April 19, 1999

5. Working Group Reports:
Legislative Action- Lobby Day was a big success. We met with dozens of legislators and close to 200 youth came to Sacramento to advocate for gun control and violence prevention. Dolores Huerta from the United Farm Workers, Senator Vasconcellos, Assemblymember Scott, Assemblymember Aroner as well as close to a dozen youth speakers spoke at the Rally. Commissioner Lugo talked about how great the event was. Commissioner Anderson learned that youth can do a lot if they put there minds to it and the youth can do positive things and have a lot of power. All of the bills that we are advocating for have passed out of the public safety committee and into appropriations committee. AB 202 (one gun per month) has passed out of PS committee and also appropriations and is currently on the house floor.

Community Outreach and Input- Break out sessions will have a cool activity to help youth figure out what they want to do and get to know each other. Commissioner Barraza stated that we need Youth Commissioner to take a strong role in the conference and take an area to lead. Commissioners who wanted to work on workshops please see Josh after the meeting to decide who gets a workshop.

Discussion of the YEC survey followed.

Sexual Assault Task Force- No report.
LGBTQQ Youth Task Force- Commissioner Turner reported that the Task Force has decided to continue as a body but that make up of the Task Force will be discussed later on when we report to the board in June. We are also working on Memorandums of Understanding with different departments. Commissioner Castillo applauded the work of Commissioner Turner and DeVries and Joshua Todd for their work.

6. New Business:

A. Discussion and possible action re: Youth Commissioners currently in violation of the attendance policy (Commissioners Crane and Lugo). Commissioner Crane stated that she has been sick and that she will be involved with the Commission and will attend the YEC meeting on Thursday. Commissioner Lugo stated that she has been busy and did call for the last meeting. Commissioner Mak moved to approve their absences, seconded and approved. Commissioner Turner stated that she would like to see an amendment to the by laws that would say if you are in violation of the attendance policy twice you will be automatically removed from the Commission.

B. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution supporting child proofing of alcohol advertisements. Commissioner Isner raised a concern that the resolution was not made available prior to the meeting. The original resolution created by YLI was given to Commissioners last week and the resolution drafted by the Youth Commission is practically identical but was not ready for the mailing last week. Commissioner Anderson wanted to know what cosponsership of this event would include. We would be a part of the press conference and allow YLI to inform the Board of Supervisors that the Youth Commission is in support of this and use our name during the press conference. Commissioner Turner motioned to support the resolution, seconded and approved without objection. Commissioners Barraza, Castillo and Turner will be able to attend the press conference.

C. Discussion and possible action re: Youth Empowerment Conference survey. Commissioner DeVries mentioned that under sexual orientation there should be a straight/ heterosexual category. Commissioner Mak requested that a box be included on the survey to find out how much young people already knew about the Commission. Commissioner Turner motioned to approve the survey with changes, Commissioner Isner objected. Commissioner Isner stated that he felt more discussion was needed to make sure this document was as good as possible. He had specific concerns regarding the check off boxes relating to issues that are important to young people. Objection was withdrawn, motion to approve seconded and approved.

D. Discussion re: Recruitment for Youth Commissioners. Applications have a better description of what the Youth Commission is and what the time commitment is. We will then interview candidates and forward recommendations to the supervisors and the Mayor. Commissioners Barraza, Isner, Lugo and Castillo would like to return.

E. Discussion re: Report from Commissioner Castillo on the Africa Trade and Friendship Mission. Commissioner Castillo reported that he and the San Francisco contingent merged with the Oakland contingent since the Mayor was unable to attend. The Oakland contingent was led by Senator Lee. Francisco stated that in Ghana prostitution and child labor are major issues for children and youth as well as poverty since Ghana is an extremely poor country. They met with the First Lady of Ghana and discussed trade issues. They then traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa where they have a national youth commission and their chair is interested in fashioning their youth commission on our model. Cape Town, South Africa was their next stop and Commissioner Castillo stated that Cape town was much less diverse and that they are still struggling to incorporate all citizens since apartheid ended. Commissioner Turner was interested in what Castillo’s main purpose was, Commissioner Castillo stated that he went to help their youth commissions build upon our model and find issues that we can work on together.

F. Discussion and possible action re: Joint hearing of the Student Advisory Council and the Youth Commission regarding education. Commissioner Barraza stated that after the budget hearing many youth were interested in what the Commission can do around education. The Commission and the Student Advisory Council could sponsor a hearing to see how young people can advocate for better schools. Commissioners raised the concern that we may not have enough time to put towards this before the year ends due to the conference. Commissioner Castillo offered that this event could kick off the year for next term. Commissioner Mak asked whether public and private schools would be involved, Commissioner Barraza was of the feeling the it would focus specifically on public schools. Joshua Todd stated that if we are going to do this next year we should recruit a SAC member to be on the Commission next year so we have a continued relationship with that council. Commissioner Turner stated that she felt that we could start laying the ground work this year. Commissioner Mak stated that we could hold an education hearing at the Youth Empowerment Conference.

G. Discussion and possible action re: Support of the California Center for Civic Participation and Youth Development project whose aim is to increase SF and Oakland young people’s capacity for participation in California government. Susan Kim talked with a woman from the California Center and they are interested in connecting youth from SF and Oakland. Susan thought that Commissions across the State should be talking together and would like to write a letter of support for this organization. Commissioner DeVries motioned to support this organization, seconded by Commissioner Barraza, objected by Commissioner Isner. Commissioner Barraza stated that she felt it was important for the youth organizations in Oakland and SF to come together and that we should pull together an event that would give these organizations a chance to talk. Commissioner Turner wanted to know why the motion was objected to. Commissioner Isner stated that he wanted to hear from the organization in person before he voted to support their efforts. Roll vote was taken, 15 Commissioners in support, 2 Commissioners absent (Aliga, Eliapo)

H. Discussion and possible action re: Setting the next meeting’s agenda.

-Amendment to the By laws regarding attendance.
-Discussion re: report Teen Courts, Commissioner Mak.
-Commissioner Eliapo will be on the agenda re: attendance policy.

7. Announcements:

-Barraza announced that Raza Studies has been approved for Thurgood Marshall HS next year.
-Baby Brigade from Coleman Advocates were in City Hall yesterday to advocate for higher funding for child care.
-Blake, presented at the 10th annual service learning conference.
-Turner met with Ellison Horne re: the solutions project and she will keep us informed on what the project is doing.
-Castillo is serving on the Western Addition Beacon Executive Committee and the Advisory Council for the National summit on Africa, both bodies need people please let Francisco know.
-Susan wanted all the Commissioners to know that Wilson is putting a ballot initiative out for the 2000 ballot that would put youth in the adult prison system, longer sentences for youth, expand death penalty for 14 year olds, as well as wire taping for gang members. There is a strong youth movement across the state organizing against this. There is a meeting tomorrow morning for the organizers to fight this ballot initiative.

8. Public Comment:

9. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn 7:03.