Go Time in Fort Worth with Mayor Mattie Parker

As Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker launches season two of her podcast, Go Time, she share a little bit about what's been keeping her busy this year and dives into some of her top priorities for 2025. Mayor Parker discusses the following topics in this solo episode. 

• 2026 Bond Update
  • Learn more about the process and view an early and evolving list of proposed projects for the 2026 bond program here.
• Expanding Green Space and Good Natured
  • Mayor Parker launched Good Natured in 2023 to preserve Fort Worth’s natural heritage, protect its water supply, and improve our park system to meet the growing needs of our community now and in the future.
• Prioritizing Public Safety
  • Learn more about the integration of EMS system, MedStar, within the Fort Worth Fire Department.
• Education and Workforce Opportunities
  • The Mayor’s Council on Education & Workforce launched in 2022 to influence and enhance educational programs and career pathways in Fort Worth public schools to help prepare students for their future careers, including careers that help meet the current and future needs of business and industry in Fort Worth and North Texas. More on the Council and the Mayor's Where Achievement Begins event here.
• Maternal and Infant Health
  • In 2022, Mayor Parker convened a coalition comprised of major local hospital system leaders, health care providers, and philanthropic partners who are committed to improving maternal and infant health in our city. More on the initiative here.

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In the Go Time podcast, Mayor Mattie Parker sits down with Fort Worth’s innovators, business leaders, and changemakers; shares what’s on her mind as Mayor of one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the nation; and brings together differing viewpoints to have conversations on topics that matter.  

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Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Huge thanks to Fort Worth artist Grady Spencer for letting us use his song "Things to Do" in the podcast. Be sure to check out Grady Spencer & the Work's music wherever you listen. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Kinsey Clemmer, Alicia Ortega, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Cover photo credit: Crystal Wise 

On April 25, at Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker’s 3rd annual “Where Achievement Begins: Mayor’s Celebration for Workforce-Ready Graduates,” more than 160 local graduating seniors were honored with the Mayor’s Achievement Award in recognition of their work to achieve workforce readiness skills, professional certificates, and internship experience in addition to high school diplomas. To discuss how these programs and opportunities have impacted their lives and futures, NBC 5’s Deborah Ferguson hosted a panel conversation at the event between Mayor Parker, an honoree from Fort Worth ISD, Rolando Jaramillo, and a recent graduate and T3 scholar, Lizbeth Maldonado.

During the panel, Mayor Parker discussed the ongoing work of the Mayor’s Council on Education & Workforce, a group launched in 2022 to influence and enhance educational programs and career pathways in Fort Worth public schools to help prepare students for their future careers and, including careers that help meet the current and future needs of business and industry in Fort Worth and North Texas.

Learn more about Mayor's Council on Education & Workforce and Where Achievement Begins.

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 12th largest city in the nation forward.

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Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

On Monday, May 13 Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, who chairs the U.S Conference of Mayors (USCM) Mayors and Police Chiefs Task Force, along with Fort Worth Police Chief Neil Noakes welcomed Mayors and Police Chiefs from across the United States to Fort Worth for the USCM Meeting of Mayors and Police Chiefs. Over the course of the day-long meeting, the mayors and police chiefs heard from foremost experts and engaged in discussion on the challenges and opportunities around public safety issues facing cities across the country, including officer staffing and retention, violent crime reduction strategies, the fentanyl crisis, and strengthening police-community relations.  

Among the more than 50 mayors and chiefs from around the country were Mayor of Kansas City Quinton Lucas and Mayor of Tampa Jane Castor, who joined Mayor Parker for a conversation about public safety in their own cities and what cities can learn from each other in becoming stronger and safer..

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

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Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker discusses five highlights from 2023: redistricting and an expanded City Council, new tax exemptions and the FY2023-2024 budget, explosive economic development growth, the launch of the Good Natured Fort Worth Greenspace Initiative, and innovative new investments in affordable housing efforts. Plus, a few items to look to in 2024: the Park, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan, 2050 Comprehensive Plan, and the move to Future City Hall.

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

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Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

Mayor Parker talks with Toby Owen, CEO of Presbyterian Night Shelter, and Kirsten Ham, VP of Career and Workforce Development of Presbyterian Night Shelter, about the success of the UpSpire program which provides steady employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, and larger efforts happening citywide to address shelter, workforce, and affordable housing needs.

Learn more about Upspire.

Learn more about Presbyterian Night Shelter.

Read: Fort Worth’s plan to tackle homelessness with expanded budget

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

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Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

Mayor Mattie Parker discusses her top budget priorities for the upcoming City of Fort Worth FY2024 budget discussions, which include public safety, exceptional city services, and green space, while ensuring the City reduces the property tax rate.

The Fort Worth City Manager is set to present the proposed budget to the Fort Worth City Council on Aug. 8. In the weeks that follow, there will be a series of meetings with the Council and community for feedback before the final budget for FY2024 is approved by City Council in September, taking effect Oct. 1.

Additionally, Mayor Parker outlined these top budget priorities in a memo to City Management. Read the full memo here.

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

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Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

Mayor Parker discusses the City Council's unanimous vote to approve a $20K increase in the Over 65 and Disability Residential Homestead Exemptions at the Fort Worth City Council on June 27, 2023 as well as several violent crime reduction initiatives ongoing this summer, including the One Second Collaborative and Fort Worth Safe.

Learn more:

• Council increases Over 65, Disability exemptions, easing tax burden
• Gun Lock Program aims to secure communities and prevent violence
• UWTC fill key positions for One Second Collaborative 
• Fort Worth violent crime down 13%, homicides fall 24.5%. City credits police initiative 

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

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Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

Mayor Parker discusses items from the Visit Fort Worth contract approved at the Fort Worth City Council on April 25, 2023 as well as the Where Achievement Begins celebration of workforce-ready graduates and early voting in local elections.

Learn more:

• Fort Worth school districts have a new goal: Boost career readiness by 10% in next year
• Funds to help spotlight film production and boost tourism
• 2023 General Election Information

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

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.

.

Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

Mayor Parker discusses items from the Fort Worth City Council on April 11, 2023: street racing concerns and FWPD response, the deal for a new Carhartt distribution center in Fort Worth, and newly-allocated funds to combat opioid crisis locally.

Learn more:

• Carhartt zips into Fort Worth with new distribution center
• Settlement funds will help combat opioid crisis locally

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

.

.

.

Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.

Mayor Parker discusses items from the Fort Worth City Council and Local Development Corporation Board meetings on March 23, 2023: $500,000 of operation funding over the next two years to establish The Fort Worth Entrepreneurship Center, $1.5 million incentives over several years for a electronic game design company, and formalizing the Innovation Districts Policy.

Learn more:

• Fort Worth council approves $1.5 million incentive package for video game company
• New districts promote innovation in Fort Worth
• Fort Worth Local Development Corporation Board Meeting

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A podcast hosted by Mayor Mattie Parker, Go Time takes a look at current city issues, innovative Fort Worth residents, and how we are moving the 13th largest city in the nation forward.

.

.

.

Learn more about Go Time and nominate a future Go Time guest at fortworthtexas.gov/gotime. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. 

Go Time is produced by staff here at the City of Fort Worth: Bethany Warner, Katy Reiss, and John-Michael Perkins.

Katy and John-Michael also produce our Water Utility’s podcast H2OMG, give it a listen.