it is our honor to present this award to someone who is truly special to us. working. y -- working with youth is not an easy task. not only must we be there to support them in their studies, we are there to advocate for them and help them to become strong individuals. to allow kids to be kids and support their development in the coming world citizens is a balancing act. this man has taken on the challenge for many years. he has become part of the lives of these young individuals and does not only care and work for them, but for their families and for the community as well. we all truly care for him and are thankful for all that he does. it has been a pleasure to work for him. >> i just want to say that

martin is such an exceptional person. even when he is -- more than -- marvin is such an exceptional person. even when he is just playing basketball, and getting into a tickle war, you can feel his intentions and how much he really just cares. he is there unconditionally. a lot of young people -- they don't really see them as native people. marvin never gives up and always rises to the occasion. being a youth worker, you do so much more than what your job description says. he goes above and beyond what he needs to. it is really amazing to work with someone that genuinely and deeply understands.

i am trying to build a new youth program in san francisco, and i want to say that we all have so much love and respect for him. he understands that they are not just tomorrow's leaders but today's leaders. it is not just their own happiness, but it contributes to the native community. i am really glad to present this award for him. [applause] >> we also have a present for marvin on behalf of the kids. he is not only a super star, but a native super star. [cheers and applause]

>> 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

. >> my name is mark tieman and i'm senior councilor at pet camp, san francisco, california. we dispose of a lot of carbon-based material here, dog poop, and the more we can turn that into something viable, the better off we are. in san francisco there's more dogs than children.

finding a viable use for dog poop. >> proenvironmental policies, that's a way to win hearts and minds.