San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, December 16th, 2013
5:15pm-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
1. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.
San Francisco, CA 94102

There will be public comment on each item.

Nicholas Persky, Michelle Kong, Joshua Cardenas, DeAsia Landrum, Angel Van Stark,
Jina Bae, Anna Bernick, Sophie Edelhart, Monica Flores, Ramon Gomez, Michel Li, Lily Marshall-Fricker, Luisa Sicairos, Denesia Webb, Eric Wu, Joyce Wu, Ariel Yu

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:25 pm. Commissioners present: Persky, Kong, Landru, Bae, Bernick, Edelhart, Flores, Gomez, Li, Marshall-Fricker, Sicairos, Webb, E. Wu, J. Wu, Yu

Commissioners absent: Van Stark, Cardenas. Commissioner Van Stark noted present at 6:35 pm.

Staff present: Phimy Truong, Allen Lu, Adele Carpenter

There was quorum.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Commissioner Sicairos, seconded by Commissioner Bernick moved to approve the agenda. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation. There was no public comment.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item) A. December 2nd, 2013

(Document A)

 Commissioner Edelhart, seconded by Commissioner J. Wu moved to approve the minutes from Dec. 2nd. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation. There was no public comment.

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

There was none.

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

There was none.

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

A. Presentation and Request for Support with Project WHAT Youth Survey Outreach
Presenters: Zoe Willmott, Project WHAT Program Coordinator
(Document B)

Daniel, an 18 year old Mission High student, Angelina a 15 year old Balboa HS student and Jessica Calderon, a 19 year old CCSF student introduced themselves. Daniel explained that Project WHAT stands for “We are Here and Talking”—the 3.7 million young people with incarcerated parents in the U.S. Their goal is to improve services and raise awareness. They are working on a campaign and youth-led action effort. Angelina explained they had met with Supervisor Cohen from District 10 and she has agreed to be a keynote speaker at their lunch event. They also were put in touch with Supervisor Campos by commissioner Flores. They attended youth lobby day and lobbied against the City requesting state grants to build jails. They highlighted the other ways money could be used. San Francisco did not receive the grant.

Jessica explained the youth leaders are outreaching with a survey based on the youth with incarcerated parents bill of rights. SF Children of Incarcerated Parents network approved the survey.

Commissioner Bernick asked why a youth with an incarcerated parent would need to quit a hobby, as indicated in question 11. Zoe Willmott explained many students need to switch schools or start working on account of a parent’s incarceration.

Commissioner Landrum asked how SFCIPP was helping with outreach.

Zoe Willmott explained there is no data collected on youth with incarcerated parents, but that Project WHAT has received a grant to do work around tracking youth with incarcerated parents in the future.

Jessica Calderon explained the techniques they have used to keep the survey anonymous and not implicate students when outreaching with the survey.

Commissioner E. Wu asked whether question number 4 would indicate a student’s undocumented status.

Zoe Willmott explained that deportation can happen to permanent residents also.

Commissioner Bae asked what barriers young people are experiencing when trying to maintain a relationship with their parent. Jessica Calderon explained that it is difficult to travel the distance to see your parent. Daniel explained that his father was deported and he could not see him because of distance.

Commissioner Edelhart asked how they are going to use the survey results. Zoe Willmott explained they are going to input the survey info into survey monkey to analyze the data and use it to inform their issue selection for a policy campaign. Jessica Calderon explained that they will hold focus groups to follow up on the information. She asked for support outreaching with the survey, including outreach to organizations, and would like commissioners to help get 5 surveys returned each. The survey applies to children and youth 12-25. They will start focus groups in February and would like the TAY and Youth Justice committees to help run focus groups.

Commissioner Edelhart suggested inviting youth to meetings during outreach.

Chair Persky asked if they were seeking a motion of support.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Yu, seconded by Commissioner Edelhart motioned to support the survey project of Project WHAT. The motion was passed unanimously by acclamation.

Commissioners who were interested in supporting: J. Wu, Edelhart, Li, Landrum, Flores, Kong, SIcairos, Yu, Bae, Gomez, Cardenas.

B. Overview on Shape up San Francisco and its priorities with a focus on youth initiatives
Presenter: Christina Goette, Dept. of Public Health’s Community Health Equity & Promotion Branch and Director of Shape Up SF
(Document C)

Ms. Goette gave a presentation on the overconsumption of sugar. The recommended added sugar intake per day is 6-9 teaspoons, but the average sugar intake is 22 teaspoons per day. Sugar consumption and diabetes are more prevalent in Latino and African American populations. The soda industry has done a great deal of targeted marketing to teens, as well as to Latinos and African Americans.

