San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, May 20th, 2013
5:15-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl
San Francisco, CA 94102

There will be public comment on each item.

Mia Shackelford, Chair
Nicholas Persky, Vice Chair, Paul Monge-Rodriguez, Co-Legislative Affairs Officer, Rachel Brodwin, Co-Legislative Affairs Officer, Christine Huynh, Communications & Outreach Officer
Sarah Armstrong, Angel Carrion, Brian Chu, Kyron Covington, Ramon Gomez, Alex Guzman-Ramos,
Lily Marshall-Fricker, Mia Tu Mutch, Vee Taumoepeau, Eric Wu, Ariel Yu

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:17 p.m.

Commissioners present: Shackelford, Persky, Monge-Rodriguez, Brodwin, Huynh, Armstrong, Chu, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Wu, Yu

Absent: Covington, Taumoepeau, Carrion

Staff present: Allen Lu, Phimy Truong, Adele Carpenter

There was quorum.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Commissioner Chu, seconded by Commissioner Huynh, moved to approve the agenda. This motion was approved by acclamation.

There was no public comment.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

A. Monday, May 6, 2013
(Document A)

Commissioner Chu, seconded by Commissioner Huynh, moved to approve the minutes from May 6, 2013. This motion was approved by acclamation.

There was no public comment.

4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda (Discussion Only)

Jaime Contreras, program director with Junior Statesman, invited commissioners to participate in a Fall event aimed at teaching high school students about local government and civic engagement.

Commissioners Yu, Armstrong, and Shackelford offered comments affirming the program’s efforts and thanking Mr. Contreras for reaching out to the Youth Commission.

5. Presentations (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

B. Overview of Chinese Community Health Resource Center and Request for Sponsorship of CCHRC’s 1st Annual Asian American Public Health Youth Leadership Academy (AAPHYLA) program
Presenter: Joanne Chan, Health Educator/Research Assistant; Joyce Cheng, Program Manager, Chinese Community Health Resource Center
(Document C)

There being no further public comment, the chair called item 5B out of order.

The presenters shared the work of CCHRC to create a youth healthy academy aimed at building healthy community through preventative healthcare and community-based research. Their 2009 Art of Mind project was endorsed and co-sponsored by the Youth Commission. The project asked youth to submit art pieces addressing youth health needs.

Currently, CCHRC is expanding its youth internship and Art of Mind projects. The goal is to cultivate young leaders in public health by selecting 5 AAPHYLA Ambassadors to undergo an intensive training, select a health topic, and create a project that will reach 20 peers each.

Commissioner Tu Mutch applauded the effort of the initiative to create more youth leaders in the field.

There was no public comment..

Commissioner Armstrong, seconded by Tu Mutch moved to sponsor the program. This motion was approved by acclamation.

Joyce Cheng shared more background on the Youth Commission’s sponsorship role in 2009. She invited commissioners to attend steering committee meetings and requested support with promotion through social media, schools, and help disseminating the youth research findings to local networks.

A. Presentation and Request for Feedback and Participation in SF Health Improvement Partnerships on Sugar Sweetened Beverages
Presenter: Roberto Vargas, Community Engagement and Health Policy Program Clinical & Translational Science Institute, UCSF
(Document B)

The chair then resumed the original order of the agenda and called item 5A.

Roberto Vargas thanked the commission for their time and explained his previous position had been in peer resources with SFUSD.

SF Health Improvements Project challenges researchers to link with the expertise of community partners to translate research into interventions that can make a measureable impact on the health of local community and eliminate health disparities. The goal is to speed up the pace of scientific discoveries translation into policy changes and changes in social behavior.

Even in San Francisco, where there is a rich health research industry, there remains a disconnect between health research and community practice. SFHIP’s Physical Activity and Nutrition program is focused in Bayview Hunter’s Point. They are focusing on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB’s) because they account for about 43% of calories consumed and drastically raise the chance of developing diabetes.

They have aimed these changes at creating policy approaches, institutional changes (in schools, clinics, and retail stores), and individuals and families (through CBO programs). In San Francisco, child obesity is plateauing, but it is still increasing among Latino and African American children. There are also concerns with oral health among children.

