San Francisco Youth Commission
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The San Francisco Youth Commission is a body of 17 youth between the ages of 12 to 23 chosen by the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to represent their age group to the City government.
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[edit] Creation
After failing to garner enough support from the Board of Supervisors, local activists with the help of then-Supervisor Angela Alioto placed the creation of a Youth Commission on the November 1995 ballot.[1] The measure passed with over 60 percent of the vote.[2]
The first Youth Commissioners were appointed in April of 1996.
[edit] Appointments
Each of San Francisco's 11 Supervisors is allowed one appointment, while the Mayor may appoint six Commissioners. Officially, five of the Mayor's appointments are reserved as "diversity appointments" made after the Supervisor's picks to ensure a diverse Commission representative of the City's youth population.
Youth who apply are usually subjected to both group and individual interviews, with other youth conducting the interviews. The Youth Commission's staff will make recommendations to the Supervisors and the Mayor which they are free to accept or not. Supervisors are not required to appoint Commissioners from their own District.
[edit] Accomplishments
Over the years, the San Francisco Youth Commission has written many resolutions and statements, impacting countless issues through the City government.
Healthy Kids
In 2004, the Youth Commission successful expanded "Healthy Kids," San Francisco's universal health care system for children, to be expanded for 18-24 year olds.[3] This was a predecessor to the City's universal health care plan for all residents, signed by Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2007.
Reports
The Youth Commission has issued numerous reports over the years. In addition to its annual reports, the Commission has issued three special reports:
San Francisco Youth Commission's Report on Sexual Assault & Harassment in San Francisco Schools
Youth Commission's Education Committee Report on the State of San Francisco Schools
Youth Commission's Housing Committee Report on the State of San Francisco's Youth Housing & Homeless Issue
Transitional Youth Task Force/Interagency Council (From the Youth Commission's website.)
Per the 2004 San Francisco Youth Commission resolution that heeded the Mayor to look into the special needs of disconnected young adults, the two year Transitional Youth Task Force was formed. Two-thirds of the members are adults, and a third are young adults who are advocates and have been involved with the foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, special needs, alternative education, etc. systems. In the 2007-2008 budget, Mayor Newsom allocated $500,000 to form an official Interagency Council, which will work with various young adult serving City departments to address the gap in support services. The Youth Commission continues to provide staff and youth support in the recruitment, planning, implementation of the Task Force.
Skateboarding Task Force
Because of increased pressures from the Police Department against skateboarders, the Youth Commission created the "Skate Board Task Force" to systematically provide legal venues for youth to skate.[4] The issue gained traction, as the task force was created. In 2003, Matt Gonzalez included creating skate parks in his official platform.[5]
Youth Recognition Day
(From the Youth Commission's website.)
Since 2001 of the creation of Positive Recognition of Youth Resolution [File #10-008] by former Chair Anthony E. Valdez, the San Francisco Youth Commission has hosted an annual Youth Recognition Day where the Board of Supervisors formally recognizes the contributions of young citizens in their particular Districts and community.
[edit] Current Youth Commissioners
Commissioners from the 2007-2008 term, in alphabetical order:
Iqra Anjum link - Mayoral Appointee
Liliana Cabrera link- Mayoral Appointee
Martha Carvajal link- District 11
Luciana Carvalho (Chair) link - District 9
William Do link - District 4
Brandon Franklin link - District 5
Deonna Frierson link- Mayoral Appointee
Natalie Gee link - District 3
Kenny Gong link - District 8
Marquez Gray link - Mayoral Appointee
Cassandra James link - District 10
Tanaya Macheel link - District 2
Nicholas Quesada link - Mayoral Appointee
Kemi Shamonda link - District 6
Dasha Tsibulskaya link - District 1
Belle Yan link - Mayoral Appointee
[edit] Past Youth Commissioners
2006-2007
Iqra Anjum, Anthony Albert, Antonio Ayala, Luciana Carvalho, Shadi Elkarra, Brandon Franklin, Julie Gramlich, Kenny Gong; Cassandra James, Krystal Kiremit, Jacky Kwong, Marc Lowe, Tanaya Macheel, Anthony Pico, Christine Revelo, Sam Rubin, & Kemi Shamonda.