Shape Up SF has undertaken a number of campaigns to curb sugary drink consumption. She requested support promoting the Youth Speaks campaign and invited youth commissioners to join the Shape Up coalition. She also recommended that youth commissioners could speak to the Board of Education on Commissioner Norton’s resolution regarding the soda tax legislation.

Commissioner Edelhart asked how this can be applied to coffee drinks with lots of sugar. Ms. Goette affirmed the question and explained that sports drinks have added sugar and even large juices have a lot of sugar. Commissioner Edelhart recommended being clear about the other sugary beverages in campaigns to reach to youth.

Commissioner Webb asked whether the campaign addresses the other unhealthy ingredients the drinks contain. Ms. Goette agreed that would be a good direction to go in the future, but that currently, the focus is on sugar.

Commissioner Sicairos asked whether youth under 11 were drinking other sugary beverages like Capri Suns. Commissioner Sicairos asked what happens at age twelve that causes youth to drink more soda. Ms. Goette explained that when youth become more independent from their parents, they have more access to soda.

Commissioner Sicairos recommended warning labels on sodas. Commissioner Eric Wu asked whether high fructose corn syrup is different than sugar. Ms. Goette explained it is associated with cancers. Commissioner Eric Wu recommended promoting a substitute to sugary beverages in efforts to curb soda consumption.

Ms. Goette said that Shape Up SF recommends drinking tap water, because we have high quality tap water in San Francisco.

Commissioner Bernick asked whether they advocated moderation in sugar consumption.

Ms. Goette said that sugar is okay as a treat, but not as a normal part of people’s diets.

Commissioner Yu asked what is planned for the launch of the campaign.

Commissioner Flores asked about tap water quality for people with bad pipes and how tap water could be made more accessible.

Ms. Goette explained the coalition has been active with corner store conversions and has worked with PUC to install more water stations in neighborhoods affected by sugary drink consumption.

Commissioner Edelhart suggested going after products that claim to be healthy but have tons of sugar.

Commissioner Joyce Wu asked about carbonized waters and diet sodas. Ms. Goette explained that diet sodas are an issue, but the campaign has not addressed that. Drinking diet sodas still triggers the part of the brain that responds to sweetness.

Commissioner E. Wu suggested that boba chains be addressed. Commissioner Sicairos agreed. Commissioner Bernick explained that Quicklies locate near high schools. Commissioner Kong also agreed.

Ms. Goette suggested doing a sugar-saavy training of trainers to reach out to young people. She affirmed she would like to work with the youth commission on this issue.

Commissioner Sicairos suggested reaching out to Nutrition Soldiers. Commissioner Joyce Wu asked about stress levels correlation with sugar consumption. Ms. Goette explained stress is a trigger for sugar consumption.

There was no public comment.

C. Presentation on District Attorney Victim Services’ Youth Focus Group Efforts and Request for Feedback and Support
Presenter: Maria Bee, Chief of Victim Services
(Document D)

Maria Bee explained the office works with all victims of crime in San Francisco. The goal is to give victims the resources they need to get their lives back together. Many victims feel unsafe after a crime. They serve about 5,000 victims of crime every year but know they are not reaching everyone. They want to hear from people who have or have not accessed their services how their needs were met. Did they have an advocate in court? Were their medical bills paid?

The office has conducted four focus groups, including with former offenders. They also conducted a group with mono-lingual Spanish speakers. They conducted an elder group. They would like to conduct a youth focus group. They would like to reach those who have and have not accessed services. She requested feedback and support with recruitment of youth who are 14 and up. They would like a cross-section of young people from different neighborhoods and who have experienced different kinds of crimes.

Commissioner Gomez explained that youth do not report crimes because of fear of retaliation. He suggested letting youth know that they can get help without retaliation. Ms. Bee explained that many people do not trust the DA’s office and the focus groups will be facilitated by a research group. Commissioner Edelhart asked whether there will be an educational component to the focus groups. She said that many people do not report crimes, especially sexual assault, because they do not want their parents to find out. The focus groups could be an opportunity to let youth know they have the right to come to the DA office.

Ms. Bee agreed that is an excellent point for the office’s public education campaigns. She suggested if that if certain groups can benefit from the education, they are happy to come present. Commissioner Sicairos suggested reaching out to youth in special education because they are often victimized.

