND FANTASTIC THING, BUT WE HAVE TO GO WITH MORE STRATEGY NOW. ALIGNING WITH OUR CITY, OUR TOURISM BUREAUS AND OUR MAJOR PARTNERS, BECAUSE FOR SO MANY YEARS, NOT EVEN HAVING AN EVENT WASN'T EVEN UNDERSTOOD AS AN ISSUE. SO I BELIEVE TODAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT OUR CITY UNDERSTANDS A CORNERSTONE EVENT IS VERY VITAL TO OUR CITY'S GROWTH. AND SO NOW OUR BOARD IS ALIGNING WITH PARTNERS TO NOT JUST HAVE A ONE AND DONE KIND OF PARTNERSHIP, BUT TO BUILD MORE LONG LASTING IMPACT. SO TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS WE'RE LOOKING FOR LONGER TERM COMMITMENTS, BUILDING IN WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND HELPING THAT OUR CITY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ALL PLAY A PART IN BRINGING THIS TOGETHER, NOT JUST THE ARTISTS WHO HAVE ORGANICALLY GROWN IT WITH THE WITH A SMALL ORGANIZATION AND BOARD. BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO REALLY RAMP UP, SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUPPORT, SHARE RESOURCES, AND TACKLE THE ISSUE OF NOT HAVING A CORNERSTONE EVENT TOGETHER. SO IN ADDITION TO OBVIOUS SUPPORT AND PROMOTION THROUGH THE CITY'S COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE SEEKING TODAY IN THE WAY THAT COUNCIL CAN HELP? [00:15:05] I'M NOT SURE I HAVE THAT ANSWER TODAY FOR YOU. RIGHT. IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK. TODAY I WANTED TO BRING AWARENESS TO YOU, BUT I KNOW THE MAIN THING THAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW THE CITY AND THE COUNCIL CAN FORM THE REVENUE CHANNELS FOR US, THE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND AN ALLIANCE THAT SAYS THE CITY OF DALLAS AND AURORA ARE PARTNERED TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. ANYONE ELSE? YES, MISS WILLIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS UPDATE. SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT REVENUE CHANNELS. SO YOU WERE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THE CITY AND COUNCIL CAN CREATE THE REVENUE CHANNELS? FOR US TO IDENTIFY WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE, NOT CREATE THEM BUT BEFORE WE CAN GO AND SAY THESE ARE THE CHANNELS THAT WE HAVE. OKAY, IN ADDITION TO SPONSORSHIPS THE BOARD HAS GENERATED. YES. OKAY SO AND I HAD ASKED MISS PHILIP ABOUT WHAT THE CITY FUNDS. SO IT'S A $25,000 LINE ITEM AND IT WAS IN 2024. AND THEN WE ALSO HELP BY WAIVING PERMITTING FEES AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH BARRICADES AND PARKING METERS. SO TELL ME ABOUT THE PARKING METER ASSISTANCE THAT THE CITY GIVES. YEAH, IT'S JUST THROUGH THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS. YOU KNOW, I THINK A BIG PART OF THIS IS ALIGNING WITH THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND CLEARING SOME HURDLES AND HELPING US OUT. MUCH LIKE PARKING METERS IS JUST HOODING ON THE STREETS, RIGHT? IT'S A SIMPLE THING, BUT MOST OF THE TIMES WE THEY CHARGE US TO HOOD THOSE METERS AND BLOCK OFF PARKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO IT'S A THING LIKE BARRICADES, METER HOODING THAT THEY HAVE HELPED IN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR US. SO IT ALL ENDS UP BEING JUST A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS SOMETIMES WHICH IS GRATEFUL. BUT WE ALL KNOW THESE EVENTS COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PULL OFF. SO THE CITY FORGOES PARKING REVENUE AND THEN ALSO WHATEVER THE FEE WOULD BE TO, TO YOU KNOW, NOT CHARGE FOR THOSE METERS. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. DURING OUR EVENT DAYS. OKAY. AND THE EXCHANGE IS THE NOTORIETY, THE INCOME GENERATED BY THOSE WHO MAY COME INTO TOWN OR. CORRECT. WE HOPE TO GROW IT INTO. CORRECT ABSOLUTELY IT COMES FROM THAT, THE ATTENTION, THE PEOPLE COMING IN FORWARD, BACK AND FORTH. SO THAT IS EXACTLY CORRECT. