in the bay area, every county in the bay area has reported increases in bullying and harassment of kids. in san francisco, in last two years, 44% of our kids have reported harassment in their schools. so that is why we're here today and we're here also not just to understand how this is affecting us. how it's making kids and families not want to go to school. it's stunting the emotional growth of our kids. it's leading to a bad epidemic and that is why the u.s. attorney is here to signal she will work really hard with us to make this a national effort to stop it and i'm so thankful for lee hirsch and his sacrifice to take a look at five families across this country and document their lives and what they have been trying to do and to express the impact it has on us.

because we're being called to action. we're being called to do something about this epidemic. and i know you san franciscans, i don't care how young you are. i don't care what age or what grade you are. the best thing i know about san francisco, no matter where you come from is that we appreciate each other, where we come from. we appreciate your diversity. our diversity is our strength. the more different we are in backgrounds that makes san francisco fantastic. you know that and i know that. that is why we love our city. that is why we want to ?qp here and live here and raise our families here as because this diversity is our strength. don't let anybody bully you. don't allow them to say your differences are weaknesses. we all talk about the need to

diversify the leadership in our country and i want you to know that. there are some good examples and i want to single out rooftop element school k-8 has the bully ambassador program where every week some 50 students meet together and talk about on the campus what they can do to stop bullying. how they can teach other kids how to stop it. how they can help victims and people who feel that they are on the edge. not only in the classroom, but in the playgrounds, and even off the campuses. they are taking action. we're going to have more of these ideas to work with you, but today we're part of a 1-million kid launch all across the country. we're getting a million kids involved in that and you are part of that first effort. you are seeing this film and

there are 122 other cities across the country that are seeing it on launch date today. it will touch 127,000 kids and have 7500 teachers involved for the 1-million kid initiative. you are part of the 800 kids in san francisco that are going to help us start a great effort to stop bullying. so i want to give a shout out today to many of you who are proud of the schools you are in. let me begin. francisco middle school, they are in the house! marina middle school, thank you for being here. george washington high school, thank you for being here! roosevelt middle school, where is roosevelt? balboa high school, yeah! civic center secondary school. wallingburg high school! thank

you everybody for being here. i know you are going to help us. and guess what? you are too legit to quit. thank you very much. [ applause ] >> how about a round of applause for our mayor? [ applause ] talk about two legit to quit. so let's get real. let's get ready to watch this movie. we're glad that you are here. let me tell you a little bit about this documentary. it's a documentary about a number of children in schools throughout our country. and you know, we see a lot of things on tv a lot of fake reality shows, you have all seen them, where people are paid to be angry or they are paid to fight or paid to say

really hateful things to one another. this film is not one of those. this is real. the students featured in the film are actual students, just like you and they are targets of verbal and even physical harassment. in some cases it might be uncomfortable and other cases it might be painful to watch what we're about to watch. in some cases bullying leads to tragic consequences. so this is what we're going to ask of you today, ladies and gentlemen, i want you to remember and think about your fellow audience members. because i y when you watch something that is uncomfortable. sometimes you might laugh or you might shout inappropriate things. i would like to ask that you be respectful to the rest of us who are watching this movie with you. we will have some time to discuss it when we return to our school sites, but more importantly we hope that by seeing this movie together, we're going to dedicate ourselves to ending bullying in our classrooms, in our

hallways, in our lunchrooms and in our school yards. and as hard as it is to watch this film, i think we can learn a lot from this as well. there is a reason why the t-shirts that many of you received today have a big slash through the word "bullying." because we're committing ourselves today to being anti-bullying. we're not going to participate in it or let others do it. as i watched this movie a few short weeks ago, i think back time in my life when i was bullied. as you can tell i'm not the tallest guy in the world or the thinnest guy in the world, but that is not the worst part that i remembered. do you know what the worst part that i remember? times that i probably bullied other kids and said things to

