Employment Advisory Committee Meetings
1) Call to Order/Roll Call
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Faye Woo Lee at 1:35p.m. A quorum was present.
Members Present
Commissioner Faye Woo Lee, Commissioner Carlota del Portillo, Molly Baier, Jerry Jones, Ken Stram, Adrian Trujillo, John Weber
Members Absent
Rich Bondoc, John Crowley, Ronnie Rhoe, Patrick Regan, and Norma Tecson
Staff Present
Linda Chin, Mary Gin Starkweather and Kabir Hypolite
Guests
Commissioner Cecilia Chung and Celina Ramirez, Human Rights Commission Housing Representative
2) Approval of Agenda
The agenda was approved unanimously.
3) Approval of December 1, 2005 minutes
The minutes were approved unanimously.
4) Commissioners Report
Commissioner Faye Woo Lee announced that the Human Rights Commission is sponsoring a Justice Equality Youth Leadership Award in Spring 2007. The award will recognize youth who have performed significant community service. All applicants will be recognized and meet with City officials. A high school student will receive a $500 scholarship by the Friends of the Human Rights Commission. Commissioner del Portillo noted that the idea originated with HRC staff and came during February, African American History Month. Commissioner del Portillo further emphasized that it is important to recognize youth “because you are training those who will replace you.”
Commissioner Lee noted that May is Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Commissioner Lee said the Asian Pacific Islander Committee is also looking for nominations from the HRC of Asian and Pacific Islander youth worthy of recognition based on their community service.
Commissioners Lee and del Portillo also introduced Commissioner Chung to the Committee and welcomed her.
Commissionerdel Portillo noted that today Mayor Newsom is expected swear in Anita Grier as President of the City College Board of Trustees and Julio Ramos as VP of the Board of Trustees. This is historically significant as it is the first time that the City College leadership is held by people of color.
Commissioner Lee noted that the full Commission decided to enlist professional consultants in its outreach efforts. Commissioner del Portillo explained further that the Commission is seeking a pro bono service from a non-profit or for profit outfit.
Commissioner Lee announced that some future Commission meetings will be held in different communities throughout San Francisco. Commissioner Chung noted that the first one is set for March 22, 2007 at the Mission Cultural Center. The next will be in June in Chinatown and then one at the LGBT Center.
Commissioner Lee introduced Celina Ramirez, the new staff person hired for the Housing Unit. Commissioner del Portillo asked that Ms. Tulier at the Latino Steering Committee know of Ms. Ramirez’s appointment. Ms. Ramirez explained her new role at the Commission and discussed the types of cases seen by the Commission.
5) Staff Report
Kabir Hypolite reviewed staff’s meeting with Dwayne Jones, Director, Communities of Opportunity, MOCD, on February 28, 2006 regarding ongoing plans to relocate and expand the Bayview One-Stop from the Southeast Campus of City College to the site of the Kipp Charter School at 3rd and Jamestown Streets by September 2007. According to Mr. Jones, the new site expands employment services, has greater transportation access and increased visibility, and meets public safety concerns.
However, Mr. Jones acknowledged that the project does not currently include a youth component although one has been discussed. He informed staff that Rhonda Simmons, Director of Workforce Development (MOEWD) has estimated that it will cost $3.5 million to get the new One-Stop site up and running by its target date of September, 1, 2007. That figure does not include funds for a youth component, but he estimated that an additional $1.5 million would be necessary.
The One Stop is mainly a project of MOCD and MOEWD with some input from the Redevelopment Agency, City College, and the Small Business Commission. Opportunity Centers located in the surrounding neighborhoods and funded through foundation grant money are expected to do the initial intensive work to prepare clients before they are sent to the One Stop Center.
Mr. Jones noted that an Add-Back by the Board of Supervisors last year set aside $1.2 million for MOEWD which is still available pending the City’s economic forecast.
Appropriate staffing must be ensured so that such needs as mental health, juvenile justice, foster youth transition considerations, and child welfare are addressed. Mr. Jones also argued for autonomy for the One Stop model so that it can respond to unique concerns of the local area’s population.
Ms. Starkweather noted that Mr. Jones has 40 youth from the competing neighborhoods currently working together on neighborhood beautification projects without incident. She also praised the location for its accessibility.
Members, staff, and Commissioner Cheung discussed the Add-Back process. Commissioner Cheung noted that Add-Backs usually have an expiration provision.
Members also discussed whether there is now one motion or two regarding the general employment needs of youth to be addressed at One Stop Centers as well as the specific need s of Bayview youth and the present status of the motions. It was clarified that there are still two motions and that the Committee requested the additional information that was presented in the staff report. John Weber urged the Committee to act on both motions and emphasized the importance of motion one as well as motion two.
6) Public Comment for items not on the Agenda
None
7) Old Business
Committee members discussed two motions from the working group regarding coordination of City department resources and a planned One Stop Center in the Bayview. Members agreed to designate fifteen minutes to complete discussion on the motions and to act on them at the April 5, 2007 meeting.
8) New Business
A) Committee member Ken Stram presented an overview of the LGBT Community Center’s new Transgender Economic Empowerment program as well as the organization’s financial health, resources, and other programmatic activities. He focused on the Economic Development program that grew out of the HRC’s LGBT report in November 2000 on the economic condition of the LGBT community that dispelled myths that community members are all very wealthy individuals. Lesbian couples make 20% less than heterosexual women. Gay men make 7 to 10% less. Homeownership rate is only 6% in the LGBT compared to 25-30% in other communities. Transgender unemployment may be as high as 70% but statistics for this population are not reliable.
The workforce development goal is to help LGBT people find jobs where they will be welcome. The Community Center’s job fairs encourage supportive employers and job seekers to meet. They enable participants to meet with a real person and ask questions live rather than on line. The Transgender Economic Empowerment Initiative has gathered data online and conducted surveys to create job fairs but the initial response was low. SF Transgender Employer Advocacy and Mentorship (SF-TEAM) approached the Center about a Transgender job fair and they agreed. The first one was very successful with 150 participants. The initiative is ongoing.
A survey showed that most transgender people have higher levels of education but the average wage was below the moderate income in the City. Only 4% were earning above the moderate wage threshold. Mr. Stram noted that it is already challenging to eke out a living on just the moderate income level in the City. Mr. Stram gave the following statistics regarding transgender residents: 5%r owned their homes; 41% lived in unstable housing; 40% have no bank accounts; 57% reported experiencing some form of employment discrimination.
Members commented about various aspects of the Center’s programs and the community statistics and programmatic needs.
9) Announcements/Calendar Matters
Kabir Hypolite announced that two new members Larry Chatmon and Warren Mar have been oriented and will be present at the April 5, 2007 Planning Session.
Members also voiced concerns about the article “Why I hate Blacks” that appeared in Asian Week and how the Human Rights Commission will respond.
The next Planning Session of the Employment Committee will be held:
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2007
Time: 1:30pm – 5:00pm
Place: 25 Van Ness Ave 8th Fl. in San Francisco
10) Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m. The motion was approved unanimously.