to stand up for what is rightfully theirs. [applause] it was nice to work with all the workers. he set a very good example for many workers out there who face [unintelligible] every day. this is a good example. if a worker is not afraid, if they're willing to stand up and with community help from different departments who have been willing to help them, they would be able to fight for their rights. thank you. >> am i to thank supervisor mar and the board of supervisors on behalf of the asian law caucus for this wonderful honor. it was an inspiration to work

with the great workers to -- who were so committed to setting up together and standing up for their rights to. i also want to thank the board of supervisors for your leadership. it has had a huge impact in san francisco and -- lo -- also nationally. it is a great example of what can be done. supervisor mar: thank you for your example and thank you for being one of our entrees -- honorees for asian pacific heritage month. thank you. [applause]

[applause] president chiu: thank you for the fight against wage that. let me acknowledge supervisor kim from district 6. supervisor kim: thank you. as we talk about heritage month we talk a lot about celebrating our accomplishments. what is most important is remembering the history and struggle that allowed us to get the accomplishments we have achieved, whether it is public schools or fighting for low-cost housing. as we celebrate having our first asian-american mayor and first asian-american board president and other leadership positions, decades of community organizing

and leadership development that allowed us to be here today. i do consider myself one of those individuals that was incredibly fortunate to be mentored by activists who were there in 1977, who fought for the establishment of ethnic studies in 1969 in san francisco, who fought for housing in chinatown, and who fought to recognize the murder of vincent chan. i would like to acknowledge another leader who has made an impact in my life. i would like to recognize a young student who had the courage to speak out because he was being deported just for being on document. -- undocumented. he is a college student. i get to recognize on the other spectrum one of our senior leaders in san francisco.

he represents a group that i have long admired and have had the opportunity to work with over 10 years ago. it is a group of people that have been viewed as [unintelligible] because they are modeling tool in senior and first and come -- generation and low-income. they defied the stereotypes that people often have of our community. i think of something my mom once told me when i was in high school. she responded, that is because they do not understand us. have those people been to chinatown? i want to acknowledge them today. if you could please come up. [applause] also, we're going to put up a photo on the projector.

he was born and raised in china. she worked at a machine manufacturing after leaving her village at the age of 25. she was not educated in the school system but taught herself how to read chinese over the years. she became a citizen in 2004. she worked at various restaurants and family associations in chinatown prior to her retirement. she is the youngest in her family and she has five older siblings and she is married -- was married in 1959. they have three sons and two grandsons and four daughters, most of whom have been raised here. her family have been living here since they emigrated to the u.s. and have the bonds with the chinatown community. she joined the largest member

based organization in san francisco and took an after role -- active role. there also incredibly active in the south of market and in district 6. her leadership and grass-roots organizing skills got her elected to the vice-president of the pta and she has -- the cta as she has held the positions since. it has successfully mobilized and lobbied to defend the rights of low-income senior tenants. there is a historic and present citywide impact beyond the scope of tenant issues and it works on a wider range of issues. she has been a district 6 resident and resides at the alexis apartments located south of market. i want to recognize some past

leaders who have not -- could not be with us but are ones who taught me about what is to lead. from 1150 grant and notre dame. mrs. wong. [applause] >> [speaking foreign language]

>> that afternoon. i am glad to be here today. i emigrated from china in 1988 and have worked at different restaurants and family associations. after my retirement in 2007, i joined the association and got to know a lot of friends in the community. i learned there are a lot of tenant to struggle with issues like illegal eviction and rent increases. i have dedicated myself to the community and the gap between the rental market and income level is too wide. we need to build more low-income housing. we need to bring this to say also the city can focus on improving quality of life for low-income populations like us. >> [speaking foreign language]

[applause] >> our mission for the past 25 years has been to advocate for tenet and senior rights. i have the honor to be elected

as the vice-president since 2009 and i hope to work with the board and members to have a more influential cta in that committee and to fight for our rights. i would like to thank supervisor jane kim for recognition of my work but i would like to emphasize that this honor be allowed to the board members. i support the appreciation from our members and i would like to express the deepest credit to to my family for giving me motivation and rallying and support behind me. thank you. [applause]

[applause] president chiu: thank you, a supervisor kim and thank you to the leadership of cta. now, supervisor mark farrell. ." -- supervisor farrell: thank you. i would like to recognize the president of our planning commission, rodney fong. [applause] >> a little about rodney.

not only do i consider him to be a good friend, but [inaudible] certainly within the walls here at city hall. that is our current president of our planning commission. a little bit about rodney. i am proud to have him as a resident in district 2. he is a native san franciscan, a

father and husband in town and committed to raising his children in the next generation of san franciscans in our city. his background and family background is pretty amazing as you think about san francisco. in 1962, his grandfather sold that family farm and purchased the smyth anderson mill building on the original fisherman's wharf and he recommends -- represents the third generation to own and operate the wax museum. over the last 50 years he has built the newseum into a thriving complex. i remember going there as a little kid. he directs business and activities for the enterprises and is involved in the matching of the organization. what amazes me the most is i have gotten to know him as a resident also serving on the planning commission. a lot of his past services as well.

he is committed to serving our city and san francisco. rodney was the vice-president and the president of the port commission and chair of the san francisco travel association, president of the merchant association at a board member and has a lifetime seat on the california chamber of commerce. he is president of the planning commission. as will now. chair of the subcommittee of the fisherman's wharf public plan, board member of the angel island immigration station foundation, director of the fun family foundation and president of the wax museum at fisherman's wharf. it is an honor to bring you forth here today. it is incredible having you as a president and thank-you for all your service and congratulations today. [applause]

i appreciate the deliberation and the time you guys are spending on it. where are spending the same amount of thought. as supervisor olague mentioned, is one tool in the toolkit. the city has a great opportunity to use technology. it is worth the deliberation that you're spending so thank you for that awful time. this honor is not about me. it is about my family.