other people that might have been very hurtful. so i'm committing and i'm asking you to commit to be no to bullying. whether you participate in it or you are the victim of it, we're against bullying and that is why you are here. you have heard from a lot of us and i think it's only fiting that you get to hear from the creator and director of the movie lee hirsch and i want you to know folks all across the country, people are watching the film, but there is only one group of the students in the united states that is going to director/producer of the film and that is all of you. [ applause ] so would you please welcome with a big round of applaud, the director, the producer, the creator, lee hirsch. [ applause ] . >> thank you, thank you

superintendent carranza. it's so awesome to see all of you guys. you are like the most beautiful audience i could g: in the whole world. straight up, give yourselves a hand. [ applause ] i am going to try to say a couple of things that i hope will be helpful for the viewing of the film. i do want to thank mayor lee, your being here sends a very important message. thank you so much for doing that and taking the time to establish that bullying matters and that this issue matters. when we show up, it says something; right? when the issue shows up it says something. the fact that you guys are here, that you are here out of school for this event, that really says something. so for everyone that made that choice, all of the folks from the schools, there is a gentleman named kevin who actually got all of you out the school, who made all of the logistics work.

i want to thank u.s. attorney melinda haigh. i want to thank our moderator cheryl jennings and assistant u.s. attorney anne marie conroy who worked really hard to pull this event together. things like this just don't fall out of the air. i want to thank mayor lee for coming up with "too legit to quit," when i haven't heard in 20 years. right in right in [ laughter v7 on the money. look, here is the thing, i made this movie because i spent all of my elementary and middle school years being a punching bag. my parents were like 20 years older than other kids' parents and my parents were always four inches too high and my hair was parted to the side when all the

other kids' hair was way cooler. my father and mother were older and they couldn't connect to the things that i was going through. they weren't bad parents, but when i was getting beat up and didn't know what to do, i tried to talk to my dad, who fought in world war ii said toughen up and don't be such a pussy is basically what he said to me. and then it sounds funny, but when you are the kid dealing with that and you feel you don't have anywhere to turn. it's really, really hard and what happens is the take away is that i couldn't tell anyone anymore what was happening. i didn't feel like what i was experiencing had value. i didn't think that anyone would care about the fact that my arms weren't black-and-bluefrom punches. they were yellow from here to here and it never went away. so i think we are -- you are, everybody in this room has an

extraordinary opportunity to be at the forefront of changing how this whole country, how we deal with this issue. if you think about it, some of you might be going well, i don't get bullied. or maybe sometimes i get involved and is it really such a big deal? in our lives, unless we come from a home where you are getting -- where you are the victim of domestic abuse, it's where all of you, all of us meet violence for the first time. right? verbal, mental, physical, really cruel stuff and we have to stand in the face of it and choose who we're going to be, i hope that !k%( anything, it inspires you and connects you to the idea of how powerful you can be to break that cycle of violence. each and every time you see it. and afterwards we're going to

talk about some strategies and ways u there is not one perfect answer. you might try something and it could backfire and how do you restrategize? what i will say as clever and smart as you think bullies might be, you guys will outsmart them any day. any day, right? [ applause ] so you have to own that. it's not just the students. the adults, your teachers, your administrators, have to be in it with you. you are just as responsible if not more. you have to stand by them side-by-side, so when had he come to you, they have that faith in you that you are going to deliver. that you will have their backs. when you say you are going to help take care of something, that you are going to follow through. you will see that mirrored in the film. just to close, because i want to get the movie started. you know, this for me,

honestly, having come from that kid that used to get picked on and bullied and didn't have a lot of self-esteem, to come here today, to see the buses pulling up in front of the theater, to see the mayor, all of these wonderful dignitaries and to see all of you guys is just a dream come true. and i am so excited about what the spark out of tonight can really be or today, this morning, right? [ applause ] want to say that if there are people in this room and i guarantee you there are, that you felt you have been bullied, you are being bullied right now, you are struggling with issues, i just want you to know that i made this film for you, okay? [ applause ] this movie is for you. guys, lastly, as you feel the

movie, there are places to laugh. i think there are places to cheer towards the end. but do be respectful of the kids in the film and what they are going through. and then within that, just if you can agree to do that, then have a great time watching it and let all of your emotions roar. thank you so much. [ applause ] >> welcome to the center.

