>> an echo. that's a nice echo. hello, my name is marvin paddock, and i would congratulate the recipients this evening. here at city hall, i was watching the world series on monday. voted right down here. now receiving this awesome acknowledgement. i first must thank the french house association for native

americans -- the friendship house for native americans. [applause] and for the laughter that you guys give me. i would like to thank the youth and their families. thank you a lot. as the youth workeres, this is the hot -- workers, this is the highest compliment to say that your a local hero -- you are a local hero. the center for youth services does matter. it is a healthy identity for urban youth. this award makes me want to work that much harder to maintain the integrity of the program in a

time of financial uncertainty. think you very much. -- thank you very much. [applause] [applause] >> all right. getting ready to wrap up. you guys haven't heard a joke in awhile, have you? any comanches out there? it's a comanche joke. this man, he had lost his sight so he was walking around with a white cane. he came up to this committee

restaurant, and it serves only comanches. comanche owned and operated. he has a seat and says, i would like some biscuits and gravy. the waiter took his order. he yells out, anybody want to hear a comanche joke? it got real quiet. the waiter comes back over and says, before you tell the joke, i want to make sure that you know we know you're blind. there are five things you need to know before you tell the jokes. the comanche says, the cook is comanche. he has a baseball bat.

second, that bouncer by the door is comanche. third, there is a six-foot five- inch, 275-pound comanche man over there with a black belt in karate. that man next to you is a professional wrestler, a comanche. the comanche on the other side of you, he's a professional weight lifter. after hearing these five things, my friend, but you still want to tell that comanche joke? the man pauses for a second,

shakes his head, no. not if i will have to explain at five times. [laughter] all right. getting ready to close this up, i want to send out a special shout out to kqed, public broadcasting. the native american health center. native american aids project. the mayor's office right here in san francisco, neighborhood services. i would like to mention that the native american aids project,

very close. the two spirits. my cousin, probably one of the first native americans to pass away with aids. from my family to you, thank you. thank you, thank you. [applause] an appropriate flag song, and a quitting song. please stand if you're able. these songs, long before the

star spangled banner. this nation's national anthem. our native people. they sang these songs. it pays homage to the first of this land. our eagle staff. these flags, the national standard. our american flags. our eagle staff fought on the same battle fields. today, they stand side by side with each other. remember our veterans with these songs as well.

[singing and chanting]

given up one more time for the singers, dancers, veterans. leaders in our native american community as well.

calling up joaquin to present the native american health center with a mayoral proclamation. >> we share a responsibility for vibrant communities, and we have an opportunity to share recognition. last year, the native american aids project honored november as native american heritage month, and we will receive the proclamation from mayor newsom. we are proud to be partners with kqed. let's thank them. thank you so much for your hard work. thank you to the native american aids project for bringing the spirit into the room. thank you for all of our dancers, singers, but veterans, we salute you.

on behalf of mayor newsom, the city and county of san francisco, we proclaim november 2010 as american indian heritage month in san vances go. -- san francisco. thank you very much. [applause] >> we are asking the four honorees to come on up. photo-op. it's not really over yet. until i say so. we give thanks this day, the opportunity to gather and honor our own today. blessings upon all those as they travel home

>> i am this assistance superintendent for special indication at san francisco unified. we have with us the supervisor from district 8. we have a supervisor from district 9.

we have many parents, many staff, and some children. i would like to introduce one of the san francisco unified parents that have worked so hard all week long. [applause] >> i am very happy to be here and celebrating it inclusive school week and i hope that we came momentum and do this every year better and that this blossoms to the state level. children of all abilities are

welcome everywhere. [applause] >> now it is mine pleasure to introduce rachel norton from the san francisco unified school board. >> thank you, everyone. it is exciting to be here today. we have been building up a bigger celebration of inclusive schools in san francisco. i really want to thank katherine for all the work that she did, the support for families, all of our administration, richard, carlos. we could not do this without this.

>> our superintendent cannot be with us this afternoon but i am really pleased to introduce the deputy superintendent richard caranza. [applause] >> what a wonderful day and what a wonderful event. i say that with a heavy heart because our ultimate goal is when we don't have to celebrate inclusive schools week, when we celebrate every day where every child is fully included in a meaningful and positive way in every aspect of education. when our school board took the monumental step in saying that we believe that every child can learn, we believe that every

child will learn in our community, special education is not a place or program, this is what we do every single day. this is the beginning of many many more celebrations about including every one of our children in the full array of educational programs. with that, we cannot do it alone. we need your help. what we need is your help and your creativity and your support in making this a reality in

every single one of our schools. thank you for being part of our school system. next year, bigger and better. [applause] >> one of our elementary schools did and excel of -- an excellent job of celebrating inclusive schools week and many are here this afternoon. [applause] >> we have decided to use this as a kickoff for really improving our inclusive educational practices in the district. with that, i just wanted to tell you that i am excited to introduce commissioner mendoza

who is the mayor is educational adviser and who is here to share a proclamation on behalf of the mayor. the mayor understands the stresses that we have had a san francisco unified. i am really proud to be here to read this proclamation from the city and county of san francisco to honor inclusive schools. since 2001, this has been celebrated during the first full week of december to honor the full diversity of our school and youth.

today, the san francisco school district is establishing the first annual san francisco inclusive schools week to join the tens of thousands of students and educators around the country celebrating inclusive schools week each year. whereas the san francisco unified school district is dedicated to the students with disabilities in education's needs. in keeping with the tenants of the students with disabilities act and the san francisco unified school district is dedicated to transforming the schools for striving for inclusiveness at all levels of

our programs. whereas today's students are the future leaders of our communities, each and every student is given every opportunity to train, learn, the curious, achieve, xl, inspire our future generations. geffen -- gavin newsom declares december 6th-12 as san francisco inclusive schools week in san francisco. congratulations and great job. [applause] >> thank you so much, everyone who is here. there are many people that i

failed to mention. i see many parents and staff. i just want to ek you -- echo the deputies words that this will be something that is every day and not just one time of year. thank you very much. [applause]