2005-2006
Iqra Anjum, Antonio A. Ayala, Sharlene Chin, Manika Clay, Kenny Gong, Juliet Huntington, Cassandra James, Jacky Kwong, David Lee, Erin McLaughlin, Diana Pang, Christine Revelo, Elvin Rodriguez, Molly Serra, & Michelle Tak.
2004-2005
Kevin Chang, Jessica Copi, Deborah Der, Raquel Hall, Tariq Herzallah, Chris Jackson, Michael Kwong, Max Lantz, Yarrow Lazer-Smith, Peter Lauterborn, Erin McLaughlin, Laura Moir, Constance "C.J." Mourning, Angel Rodriguez, Elyssa White, & Shanell Williams.
2003-2004
Amina Adofoadom, Ismael Baires, Kevin Chang, Jesse Cotrell, Justin Fichelson, Kyle Jimenez, Leah Koeppel, Kimberly Kuang, Max Lantz, Peter Lauterborn, Yarrow Lazer-Smith, Laura Moir, C.J. Mourning, Juanita Recinos, Liam Shy & Shanell Williams.
2002-2003
Tanene Allison, Lindsay Berger, Arthur Bretschneider, Nivia Brown, Brian Chan, Kevin Chang, Jesse Cottrell, Justin Fichelson, Joanna Gin, Leah Koeppel, Max Lantz, William Mattimore, C.J. Mourning, Phillip Powell, Vinia Ramos-Castro, Mari Villaluna, & Guadalupe Virgen.
2001-2002
Tanene Allison, Jesse Arreguin, Watson Attai, Kamel Jacot-Bell, Nadine Campeau, Kevin Chang, William Fosselman, Jeffrey Kwong, Max Lantz, Millicent Olawale, Maria Martin, Bridget Mejia, Anthony Valdez, Gerlie Vedad, Michael Geodzhayev, Mari Villaluna, & Vinia Ramos-Castro.
2000-2001
Jesse Arreguin, Kamel Jacot-Bell, Rolando Bonilla, William Fosselman, Michael Geodzhayev, Myron Howard-Johnson II, Max Lantz, Benjamin Lockett, Maria Martin, Jessica Meksavan, Benjamin Matranga, Antonecha Smith, Anthony Valdez, Gerlie Vedad, Michael Geodzhayev & Mari Villaluna.
1999-2000
Jesse Arreguin, Jasmin D. Barker, Bill Barnes, Joseph Richard baxter, Rachel Bolden-Kramer, Rolando Bonilla, Francisco J. Castillo, Jesse "Chaz" Cottonham, Jessica Devine, Kelly Durkee, Kareem Ervin, Jewnbug, Michael Lau, Benjamin Matranga, Eric Pang, Catherine Talton-Alunan, & Karissa Yee.
1998-1999
Herbert Aliga, Jamal Anderson, Patricia Barraza, Linda Blake, Shauna Castro, Francisco J. Castillo, Jesse "Chaz" Cottonham, Linda Crane, Gina DeVries, Lohina Eliapo Dennis Isner, James Joun, , Arlene Lugo, Dennis Mak, Lisa Ramlochan, & Lena Turner.
1996-1998
Aisha Beliso, Annie Chin, La'Kista Coleman, Jesse Costello-Good, Paloma Flores, Julia Globus-Sabory, LeBrantz Hawkins, Kent Khounsombath, Robert Alex Kim, Maritza Marshall, Tenny Park, Michelle Pierce, Shamone D. Pitre, Hugo Salazar, Koo Im Sakayo Tong, & Sarah Spoon.
