in doubt for -- more about embracing all of the challenges in the city. so, let's get more detail about these programs. >> thank you some much. it has been such a delight to have someone on board who is equally passionate about our children and making sure the partnership continues. we did not have a partnership if we did not have leadership, and so i want to introduce our superintendent of schools, carlos garcia, and our board member who has helped identify the needs of students as well. carlos? >> thank you. good morning. but the move this a little bit. there we go. this is an exciting day. sometimes people come up to me and say that summers will seems like an oxymoron. you already have school, right? in this day and age, if we're going to compete, in a flat

our students are going to be successful. i have to tell you to take my hat goes off -- and he has a half, but i do not. my hat goes off to the mayor. think about it. we had all the different superintendents from southern california in for a meeting, and no one could believe that a city like san francisco would step up to fund charter school, because that just does not happen anywhere. we asked around the room, were there any other cities, and there was not. this is a special city. we have a community that actually use the children of the community as their children, like the mayor said. and it makes such a big difference, having them step up

and be there for the children. it has been fabulous. and to have these advocates, it is great to have a relationship with them. my hat is always of to them. they pushed us. they pushed the school district. they pushed us to do great things for our children. a couple of years ago, we had a conversation to talk about the a-g program for all students. we started with ninth graders. everyone takes required glasses. and as a result, yeah, we have a few kids who do not make it. and so, this summer, we were trying to figure out -- we had some money. think about it -- in california 70% of all the money for summer school has been wiped out. we no longer get the funding. how are we going to do that.

we decided to prioritize and give summer school to our seniors, because if they cannot pass, they will not graduate. every year, we have the priority for them to take this later on. at the end of summer school, we have another graduation forum. we have been that our priority. until the mayor and everybody got together, and we said, you know, this is not somebody else's problem. the mayor was the first two said we have to come up with the money. the $250,000 is something that will make a reality for 900 kids who did not do well in those requirements, to let them know that we care enough that we're going to make them a priority. that could not have happened without the support. gm.ftñ behind in credits, because that is what instep happening.

this is something opportunity with all the credit that they need to keep moving this forward. we could never have done this in the past, and certainly agree that without the help of everybody, but not be here. city colleges are offering summer courses for high school students. we all worked as a team now. it is great working with your departments. we talk to each other. it really is one city. i have worked in seven school districts. i have to tell you this is the first place in my life for all the different parts of the city, the colleges, everybody comes together, the school district, and we all think about what will be best for our children. and that is what makes -- you know, talk about having a great san francisco promise. this is a place where we walk

the talk and make the new priority. i want to thank everyone who is here. it is not just the school district. mayor, i cannot thank you enough. and go, giants. thank you. >> thank you, carlos. part of the work we have been doing in the mayor's office is focused around public safety issues. without our committee response network, many of them are here with us this afternoon. they pushed us as well. bill and alan nance were instrumental. that acknowledges how important public safety is in our office. he has come through, talking about what we need to do for our youth. i would like to bring a poll henderson. -- paul henderson.

[applause] >> come on. you can clap louder than that. i am going to get warmed up here. this is fully warmed already talking about public safety, there is not just one event, one action, but today's announcement that we have here is symbolic of what the process is. this is exactly how public safety works in the city. i know everyone is concerned about what happens this summer, and what are we going to do and how we are going to keep the crime rate low and how we are going to advance so used is engaged in positive activity over the summer in an attempted into making bad decisions. and today is exactly how we're going to deliver on that. we are doing not just an educational commitment -- but the mayor has talked about all

the people who live stepped up to make sure we have a summer school, but also that we are addressing both cultural and social activities as well. i think a symbol of that is what we're doing with camp mather, and how we are bringing together all the organizations that you see behind me and some that you do not see. it is a partnership that creates new opportunities. this is something that has not been done in the past. we're talking about a cultural and social responsibility. i just want to acknowledge that part and rep and phil ginsburg specifically -- because of his leadership -- we're going to have a great program that includes educational opportunities for youth where

they have not had those opportunities in the past. that is what has been created. its stand up in particular this year, because we all know what our budget issues are, and the way that this is working, it is because of a unique partnership, the people you see standing behind me, with the educational department, who are also going to be a part of -- throughout the summer -- with the summer school and the camp mather experience -- and that is a big deal. also, not here, but as part of the partnership and of the table, the police department. and a number of other community-based organizations that of all been at the table to make sure this program work and that kids are safe and that san francisco is going to be safe through the summer. thank you for coming out, and hopefully we will leave here and i will -- and we all leave as

agents of change and talk about the exciting things the city is doing in share with our communities so we have as much participation as possible, but moreover that we have awareness, so people know not just what the city is doing, but what we are doing it, why it is important, and why it matters to the citizens of san francisco. thank you. >> thank you, paul. it is not just about public safety, but it is also about learning throughout the summer. no one knows that better than our director of the department of children and families. >> hello, i am maria su. i want to thank the mayor and his leadership and appreciate carlos garcia and his leadership of the school district. we definitely see our department

as the glue that connects the city with the different departments together and to help advocate for services for children, youth, and families. i want to mention a few things the department is doing for the summer, because we are doing a lot. if you want to learn more, please go to 311, 211, or our partent-specific website sf.org. our goals are to create programs and services that meet the needs of working families. i want to emphasize working families because i received a directive from the mayor that require this to make sure all of programming help support all of those working families in san francisco, because you know how

important that is to keep our families here and to have " -- quality services for them, and to focus our services on at risk children, youth, and families. we also have a lot of families that are struggling right now. we need to make sure our services prioritizes families. finally, we want to make sure would provide a healthy meals for all of our children who are experiencing any of these programs. of note, we want to make sure that everyone knows we're finding a variety of summers services for kindergartners up to eighth grade. he wants to make sure that we were able to find $3 million to invest in full day summer programs.