president chiu: our next honoree. supervisor elsbernd: this is truly someone who is not a stranger to anyone in the asian pacific american community. just briefly, some of our accomplishments of her background. she was a founding member of the national asian pacific women's movement in the late 1970's and at that point, created a woman's bay area coalition. she has been part of it for well over 30 years. in terms of her public service to the city and county of san francisco, a it is fair to say the commission on the status of

women would not be the commission is today without the great work she did. serving as that commission's president. and of course for us whenever i am at the airport, -- she served three terms on the airport commission. i hope it is something she does herself although she probably does not because she is a modest person. think about what that airport look like the day you started and think about what it looked like when you finished your three terms. you played a big role in that and thank you for that. in choosing you for this award, i did not simply want to select someone who has such a tremendous record on public service, who does not simply stand as a role model for everyone in the asian pacific american committee. there is no doubt that you do. it truly transcends all -- you truly transcend all communities. you reflect the best of san francisco in every community.

what has the most impressive -- has been the most impressive to me in district 7 is the way you worked in westwood park. in terms of the priorities that you have, it may not be the highest but that is a neighborhood that nearly everyone gets along. everyone works together and everyone achieves a positive in the mission they take on and you are a big, big part of that and have been for a long time and i appreciate that so much as a district supervisor. thank you for that. and now personally in my last year i have had the opportunity to honor some people who have played a role in my eight years in office. you are someone who, eight years ago, around eight years ago this month took a hell of a leap of faith on a kid you never met. and i will never forget that. i really appreciate all that you

have done for me in my eight years in office and of course, on behalf of the residents of district 10 and the residents of san francisco, thank you for your tremendous commitment to every single one of us and making our lives better. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. i am very humbled here. this is my second home. i have been in san francisco for almost 40 years. i lived in one of the secret conclaves, the part where even native san franciscans are not aware of. we welcome to our -- we welcome our population. it has grown to 700 homes in the neighborhood and we of parikh clubs, community played a -- play day that sean is supportive

of. and i am -- just listening to all the other recipients, i have been an activist. i am the child of the 1960's. i was out there in the 1960's. when i moved to san francisco, i wanted to be part of this community. i have my working career as a cent -- as a social worker. i graduated and worked in san jose when it was mineworkers and we organize the housing units there. it is a wonderful experience. coming to san francisco with the activity of all the communities, it makes me proud and makes me proud of being a japanese- american that today you recognize some of the services that are community members have provided but more importantly,

the diversity of the asian community is so, it is not monolithic. somehow we all participate at certain levels. i wonder at that. i want to use this opportunity to thank supervisor elsbernd for his leadership for eight years. you have been a remarkable representative of our neighborhood. on citywide issues you have taken risks with the pension reform and lots of big issues that have moved this city hopefully in the right direction for the future. i want to thank you for that. [applause] [applause]

president chiu: supervisor cohen, district 10 will make the next presentation. supervisor cohen: thank you. i am pleased and excited to introduce to you eddie vane. when many people thought it was not possible for this outsider to come into bayview and forge two committees together. the african-american community as well as the asian american pacific, the tiny speaking community. this man brought you together in one year's time. he has been able to bring peace to -- and understanding to communities that have had a long history together. some history has been peaceful and other parts have not.

i want to remind you, there was a tragic incident on the minibus line when it was a murder. it was out of that unfortunate and tragic incident that cyc as the community youth center step forward and said we want to help. we want to build relationships. that has come under the leadership of this program manager who stands before you today who is my honor me -- honoree. thank you for your service. please give him a round of applause. when you look at eddie, he looks like a humble man. this is the most dressed up i have ever seen him. very busy, you look wonderful. he comes from humble beginnings. he came to the united states and got into some trouble, spent some time incarcerated but has

liberated not only his mind but his heart and it is through that liberation of his heart he has come to serve communities where he believes he has something to give and i am here to tell you that as his partner in crime, and openeno pun intended, of coe have been able to accomplish some remarkable things in a short time. i would like to acknowledge -- who is also of fearless leader in the community doing good work. thank you for joining us here today. it is my pleasure to present to you this certificate of water signed by my colleagues and myself acknowledging your leadership to our community. thank you and congratulations. [applause] >> thank you. i appreciate this honor.

this year is my fifth year being out into the free world. i grew up in the penitentiary. i did not appreciate the ceqa faris my parents made for me to have an american dream. i got on to the wrong track and had to pay dearly for the mistakes i made. however, if you were to ask me how did i get here today, i would say it was through the support of my family, that they never gave up on me and support from the community who never gave up on me. and do to support of all the people who guided me to survive, to be able to make it. most importantly, education saved my life. it allowed me the opportunity to think and take responsibility for my actions and has allowed me the opportunity to correct

conditions for people inside and outside the prison system. this is some of -- if you ask me what kind of son i am, i am the redemption son. ask what kind of plant or flour i am, i am a lotus flower. i am the person who comes out of the mud without being tainted. none of this would be possible without the support of my colleagues in cyc and the director who continued to have faith in me and believe in me. all the residents allowed me the opportunity to go into the district 10 to provide support and support racial harmony in

district 10 and the city. and build a leadership program. thank you very much. i will continue to serve the city and the people. i want to say that in the month of may, i want to mention -- a japanese-american who fought for justice and against inequality. her birthday, may 19, is also the day that malcolm x is born to be celebrated in oakland. i wanted to honor those people who came before me and hopefully i can utilize their example to impact the people who come after me. thank you very much. [applause]