[music]

[cheers] [singing]

[singing]

[singing]

>> welcome to the third annual social justice and beloved community consort celebrating dr. martin luther king jr. welcome to the stage the san francisco human rights commission executive director, dr. cheryl davis. >> good evening! okay, i'm going to try one more time. good evening. you saw me up here trying to figure which way to go. you better be nice. good evening.

welcome to our third annual mlk kick-off celebration. thank you so much for being here in space with us tonight. [applause] i had the opportunity to talk to someone earlier who was like, you know, are we really seeing progress, are things actually improving and getting better and i said i had the opportunity over the years to meet on several occasions john lewis and people ask, june lewis, how do we feel. we would say there is always room to do better but someone who could tell you what it looked like, 40, 50, 60 years ago, he is like, this is progress. i thought about it earlier, even the ability to get up and question and challenge the powers that be, the ability to say up and i say i don't agree and protest and not have dogs or hoses or other things put on you, that is progress. and so, as we pause to reflect

yes, we are not going to rest on our laurels and say it is all good enough, because it isn't good enough, but it is better then it was and so we celebrate and pause and respect and appreciate the people who marched, the people who were bitten, the people who were hosed, people who sat down and stood up. the people who marched. i want to say on behalf of the human rights commission, the northern california mlk foundation and all our other partners, thank you for what you you do and thank you for the ancestors and people in the past and blood sweat and tears to help us be in this place and space at this point in time. thank you all so very much for being here. i want to give a special shout-out to and i know they will do this later, but i always always forget, special shout-out to sarah williams and i debbie for helping to make sure and orch straight what we are able to take part in

tonight. [applause] i have the amazing pleasure and honor to be able to introduce and bring up next the mayor of san francisco, mayor london breed will be our next speaker. that's right. [applause] when mayor breed was running the african american art and culture complex [applause] when she was running the african american art culture complex some may remember, especially during the time when presidents then barack obama said and built on the idea mlk day isn't a day off, it is day on.

london breed worked on that seriously. all sorts of things that orcinize and orchestrate hundreds of people across the city dispatched to do amazing work and she continues today to be advocate for service learning project and help each other to engage and make a difference and i want to thank her so much being here tonight and also for her consistent continuous support to elevate and talk about social justice and r in a very real tangible way. thank you mayor london breed. [applause] >> alright. good evening everybody! are we ready to celebrate? are we ready to commemorate? i'm excited to be here tonight because taking a moment to pause and reflect on the legacy of dr. martin luther king jr. has always been something that

i have appreciated. growing up in the city there used to be so many celebrations and our community would come together. i remember reverend sisal williams leading the charge and march and people show up all over the bay area and we descend on civic center and there would be speeches and performances and music, kids and families and seniors and wheelchairs and everyone came from all over for one purpose, the purpose of reminding ourselves of what dr. king stood for and how he decided that it was important for him to put his life on the line to support black people in this country and to engage in civil disobedience. to engage in using love as a weapon of peace to bring us

together. and it was so important to me when i worked in the community when reverend williams decided to retire and we saw a bit of a void. it was what happened? had people are used to coming to san francisco for this purpose and over the years with all the things we tried to do, we tried to continue to be that place when people would take the train and exit and march and go to yerba buena and do other things and when we introduced the dream keeper initiative in san francisco, a commitment to give $60 million a year for black people decided by black people to invest in businesses and home ownership opportunities and programs and things that matter to our community, it was only appropriate that we invest in dr. martin luther king jr. day

as a way to bring people together. to remind us of why we are here and yes, incremental change and there are shoulders that we stand on and why we are able to be here today and to be advocates and for me, someone like me to be mayor is what we-- it is what people fought for is for opportunity. for us to have opportunity like anybody else. for us to stands on these stages. for us to run these cities and countries like anybody else. we celebrate how far we have come, but always never letting our foot off the gas knowing that there is so much work still to be done. this celebration is a chance for us to not only be reminded

of that, but it is a chance for us to experience joy. to experience and share that joy in this environment with music and to watch our talented people sing their hearts out and to talk about the things that are important to us and to make us feel happy to be alive. happy to be alive in this moment and feel blessed that we are here. to enjoy the celebration. so, i want to thank all of you who are here tonight, especially those who traveled to san francisco to see the robin j williams gospel choir and to see some of the extraordinary talent, to sing and to feel joy. there is so much going on in the world. we know that. but there is nothing wrong with taking a moment to experience that joy, that love, that peace

that can truly unit us and bring us together. thank you all so much for being here. [applause] >> the journey together started not as brothers but stage comp titian. they met outside the black box in oakland california practicing their craft and notice the work ethic and formed a bond which turned in a 20year journey of friendship, a professional relationship, features on stages and platforms individually and together around the world. please welcome to the stage, 2024 grammy nominated spoken word artist princess powell and shawn williams.