there are 63 full day of summer programs throughout the city. right now, where families can enroll, so they can have that quality experience. we project to serve approximately 7000 children this year with just that one strategy. this is one of many different strategies. we are working very closely with the school district so we can provide them those opportunities so that those kids who are going to summer school will have the opportunity to receive this enrichment programs and other fine quality programs. in terms of services for teenagers, we of 53 programs throughout the city that will provide enrichment, leadership services, and in one thing we have heard over and over again and all of our community meetings -- youth employment opportunities. we will continue that the

summer. we will continue three of our largest youth employment programs in the city. one is called the mayor's youth and education program. with allocated approximately 450 slots for youth the summer. youth works, a department -- and we have allocated 150 slots this summer. and then, finally, work creation, which is a partnership with our rec and park department in which we will allocate 120 slots, through partnership of course, to have people in our park facilities this summer. and paul henderson has already touched on violence prevention. we will continue our programs in service of violence prevention services. these are full year programs for

our community. but very important -- we want to make sure everybody knows that all of our violence prevention programs are working with the department of public safety throughout the city, so we can coordinate our services and make sure that our services are targeted where we need to be periods -- need to be. we have been able to work with a wonderful food vendor, and they will be providing organic, locally grown sustainable foods this summer for all of our children and all of our programs. we will provide 80 programs this summer. some of them are at park and rep. some of them will be at a community-based organizations. we will have food opportunities for children starting in june of

the way into august, and the project to serve approximately 5000 meals per day every day during that time. this is more than last year, and i believe we will have better quality food because they are organic and locally-grown foods. if you want to learn more about any of these programs, please go to 311, 211, or sfkids.org. >> thank you. so the benefits from this? uc student leaders. -- you see student leaders. we've had great partnership with families throughout the city where these services matter most. we want to invite one of our parent leaders, apparently a son actually -- a parent liason

actually. >> hello. in apparent leader, and i wanted to let know that we all should have the opportunity to have a good education, regardless of what neighborhoods they live in. this is of fundamental value for college and her rear for all. this year, in the mother of an eighth grader in the san francisco unified school district. the freshman class will be the first graduating class to meet the new graduation requirements that ensures access to california state university and university of california approved courses, otherwise known as a through g. this is one of the many ways the

san francisco unified school district is keeping its promise to access and equity to all the students in the city. the commitment of city leaders like the mayor, the board of education, the board of supervisors, to increase summer programming and access to summer school is the strongest sign of keeping a promise to the next generation of san franciscans, providing the summer program for ninth graders -- about 900 students -- who otherwise would be off track and could not continue is just amazing. i am so excited about it. this year makes the 20 anniversary of the children's fund -- the 20th anniversary of the children's fund, and i am happy about having leaders who put the children's fund in impacting lives through the after-school program and child care. we would like at the same time

to think the mayor and maria su for working hard with community members to understand the needs that we have. to have the stillness be able to get these opportunities that will accomplish -- to have the students be able to get these opportunities that will accomplish access and equities. thank you. >> and finally, whether it is finding fields to play on or learning how to cook, rec and park has been hitting it out of the park for a while. phil, tell us what you are doing this summer. >> hello. it is hot. it is almost too hot to wear the vest. which i never take out. the recreation and park department's summer is the most

joyous and exciting and important time. i want to thank mayor lee and superintendent for 7 on your side. and all my colleagues back here for the vision, which is simple. the best way to keep kids busy during the summer is to give them healthy things to do. that is what we are all about. i am going to give you an overview of some of the things we are doing. we are proud to be able to offer over 30,000 camp slots for our kids. 30,000. that is an increase, mr. mayor, from last year. our camp programs are fantastic. they range from traditional to art camps, but we are always recognizing that kids today think differently than we did when we were kids. so we have skateboarding, surfing, the amex viking -- bmx

biking, activities for young and old, roller soccer, all kinds of sports. one of our most important principles is every child has an opportunity to participate regardless of ability to bed. we have are robust scholarship program. already this early in our registration cycle, we've given 500 kids scholarships to attend our camps. in addition, i want to thank our partners because we cannot do it alone. we have a great partner with cyf, and also they are providing healthy meals for our kids during the day. i want to think the housing authority. i do not know if they are here today. we have had a great relationship for two years where all of our children who live in public housing get to participate in our summer programs, and most

importantly, our learn to swim program all summer long for free. i want to focus on two summer camps. one is a new camp we are doing this summer called camp azure. camp azure is for children on the autism spectrum who need extra supervision. they will be right alongside can silver streak, one of our most fabulous camps. -- right alongside camp silve tree. we will be hosting a very special camp experience for children on the autism spectrum. and finally, to follow up on the opportunity for camp mather, for the first time -- camp mather has always been the most special family experience. it has never been a place for at risk youth, and for the first

time, we will be bringing 60 kids to experience the wonderment and beauty of nature, right at our hetch hetchy reservoir. it is one of the most spectacular assets we have and in the city. kids learn about hiking and participate in team building exercises, obstacle courses. they will be able to learn to swim. they will help us build trails. they will stage a talent show. i do not know if they know that yet. it will be a fabulous five-day experience for them. we are excited about it. we also have a program for people who do not want to participate in camp. summer registration starts may 31. this is for children of all ages. connie over here has our program guide for both our summer programs and our camp cycle. as we like to say at rec and park, get out and play. thank you very much.

>> we have a lot that is going on the summer. i want to acknowledge any alvarez -- henry alvarez from the housing authority. i also want to and knowledgeluis hererra, our city librarian. thank you for joining us, partnering with us, and making sure our students are safe and continuing with learning to read the summer. thank you.