San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, July 15, 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 5:20 pm by Vice-chairman Persky.

Commissioners present: Brodwin, Covington, Gomez, Huynh, Marshall-Fricker, Monge-Rodriguez, Persky, Wu, Yu

Commissioners absent: Armstrong, Carrion, Chu, Guzman-Ramos, Tu Mutch, Shackelford, Taumoepeau

There was quorum.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

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

There was no public comment.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

A. Monday, June 17, 2013
(Document A)

Commissioner Yu, seconded by Commissioner Covington, moved to approve the minutes from June 17, 2013. This motion was approved by acclamation.

There was no public comment.

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

Nayad Abrahamian from the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families invited commissioners to join other area youth advisory bodies in getting involved in the efforts to address the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin.

Commissioners Brodwin, Monge-Rodriguez, Persky, Covington and Gomez expressed interest.

There was no further public comment.

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

A. Presentation of San Francisco Youth Commission’s 2013 ‘Youth of the Year’ Awards
Presenters: Commissioners Christine Huynh, Nicholas Persky, Mia Shackelford, Paul Monge-Rodriguez, and Rachel Brodwin; Honorees: DeAsia Landrum, Juleimy Lopez, Cecily Montgomery, Lavinia Star Morris, Adonis Williams, Dominic Sanchez, Darwin Velasquez, Lawrence Collins (in memoriam)

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez welcomed members of the public and explained that while youth have always been at the forefront of policies and campaigns, they are not always recognized. The Youth Commission would like to honor local heroes by offering this award by recognizing eight young people from among a longer list of outstanding candidates.

Commissioner Persky welcomed DeAsia Landrum and thanked her for her role as a motivational speaker, facilitator, mentor, emcee, and leader of Youth Advocacy Day. He thanked her for her work with BAYCAT, Tenderloin AIDS resource center, and the DCYF Youth Warriors.

DeAsia Landrum thanked the Youth Commission and explained that these types of opportunities are unique to San Francisco and that it is important for youth to step up and not wait their turn to lead. She dedicated the award to Trayvon Martin.

Nayad Abrahamian commented that it was an honor to have nominated Ms. Landrum as Youth of the Year because she is so inspirational and talented, and because of her efforts helping other young people reach their potential and build their leadership.

Commission Huynh welcomed Juleimy Lopez, a Mission HS student who has co-authored youth grants, researched nutrition and health effects on youth in her community, and been a youth leader at HOMEY SF.

Ms. Lopez thanked the Commission for the honor and HOMEY SF and explained she liked helping her community.

Gabriel Santamaria from HOMEY SF spoke about Juleimy’s work with UCSF and on a health-conscious mural. He appreciated her academic achievements and said it has been an honor to watch her grow.

Commissioner Huynh welcomed Cecily Montgomery and thanked her for her work with Girl Ventures and Move About Theater working with low income and disconnected girls. She explained that Ms. Montgomery brings a passion to her work through countless volunteer hours on arts and youth initiatives.

Ms. Montgomery explained the purpose of her work and efforts with Move About theater is to bring theater to the public in free, outdoor shows. She thanked the Commission for the award.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez thanked another awardee, Lavinia Star Morris, a Mission HS student who has worked as a local indigenous youth leader with the Indigenous Youth Task Force, as an intern with the Native Youth Wellness Initiative, and on suicide prevention and youth organizing efforts. Ms. Morris was not present.

Commissioner Huynh welcomed Adonis Williams and thanked him for his work with the Dept. of Public Works, Chalk, and Inner City Youth, and for his activity with his church community. She explained that Mr. Williams is attending college and pursuing a career in education in order to help other youth.

Mr. Williams was not present, but Laurel Moeslein, his nominator, explained that he was also awarded the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship.

Commissioner Persky thanked Dominic Sanchez for his work with peer resources, conflict management, and peaceful conflict resolution. He explained that Mr. Sanchez developed and led workshops on race relations at conferences and had been nominated by the director of Peer Resources. Mr. Sanchez was on a youth service-learning trip and was not present.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez welcomed Darwin Velasquez. He explained that Mr. Velasquez had overcome many challenges since emigrating from El Salvador and has become an active participant in the Dreamers movement advocating for undocumented youth. Mr. Velasquez, who is legally blind, is also a strong advocate for disabled youth and works with a SF Rec and Park camp, Insight, as a counselor. He is a vocal advocate for public education and has worked with SFUSD’s student advisory council.

Mr. Velasquez explained that he was honored to be present and that he has done the work he has done because he has seen the need in his community, especially with undocumented students and youth with disabilities. He also explained the need for more representation of Latino students in student government.

Miguel Abad explained that he had met Darwin through his work with College Track and had witnessed an inner strength and positivity that Darwin brings to his advocacy. He said he is inspired by Darwin and thinks of him as a youth hero.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez welcomed the family of Lawrence Collins who was being recognized, in memoriam, for his contributions as a youth leader. Mr. Collins was a model youth leader who advocated to secure additional resources for his neighborhood and was a graduation speaker at the 2011 Summer Youth Employment program. He worked with Dept. of Public Works, Inner City Youth, and studied at City College. Mr. Collins was the victim of a shooting in February 2013 and passed away. Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez asked that the loss of Lawrence’s life be recognized as a testament to the impacts of gun violence on youth of color, and that we reflect on this in light of the ruling regarding the killing of Trayvon Martin.