>> i don't know if you guys have heard, the black voice, black voice be everything. black voice be everything to everybody. black voice be everything to everybody but themselves. i know because black voice be me. black voice be great. black voice be quite. black voice be innocent. when black voice see cops black voice get nervous because that is when black voice get shot. when black voice get shot that is when black voice go silent.

because black boy ain't no snitch. can you believe the black boys have to live like this because we with be so hurt because black boys be crying. black boys be dying because black boys be spirit holding the space between bad and [indiscernible] black boys be like, move. like, short films living in fear of early credits. losing life just to win a war, just so the crowd can be like, yeah. just because the black boy can [indiscernible] black man, go broke. they say black boy crazy. black boy been [indiscernible] i say you drop a black boy in the middle of frozen lake and still make ripples. black boy [indiscernible] black boy stop, dont talk, black boy

dribble. don't talk, black boy dribble. black boys be confused. >> when a man says i'm tired, ladies, inquiry. demand him to elaborate because tired is different. tired doesn't always mean sleepy. tired can be tired getting up, moving for, tired of losing and you know your man doesn't take losing well and your father doesn't take losing well and your brother does not take losing well. do you know your son does not take losing well? if he feels he is losing in the game of life he might not take his ball and go home, he might go home and take pills or a bullet. your man feeling like he can't do anything like he can't accomplish anything like he can't win at anything and i know what you are probably thinking, why can't he come to me and say he is feeling

suicidal like when he feels he is hungry? because society doesn't allow black men to have those safe spaces. because a man of few words use words like help and weak. because of valuable man is cherished more then a vulnerable one. strong men push down our feelings deep down inside turning temples into tombs and tumors and anxiety and pushed down within. do you know what a cry for help from a black man sounds like? it sounds like i'm good. i'm alive. i'm okay. >> the white man don't run this country. >> asian, italians, hebrews. we run the country because black men are used [indiscernible], exploited to run the country, jump dance and

[indiscernible] get used like copper tox when the copper stops [indiscernible] 100 thousand black men in and out of prison daily. [indiscernible] >> [indiscernible] another dead black man and [indiscernible] hotwired our minds to be descenticized. waiting for welfare like a [indiscernible] don't be surprised they are pulling your wool over your eyes. the new word for genocide in 2024 [indiscernible] >> batteries, 18 in the package you might call prison buses but i call the new millennium slave ship. [indiscernible] manufacturing clothes for old navy gap and jc pennies.

adults used as [indiscernible] >> they want you to know there is no hope. you are destine for doom. if they could they would try to get to your ass [indiscernible] >> babies are used as aaa power the country [indiscernible] thatd is why they call charge s to power the country like batteries. [indiscernible] the judge is calling me a [indiscernible] >> where we come from our electric company is called pg&e. that is pushing genocide efficiently. >> that is acronym for your ass, man. 100 cops from a prop because the city and state need the gas. >> the government need somebody to power the river boats to mississippi to [indiscernible] black men in prison, we keep going and going and going.

[cheers] >> thank you princess and shawn for that electric piece. coming up next, iaecia. performance lecturer justice strategist, singer song writer and rap activist. hip hop project amplifying universal efforts for freedom and justice. she is a multi-lingual african american and japanese woman who has lectured and performed all across the world. raptism is featured in opera magazine, ted x [indiscernible] empowerment, siminism and cultural activism through story

telling and live musical performance. please welcome to the stage, rap-tivist, iaecia fukashima. >> o my goodness, how are you all feeling? i say how y'all feeling? yes, that's what i like to hear. in the land of the free, and the home of the--how can this be the land of the free and home of the brave when so many people live in fear?

i captivate with imagination state of mind, teacher, do you mind? i am growing here. [music in the background] paced with my heart. i am more then those labels make me out to be. i said, we are more then those labels make us out to be. we are human first and for emost. i said, we are human first and foremost accept for when we are butterflies. we are more connected then we pretend to be. these wings make me free as i fly on the winds of change. a new season has come. rearrange. the old one is done into change and living as a butterfly taught me one thing, there is no beginning or ending, only