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. MR. RESENDEZ VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND ALSO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASKED. I WANTED TO KIND OF GET ON HERE AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN A PRESENTATION THAT HAS SO MANY MENTIONS OF GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTHEAST DALLAS, PLEASANT GROVE, AND DISTRICT 5. SO I DO WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THAT, BUT I AM ALSO ALIGNED WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN TERMS OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASKED. BUT MOVING FORWARD, IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT I CAN SUPPORT AND THAT WE CAN SUPPORT, BE HAPPY TO DO SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, MR. KING, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE NATURE OF THIS SIGNATURE EVENT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT IT WOULD JUST BE AN EXPANSION OF ONE OF YOUR PREVIOUS EVENTS OR A WHOLE NEW? DO YOU HAVE A VISION FOR A WHOLE NEW TYPE OF EVENT? WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CORNERSTONE BIANNUAL EVENT CAN BECOME THAT SIGNATURE EVENT FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS. USING TECHNOLOGY TO TAKE THE ARTS TO OUR CITY AND TO THE STREETS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE OF WHAT WE DO. AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CORNERSTONE EVENT IS GEARED UP, HAS THE APPETITE TO BECOME THAT THAT EVENT. SO NO, WE DO NOT THINK IT'S TIME TO REINVENT THE WHEEL, BUT TO BRING TRUE PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION AND THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY, MR. KING. APPRECIATE THE TIME Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY. OUR NEXT ITEM, B, IS THE SMART S UMMER OF DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY. GOOD MORNING THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GOOD MORNING. HEATHER LOWE, INTERIM LIBRARY DIRECTOR, AND I AM JOINED BY MELISSA DEASE, INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, [00:20:04] LATARI PRATER OUR YOUTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR, AND KRISTEN CALVERT, OUR PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATOR. AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MELISSA FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AGAIN, I AM MELISSA DEASE, THE INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND SMART SUMMER IS THE LIBRARY'S ANNUAL SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM, AND I'LL LOVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE DETAILS FOR THIS YEAR. NEXT SLIDE. SO THE PROGRAM RUNS MAY 31ST THROUGH AUGUST 9TH. IT IS COMPLETELY PRIVATELY FUNDED. THE FRIENDS OF THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISE FOR IT EVERY YEAR, AND WE ATTRACT SEVERAL REGULAR SPONSORS EVERY YEAR. EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE IDEA OF SUMMER READING, BUT A FEW YEARS AGO WE CHANGED IT UP TO SUMMER LEARNING, AND WE FOLLOW THE ACRONYM OF SMART, WHICH IS SCIENCE, MATH, ART, READING AND TECHNOLOGY. SO ALL SUMMER LONG, WE DO HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND BRING IN GUEST PERFORMERS AT EVERY LIBRARY LOCATION AS WELL AS THE READING PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE. SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE REASONS TO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SWITCHING TO A LEARNING PROGRAM INSTEAD OF JUST A READING PROGRAM, WE'RE ADDRESSING THE SAME IDEA OF THE LEARNING LOSS THAT HAPPENS DURING THE SUMMER, NOT JUST LOSS IN READING SKILLS, BUT ALSO LOSS IN MATH AND SCIENCE