San Francisco Youth Commission

The San Francisco Youth Commission is a seventeen member body which advises the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors on youth issues. Commissioners must be between the ages of 12 and 23.

Creation

In 1995, community members lobbied the Board of Supervisors to create a youth commission. When this effort failed, local activists worked with then-Supervisor Angela Alioto to place the creation of a youth commission on the November 1995 ballot.

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. [ [http://www.sfgov.org/site/youth_commission_index.asp?id=4670 San Francisco Youth Commission official website] ] The measure passed with over 60 percent of the popular vote, and the San Francisco Youth Commission was created. The first Youth Commissioners were sworn into office in April 1996.

Appointments

The San Francisco Youth Commission has seventeen members. Each of the eleven members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors appoints one Commissioner. The remaining six Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor. Five of the Mayor's appointments are "diversity appointments," made after the Supervisors' picks to ensure that the Commission is representative of the City's diverse youth population. Commissioners must live in San Francisco.

Interested youth must submit a written application and complete individual and/or group interviews in the spring preceding their term of service. Returning Commissioners must reapply in order to serve multiple terms. After interviews are completed, Youth Commission staff make non-binding recommendations of prospective Commissioners to the Supervisors and Mayor. Supervisors may appoint Commissioners from outside of their district.

Accomplishments

As of 2008, the San Francisco Youth Commission has been in existence for twelve years. During this time, it has advised the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on a variety of issues via public resolutions and statements.

Healthy Kids
In 2004, the Youth Commission successfully expanded "Healthy Kids," San Francisco's universal health care system for children, to include 18-24 year olds. [ [http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_page.asp?id=27060 Mayor's Office Press Room ] ] This preceded the City's expansion of universal health care to all residents, signed by Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2007.

Reports
The Youth Commission issues annual reports. In addition, the Commission has issued three special reports:

[http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/youth_commission/Documents_and_Publications/FINALSA&HReport041205.pdf San Francisco Youth Commission's Report on Sexual Assault & Harassment in San Francisco Schools]
[http://www.sfgov.org/site/youth_commission_page.asp?id=4835 Youth Commission's Education Committee Report on the State of San Francisco Schools]
[http://www.sfgov.org/site/youth_commission_page.asp?id=4836 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.)

In 2004, the Youth Commission authored a resolution advising the Mayor to evaluate the special needs of transitional young adults. In response, the Mayor formed the two-year Transitional Youth Task Force. Two-thirds of the Task Force's members are adults; the remaining one-third are young adult advocates who have been involved with foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, special needs, alternative education, or other city systems relevant to transitional youth. Mayor Newsom allocated $500,000 in the FY2007 budget to form an official Interagency Council, which works with City departments who serve young adults to address gaps in available supportive services. Youth Commission members and staff continue to provide support in the recruiting, planning, and implementation of the Task Force.

Skateboarding Task Force

Due to increased tension between the San Francisco Police Department and local skateboarders, the Youth Commission created a Skateboard Task Force to work towards providing legal venues for youth to skate. [ [http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/site/youth_commission_meeting.asp?id=15308 Youth Commission: Skateboarding Task Force ] ] In 2003, Matt Gonzalez included creating skate parks in his official platform. [ [http://www.mattgonzalez.com/article.php?id=212 Matt Gonzalez for Mayor: Prioritizing the City's Youth ] ]

Youth Recognition Day

In 2001, former SFYC Chair Anthony E. Valdez authored the Positive Recognition of Youth Resolution [File #10-008] , pursuant to which the Youth Commission hosts an annual Youth Recognition Day. On this day, the Board of Supervisors formally recognizes the contributions of young citizens to their districts or the broader San Francisco community.

Current Youth Commissioners

Youth Commissioners for the 2008-2009 term, in alphabetical order:
Andrew Balcazar - Mayoral Appointee
Christian Castaing - Mayoral Appointee
Natalie Davidson - Mayoral Appointee
Simona Erlikh - District 7 (Elsbernd)
Jeremiah Espanol - District 6 (Daly)
Deonna Frierson - District 10 (Maxwell)
Natalie Gee - District 3 (Peskin)
De'Anthony Jones (Chair) - District 5 (Mirkarimi)
Tiffany Lau - District 4 (Chu)
Bethany Lobo - District 8 (Dufty)
Tanea Lunsford - Mayoral Appointee
Lily Marshall-Fricker - District 2 (Alioto-Pier)
Benjamin Martinez - Mayoral Appointee
Eliza Oliva - District 11 (Sandoval)
Nicholas Quesada (Vice-Chair) - Mayoral Appointee
Josselyn Recinos - District 9 (Ammiano)
Dasha Tsibulskaya - District 1 (McGoldrick)

Past Youth Commissioners

2007-2008
Iqra Anjum, Liliana Cabrera, Martha Carvajal, Luciana Carvalho, William Do, Brandon Franklin, Deonna Frierson, Natalie Gee, Kenny Gong, Marquez Gray, Cassandra James, Tanaya Macheel, Nicholas Quesada, Kemi Shamonda, Dasha Tsibulskaya, & Belle Yan.

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 EliapoDennis 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.