San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, March 2, 2015
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.

Jillian Wu, Lily Marshall-Fricker, Rosa Chen, Emily Guo, Luis Avalos Nuñez, Precious Listana, Joyce Wu, Noah David, Alex Berliner, E’mani Davis, Joshua Cardenas, Michel Li, Anna Bernick, Sophie Edelhart, David Zheng

1. Call to Order and Roll Call for Attendance

The meeting was called to order at 5:16pm. All commissioners were present. No commissioners were absent. Staff present: Monica Guzman, Allen Lu, Adele Failes-Carpenter.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Commissioner Chen, seconded by Commissioner Zheng, moved to approve the agenda. There was no public comment. The motion was approved by acclamation.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

A. February 17, 2015
(Document A)

Commissioner Avalos, seconded by Commissioner Bernick, moved to approve the minutes. There was no public comment. The motion was approved by acclamation.

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

There was none.

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

A. Presentation on Responding to Islamophobia Through Education and Engagement
Presenters: Ameena Jandali, Islamic Networks Group, Content Director; Marcia Beauchamp, Islamic Networks Group, Chief Operations Officer

The chair called item 6A out of order. This item was called out of order. Ms. Jandali explained that this curriculum was developed to respond to growing anti-Islam sentiments in the U.S. A Gallup poll 53% of Americans had an unfavorable view of Islam five years ago and this has likely gotten worse due to media coverage of ISIS and Boko Haram. Particularly with the election of President Obama, we saw the beginning of Islamophobic campaigns such as Ant-Sharia laws, Anti-mosque campaigns, and Anti-Muslim bus ads. In San Francisco, we saw bus ads funded by Pamela Gellar. This creates an unfriendly climate on transit for Muslims.

These campaigns result in real violence and hate crimes. It has also resulted in bullying of Muslim youth. A 2010 survey of Muslim youth found that 80% had experienced harassment. Many parents are not aware of what their children are experiencing. This is why it is important for school staff to be trained.

Ms. Beuchamp explained that ING was founded in 1993 as anti-Muslim sentiment was growing during the first Gulf War. We have an Islamic Speakers Bureau. We have an inter-faith speakers bureau. We do diversity seminars for leaders in school districts, law enforcement, corporations, and healthcare settings. ING bases its effort on a respect for pluralism and religious freedom. ING hopes the youth commission will recognize them as a resource. When the bus ads began, ING realized that there was not an access point in SFUSD to address harassment or bullying that students might be experiencing due to the bus ads.

Commissioner Berliner commented that she witnessed a number of Galileo students protesting the bus ads outside MTA. Commissioner David commented that his close friend at student who is Muslim and that Islamophobia is not frequent at his Middle school. Ms. Jandali explained that ING just began a youth outreach program.

Commissioner Avalos asked how the Youth Commission can support ING’s efforts. Ms. Jandali explained that ING speaks in 7th grade social studies and high school world history courses by invitation and would like help gained invitations to schools.

Commissioner Edelhart asked whether ING has been any youth leadership opportunities in ING, including youth speakers? She also asked whether there has been any work on youth interfaith dialogue to support students talking to each other? Ms. Jandali explained that ING works on inter-faith panels. Ms. Beauchamp explained that the youth program is targeted toward Muslim youth and that there are also rolling internship programs for youth for all faiths.

Chair Li recommended reaching out to the Student Advisory Council about outreach in the schools and commented that youth commissioners seem they would be interested in supporting. Commissioner Berliner suggested doing a workshop for incoming youth commissioners.
Ms. Jandali suggested that in recognition of the growing Islamophobia that the youth commission express support for ING’s efforts to reach out to youth to combat Islamophobia.

Commissioner Avalos made a general motion of support for ING’s youth related work. Commissioner Listana seconded. There was no public comment. The motion was passed by acclamation.

The following commissioners expressed interest in helping outreach for the ING curriculum: Jillian Wu, Joyce Wu, Guo, Zheng, Cardenas, Avalos, Li, Edelhart, Listana, David, and Davis.

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

A. [Second Reading] Resolution 1415-AL-08— Promoting family unity for youth with incarcerated parents and urging the lowering of the visiting age in San Francisco county jails to age 16 and the establishment of an online inmate locator tool
Sponsors: Youth Justice Committee
(Document C)

The chair called item 7A out of order. This item was called out of order after item 6A. Commissioner Edelhart highlighted some changes in the draft before the commission that evening. New statistics and citations were added. Updates from the Project WHAT youth participatory action research project were added. The resolved clauses were clarified to ask for simple verification and identification procedures for parental visiting.

Commissioner Jillian Wu read the resolution into the public record. Commissioner Edelhart advised the first resolved clause would be changed to commend “the Sheriff’s department.”

Commissioner Avalos asked how the inmate locator would be funded. Commissioner Edelhart explained the committee would be meeting with the Sheriff on Wednesday.

Leila Sotto and Monica Higgins, two Project WHAT! youth advocates spoke as youth leaders and children of incarcerated parents. They thanked youth commissioners for their work on changing policies to support youth with incarcerated parents.