SKILLS. WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL, THEY'RE NOT PRACTICING WHAT THEY LEARNED. SO COME TO THE LIBRARY, EXERCISE THOSE SKILLS, AND HAVE SOME FUN AT THE SAME TIME. THE LIBRARY'S SUMMER PROGRAMS ALSO PROVIDE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS RIGHT THERE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. IN FACT, MANY OF OUR PARTNERS SEEK US OUT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME KIDS WHO, FOR FINANCIAL OR TRANSPORTATION REASONS, CAN'T GET TO THEM AT WHEREVER THEY'RE LOCATED IN THE CITY. AND SO THEY BRING THE PROGRAMS TO THE LIBRARY THAT IS RIGHT THERE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AT A PLACE THAT THEY KNOW AND TRUST AND FEEL SAFE. ESPECIALLY AROUND READING. THE SMART SUMMER PROGRAM SUPPORTS DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND THOSE KIDS WHO MIGHT EXPERIENCE READING TRAUMA, YOU KNOW, IF A CHILD HAS A HARD TIME READING DURING SCHOOL, THEY CAN REALLY LEARN TO HATE READING AND FEEL VERY YOU KNOW, HAVE VERY LOW CONFIDENCE AROUND READING AND AS PART OF THE SMART SUMMER PROGRAM, YOU GET TO READ WHATEVER YOU WANT TO READ AND THAT REALLY, AND THEN YOU'RE INCENTIVIZED TO KEEP READING ALL SUMMER. THE PHOTOGRAPH ON THIS SLIDE IS ACTUALLY A YOUNG MAN FROM LAST SUMMER WHO WON A GRAND PRIZE, AND HIS FATHER TOLD US THAT HIS SON SUFFERED FROM DYSLEXIA AND HAD REALLY STRUGGLED WITH READING ALL YEAR LONG AND PARTICIPATING IN SMART SUMMER MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR HIM, AND IMPROVING HIS READING AND KEEPING THAT THAT READING PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. BUT ALSO SMART SUMMER IS OPEN TO ALL AGES, AND WE ADDED THAT ADULT COMPONENT SEVERAL YEARS AGO BECAUSE KIDS NEED THAT EXAMPLE OF THEIR PARENTS OR THEIR OTHER ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES GIVING THE EXAMPLE THAT READING IS IMPORTANT, THAT READING IS A FAMILY VALUE. AND WE DO SEE THAT, THAT FAMILIES ALL PARTICIPATE TOGETHER. NEXT SLIDE. SO HERE'S A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THINGS LOOKED LIKE LAST SUMMER. OVER 9000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS REGISTERED TO TRACK THEIR READING AND LEARNING OVER THE SUMMER. WHICH IS ABOUT THE AVERAGE PLUS OR MINUS A LITTLE EVERY YEAR. BUT IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHO REGISTERED. THERE WERE MORE THAN 2000 LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND NEARLY 42,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THOSE EVENTS AT ALL 30 OF OUR LOCATIONS. IN ADDITION, WE SERVE FREE SUMMER LUNCHES AT ABOUT HALF OF OUR LOCATIONS EACH SUMMER. AND LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY SERVED NEARLY 16,000 FREE MEALS TO CHILDREN. NEXT SLIDE. SO REAL QUICK THIS IS HOW IT WORKS. [00:25:01] WE ASK THOSE WHO REGISTER TO TRACK EVERYTHING THAT THEY READ, DISCOVER AND CREATE. SO FOR CHILDREN THAT MEANS READING 20 MINUTES A DAY OR BEING READ TO OR LISTENING TO AN AUDIO BOOK, ETC. WE ASK THEM TO DISCOVER WHICH ARE THINGS LIKE ATTENDING AN EVENT, LEARNING ABOUT A NEW TOPIC, VISITING A NEW PARK, LEARNING HOW TO ROLLER SKATE, AND WE ASKED THEM TO CREATE. THIS IS WHERE THEY MAKE SOMETHING, WRITE A POEM, MAKE APPLESAUCE. AND THESE ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT KIDS TOLD US THEY DID LAST SUMMER. NEXT SLIDE. SO KIDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ 20 MINUTES A DAY FOR TEN DAYS, DISCOVER OR LEARN TEN NEW THINGS, CREATE OR MAKE TEN NEW THINGS. AND THEN FOR EVERY TEN DAYS OR TEN ACTIVITIES, THEY'LL EARN A FREE BOOK OF THEIR CHOICE. WE HAVE A BROAD SELECTION THAT THE KIDS GET TO CHOOSE FROM THAT THEIRS TO KEEP, OF COURSE. AND THEN THE KIDS WHO COMPLETE 30 DAYS AND 20 ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER ARE ENTERED IN THE GRAND PRIZE DRAWING. NEXT