[indiscernible] let us call this transformation. let us call this a re-formation, my wing pattern is a blue print for elevation and there ain't no stopping this reclamation constructed in a language of sounds and silences that must be read between the lines until we realize that this whole realty is constructed. the education of values one human life over another is corrupt. migration is a way of life. i said, migration is a way of life and i float by pushing myself on matters i cannot see like, dreams, shape shifting medium of creativity. sometimes it is hard to be a butterfly when you were built to soar and some try to colonize the sky. how can you divide the air? must be hard it breathe if we don't want to share.

this is the life of a butterfly. karma and [indiscernible] birth and rebirth. i am woman and i know my worth. mon ark but not imperial. i keep rising and shining wondering can you hear me though? i keep rising and shining wondering can you hear me though? as we float, as we fly, as we flutter the warmth of prayers that melt like butterfly over aching wounds. [indiscernible] highlight pyramid:this is for you and for you and for you and for all of you. hold your head high as you speak your truth. i said, birds flying high- >> you know how i feel. >> sun in the sky-- >> you know how i feel.

>> breeze dripping on by--it is a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for we. it is a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life, and we feeling-sing it y'all-yes. give yourselves a round of applause. wow. i'm so thrilled to be back in the bay area. all most a decades here and it has been such a formative place for me as a artist. it fed my soul in so many ways. the first peace you heard had keys from a local artist named mike blankenship so shout out to mike. yes, show him some love.

the pieces or some you hear tonight are off a forthcoming album. i hope that you enjoy little samples. is that okay with y'all? cool. this piece is called-i love you too! this piece is called poetry and i wrote it when i was staying and living in senegal and visiting the point of no return and seeing the place where so many enslaved people taken against their will through that doorway, that image through to the ocean suddenly the song came to me one sudden feeling, all most a surge in my soul and i had to run. i think i called my mom's voicemail at the time and sang it on a tape recording somewhere and so this is a version of that called poetry.

[music and singing]

[applause] >> thank you all so much. this next piece is dedicated to the loved ones who may be far away from us, we night be able to see anymore whether by distance or perhapsed they transitioned called missing you. i want to invite you in this moment in time to think of someone you want to call in this space to dedicate this song to, so if that speaks to you, i invite you on the count of 3 to say that person's name

or multiple persons name allowed. 1, 2, 3. let's do this one more time. keep bringing them in the space. they are already here but, 1, 2, 3. this song is for them. [music and singing]

[applause] >> thank you all so much. i got a couple or few more pieces for you all. is that alright with you? okay. i am so excited to be here. i forget to mention and flew in from copenhagen den mark to be here so i'm traveling through time and grateful you are traveling through time via music with me, with we tonight so give yourselves a round of applause. i want to shout out an incredible artist i'm about to invite on stage named eddie m

on saxophone. can we show eddie m some love? so, talented. thank you for joining me. this next piece is called, ghost in. are you doing okay? cool. that's what i like to hear. and this piece is one, it about how much we need each other in my humble opinion, so i hope you feel that in every wave length of the song.

[singing]

[singing]

[applause] >> thank you all. this next piece because we have been on a journey, right? it is good to remember to breathe and all that. if we can all maybe take a collective deep breath. exhale where you are. let in that deep breath. pause. let it out. beautiful. i heard that. i felt that. this next song i would love your help to sing. the chorus goes, don't try to be, just be, inhale, exhale and you all just say--breathe. should we give it a try? don't try to be, just be, inhale, exhale >> breathe. >> don't try to be, just be, inhale, exhale. >> breathe. >> yes. you think we are ready m? let's do it, let's do it, let's get into it.

[music and single]

>> give yourselves a round of applause. thank you so much eddie m for joining me. i got one last piece for you. is that okay with y'all?

my goodness, eddie m is such a incredible musician and i want to give love to all the organizers tonight, all the performers. thank you so much sarah williams , thank you cheryl. the venue, thank you all. i really feel the love in this room tonight, so i just-i'm grateful for y'all. i want to wrap up on this last piece and it is called, future ancestors. if you haven't gotten a chance to visit my lovely mom at the murch table i invite you to do so and say hello. thank you. i appreciate y'all. yes, and this is called, future ancestors.

