San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
DATE: Monday, March 20, 2000
TIME: 5:00 PM
PLACE: James Denman Middle School
1. Call to Order and Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 5:25 p.m. Commissioners Present: Arreguin, Bonilla, Devine, Ervin, Matranga, Pang, Strohlin, Yee (8). Absent: Barker, Bolden-Kramer, Castillo, Cottonham, Geodzhayev, Lau, Talton-Alunan (7). Staff present: Jessica Smith.
2. Motion to approve agenda: Items B (Arts and Music Task Force), C (Youth Service Day), and F (commercial free schools) were removed because of Commissioner absences. Jesse requested that item D (Speak up for Kids Day) be removed.
3. Motion to approve minutes of March 6, 2000: Minutes were not approved because of lack of quorum.
4. Executive Committee Report: Jewnbug asked for Commissioner volunteers to help her table at the Young Women's Conference at Everett Middle School Saturday 3/25 from 10-4.
5. Committee Report Backs:
A. Education and the Workforce: Karissa reported that the committee is working on getting universal before and after school child care programs in all elementary schools. They plan to have a meeting with different organizations that work with child care sometime this month and to create a subcommittee with representatives from these agencies to work on this issue.
B. Juvenile Justice and Public Safety: Jewnbug reported that the Hear Us, Don't Fear Us event went well. The press conference also went well, although no major media outlets attended, so the committee is following up with a letter to the Bay Guardian about how mainstream media doesn't cover positive youth accomplishments. The committee is also brainstorming a possible task force focused on creating workshops for youth on knowing their rights, as well as training for police on adultism and communicating with youth. Their next meeting is Monday, 3/27 and interested people are encouraged to attend.
C. Public Health, Social Services, and the Environment: Jesse reported that the committee is planing a health fair on Saturday, May 13 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. They will have a resource fair and speakers on sexually transmitted disease, relationship issues, asthma, and other health concerns.
D. Housing, Transportation, and Land Use: Jewnbug reported that the committee is planning a Housing Youth Lobby Day for Wednesday, May 24, 2000 in Sacramento. Youth will travel to Sacramento to meet with legislators to talk about the need for more affordable housing. Interested youth should sign up.
E. Culture and Urban Environment: Ben reported that the committee is working on getting more arts and music programs in elementary schools, getting a skate park in San Francisco, and supporting Youth Space, a youth-run youth center in SOMA. Rebecca from the Excelsior Neighborhood Improvement group informed the committee that a skate park is currently planned for Crocker-Amazon park, and construction should begin within a month. She will follow up with the Youth Commission to provide a contact for more information at the Recreation and Parks Department.
6. Public Comment: A comment was made that more child care is needed in San Francisco, as well as more recreational opportunities for youth. Kareem expressed that Beacon Centers are too restrictive in their membership, so some interested youth cannot participate. A Youthline worker recommended calling Youthline because they have a large database of programs which will soon be online. Jewnbug suggested that teachers and counselors be encouraged to help with outreach and referrals for community programs. Kareem also emphasized the need to refer youth to a variety of programs so they can find one where they will be comfortable, because of ethnic makeup or other factors. Berta from YMAC talked about the significance of gentrification in her neighborhood; with lots of new expensive restaurants opening, her landlord knows she could get more for her apartment, so she doesn't treat her tenants well. Also, there are not enough park sin the Mission, and they are run-down and dangerous. Jewnbug encouraged her to come on the lobby day. Kareem noted that gentrification is starting to happen in Bayview also, with new access to public transportation, so folks need to be aware of what's happening in their communities before people start getting kicked out. Jesse also discussed the high asthma rate in Bayview, and stressed that Federal officials are not looking enough at this problem. He also encouraged youth organizations to form alliances to solve these problems, because they are all connected. Jewnbug stressed the importance of supporting mom and pop-owned businesses. Another participant suggested youth agencies like the Youth Commission need to do more outreach in communities to reach people who aren't already hooked into organizations, and reach out to people who speak other languages. The group discussed how to get people, especially hard-working parents, to come to meetings. Berta suggested reaching out to more youth, and having meetings on Saturdays during the day. Also, Ben commented that parents won't attend if they don't feel like changes are resulting from meetings, because otherwise they feel their time is wasted. Rebecca reminded folks that change is very slow and incremental, but does happen with effort. She noted that Mission street has started to be cleaned regularly, to attract new businesses. Jewnbug expressed that the street should be cleaned to help the businesses that are already there, not just to encourage new ones.