Commissioner Flores suggested that having someone who is sensitized to the issues hold the focus groups.

There was no public comment.

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

A. [Second Reading] Resolution 1314—01 Urging Support of the California Homeless Bill of Rights
Sponsor: Commissioner Eric Wu; Presenter: Nicholas Kimura, San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness
(Documents E and F)

This item was tabled at the request of the presenter. There was no public comment. The chair then called a brief recess at 6:36 pm. The meeting was called back to order at 6:41 pm.

C. Presentation and update on the Youth Commission’s Housing, LGBTQ, and TAY committee’s work on 12N ordinance
Presenter: Adele Carpenter
(Documents H)

The chair called item 7C out of order to allow time for the presenters of 7B to prepare.

Adele Carpenter, youth commission staff, and Sally Jenkins-Stevens, intern in Supervisor Avalos office, then provided contextual information to 12N and the YC’s historical work with the ordinance. Ms. Carpenter explained the charter of 12N and where the legislation is at: there has not been any implementation, except for a DPH pilot training. What is interesting is that this legislation mentions the Youth Commission.

12N is in the YC’s policy priorities for the last two years. The priorities include tracking and evaluating services for queer youth. What has happened so far: SFDPH developed pilot of 12N training, former commissioner, Mia Tu Mutch, and youth facilitated focus groups, and held film screenings. There is also a Tumblr page titled 12N, Now or Never.

There is not a dedicated pot of money to implement 12N. There is no clarity around which departments should hold trainings. There is no clarity around which staff should be trained first, and who really needs it initially (those who can make the organizational changes, or those who work directly with youth in the front lines.) 12N ordinance currently says the YC and the HRC should be responsible for approving trainings, but does not indicate who should oversee compliance. Is this what makes the most sense?

Ms. Jenkins-Stevens additionally shared the need to revise the legislation, and before that, the need to get the departments involved in the process. She shared the plan: a steering committee has been working on this; this committee will advise and work with a larger working group of city departments; a group of advisors (content experts) will be asked to advise the working groups on best practices as specialists. She shared the goals of each of the responsible parties mentioned above.

There will be the 12N pilot training video in January’s working group meeting, and and opportunity to look for what parts of the video can apply to the respective departments. From here, learning objectives and commitments from each department will be made. These are the next steps and plans to move forward.

Ms. Carpenter shared that the YCers are a part of the steering committee. Staff time is dedicated to this. YCers can identify potential trainers, training tools, and finding ways to gather wider youth feedback for the legislation and the training tools. Ms. Carpenter asks how YCers would like to be involved.

Commissioner Van Stark expressed interest in helping. Commissioners Edelhart, J. Wu, Li, Flores, Bernick, Persky, Kong, E. Wu and Yu were interested as well.

Commissioner E. Wu said, there seems to be many who are interested in this; what are people’s interest and capacity in being part of a 12N ad hoc committee? Who has time and is interested? Commissioners J. Wu, Edelhart, Kong, Van Stark, and E. Wu were interested in joining an ad-hoc committee.

B. Presentation and request for approval of Community Outreach and Media & Public Relations Work Plan for the Youth Commission
Presenters: Allen Lu, Coordinator of Community Outreach and Civic Engagement; Commissioner Landrum, Community Outreach Officer; and Commissioner VanStark, Media & Public Relations Officer (Third Reading)
(Document G)

Chair Persky then resumed the regular order of the agenda.

Allen Lu gave context for the third reading of the outreach plan. DeAsia Landrum outlined the goals of the outreach program. One goal of the outreach is to reach out to the people impacted by the issues to be involved with the process. Commissioner Van Stark gave an overview of the web and media goals: newsletter tracking, regular website updates, a stepped up social media presence and collaboration with youth media outlets, and youtube presence and video outreach. Allen Lu gave an overview of the Civic Engagement goals: community engagement curriculum in SFUSD, budget advocacy training sessions for community partners, city hall tours. Commissioner Landrum explained the outreach will be conducted in: classrooms, wellness centers, school tv stations and newspapers, neighborhood forums and district townhalls, CBO’s. This will also happen at events: SAC summit, Bay Area wide YC summit, youth advocacy day. Commissioner Van Stark gave an overview of the use of individual outreach goals: committee community engagement plans, site visits to two CBO’s. Attend a neighborhood forum or townhall. Keep up with appointing officers. He explained that commissioners can already get involved right now by visiting a classroom, posting on YC social media site, facilitate a workshop on budget advocacy, outreach in your school, help plan summits and events, and share your ideas.

