1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

President Breanna Zwart called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm.

President Zwart noted that the Commission has a vacant seat and went over ground rules of the meeting. She started the meeting by acknowledging the shock and sadness felt last Friday by the sudden death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. President Zwart mentioned that many of the Commissioners attended and spoke at a gathering on Sunday to commemorate the life of Justice Ginsberg.

President Zwart proposed an amendment to the agenda, to move Consent Agenda item IV A, Resolution Affirming Commission on the Status of Women’s Commitment to Racial Equity, to section V. New Business, as a discussion/action item. She said that she believes this resolution will need more discussion by the Commission than the Consent Agenda will provide.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve amended agenda.                                    (Roll Call Vote)               m/s/c (Zwart/Soo/Unanimous)

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Julie Soo proposed an amendment to the Minutes to note that at the close of the previous meeting she spoke of Tye Leung Schulze in honor of the centennial of the passing of the 19th Amendment, not Women’s Equality Day, because Ms. Leung Schulz was the first Chinese American woman in California to cast a vote in 1912.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve amended minutes from the Commission meeting on August 26, 2020.

(Roll Call Vote)           m/s/c (Miry/Soo/Unanimous)

3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Acting Director Carol Sacco highlighted a few upcoming virtual events, the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women’s September 29 CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards event, the Chamber of Commerce WELL panel featuring Vice President Miry on October 2, and on October 9 the Department is partnering with Alliance for Girls to celebrate Day of the Girl. She reported that to start Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Department is hosting an event on October 6, with remarks from the Mayor, the Domestic Violence Consortium, and community organizations. She noted that City Hall will also be lit purple in recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Ms. Sacco outlined the Department’s on-going campaign, the W Challenge, which launched a new social media campaign to celebrate the centennial of the passing of the 19th Amendment and inspiring people vote. She noted that the social media campaign is leading up to the November election.

Ms. Sacco reported that the Board of Supervisors adopted the new budget and restored the Department’s budget before the cuts. She explained that the changes will now go to the Mayor for approval which is due on October 1.

Ms. Sacco introduced the Department’s two new fellows, Selma Osman and Pauline Gibson and informed the Commission that Linnea Fox has accepted an extension with the Department.

Public Comment:

1. Verna Liza Caba, Executive Director, Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women, welcomed the new fellows and made the correction that the CEDAW event will be from 6-7pm.

4. CONSENT AGENDA

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.                 (Roll Call Vote)                   m/s/c (Shorter/Andary/Unanimous)

1. Resolution Recognizing CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awardees

President Zwart read the resolution. She noted that the FRIENDS of the Commission on the Status of Women have hosted the annual CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards for 21 Years, honoring leaders and organizations who use their public roles to advance women's and girls' rights. She said that this year the FRIENDS are celebrating their organization’s 45th anniversary. She reported that the FRIENDS chose eight leaders to honor who use their public roles to advance women's and girls' rights with a CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Award. President Zwart gave congratulations to the eight recipients of the 2020 CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards, and read their names and awards as: Barbara Adachi, for the International Comity Award; Dr. Grant Colfax, for the Government Award; Molly Q. Ford, for the Economics Award; June Grant, for the Community Building Award; Lori Nishiura Mackenzie, for the Education Award; Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, for the Social Justice Award; Monique Woodard, for the Economics Award; and Angelia Trinidad, for the Entrepreneurship Award.

Public Comment:

1. Verna Liza Caba, Executive Director, Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women, expressed thanks to the Department for recognizing the award and receipts.

 

 

5. NEW BUSINESS

1. Opportunity for All Intern Project

Senior Manager for Human Trafficking Outreach, Prevention and Education Roxanne Alejandre introduced Akira Chou, the Department’s Opportunities for All intern. Ms. Alejandre shared that Opportunities for All aims to connect young people of all backgrounds to employment to connect to a more success future.

Mr. Chou shared that he was surprised to be placed with the Department on the Status of Women since his background is in computer science and not domestic violence, but that he was very pleased with the outcome. He reported that during his internship he has witnessed and moderated a staff meeting, where he learned about the work of the Department and its complexities. He reviewed some of his projects that he worked on including a glossary, invoices for the SF SOL project, and an article he wrote summarizing a graduation ceremony for Freedom Forward fellows. Mr. Chou ended his presentation by reading his graduation summary article.

Commissioners thanked Mr. Chou for his contributions to the Department.

No Public Comment.

2. Department on the Status of Women Overview of Upcoming Racial Equity Action Plan

Senior Fiscal & Policy Analyst Natalie Alvarez and Projects Director Elizabeth Newman shared a presentation on the topic of advancing racial equity within the Department. Ms. Alvarez spoke to the Commission about the definitions of racial equity, diversity and inclusion and discussed the barriers which can increase racial inequity. Ms. Newman explained the Racial Equity Ordinance passed in 2019, which established the key components for racial equity framework, created the Office of Racial Equity, requires Departments to conduct budget and legislative analysis, created a racial reconciliation process to repair historical racism, and mandated annual release of City data. Ms. Newman shared the components of the racial equity action plan which include an assessment of internal and external operations; developing strategies for equity in all areas; identifying indicators, resources, and timeline; engaging staff, leadership, and community; and tracking of progress. Ms. Newman told the Commission that the Department is currently drafting a racial equity plan, which will be presented to the Commission in November and submitted at the end of the year.

Commissioners discussed the material presented and asked questions about the plan.

No Public Comment.

3. Resolution Affirming Commission on the Status of Women’s Commitment to Racial Equity

Commissioners discussed the language and intentionality of the resolution and proposed to continue the item at the October meeting.

No public comment

Action: Motion for postponement                              (Roll Call Vote)            m/s/c (Soo/Shorter/Unanimous)

6. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public Comment.

7. ADJOURNMENT

Action: To adjourn                                                           (Roll Call Vote)                          m/s/c (Soo/Shorter/Unanimous)

Commission closed the meeting in memory of Former Commissioner Katherine Munter.

Meeting adjourned at 6:59 pm.