[applause] hello, i am philip ginsburg, the general manager of your san francisco recreation and park city apartment. i want to thank you, thank you, thank you for joining us on this great occasion. this is such a great moment for us, not only because we're opening what is arguably the best recreation center in the city and county of san francisco, but i also get to practice my chinese. [says hello in chinese] [my name is phil ginsburg in chinese] [speaking chinese] welcome to the chinese recreation center. [cheers and applause] a for effort. we're killing time.

i could try to do it again. no. all right, 61 years ago, major robinson officially opened the doors to the original chinese recreation center here at washington and mason streets. in those 61 years, there have been generations of chinatown kids who have grown up playing here and who have considered this their second home, their backyard, their place to play. a safe place to meet friends, exercise, or as we like to say at the san francisco recreation and park department, a place to just get out and play. chinese rec was never the biggest and certainly not the fanciest recreation center, although i think it is now. but it definitely, definitely, definitely was the most beloved. in a neighborhood like this or population density is one of the highest in the city and where parks and open space are severely limited, recreation centers like this are crucial to the health and well-being of our kids, our families, and san

francisco's residents. this new recreation center is a result of what all of us have accomplished together, including san francisco voters who approved the 2008 clean and safe neighborhood parks bond, our elected officials, our chinatown community leaders, residents, city staff, and everyone who has a deep connection and history here at the chinese rec center. we like to say at the recreation and park department that we cannot do it alone. so we want to thank everyone who has had a hand in building this incredible facility. [applause] we have got a few acknowledgements. it is only going to take two and a half to three hours to get through them. [laughter] so bear with me. obviously, want to thank our incredible mayor who you're going to hear from later on, mayor edwin lee. [applause]

i want to thank board of supervisors president david chiu. [applause] i also want to sing of board members eric mar and scott wiener who are behind me joining us today -- want to single out these board members. [applause] but let's give a big round of applause to the entire board of supervisors who have proven to be incredible park champions and really understand the importance of parks and recreation to the quality of life to san franciscans. [applause] i want to thank the incredible leadership of our recreation and park commission. the president of our commission, who you will hear from later on is here, mark b. will -- buell. [applause] also commissioner harrison and commissioner levitan. [applause]

as i said, we do not do these things ourselves. we cannot do it alone. we cannot have done it without the incredible partnership of the department of public works. mohammed, and want to thank you and your entire team. [applause] i also want to think plant construction which built this incredible $21 million facility. [applause] again, you're going to hear from harry young in just a little bit, but our hearts and our appreciation goes out to the ang family. for all of your involvement in this facility and your leadership, and i can think of no better way to honor the legacy of betty ann ung -- ong.

leading the way for the san francisco recreation and park department is our incredible partner, the san francisco parks alliance. representing the alliance is the executive director matt o'grady, and the president of the board, rosemary cameron, is here someplace. thank you. [applause]our monitors at the re want to keep our parks clean, safe, and fun, and no one is more important -- no entity is more important in keeping it said in the san francisco police department. chief suhr, thank you very much. [applause] i saw the commander and the captain here. let's give them a big round of applause. [applause]

this facility has got some absolutely incredible public art, and when we rebuild our recreation centers and facilities, it is an opportunity to invest in the incredible art in our city. i want to thank the director of the san francisco arts commission, the project manager, the artist collect, and others for the incredible beauty inside the center. thank you, tom. [applause] we have a special certificate. nadia conrad wanted to make a brief presentation to the rec center. >> thank you. i am here with the office of tom amiano, and we wanted to congratulate this special day.

