Council issues proclamations honoring AIA Month, digital inclusion, childhood cancer awareness and retiring officials

The El Paso City Council opened its Sept. 29 session with a series of proclamations and recognitions honoring local organizations and public servants. Mayor Renard Johnson and council members proclaimed October as a month to celebrate architecture and design in El Paso and signed a proclamation inviting the public to AIA El Paso’s monthlong schedule of tours, lectures, STEAM activities and walking tours. John Reyes, president of the American Institute of Architects, El Paso chapter, said the month will “feature tours, lectures, exhibitions and special events that highlight architectural excellence.”

Council also proclaimed Oct. 4–10, 2026, as Digital Inclusion Week and declared October Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Andrea Tiras, who leads regional nonprofit Borderplex Connect, told the council the coalition’s programs supply bilingual digital‑skills classes, distributed internet‑ready devices and hotspots, and are piloting a train‑the‑trainer model for community promotoras so residents in underserved neighborhoods can access online services.

In a healthcare recognition, the council designated September 2026 as El Paso Children’s Hospital Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the Southwest University Pediatric Blood and Cancer Center’s role as the region’s COG‑certified pediatric oncology center. Ali Valdispino, a pediatric oncology nursing director at El Paso Children’s, thanked the council and reminded members that local families can access clinical trials and pediatric oncology care within the region.

The council also honored Sergeant Jose Luis Magdaleno with a proclamation recounting his Vietnam service and the Army’s recent verification entitling him to a Purple Heart. Sergeant Magdaleno addressed the chamber, saying he appreciated the recognition after decades of service. Finally, the council marked the retirement of Robert Ashe, executive director and legal advisor for the City Employees Retirement Trust; Ashe thanked staff and trustees for their roles in pension governance and administration.

These items were ceremonial and required no council action beyond the proclamations and public acknowledgments.