[music and singing]

[applause] >> thank you all so much. this has been an amazing evening and grateful for you all. i hope to see you again on is the road very soon. i'll see you all next time. much love! [applause] >> come on, keep those hands going for iaecia fukushima. what a wonderful night we had. we want to thank the sf human rights commission and executive director cheryl evan davis and our sponsor, collective impact and executive director james spingola. the nor cal mlk foundation and

our event producer, the ever so talented sarah williams. [applause] we also like to thank the war memorial and performing arts scepter the theater team and [indiscernible] tonight would not have been possible without our amazing performers, ms. laya hathaway, iaecia [indiscernible] thank you for sharing your gifts. special thanks to sfgovtv bay area town car, paul mon tarot and studiostrument reynold mike ground and [indiscernible] our mayor, the honorable london breed for continued support. [applause] special thanks to all of you for joining us. we hope you had a great time. to close us out, please welcome

director aaron grizel. [applause] >> give yourselves a hand, clap. gives yourselves a hand, clap. so, we have experienced the 2024 martin luther king jr. celebration concert here in the city of san francisco. with our own layla hathaway and iaecia [indiscernible] want to share something with you very quickly and then we'll be out of here. sf, san francisco, sfmlk.events. go there, the rest of the weekend. i want to highlight one thing for you, tomorrow night

everyone welcome yerba buena for the arts, [indiscernible] cause play. golden state warriors d jd sharp will be spinning there. i thought the techniques turn tables but they don't do it like that anymore. whatever it is, he is doing his thing there and you go. tell your friends. the weather isn't going to be nice during beginning of the day, but at 7 o'clock be there to turn up the heat. it will be fun. it is for you. i'm going. wait, wait, wait. wait now, wait now. i'm going and i got to go to church in the morning. so, i got to think that through

on how i deal with that, but i'm going tomorrow night. alright. i'm not going to sneak out the house, i'm going , but i got to deal with sunday morning so letting you all know. please, avail yourself of all it events and activities. they are free for you and everyone here in this region. that's why the late coreta scott king started this for us. she brought sisal williams in and asked him to organize this organization to create this type of environment that is free for everyone. so, please eveil yourself and look at this weekend as the weekend of social justice and beloved community. that is our theme. social justice and beloved community. i'm going to--i want to share

this as we go. this is our benediction. in the 6th century of the common error, viz teen emperor justinian wrote a code for roman society, 6th century. you all have heard of this about giving justice is giving every man his due. might have heard of that. that was written into the law. that was the first sentence of the law. what is justice? justice is giving every man his due. in that same code, a couple lines down, it said that but slaves have no rights. slaves have no rights.

so, in this 6th century code of roman society, justice is giving every man his due, but you had to be a citizen of rome to be able to get your due. but if you were a slave you had no rights. that means you had no justice. that means there was no law that a white man was bound to respect if you were a black person. you heard of that before? that term or that sentence, justice is giving every man his due is the basis for how we in our modern society define justice.

our western society defines justice based on the 6th century principal where slaves couldn't partake. where women even though they were citizens couldn't partake and it is that definition that we use to frame what justice means today. under law giving every man his due. justice comes from somewhere else other then that. justice comes from somewhere else. our own howard thurman, the mentor to dr. king, howard thurman started the first intentionally interracial church in the united states right there on larkin and broadway. 2041 larkin street. the church of fellowship of all

people. he said this, nature is a rhythm. when he was a kid he would sit under the big oak tree in his back yard. he would go to the beach and listen to the waves during the storms. this is all of these things. he noticed that there was a rhythm to nature. there was a rhythm to it. there was a rhythm to nature. and that rhythm is a part of us, because we as human beings are a part of nature. right? we as human beings are a part of nature and so whatever nature is in us. it is a part of us. the one thing found out about nature is that nature the way nature can live and survive is by interacting. it needs interaction. we as human beings need

interaction to survive. we can't survive on our own, right? by our severals we -the food of the interaction is communication. we got to talk among each other. and there are many times we can survive as long as we interact. even when we are mean to each other. even when we are 3/5 of what it means to be a person under law. we survived even that. even that, so we know we can survive being mean to each other. but what's the best way to thrive? the best way to thrive is by doing what it is that is a fact on the ground and the fact is, the concrete fact is that we are all human beings.