Family members of Lawrence Collins, Daniel Gidry, his aunt, Kim, and his brother, Dean, thanked the Commission for the award and for remembering Mr. Collins. Dean encouraged young people in the room to keep up their advocacy work to inspire others.

Supervisor Jane Kim thanked Mr. Collin’s family for being present and explained the reflection necessary to honor families who have lost children in light of the ruling on the death of Trayvon Martin. She explained the importance of youth leadership development and the impact it had had on her own life and leadership. She explained she is proud to live in a city with a youth policy advisory body and thanked people who fought to make the Youth Commission a reality. She then explained she was present to honor a particular youth leader in District 6, Christine Huynh, with a commendation signed by the Board of Supervisors.

Commissioner Gomez shared honorable mentions for the Youth of the Year Award: Daiyah Taylor, Brandon Van Norman, Emily Perez, Anna Lei, Kyle Isido, Ofri Harlev, Auxi Machado-Trejos, Kiet Huynh, Wendy Chen, Jacqueline Ross, Damina Victoria, Talia Moore, Nichakorn Dharmasukirt, and Mimi Ngoc Thao Phan.

Adonis Williams, awardee, explained that he was studying policy and working with a local non-profit to create a scholarship fund. He thanked those that work toward expanding youth leadership capacity.

Commissioners Brodwin, Wu, Gomez, and Yu shared their congratulations and thanks with the awardees.

Vice-chair Persky thanked everyone for attending and explained that the greatest reward is seeing community change.

The vice-chair then called a recess at 5:58pm. The meeting resumed at 6:09pm.

B. Presentation on San Francisco Immigrant Rights Defense Committee’s ICE Referral Campaign and Request for Feedback and Support.
Presenters: Josué Argüelles, Co-Director, Young Workers United
(Document B)

Josue Arguelles thanked the commission for their time and explained the role of Young Workers United was educating and organizing young immigrant workers in the retail and restaurant industries. YWU is working with the Immigrant Rights Defense Committee to respond to the effects of Secure Communities, an Immigration and Custom and Enforcement agency effort to involve local law enforcement in immigration enforcement. Since 2010, local law enforcement agencies have been sending fingerprints to the FBI, which forwards them to ICE. This has led to a significant rise in deportations in San Francisco, and YWU has seen this effect young people they work with.

Another major concern is that in domestic violence cases, both parties are often brought in during an incident and advocates have witnessed cases where domestic violence victims are deported. These practices undermine public safety and community policing because immigrants are afraid to come into contact with authorities if they witness crimes, for fear they could end up in deportation proceedings.

As of April this year, 71% of people for whom an ICE detainer was issued were not convicted of a crime. Kamala Harris has stated that sheriff’s departments are not required to perform ICE holds, rather, the placement of individuals on ICE detainers/holds is voluntary at the county level. San Francisco has a responsibility on account of our sanctuary city ordinance to send a different message and protect undocumented immigrants.

A local coalition, including Asian Law Caucus, has been working to pass a local detainer policy for six months. Similar policies have been passed in other counties. The proposed policy in San Francisco would require due process for all people who end up in contact with local law enforcement and criminal justice, and would not allow them to be referred for deportation proceedings before due process.

This ordinance will be introduced by Avalos on July 23rd and has several co-sponsors. The coalition would like to see if the Youth Commission will review the legislation and support it, and if commissioners can participate in meetings with supervisors beforehand.

Vice Chairman Persky called for public comment. There was none.

Commissioner Persky clarified that one of the commission’s duties is to have legislation referred, but since this is the last meeting of the term, it would have to be referred during the new term. He asked whether there are any specific asks of the commission’s recommendation once it is referred.

Mr. Arguelles explained that this ordinance goes one step beyond the state level TRUST act, which has a carve out for serious felonies. The local coalition is advocating complete due process--no ICE holds at all. They believe everyone should face the criminal justice system and due process equally. San Francisco has led the way on this type of ordinance in the past and the coalition wants to go one step past the state-level advocacy.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez clarified that this ordinance would make the way individuals are treated by the criminal justice system the same, regardless of immigration status. It will eliminate dual punishment. He asked whether the Immigrant Rights Defense Committee is doing anything around the new appointment of the UC president.

Mr. Arguelles clarified the committee was meeting about this issue. He invited commissioners to attend meetings at Causa Justa Thursdays at 3:00pm.

Commissioners Monge-Rodriguez, Persky, and Huynh were interested in working on this issue further.