There was no further public comment.

Commissioner Edelhart, seconded by Commissioner Berliner, moved to approve the resolution. The motion was approved by acclamation.

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

A. Support BOS File No. 150193 [Urging the Archdiocese of San Francisco to Respect the Rights of Teachers and Administrators]
Sponsors: Farrell; Campos; Cohen; Avalos; Kim
(Document B)

The chair then resumed the normal order of the agenda and returned to item 5A. Commissioner Listana gave updates on the student organizing around the morality clauses. There has been some movement on the negotiations with the Archdiocese regarding the classification of teachers as ministers, but no movement on the Archdiocese intention to include the clauses student handbooks. Commissioner Listana read the resolution aloud for her colleagues. Commissioner Listana invited her colleagues to attend the next day’s board meeting and give public comment in support of her fellow students.

Commissioner Avalos recommended not attaching motion regarding condemning the morality clauses previously passed by the commission. Commissioner Edelhart urged her colleagues to attach the motion already passed by the Commission on this issue. Commissioner Listana confirmed that she had given feedback on the resolution and past motion to Supervisor Farrell.

Commissioner Edelhart motioned to attach the youth commission’s past motion on this topic in the communication to the Board about this resolution. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker seconded.

Commissioner Avalos motioned to remove the word “condemn” from the previous motion language. Commissioner Bernick seconded. He made a second general motion of support, seconded by Commissioner Bernick.

Commissioner Cardenas made a legislative point of order that the motion already passed could not be changed. Staff made a legislative point of order about changing the language of legislation already passed and confirmed that it would require two people who were present at the meeting to reopen the vote, and would have had to have been on the agenda. They clarified that the chair can decide whether to take Commissioner Avalos’ motion as a substitute to Commissioner Edelhart’s motion or whether to simply take Commissioner Edelhart’s original motion regarding attaching the past motion as written.

Chair Li called for a roll call vote on Commissioner Avalos’ motion to not attach the original motion in the communication and instead to simply include the words “the Youth Commission supports students standing up for respect and justice.” Staff clarified this would throw out Commissioner Edelhart’s motion to attach the language of the original youth commission motion on this topic taken February 17, 2015.

There was no public comment.

Commissioner Avalos’ substitute motion failed according to the following roll call vote: 10 No’s: Cardenas, Chen, David, Edelhart, Guo, Li, Marshall-Fricker, Jillian Wu, Joyce Wu, Davis; 5 Aye’s: Avalos, Berliner, Bernick, Listana, Zheng

The general motion of support made by Commissioner Avalos passed unanimously by acclamation.

Commissioner Edelhart’s motion to attach the language from the February 17, 2015 motion on this topic that the Youth Commission “supports students standing up for respect and justice and urging the Board of Supervisors and Mayor to condemn newly issued morality clauses and their effects on students and educators.” This motion passed by the following roll call vote: 14 Aye’s: Berliner, Bernick, Cardenas, Chen, David, Edelhart, Guo, Li, Listana, Marshall-Fricker, Jillian Wu, Joyce Wu, Zheng, Davis; 1 No’s: Avalos.

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

B. Presentation on YouthWorks’ Youth Commission interns annual culminating project
Presenters: Anna He and Daisy Shull, Youth Commission Intern

Ms. Shull explained that the interns would be making a presentation by rapping about the Youth Commisison to the Fresh Prince of Bel Air for their Youth Works final project. They shared their rap with youth commissioners who applauded. Anna and Daisy shared an overview of their final project presentation. They will be presenting these to other YouthWorks interns and they want the interns to be inspired, especially to support Vote16. They are going to add in information about committees and previous achievements. Commissioners suggested using Eye of the Tiger as inspirational music in the video presentation. Committee chairs suggested priorities to include in the presentation. Commissioner Avalos suggested including a mock public comment period to elicit audience participation. There was no public comment.

8. Committee Reports (Discussion Only)

A. Executive Committee

Commissioner Edelhart welcomed new staff member, Monica Gomez.

B. Housing, Environment, and City Services Committee

Commissioner Chen invited commissioners to the BOS hearing on the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights on Thursday.

C. Immigration and Employment Committee

Commissioner Joyce Wu explained that the last meeting was cancelled but that the youth CBA townhall will be held June 11th at Spotify. There is a preliminary injunction against DACA that is delaying implementation. It is pending appeal by President Obama.

D. Youth Justice Committee

Commissioner Berliner updated the commission that on Wednesday some committee members would meet with the Sheriff and Project WHAT on CIP priorities. The committee will also be meeting with FCS.

E. Youth Advisory Council

There had been no recent meeting.

9. Staff Report (Discussion Only)

Ms. Failes-Carpenter updated the commission about the March 16th Vote 16 rally and asked them to outreach for YC applications for next year. She wishes Commissioners Listana and Zheng happy birthday, as well as staff member, Allen Lu.

10. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)

Commissioner Avalos invited commissioners to a gun buyback event.

Commissioner Cardenas updated commissioners that we would try to hold Vote16 meetings on Mondays or Tuesdays in the future.

11. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 pm.