Ways the youth commission can help the initiative include hosting a focus group to get youth perspective on SSB policies and media campaigns, providing advice about how to get youth interested in the issue, partnering in education and policy efforts to highlight the targeting of youth of color by soda companies, and helping with outreach to community organizations.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez asked whether violence prevention work has been incorporated into SFHIP’s efforts. Mr. Vargas explained that this was a priority considered, but that it was not a focus of SFHIP’s work at this time.

Commissioner Guzman-Ramos asked whether SFHIP’s focus was on community organizing or on policy. Mr. Vargas explained that SFHIP focuses on both, because policy approaches alone do not work when large soda companies bring money into communities to defeat initiatives.

Commissioner Chu expressed excitement about efforts to combine the power of research and community organization.

Commissioner Armstrong inquired about SFHIP’s food access work. Mr. Vargas recommended contacting the South East Food Access group to ask about their policy efforts.

Mr. Vargas closed by highlighting the role of the Youth Commission in holding space for these issues once soda companies begin funding the counter-effort. He invited commissioners to become involved with the coalition of researchers and community groups working on the effort.

Commissioners Yu, Armstrong, Huynh, Wu, Guzman-Ramos, Monge-Rodriguez, Chu, and Gomez expressed interest.

There was no public comment.

6. Youth Commission Business (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

A. [First Reading] Recommending the Inclusion of California’s History of Eugenics into the California High School Curriculum
Sponsor and Presenter: Commissioner Brodwin
(Document D)

Commissioner Brodwin opened by explaining she would like to suspend the bylaws to adopt upon first reading because of time sensitivity. She explained that eugenics is a set of ideas claiming that some races are superior to others and has led to policies of forced sterilization and reproductive control.

The resolution was read into the public record by Commissioners Brodwin, Chu, and Yu.

Commissioner Yu applauded Commissioner Brodwin for writing the resolution and asked about the cost of the initiative. Commissioner Brodwin explained that because it was a state issue, it did not seem appropriate to make funding suggestions.

Commissioner Chu asked about a citation regarding the lack of inclusion of eugenics in the current high school curriculum.

Commissioner Tu Mutch asked about whether current textbooks include the history of genocide against Native Americans before forms of scientific racism took hold in the 1900’s.

Chairwoman Shackelford commented that public school history lessons do include histories of genocide against Native Americans, but that she had never heard about histories of eugenics being included. Commissioner Brodwin corroborated this comment.

Commissioner Chu agreed this issue should be taught in schools, but explained he was uncomfortable with suggesting that California was the birthplace of the eugenics movement.

Commissioner Brodwin explained it was a primary place where the movement started.

Commissioner Persky commended the resolution and expressed some discomfort taking a stance on what happens in classrooms. He recommended forwarding the issue to the Student Advisory Council as soon as they resume sessions.

Commissioner Chu inquired about changing the final resolved clause to remove mention of the Change.org petition.

Director Truong confirmed that the resolution cannot urge the public to sign a petition, only explore an issue.

Commissioner Huynh clarified whether the resolution could suggest supplemental materials rather than new textbooks.

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker commented that there may be too many amendments to adopt the resolution today.

The chair tabled this item to allow commissioners to write their amendments.

There was no public comment.

B. Memorandum of support to allow for the appointment of 16 and 17 year olds to NYC Community Boards
Sponsor and Presenter: Commissioner Shackelford
(Document E)

The chair offered background on the commission’s contact with youth advocates in New York who are requesting letters of support regarding the efficacy of youth voice in government.

Chairwoman Shackelford read the letter of support into the public record.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez recommended spelling out acronyms before sending the letter.

Director Truong clarified why this was written as a letter of support, rather than a resolution, and clarified that the request had been forwarded to other regional youth commissions.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Chu, seconded by Commissioner Huynh, moved to approve the letter of support. This motion was passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Brodwin, Chu, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Huynh, Monge-Rodriguez, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Wu, Yu, Armstrong. Nayes: Marshall-Fricker.