we're happy to be part of the celebration. we love the fact that they chose a great and heroic individual to name this historic building after. so thank you very much for the invitation. >> thank you. [applause] part of what the recreation and park department has created to help us stewart, again under the model that we cannot do it along, all of our major recreation centers have recreation councils. the councils are composed of caring and committed community members that really will help us guide the center, help us keep it clean, help us protected, and tell us what kind of programming and special events are important to keep the center vibrant and robust. want to give a big shot to the betty ann ong community

recreation council. many of the members are here today. [applause] our bond dollars allowance to build new buildings, but they did not actually allow us to put anything in the buildings. again, i am so grateful for the philanthropy from the san francisco parts alliance, and in particular, the betty ann ong foundation and the ong family for your generosity and making sure that when the kids walk in here in a few moments, there's all kinds of incredible stuff to do, and maybe even a ping pong table for me to duke it out with the mayor. [laughter] a big round up to the chinatown community development center for your leadership and guidance in making sure that this facility is exactly what it needs to be. let's get a big round of applause to ccdc. [cheers and applause] a big thank you to the chinese

chamber of commerce. thank you, chinese chamber of commerce. [applause] a big thank you to the community for better parks and recreation in chinatown for your help and assistance with the facility. let's go, keep it up. [applause] last but certainly not least, and i know you saved your biggest, strongest round of applause for this special group of people, the hardest working staffers in city government, the recreation and park department. i want to start with our capital division. planning director don and our project manager who built this thing. [applause] i want to thank jimmy, our

former facility coordinator here. he has got a great jump shot. [applause] our rec staff, harry, serene, jennifer, the new facility coordinator here. [applause] michelle, richard, kerry, recreation supervisor. jerry, our parks services manager. marianne. and our custodian supervisor, cliff, who is going to help us keep this place clean. a big round of applause for them. [applause] and last but not least, a really warm round of applause. you all know her, the former area supervisor here and longtime advocate of this facility, elaine tom. where are you? [applause] fantastic.

>> all right, and this is actually going to be dramatic because here he comes. the man i am going to introduce is not moses, but he is close. the biggest supporter of parks and brachiate -- recreation and open space in this city. he understands the importance to our neighborhoods and communities of having clean and safe places to play. he has been an advocate for parks, open space, and recreation, even as director of the department of public works and as city administrator. the thing i love most about him is his youthful spirit and competitive fire. this is the guy who is not just our mayor, but he is a ping-pong player.

he loves to shoot hoops. he loves baseball. he is a big sports fan. he loves our kids. the thing i tried to model after him the most is the ability to play and to bring joy to the job. ladies and gentlemen, our mayor, edwin lee. [cheers and applause] >> first of all, thank you, everybody, for coming here and help us open the betty ann ong rec center. [applause] we're going to say that name a very, very often from here on. it is great opportunity. we were here just last september, putting in the final beam with the ong family and with so many of the community agencies, from the chamber to associations, to the community youth center, the chinatown

development center. and i remember, even the previous time when supervisor chu and i were right in this building -- supervisor chiu and i were right here in this building when fire victims needed a place to be. now we have a rec center that will also be the community emergency center, so that if there is any big event that ever happens that affects this community, they will have a seismically safe center for people to come in and get the services that they need. more than that on a daily basis -- and thanks to rec and park. thanks to the water for commission. thanks to the board of supervisors. i see scott and eric mar and david chiu behind me. we have embraced our parks bond and our whole capital planning to make sure that we put enough money and discipline into these wonderful rec centers and these park attributes and so on.

so very happy to share this moment with the president of the rec and park commission. mark buell is here with all the wonderful staff. the staff that dpw has been working with rec and park. by the way, on budget, below budget and on time -- are you kidding? wonderful. [applause] but, you know, the spirit of all this is really two areas. it is the celebration of our community, but it is also the reason why we all agreed to name this betty ann ong rec center. because it is part of the history of a hero coming from chinatown, san francisco. and i n you -- 9/11 is right around the corner. while, as tragic as that event was for the whole country, we do