SLIDE. FOR ADULTS. IT'S VERY SIMILAR, BUT WE DO ASK YOU TO READ A BIT MORE SINCE YOU ARE A GROWN UP. READ 30 MINUTES A DAY FOR 15 DAYS, DISCOVER OR LEARN FIVE NEW THINGS, CREATE OR MAKE FIVE NEW THINGS, AND THEN ADULTS GET A FREE BOOK OF THEIR CHOICE FOR EVERY 15 DAYS OF READING, AND THEY CAN PICK A PRIZE FROM THE PRIZE BAG FOR EVERY FIVE ACTIVITIES. THE PRIZE BAG ARE THINGS LIKE STICKERS AND MAGNETS AND FUN THINGS LIKE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN THERE'S GRAND PRIZES FOR ADULTS AS WELL. THOSE WHO COMPLETE 45 DAYS OF READING AND TEN ACTIVITIES ARE ENTERED IN THE ADULT GRAND PRIZE DRAWING. NEXT SLIDE. AS I MENTIONED, OUR PROGRAMS ARE. EVENTS ARE A HUGE PART OF THE SUMMER. FOR KIDS, WE HAVE THINGS LIKE HANDS-ON STEM ACTIVITIES. WE BRING IN LIVE ANIMALS, MAGICIANS, MUSICIANS AND, YOU KNOW, DANCE INSTRUCTORS, SCIENCE DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRAMS FROM PARTNERS LIKE THE PEROT MUSEUM AND THE DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART. AND AS I MENTIONED THAT ABOUT HALF OF OUR LOCATIONS HAVE FREE SUMMER LUNCHES AND SNACKS PROVIDED THROUGH EDUCATION PV AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. NEXT SLIDE. THE LIBRARY HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. TEN OF OUR LIBRARY BRANCHES ARE HOSTING PKR SUMMER CAMPS. AS PART OF THOSE CAMPS, THE KIDS HAVE REGULAR LIBRARY TIME, SO THEY ARE GETTING THAT EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE ALL REGISTERED FOR SMART SUMMER AS WELL. THE LIBRARY IS ALSO A PARTNER IN THE PKR'S TEEN ALL ACCESS PASS AND IN JULY, TEENS WHO HAVE THE PAST AND BRING IT TO THE LIBRARY GET THEIR CHOICE OF A DIY KIT, WHICH INCLUDES ALL OF THE SUPPLIES FOR A PROJECT THAT THEY CAN DO AT HOME. NEXT SLIDE. WE ALSO KIND OF AMP UP OUR ADULT PROGRAMING IN THE SUMMER, FOCUSING PARTICULARLY AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. WE HAVE A SERIES CALLED SUMMER SATURDAYS AT CENTRAL, WHICH REALLY HELP ACTIVATE THE SPACES AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY AND ATTRACT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DOWNTOWN. JUST THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE HAD A MINI-RENAISSANCE FAIR THAT WE TIED TO SHAKESPEARE. SINCE WE ARE THE OWNERS OF SHAKESPEARE'S FIRST FOLIO, COMING UP, WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL NATURE EXPO. A JANE AUSTEN EVENT IS COMING UP, AN EVENING AT PEMBERLEY. AND THEN IN AUGUST, WE HAVE A BOOK FAIR CALLED GET LIT. IN 2024 MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE SUMMER SATURDAYS PROGRAMS AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY. NEXT SLIDE. AND THAT WAS ALL THAT I HAD. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, MELISSA. ANY QUESTIONS BY THE COMMITTEE? YES. THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO JULY SO I CAN DO MY READING. SO MY QUESTION ON THE ADULT CHALLENGES, DOES OUR AGENDAS COUNT FOR THE 30 MINUTE? I'M JOKING. NICE TRY NO [LAUGHTER]. OKAY. YEAH. BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED THAT WHEN YOU DO TECHNICAL READING, THEN YOU GO READ FOR FUN. IT'S SO MUCH EASIER. SO I APPLAUD THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS FOR STICKING WITH IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING. [00:30:06] AND SO WITH THAT, ARE WE EVALUATING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS OR THEIR SCHOOLS THAT THERE IS NOT THE SUMMER SLIDE HAPPENING? AND SO THAT WAY MAYBE AS WE GO THROUGH NEXT YEAR MAKING TWEAKS, MAYBE BECAUSE SO IF WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT LEARNING LOSS, THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE ACTUALLY HITTING, AND YOU CAN EVALUATE THAT FROM WHEN THEY LEAVE UNTIL WHEN THEY COME BACK. AND SO ARE WE. ARE WE CONNECTING WITH