A. [First Reading] Recommending the Inclusion of California’s History of Eugenics into the California High School Curriculum
Sponsor and Presenter: Commissioner Brodwin
(Document D)

The chair returned to Item 6A and asked commissioners for their amendments.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Chu, seconded by Commissioner Brodwin, moved to amend the resolution by changing the final resolved clause to read:

“That the San Francisco Youth Commission supports a better understanding of the history of eugenics in California, so that the lessons of the past will not be forgotten in working towards a more tolerant and educated society.”

This motion was approved by a roll call vote. Ayes: Brodwin, Chu, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Huynh, Monge-Rodriguez, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Wu, Yu. Nayes: Armstrong, Marshall-Fricker.

Commissioner Brodwin, seconded by Commissioner Shackelford, moved to amend page 4 of the resolution by changing the text to read:

“WHEREAS, Under the outlined plan California public high schools would be required to choose U.S. history textbooks that include the history of eugenics in America with a spotlight on California, but adequate educational reform of the history of eugenics could also be achieved with additional instructional material that would supplement and expand on current California textbooks;”

This motion was approved by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Brodwin, Chu, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Huynh, Monge-Rodriguez, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Wu, Yu, Armstrong. Nayes: Marshall-Fricker.

Commissioner Brodwin, seconded by Commissioner Chu, moved amend the resolution by including a definition of ‘eugenics’ on page 1. This motion was approved by acclamation.

Commissioner Brodwin, seconded by Commissioner Armstrong, moved to suspend the bylaws to allow adoption upon first reading. This motion was approved by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Brodwin, Chu, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Huynh, Monge-Rodriguez, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Wu, Yu, Armstrong. Nayes: Marshall-Fricker.

Commissioner Tu Mutch, seconded by Commissioner Armstrong, moved to adopt the resolution as amended. This motion was approved by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Brodwin, Chu, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Huynh, Monge-Rodriguez, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Wu, Armstrong. Nayes: Marshall-Fricker, Yu.

C. [First Reading] Urging Support of Assembly Bill 915, the Youth Community Incentives Act
Sponsor and Presenters: Commissioners Carrion, Gomez, Monge-Rodriguez
(Documents F, G, H, )

Commissioner Gomez and staff member, Adele Carpenter, gave a short intro to the resolution.

Commissioners Gomez and Monge-Rodriguez read the resolution into the public record.

Commissioner Guzman-Ramos asked that acronyms be spelled out in the text of the resolution.

There was no public comment.

D. Motion 1213—06 Supporting and Co-sponsoring Mo’ Magic’s Summer Learning Day 2013 event
Sponsor and Presenter: Commissioners Covington and Gomez
(Document I)

Commissioner Gomez introduced this item, explaining the goal of the event is to highlight the need for summer learning and to promote reading.

Commissioner Gomez read the motion to support Summer Learning Day into the public record.

Director Truong gave background on the commission’s sponsorship of the event last year, and commissioners’ participation in the press event in 2012.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Gomez, seconded by Commissioner Huynh, moved to approve the motion. This motion was approved unanimously by a roll call vote.

7. Committee Reports (Discussion Only)

A. Executive Committee

Commissioner Persky gave an update on Youth Commission applicant interviews and the upcoming presentation of Budget and Policy priorities to the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee.

Commissioner Brodwin updated her colleagues about a hearing regarding funding for affordable housing.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez invited his colleagues to an update on the Willie Brown Middle School and advised the commission that the BOS was voting on whether to support the domestic workers bill of rights at the state level. He advised that labor rights for domestic workers is a youth issue, as domestic workers care for the young, the elderly, and for disabled people. He also updated the commission that he had worked on a first draft of the Youth Voice ordinance resolution and was still in research phase.

Commissioner Huynh thanked fellow commissioners for attending their budget town halls. She explained the committee was doing outreach for the Youth of the Year award in districts 2 and 9.