7. New Business:
A. Presentations by Excelsior neighborhood community programs. No programs presented.
B. Discussion and possible action re: Youth Making a Change program/recruitment. YMAC started in 1992, and includes 12-15 youth from different communities that advocate to city officials about what youth need. Projects include Youth Vote, an annual high school voting project which helped create the Youth Commission, Youthline, Youth Space, and health clinics. Youth Vote results determine what issues YMAC will work on. Last year they got two new health clinics at Galileo and Lincoln High Schools, and they are working on getting 5 more. They are still working on getting a more representative history curriculum and renovating and opening Youth Space. They are recruiting youth to sit on Youth Space's Youth Board of Directors to help run the center, which should be open by the end of the summer. The Youth Commission could help make sure the money for Youth Space gets annualized in the Parks and Recreation Department budget. YMAC is recruiting for 7 new advocates, who should be high school age. YMAC is also always looking for members: youth can join for $1, receive the YMAC Alert, and get free/reduced admission to YMAC events. Coleman Advocates (parent organization) is holding Speak Up for Kids Day on March 30th at City Hall, and youth will get the chance to talk to Supervisors and tell them what youth need in the city.
C. Discussion and possible action re: Presentation and request for support from Real Alternatives Program High School. Julia Sabori from Homies Organizing the Mission to Empower Youth explained that HOMEY is trying to rally youth support for Real Alternatives Program High School and other services. They are encouraging youth to create their on programs to serve as a model. RAP H.S. is the last stop for a lot of youth, and they are hoping for Youth Commission support in the form of a letter. Also, they are working on murals in gang-identified areas and need city departments to help with implementation, like cleaning the streets where murals will be painted and putting up police barricades around mural areas. Departments have been unresponsive, so they would like Youth Commission assistance to connect with these departments. Commissioners Jesse and Jewnbug expressed strong support for RAP H.S. Ben asked what type of school RAP is, and Julia explained that it is part of the Community Day School system, which is under the School Board but has less resources than regular high schools, although it has the same requirements. Kareem felt the curriculum at the Community Day Schools needs to be improved, because these schools shouldn't just be teen daycare, and there should be more counseling and services. Rebecca from Excelsior Neighborhood Improvement announced that Saturday April 29 at 10 a.m. the School Board will hold a Budget Hearing at 555 Franklin Street.
D. Discussion and possible action re: Youth Commission Attendance Record. Tabled because of lack of time. Moved to next meeting's agenda.
8. Staff Report: Commissioners received their April meeting schedule. The Mental Health Board of San Francisco has openings, contact them at 255-3474 or www.ci.sf.ca.us/mental_health. Solutions multi-media town hall program is looking for people/organizations to talk on camera about problems and solutions to community issues for their "Safe Neighborhoods, Healthy Neighborhoods" program. Contact Ruby at 772-4351. Jewnbug, Rolando, Ben, and Karissa were interested in Speak Up for Kids Day.
9. Setting next meeting's agenda: All items tabled at this meeting will be included. Also, Rolando will introduce a resolution urging the Mayor's office to fully fund the $300,000 requested by the Excelsior Boys and Girls Club. Jesse will introduce a resolution supporting HOMEY and RAP, and also introduce a resolution urging free usage of MUNI services for recreational/field trips by private/parochial schools.
10. Announcements: There will be an Open Mic performance this Friday 3/24 at 275 Potrero Avenue. Saturday 3/25 a Food for Art benefit will happen at Cell Space, 2050 Bryant. Brown Bombers city sports program is recruiting. Revitalizing Education and Learning is looking for interns for next year. Senator Jackie Speier will be at Monroe School at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 15 to listen to community needs.
11. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.