that's just a fact. you don't have to prove that. you don't have to--even when you try to write that under law, that you 60 percent of this or you 40 percent--that doesn't--everybody knows that you. you can't imagine that away. you get where i'm going? we are all human beings and the best way we thrive is to communicate by understanding we are all human beings and the way we understand we are all human beings is by seeing the fact that you and me are sort of the same in that respect and i can see you in me and you can see me in you. you can tell when somebody is mad because you can see them. i get mad by that. just basic stuff. when we see each other in each

other we find this commonality, and howard thurman said it this way, the safest place, the safest place, the safest place for anybody to be physically, the safest place for anybody to be is in another person's heart. why? because if i think about you, if i care about you i'm not going to want to hurt you. if you care about me you are not going to want to hurt me. it is just stuff. we were raised on this stuff. why were we raised on this stuff or how were we raised on this stuff? because on the ships when our names were taken. when we were taken from our land. when we were put underneath in the holds of these purpose built ships. when they wouldn't let us on

the deck so we could see where the sun and moon was and the stars were so we can at least chart our course, when all that was taken away, when it seemed everything was ansent, we sat there and found ourselves again. in absence we found ourselves and we came to each other through knowing that we are human beings and we are together. that is where social justice comes from. it comes from the fact of our humanness. it's not some law given every man his due. it comes from the fact of you and me. that's just a fact. it is a fact. don't let anybody tell you it

ain't a fact. that's what social justice comes from. in each other's heart, when we walk down the street and i see a brother walking down the street i know what that brother means when he looks over at me and nods his head. i know what the sister means when she looks at me and nods her head. we know that. that's where social justice comes from. and that's what beloved community is. it is just a fact. [applause] social justice and beloved community. as we go out and leave here this evening, don't let anybody

turn you around. don't let anyone turn you around, because the fact is, the fact is, the fact is, we are soul folk. the soul of this country. everything written in our formed formation documents. everything written in our organizational documents of this country is littered in between those lines. the meaning of this nation isn't the words, the meaning is what is not spoken or what is not written and what's not written is the soul of this nation. and that's what you are, the soul of this country. the soul of this country. social justice. [applause] and beloved community. so go out, celebrate that fact.

celebrate that fact, because we can make it. amen. amen. you guys have a good evening. >> thank you for those words. that sums up our evening. have a great night. [music]

♪♪ >> san francisco! ♪♪ >> this is an exhibition across departments highlighting different artworks from our collection. gender is an important part of the dialogue. in many ways, this exhibition is contemporary. all of this artwork is from the 9th century and spans all the way to the 21st century.

the exhibition is organized into seven different groupings or themes such as activities, symbolism, transformation and others. it's not by culture or time period, but different affinities between the artwork. activities, for example, looks at the role of gender and how certain activities are placed as feminine or masculine. we have a print by uharo that looks at different activities that derisionly performed by men. it's looking at the theme of music. we have three women playing traditional japanese instruments that would otherwise be played by men at that time. we have pairings so that is looking within the context of gender in relationships. also with how people are questioning the whole idea of

pairing in the first place. we have three from three different cultures, tibet, china and japan. this is sell vanity stot relevar has been fluid in different time periods in cultures. sometimes being female in china but often male and evoking features associated with gender binaries and sometimes in between. it's a lovely way of tying all the themes together in this collection. gender and sexuality, speaking from my culture specifically, is something at that hasn't been recently widely discussed. this exhibition shows that it's gender and sexuality are

actually have been considered and complicated by dialogue through the work of artists and thinking specifically, a sculpture we have of the hindu deities because it's half pee male and half male. it turns into a different theme in a way and is a beautiful representation of how gender hasn't been seen as one thing or a binary. we see that it isn't a modest concept. in a way, i feel we have a lot of historical references and touch points throughout all the ages and in asian cultures. i believe san francisco has close to 40% asian. it's a huge representation here in the bay area. it's important that we awk abouk about this and open up the discussion around gender.