B. Youth Justice Committee

Commissioner Gomez updated the commission on the committee’s work on AB 915, the arming of JPD probation officers, and to support TAY SF hosting a youth forum on the Mayor’s violence prevention plan.

C. Youth Employment Committee

The Youth Employment Committee had not met since the last full commission meeting.

D. Education Committee

The Education Committee had not met since the last full commission meeting.

E. Housing, LGBTQ, and TAY Issues Committee

Commissioner Tu Mutch advised that the committee may be holding a community-based meeting and would like to ask other commissioners, short of quorum, to attend. This meeting would be focused on youth housing issues. She also explained the committee was planning to hold focus groups on TAY housing issues and that a hearing for 12N had been set in the BOS Neighborhood Services and Safety Committee on June 6, 2013, in the morning.

Tu Mutch: community based meeting. Would love to have commissioners there even if committee meeting, june 24th: persky, huynh, persky, shackelford. July 1st.

F. Youth Advisory Council

Commissioner Yu gave a brief update on the mini-granting process of the YAC.

8. Staff Report (Discussion only)

Phimy Truong, director, gave updates on Free MUNI for Youth work. Wednesday, June 21st at 4pm in room 278 would be the next coalition meeting. The coalition is planning an off-site community meeting for June 18th at 4:30 pm, location TBA. SFUSD is doing a second round of accepting applications through counseling and admin offices, and will do a third at the beginning of the school year. This is a good option for students who have had a difficult time getting the proof of age documentation required to apply.

Ms. Truong reminded the commission of the budget and policy priority presentation on Wednesday, and advised the commission that the BOS joint select committee would also be holding a hearing on Summer Jobs Plus. The Mayor’s Office invited commissioners to attend the honoring of Stephan Curry in the rotunda on Tuesday.

Staff member, Adele Carpenter, invited commissioners to the Interrupt, Predict, and Organize forum hosted by TAY-SF Thursday at DCYF.

Staff member, Allen Lu, offered highlights from YC outreach and advised the commission that the outreach program had reached 1,403 people in the last few months and that commissioners had completed 174 community hours and attended 105 community events and forums.

9. Attendance Review (Action Item)

A. Monday, March 18, 2013
i. Commissioner Armstrong

Commissioner Armstrong explained her mom and grandma had been sick on March 18th. Commissioner Brodwin, seconded by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, moved to approve this absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

ii. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker explained she had been ill. Commissioner Yu, seconded by Commissioner Gomez, moved to approve this absence. This absence was approved by acclamation.

iii. Commissioner Taumoepeau

This item was tabled because the commissioner was not present.

B. Monday, April 1, 2013
i. Commissioner Armstrong

Commissioner Armstrong explained she was out of town with family for Spring break. Commissioner Brodwin, seconded by Commissioner Yu, moved to approve the absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

ii. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker explained she had still been sick on this date. Commissioner Gomez, seconded by Commissioner Tu Mutch, moved to approve the absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

iii. Commissioner Guzman-Ramos

Commissioner Guzman-Ramos explained there had been a medical emergency on this date. Commissioner Armstrong, seconded by Commissioner Brodwin, moved to approve this absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

iv. Commissioner Carrion

This item was tabled because the commissioner was not present.

v. Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez
Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez explained he had been present for most of the meeting but had to leave to attend a Board of Education curriculum committee. Commissioner Chu, seconded by Commissioner Gomez, moved to approve this absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

C. Tuesday, April 16, 2013
i. Commissioner Brodwin

This absence could not be approved.

ii. Commissioner Covington

This item was tabled because the commissioner was not present.

iii. Commissioner Tu Mutch

Commissioner Tu Mutch explained she had had night class. Commissioner Huynh, seconded by Commissioner Yu, moved to approve this absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

D. Monday, May 6, 2013

i. Ramon Gomez

Commissioner Gomez explained he had had a commitment with his YMCA program that night and had informed staff of his absence. Commissioner Tu Mutch, seconded by Commissioner Armstrong, moved to approve this absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

There was no public comment.

10. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)

Commissioner Wu invited his colleagues to an alleyway tour in Chinatown.

11. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.