Commissioner Landrum explained the outreach team can help with: coordination and scheduling of off-site visits and meetings; help preparing and setting goals for site visits and meetings; Outreach to community members who can inform your resolution; support with committee community engagement strategies, accompaniment and moral support; social media assistance and support setting your individual goals. Allen Lu suggested that commissioners can stay updated at EC updates at full YC meetings; staff report in committees, track sheets; the weekly internal update; individual check-ins with the outreach team.

Sophie Edelhart motioned to approve the outreach plan. Commissioner Gomez seconded. There was no public comment. The motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.

D. Possible Revision to 2013-2014 Youth Commission Bylaws
Presenter: Vice Chair Michelle Kong
(Documents I and J)

Commissioner Kong provided context for the change and explained how the amendment would be voted on, if the commission approves. They read the proposed change into the record.

Commissioner Sicairos requested clarification about the Executive Committee’s role in attendance authorizations. Commissioner Persky affirmed the full commission alone has the authority to approve an absence.

There was no public comment.

A motion to amend the bylaws made by commissioner Persky, seconded by Commissioner Flores passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Bae, Bernick, Edelhart, Flores, Gomez, Kong, Landrum, Li, Persky, Van Stark, Webb, E. Wu, J. Wu, Yu; No’s: Marshall-Fricker, Sicairos.

Motion to adopt the bylaws as amended made by Commissioner Persky and seconded by Commissioner Bernick passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Bae, Bernick, Edelhart, Flores, Gomez, Kong, Landrum, Li, Persky, Van Stark, Webb, E. Wu, J. Wu, Yu; No’s: Marshall-Fricker, Sicairos.

Commissioner Landrum motioned to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Yu.

Chair Persky ceded the chairing duties to Commissioner Kong and suggested that the meeting not end. Commissioner Gomez urged against ending the meeting. Commissioner Eric Wu thanked Commissioner Landrum for looking out for the energy and wellbeing of the commission.

The motion to adjourn the meeting failed by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Flores, Landrum, Yu No’s Bae, Bernick, Edelhart, Gomez, Kong, Li, Marshall-Fricker, Sicairos, Van Stark, Webb, E. Wu, J. Wu

8. Staff Report (Discussion Only)

Staff shared updates on: Anti-harrassment training requirements, the court date for Save CCSF’s injunction against the ACCJC, how mayoral appointees can prepare for their upcoming meeting and the mid-year retreat working groups.

9. Committee Reports (Discussion Only)

A. Executive Committee, Chair Michelle Kong

Commissioner Kong gave an update on YC outreach activities and meetings with appointing officials, legislative affairs including: the MTA equity charter amendment proposal and the mayor’s efforts to increase the minimum wage. She updated commissioners that there will be a meeting January 6th.

B. Youth Justice Committee, Chair Sophie Edelhart

Commissioner Edelhart updated the commission that the committee was joined by Denesia Webb. They created an agenda for the meeting with Juvenile Probation. They are having a meeting with allies regarding the MOU on Thursday.

C. Immigration & Employment Committee, Chair Michel Li

Commissioner Li explained the committee received a presentation from Chinese Progressive Association. They are also researching undocumented youth jobs and Community Benefits Agreements.

D. Education, Health & Wellness Committee, Chair Ariel Yu

Commissioner Yu explained the committee officially supported Coleman’s solutions not suspensions and researched soda taxes and special education.

E. TAY, Housing, and LGBT issues Committee, Chair Eric Wu

The committee researched transitional age youth housing options and received a presentation from the Community Land Trust.

F. Our Children, Our City Stakeholder Council, Commissioner Eric Wu

Commissioner Wu said the council is following up on the youth townhall results.

G. Youth Advisory Council, Representative Joyce Wu

The YAC wants to survey young people about why they do not use city services.

10. Attendance Authorizations (Action Item)

A. Request for Approval of Upcoming Absences

B. Explanation(s) of Past Absences

Commissioner Van Stark apologized for being absent at the past meeting. He explained he has been working overtime and could not get out of work last time.

11. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)

Commissioner Landrum announced the Mid-year retreat communication workshop working group is meeting on Dec. 23rd at DCYF. She updated commissioners about how to help outreach for Youth Advocacy Day.

Commissioner Sicairos said she wants to create a story board to show where senior youth commissioners are going to college.

12. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 pm.