what we've learned from organizing this exhibition at the museum is that gender has been something that has come up in all of these cultures through all the time periods as something that is important and relevant. especially here in the san francisco bay area we feel that it's relevant to the conversations that people are having today. we hope that people can carry that outside of the museum into their daily lives. [music] my name is husheem anderson a lieutenant with the san francisco fire

department born and raised in san francisco, grew up in western addition. both my parents worked for the city. my dad was a custodian with san francisco school district and mom a muni driver. when i grew up in san francisco i never thought of the fire service as a career. not because i didn't want to be a firefighter, i just didn't know anything about it and it was literally the experience of trying to figure what i was going to do with the next part of my life where i decided to go to city college and take a couple classes. that is when i discovered there was actually a fire science program program emt program and paramedic program. if it wasn't for that opportunity to get the education training and meet several mentors that are some of my grood friends today, i don't think i ever would are have pursued this career. i was interested in becoming a paramedic so i did work experience at the ems division

when it was actually in the presidio, completed that program, did my paramedic internship at the same time i volunteered with san francisco fire reserve and able to learn a lot of hands on skills associated with becoming a firefighter. san francisco went through a period of 7 years without hiring, so we hired about a 130 people off of the 2001 test which is the first fire test that and ever sat for, so i took that test, did pretty well on it test, interviewed, didn't do as well as i liked so they hired 130 people off that list and didn't hire again for another 7 years, so here i was training to do a job where i was really excited, but there were no jobs after 911 so things slowed down and once the fire department started hiring again i was in the second class hired full time in 2012. because

of the experience i had here at city college, it was always really important for me to be able to give back. so, when i got to the fire department, i didn't have a college degree, and in order to teach at a community college you need a college degree, so quhile i while working as a firefighter i got my degree from saint mary college so i got a bachelor degree. i teach firefighter 1 and 2 curriculum for the program at the college. after i promoted to lieutenant, then i applied to be a instructor down at the training academy because i always loved to teach. my past experience is really helpful in terms of how i'm able to break down information and pass it alodge to brand new firefighters. so,

for myself, i didn't know very many people of color who worked in the san francisco fire department. as african american working in this department i always felt a obligation to be that example, to provide a roadmap for folks who look like me, who come from communities that i came from to make sure they have the same opportunities. now as a san francisco firefighter i can tell you if you work hard, you get along with people, you will be welcomed into this department but we can also do a better job of representation. to me as a company officer when i'm on the fire engine or truck it is so helpful to have a rig where members can relate to the public we respond to. to me that cultural diversity of the members on our fire engines, on the ladder trucks is important because if we can do a better job of representing the community that we are serving, i think we do a better job of relating to the community that we are serving, and to me that

is something that is really important.

>> candlestick park known also as the stick was an outdoor stadium for sports and entertainment. built between 1958 to 1960, it was located in the bayview hunters point where it was home to the san francisco giants and 49ers. the last event held was a concert in late 2014. it was demolished in 2015. mlb team the san francisco giants played at candlestick from 1960-1999. fans came to see players such a willie mays and barry bonds, over 38 seasons in the open ballpark. an upper deck expansion was added in the 1970s. there are two world series played at the stick in 1962 and in 198 9. during the 1989 world series against the oakland as they were shook by an earthquake. candlestick's enclosure had

minor damages from the quake but its design saved thousands of lives. nfl team the san francisco 49ers played at candlestick from feign 71-2013. it was home to five-time super bowl champion teams and hall of fame players by joe montana, jerry rice and steve jones. in 1982, the game-winning touchdown pass from joe montana to dwight clark was known as "the catch." leading the niners to their first super bowl. the 49ers hosted eight n.f.c. championship games including the 2001 season that ended with a loss to the new york giants. in 201, the last event held at candlestick park was a concert by paul mccartney who played with the beatles in 1966, the stadium's first concert. demolition of the stick began in late 2014 and it was completed in september 2015. the giants had moved to pacific

rail park in 2000 while the 49ers moved to santa clara in 2014. with structural claims and numerous name changes, many have passed through and will remember candlestick park as home to the legendary athletes and entertainment. these memorable moments will live on in a place called the stick. (♪♪♪) [music] >> san francisco is known as yerba buena, good herb after a mint that used to grow here. at this time there were 3

settlements one was mission delores. one the presidio and one was yerba buena which was urban center. there were 800 people in 1848 it was small. a lot of historic buildings were here including pony express headquarters. wells fargo. hudson bay trading company and famous early settlers one of whom william leaderdorph who lived blocks from here a successful business person. african-american decent and the first million airin california. >> wilwoman was the founders of san francisco. here during the gold rush came in the early 1840s. he spent time stake himself as a merchant seaman and a business person. his father and brother in new

orleans. we know him for san francisco's history. establishing himself here arnold 18 twoochl he did one of many things the first to do in yerba buena. was not california yet and was not fully san francisco yet. >> because he was an american citizen but spoke spanish he was able to during the time when america was taking over california from mexico, there was annexations that happened and conflict emerging and war, of course. he was part of the peek deliberations and am bas doorship to create the state of california a vice council to mexico. mexico granted him citizenship. he loaned the government of san francisco money. to funds some of the war efforts to establish the city itself and the state, of course.