6. Staff Report (Discussion Only)

Director Truong invited commissioners to participate in a fishbowl at the SFUSD Administration meeting Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at O’Connel HS. Commissioner Covington was interested. Ms. Truong invited commissioners to participate in a Youth-Plan, Learn, Act, Now national convening with the UC Berkeley Center for Cities and Schools on Friday, August 9th. Christine Huynh was interested. The director reminded commissioners of the invite to the SF Collaborative Against Human Trafficking conference August 2nd. She invited commissioners to the Children’s Fund Community Coalition meeting Friday, July 26th. Ms. Truong reminded commissioners to thank their appointing officers and set up final meetings and informed commissioners that she would be out of the office from July 19th until July 31st.

Staff member, Adele Carpenter, updated commissioners on the accreditation crisis at City College. She shared reflection on the present historical moment including the DOMA ruling, the striking down of elements of the Voting Rights Act, the hunger strikes staged by 30,000 California prisoners in protest of detention conditions and solitary confinement, and the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin. She thanked commissioners for their leadership in these critical times. She also invited commissioners to a meeting to discuss local youth responses to the killing of Trayvon Martin and invited them to a vigil at City Hall the evening of Tuesday, June 16th.

Staff member, Allen Lu, reminded commissioners to complete their end of year check-ins with staff. He invited commissioners to give feedback on ways to better engage youth in the Youth Commission’s meeting format. He also reminded commissioners to create briefing documents in their committees and to reach out for support creating creative briefing documents, such as videos.

7. Legislative Affairs Officers Report (Discussion Only)

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez reminded commissioners that the coalition working on the ICE campaign had reached out to the commission to take a position, but since the commission is in an interim phase, perhaps a returning commissioner could consider taking this issue on, and that he was willing to help with an initial drafting process.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez reminded the commission of the willful defiance campaign to bar excessive suspensions/expulsions that lead to school push-out and that this would be another community campaign that would be moving quickly in Fall. He also shared initial comments about DACA day, and thanked commissioners for a really great year.

8. Legislation Referred from the Board of Supervisors (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

There was none. There was no public comment.

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

A. [First Reading] Motion 1213-08--Motion to Support DACA Day
Sponsor and presenter: Commissioner Monge-Rodriquez
(Document C)

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez read the motion into the public record.

Commissioners Wu and Huynh expressed interest in attending DACA day.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker seconded the motion made by Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez. Motion 1213-08 was passed by acclamation.

B. [Second Reading] Resolution 1213—17—Urging Support of the Creation of Youth Government Advisory Bodies at both the Regional and Federal Levels
Sponsor and presenter: Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez

(Document D)

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez read the resolution into the public record. He reminded his colleagues that several youth advocacy organizations had signed on and that the San Francisco Youth Commission had been cited by the campaign as a good example of youth governance. He explained that if not legislated, there may be a possibility to get the White House Office of Community Initiatives to create such a body.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Gomez, seconded by Commissioner Yu, moved to approve the resolution. This motion was approved by acclamation.

10. Committee Reports (Discussion Only)

A. Executive Committee

Commissioner Huynh invited commissioners to the Mission Girls event on July 24th. Commissioners Persky and Wu were interested. She thanked commissioners for their outreach efforts throughout the year.

B. Youth Justice Committee

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez explained the committee would meet once more this term and was doing lots of forward-planning. The committee recently met with police commissioner, Angela Chan, and Samara Marion from the Office of Citizen Complaints to discuss the committees SFPD priorities.

Staff member, Adele Carpenter, invited commissioners to participate in a training on youth-police relations with renowned trainer, Lisa Thurau, in August. She also offered brief updates on the local willful defiance campaign.

Director Truong invited commissioners to Chief Siffermann’s retirement party next week.

C. Youth Employment Committee

Commissioner Huynh explained that the committee was working on a briefing memo and visiting Summer Jobs Plus doorway organizations.

D. Education Committee

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

E. Housing, LGBTQ, and TAY Issues Committee

F. Youth Advisory Council

Commissioner Wu explained the committee was working on briefing documents and planning to have an off-site housing meeting in Chinatown.

Staff member, Adele Carpenter, offered brief updates on efforts to convene stakeholders on 12N trainings for city departments.

G. Our Children, Our City Stakeholder Council Meeting

Commissioner Wu explained that the council had provided input on the design of focus groups and that conversations about the fund had been very vision-based. There will be a youth-specific focus group in late July.

11. Attendance Review (Action Item)

A. Monday, June 17, 2013

i. Brian Chu

Director Truong read a written statement from Commissioner Chu, who is working at Stanford for the Summer.

Commissioner Huynh, seconded by Commissioner Gomez, moved to approve this absence. This motion was approved by acclamation.

12. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)

Commissioner Wu invited colleagues to a Chinatown alleyway tour.

Director Truong thanked commissioners for their work over the year.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez moved to close the last meeting of the term in the memory and honor of Trayvon Martin. He cited the national disappointment that this case did not see justice and that the acquittal speaks to the need for ongoing work.

Vice Chair Persky asked if there was any opposition to closing the meeting in honor of Trayvon Martin. There was no opposition.

13. Adjournment

The final 2013-14 Youth Commission meeting was adjourned, in honor of Trayvon Martin, at 7:24 pm.