Newly elected Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego spent her first full day as Mayor proclaiming Phoenix, “No Place for Hate,” and visiting with homeless youth at HomeBase Youth Services.
To begin the day, Mayor Gallego joined members from across the community to sign her first Mayoral Proclamation affirming Phoenix’s commitment to the principles established by the 2017 Mayor’s Compact. The Compact was established by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Anti-Defamation League to combat hate, extremism, and bigotry in cities across the country.
“I am honored to be here with the community leaders who have been champions for a stronger Phoenix, a Phoenix that embraces everyone regardless of how you choose to worship, the color of your skin, or who you choose to marry,” Gallego said. “We want a city that stands up for all of our residents and embraces our diversity to resolve challenges and fight hate within our community.”
Mayor Gallego was joined by members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Phoenix Pride, representatives of the Sikh and Muslim communities, the Phoenix Equal Opportunity Department and two chapters of the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.
Following this event, Mayor Gallego paid a visit to HomeBase Youth Services to meet firsthand with teens who have experienced homelessness in Phoenix. HomeBase provides support for youths who have left undesirable family environments, young adults who lack the experience needed to live independently, and youth who identify as LGBTQ.
Mayor Gallego was provided a tour of the dorm-style housing provided for the youth and met with residents of the community to discuss their experiences learning more about the issue of youth homelessness.
“It was really important for me to hear directly from young people in the program about what is working for them and what isn’t,” said Gallego. “I hope during my time as Mayor that we can support an increasing number of programs such as HomeBase that work to end homelessness.”