he established the first hotel here the person people turned to often to receive dignitaries or hold large gatherings established the first public school here and helped start the public school system. he piloted the first steam ship on the bay. a big event for san francisco and depict instead state seal the ship was the sitk a. there is a small 4 block long length of street, owned much of that runs essentially where the transamerica building is to it ends at california. i walk today before am a cute side street. at this point t is the center what was all his property. he was the person entrusted to be the city's first treasurer. that is i big deal of itself to have that legacy part of an

african-american the city's first banker. he was not only a forefather of the establishment of san francisco and california as a state but a leader in industry. he had a direct hahn in so many things that we look at in san francisco. part of our dna. you know you don't hear his anymore in the context of those. representation matters. you need to uplift this so people know him but people like him like me. like you. like anyone who looks like him to be, i can do this, too. to have the city's first banker and a street in the middle of financial district. that alone is powerful. [music]by.

>> ph.d. >> my name is i'm a leader of the town in san francisco we try to provide japanese something we make like seaweed it creates like the many flavors we try to provide like more open japanese flavor as well as the james values like people get to experience in japan like a great ex

>> third thursdays at the commons is a monthly event series to really activate krisk krisk -- civic center, fulton mall, and other locations through social operation. >> in 2016, an initiative called the civic center progress initiative was launched, it was launched by a bunch of city agencies and community partners, so they really had to figure out how to program these places on a more frequent basis. i'm with the civic center community benefit district, and i'm program manager for the civic center commons. also, third thursdays will have

music. that was really important in the planning of these events. >> we wanted to have an artist that appeals to a wide range of tastes. >> i'm the venue manager. good music, good music systems, and real bands with guitar players and drummers. >> we turned uc center and fulton street into a place where people want to be to meet, to laugh, and it's just an amazing place to be. there's a number of different exhibits. there's food, wine, cocktails, and the idea, again, is to give people an opportunity to enjoy what really is, you know, one of the great civic faces in america. when you look from the polk

street steps, and you look all the way down the plaza, down market street, daniel burns' design, this was meant to be this way. it's really special. >> the city approached us off the grid to provide food and beverages at the event as kind of the core anchor to encourage people who leave a reason to stay. >> it's really vibrant. it's really great, just people walking around having a good time. >> this formula is great food, interesting music, and then, we wanted to have something a little more, so we partnered with noise pop, and they brought in some really fun games. we have skeeball, we also have roller skating lessons, and we've got a roller

skating rink. >> if you're a passion jail skeeball player like me, and you're deciding whether you're just going to roll the ball up the middle or take a bank shot. >> our goal is to come out and have fun with their neighbors, but our goal is to really see in the comments that it's a place where people want to hold their own public event. >> i think this is a perfect example of all these people working together. everybody's kind of come together to provide this support and services that they can to activate this area. >> there's no one agency or organization that really can make this space come alive on its own, and it's really through the collective will, not just of the public sector, but both the public and our business partnerships, our

nonprofits partnerships, you know, neighborhood activists. >> i really like it. it's, like, a great way to get people to find out about local things, cuisine, like, it's really great. >> it's a really good environment, really welcoming. like, we're having a great time. >> we want to inspire other people to do this, just using a part of the plaza, and it's also a good way to introduce people if they're having a large scale event or small scale event, we'll direct you to the right people at the commons so you can get your event planned. >> being a san francisco based company, it was really important to connect and engage with san franciscans. >> how great is it to come out

from city hall and enjoy great music, and be able to enjoy a comtail, maybe throw a bocci ball or skee ball. i find third thursdays to be really reinriggating for me. >> whether you're in the city hall or financial district or anywhere, just come on down on third thursdays and enjoy the music, enjoy an adult beverage, enjoy the skee ball; enjoy an adult playground, if you

commissioner benedicto is in route. commissioner janez, president. commissioner byrne here. commissioner yee here. vice president carter oberstein is in route. president lyons, do you have a quorum? also with us tonight are chief scott from the san francisco police department and executive director paul henderson from the department of police accountability. thank you. welcome, everyone, to our january. seventh meeting. we can't believe we're already halfway through january. um, all right, let's get this party