THOSE AND JUST BASICALLY DOING A SNAPSHOT OF THESE TEN KIDS WERE IN THE PROGRAM. CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE STILL DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING FOR THE SUMMER? SO WE HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT IN THE PAST, BUT FOR PRIVACY CONCERNS DISD WAS NOT REAL EAGER TO SHARE THAT KIND OF INFORMATION. BUT I DO KNOW ANECDOTALLY, FROM TALKING TO TEACHERS THAT THE TEACHERS CAN ABSOLUTELY TELL WHICH KIDS WERE READING OVER THE SUMMER AND WHICH ONES WERE NOT. BECAUSE I'M THINKING YOU COULD PROBABLY PULL THE DATA AND GET A SNAPSHOT. I MEAN, THE DISTRICT CAN REALLY HELP YOU. I USED TO WORK THERE, SO [LAUGHTER]. SURE. I MEAN, THEY CAN YOU CAN SAY THESE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT WERE PART OF IT. AND BECAUSE THE WHOLE POINT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING THEM, MAKE SURE THAT KIDS DON'T LOSE. AND SO I WOULD GO BACK TO THEIR YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS THAT RUN THEIR DATA AND JUST SAY, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PROVIDING WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU START ON DAY ONE WITH KIDS THAT ARE READY TO LEARN. YOU KNOW, THE SLIDE DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY HELP THAT YOU NEED ON THAT, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM, IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT, WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME METRICS TO SHOW THAT IT'S ACTUALLY WORKING. AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED THAT. AND OR MAYBE WE TEST THEM AT THE BEGINNING. RIGHT. AND KNOW THAT THIS IS THE LEVEL. AND THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE TO SEE IF THEY DIDN'T BECAUSE THE WHOLE POINT IS NOT TO LOSE. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY MOVE FORWARD, WHICH WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IS THAT THEY DON'T GO BACKWARD. AND SO I WOULD TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT YOU COULD EVALUATE THE PROGRAM. SO THAT WAY YOU COULD CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT WHICH THEN GIVES YOU MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. YEAH. OKAY. AND SO, BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED HERE A WHILE, HOW IS LIKE THE MAYOR'S READING PROGRAM THE SUMMER, I MEAN, THE SMARTS. IT WAS AT SMART CITIES OR SOMETHING. SUMMER OF LEARNING OR WHATEVER. ARE THOSE NOW ALL BEING MORPHED INTO THIS, OR ARE THEY STILL THEIR OWN SEPARATE ONE? SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, THE MAYOR'S SMART SUMMER OF SAFETY? NO. OH, OH, THIS IS THE SAME THING. OKAY. WE CHANGED THE NAME. THERE USED TO BE A MAYOR'S SUMMER READING PROGRAM. YES. NOW IT'S SMART SUMMER WITH MAYOR JOHNSON, RIGHT [LAUGHTER]. AND THEN IT WAS OKAY. AND THEN THERE WAS LIKE THE SUMMER OF LEARNING. I THINK THAT WE TRIED TO CREATE WHERE YOU WENT TO THE AVIATION AND YOU DID ALL THESE DIFFERENT AND I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, ARE WE STILL DOING ALL THOSE, OR IS THIS NOW ALL IN ONE UNDER LIBRARIES? AND YOU CAN FOLLOW UP AND LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF IT. BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHICH COMPONENT IS WHERE. SO BIG THOUGHT STILL KIND OF COORDINATES THAT CITY OF LEARNING. OKAY. IT HAS KIND OF MORPHED OVER THE YEARS THAT THEY ARE MORE AND THEY'RE DOING MORE ANALYSIS [LAUGHTER]. OKAY. AND, YOU KNOW, WE TELL THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH ATTENDANCE WE HAVE AT OUR PROGRAMS. AND THEIR VARIOUS PARTNERS ALSO REPORT THAT INFORMATION. AND THEY KIND OF SO THEY TRY TO GIVE US A SNAPSHOT OF THE CITY. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BLACKMON. MISS SCHULTZ. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THE THINGS THAT, THAT BUILD OUR SOUL OF OUR CITY ARE OFTEN THE MOST THREATENED. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AS OUR UNSUNG HEROES AND ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES IN THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE LIBRARIES AND THEIR PROGRAMS, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN READ, WE CERTAINLY WON'T HAVE A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE. SO EVEN IF WE DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR SOUL, WE HAVE TO AT LEAST CARE ABOUT HOW WE BUILD OUR ECONOMY. SO THANK YOU. YES. PLEASE GO AHEAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I AGREE WITH MISS BLACKMON. I HAD MADE A NOTE ABOUT CAN WE BENCHMARK? I MEAN, IF WE CAN'T GET THE DATA FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAYBE THERE'S A WAY GOING IN AND GOING OUT. BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO HELPING US AS A CITY SPONSOR DOLLARS, THOSE WOULD BE SOME MEANINGFUL NUMBERS TO SHARE. AND THEN EVEN IF IT COMES DOWN TO JUST THE ANECDOTAL QUOTES FROM TEACHERS THAT SAY, I DEFINITELY KNOW THE KIDS THAT WERE PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN GENERATE THOSE PRIVATE DOLLARS TO HELP PROGRAMS LIKE THIS. AND SO I THINK ALL OF THAT WOULD BE VERY MEANINGFUL TO A CURRENT DONOR OR PROSPECTIVE DONOR. SO I WANT TO GO BACK TO PAGE FOUR. AND SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THESE 2024 RESULTS ARE THE SUMMER PROGRAM RESULTS, [00:35:05] 41,818 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ATTENDING 2000 PROGRAMS AT OUR LIBRARIES. CORRECT. I MEAN, THAT IS A MASSIVE HEADLINE. YOU ALL ALWAYS BLOW ME AWAY WITH THE PROGRAMING. HOW HOW INTERESTING AND RELEVANT IT IS. AND THEN HOW MANY PEOPLE PARTAKE IN IT. SO YOU'RE NOT JUST CREATING IT, YOU KNOW, TO, TO LOOK GOOD ON A FLIER. PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ENGAGING WITH IT AND SHOWING UP. AND I KNOW THAT'S HARD WORK. AND SO I AM JUST SO APPRECIATIVE TO YOU ALL BECAUSE TO THE POINT YOU MADE ABOUT THE YOUNG MAN, I MEAN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE THAT WILL KEEP SOMEONE ENGAGED OR REENGAGE THEM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT DEFINITELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. ON PAGE NINE WHERE WE TALK ABOUT LIBRARIES AND PARKS. AND I KNOW I SENT A QUESTION IN ABOUT THIS AND I'M SURE FOR THIS YEAR IT'S TOO LATE. BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE PROGRAMS WHERE WE PARTNER WITH PARKS, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TIED TO WHERE THERE IS A REC CENTER CLOSE BY? SO GO AHEAD. NOT NECESSARILY. I THINK IT IS MORE THAT WHERE THE PARK DEPARTMENT HAD A NEED. ISN'T THAT CORRECT, KRISTEN? YES. SO REALLY, THE PARK DEPARTMENT LOOKED AT OUR LOCATIONS AND SAID, WE REALLY NEED A CAMP HERE OR HERE. YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE SPACES THAT WE HAD. WELL, I'LL CHECK WITH THEM ON THAT. BUT, I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE A REC CENTER WHERE WE HAVE 40,000 PEOPLE WITH BRONX LEVEL DENSITY IN THREE CONSECUTIVE ARPA QUALIFYING TRACKS. SO, YOU KNOW, I MANAGED TO EKE OUT A SPRAY GROUND, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE COMING SOON. BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND WE DO HAVE THE GREAT PARK LIBRARY. AND SO, I THINK I WOULD LOVE TO GET THAT ON THE RADAR FOR NEXT YEAR AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO THAT. AND IF I JUST NEED TO GET THAT IN FRONT OF PARKS MORE, I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A LOCATION THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED DUE TO THAT DENSITY AND AT SUCH A NEEDY POPULATION. BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE THAT ON THE LIST NEXT YEAR, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE OTHER WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. YOU KNOW, WITH THE OTHER AREAS AND OTHER REC CENTERS I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS WILLIS. MR. GRACEY. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS THERE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE AGE KIND OF GOING ALONG THAT SAME LINE OF KIND OF TRACKING THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE AND THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMS. DO YOU KNOW THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE PARTICIPANTS? AND THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT IS BECAUSE I THINK AS WE GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WAYS TO GET THE TEENS ENGAGED IN THIS. YOU KNOW, FROM A SUMMER OF SAFETY PERSPECTIVE AND ALL OF OUR FOCUS ON CVI PROGRAMS TO KIND OF HELP REDUCE SOME OF THEIR ISSUES, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE PROGRAMS TARGETING TEENS IF YOU DON'T HAVE THEM. AND IF YOU DO, I'D LOVE TO KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP AS COUNCIL MEMBERS GET MORE TEENS INVOLVED AND ENGAGED IN THESE PROGRAMS. SO DO YOU HAVE? YES. SO THE AVERAGE AGE WAS IN THIRD GRADE AND THE SECOND TOP WAS IN PRESCHOOL. OKAY ALL RIGHT. AND THEN WHAT ABOUT LIKE THE DIFFERENT MATH PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS. AND IS IT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER CAMP TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OR? NO, NOT AT ALL. OUR PROGRAMS ARE SEPARATE FROM THE SUMMER CAMPS PROGRAMS. PERFECT OKAY. AND SO FOR MATH, WE USE MATH IN THINGS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A PROGRAM WHERE YOU CREATE A ZIP LINE AND YOU HAVE TO MEASURE, YOU KNOW, THE ANGLE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, USING THE SKILLS WITHOUT IT FEELING LIKE CLASSROOM. GOT IT. UNDERSTOOD. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE. LET ME MAKE SURE. A LIST OF THOSE LIBRARIES WOULD BE GREAT AS WELL. W HERE THEY ARE PARTICIPATING, WHERE THE SUMMER CAMPS ARE HAPPENING. THE PKR'S CAMPS? YES. SURE. YEAH. IT'S WHITE ROCK HILLS, POLK-WISDOM, PLEASANT GROVE, GRAUWYLER PARK, SKYLINE, FOREST GREEN, DALLAS WEST, ARCADIA PARK, HAMPTON-ILLINOIS, AND PRAIRIE CREEK. ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR RESENDEZ. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION. TO ME, IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPACTFUL AND MEANINGFUL. WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW AS A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW CRITICAL LITERACY IS TO A CHILD'S FUTURE. AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT READING SAVES LIVES. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I SAY OFTEN, ESPECIALLY TO THE JUVENILES THAT I REPRESENT IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CASES. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE TO THEM ENOUGH HOW CRUCIAL READING IS TO AVOIDING THE PENITENTIARY. [00:40:04] STAYING ALIVE AND BECOMING SUCCESSFUL. THAT'S WHY PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE SO IMPORTANT. OUR LIBRARIES ARE VITAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN ACCESS AND LEARNING, WHEN ACCESS TO LEARNING, ENRICHMENT AND SAFE SPACES CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN A YOUNG PERSON'S LIFE. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT ALL CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE OR BACKGROUND, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, LEARN, AND GROW. SO ULTIMATELY, THIS IS MORE THAN JUST AN EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE. IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND THE LONG TERM WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES. SO I WANT TO THANK STAFF AND ALL THE PARTNERS WHO MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE. YOUR WORK IS HELPING TO SHAPE A STRONGER DALLAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. RESENDEZ. I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE PROGRAM. I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THE STATISTICS THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED. AND I'M WONDERING IS THERE AN EFFORT TO EXPAND THE REACH TO MORE KIDS, MORE PROGRAMS? WELL, I THINK THAT WE COULD ALWAYS OFFER MORE PROGRAMS AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS INCLUDE MORE KIDS. IT'S WE'VE KIND OF PLATEAUED, HONESTLY. WE GET ABOUT 9000 PLUS OR MINUS EVERY YEAR, REGARDLESS OF HOW BIG WE GET OR HOW MUCH WE PUSH IT. BUT THERE'S ALWAYS WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE KIDS OUT THERE THAT COULD PARTICIPATE FOR SURE. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE LIMITATIONS ON THAT OUTREACH? DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SATISFYING THE NEED OR IS THERE UNMET NEED THAT YOU COULD MEET WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES? IF I MAY IN GENERAL, THERE IS A DECLINE IN INTEREST IN READING AND INCLUDING SURVEYS THAT SHOW THAT PARENTS ACTUALLY HAVE LESS ENJOYMENT TODAY READING TO THEIR CHILDREN THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. SO IN SOME WAYS, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE PLATEAUED, I THINK IT DOES SHOW THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON MAINTAINING INTEREST, EVEN AS GENERAL INTEREST IN READING AND ATTENTION SPANS FOR READING ARE CONTINUED TO DECLINE. WE DO WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH DISD. WE ADVERTISE OUR PROGRAM THROUGH OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS. BUT WE CAN ALWAYS USE HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT. IN FACT, WE WILL BE ON UNIVISION IN A WEEK OR TWO TALKING ABOUT THE SUMMER PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS FREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR KIDS TO LEARN. SO WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM? I NOTED THAT YOU LISTED SEVERAL CORPORATE SPONSORS. IS THAT THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING, OR DO YOU ALSO RELY UPON GENERAL FUNDS? SO OUTSIDE OF STAFF TIME, WE RELY EXCLUSIVELY ON PRIVATE FUNDS RAISED BY OUR FRIENDS AT THE DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY. WELL, THAT'S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT USING TAXPAYERS FUNDING FOR THIS. SO I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT. IN THE INTEREST OF SPREADING THE WORD FURTHER, DO YOU HAVE A GRAPHIC OR A FLYER THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE TO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE COULD INCLUDE IN OUR NEWSLETTERS OR OTHER COMMUNICATIONS? YES WE DO. WE SHARE THOSE WITH LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS, BUT WE WILL SHARE THOSE WITH ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AFTER THE MEETING. I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL I'LL BE GLAD TO PUT THAT IN MY COMMUNICATIONS TO CONSTITUENTS. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM C. THIS IS A BRIEFING MEMO FOR WRR AND THE TOWER LEASE RENEWAL. MISS PHILIPPE, ARE YOU AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE? AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DID YOU? ANYBODY? NO. OKAY. I GUESS YOU DRAW A PASS. BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND THEN FINALLY OUR FORECAST ITEM D ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FORECAST? AND I'M ADJOURNING THE QUALITY OF LIFE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.