sacramento and washington that may be having their time with london. as london said, she did work for me at the treasure island development authority. i'll never forget the first day she walked in the door. i could see this was a young woman full of smarts with a 10,000 watt smile, and she said, hi, i'm london breed, and i'm going to be your assistant. this is just an interview. if that gives you an insight into something can stop london. that was one example. i want to dedicate this honor today to my mother, maureen conroy, also known as "mighty mo." she went to u.c. berkeley at the age of 16. she skipped didn't grades and started berkeley at age 16. it was during world war ii, and there weren't many opportunities for women with great educations. you were pretty much

trapped into being a school teacher or nurse. she got her teaching credential, and then she met my father, a great war hero. and then went to have a happy life together. back then, in his world, women didn't work because it made a man feel like he couldn't support his family. so she decided to recreate -- or create her own stay at work mom track, and she became president of just about everything. and whatever she did, she did a phenomenal job at. so there is quite a spread in my family of sisters. there are four girls. my older sister is 13 years my senior. so when i finished law school, my second eldest sister, peggy, who is here today, said, mom, why don't you stop using all of your time helping people with compaigns and electing judges and doing petitions and fighting

city hall and make some money. you know, you just turned 60. go do something. stop doing everything for free. and she said, peggy, what am i going to do. and she said, go get your real estate license. and she was, like, okay. and so she did it. and she went up to the office in lakeside. a 60-year-old woman with her certificate. and they said, yeah, we don't have a desk for you. and so she went back and peggy said, well, mom, you need a resume. and she said, oh, okay. so peggy helped her. and it is a two-page resume of the phenomenal accomplishments of this woman, how many compaigns she had run, how she had been president of just about every organization of san francisco. and they took another look at her and said, i think we found you a desk. so she became rookie -- this is at the age 60, she became rookie of the year, and she became the top

seller, lister, and producer for caldwell for the next 15 years of her life in the country. i want to let people know that at age, don't let anyone tell you no. don't let anything hold you back from your dreams. and that's what i've always mentored women, is with that story of my mom, you can do anything at any age. and her big thing and my big thing as a mentor to women, is education. as far as we have come as women, you still need letters after your name. and that has always been my advice, whether it is j.d., m.d., m.a., m.s. -- whatever those letters are and those certifications, it gives you that instant credibility. and unfortunately as women, we still need that. and i think it is very important, and i still tell -- this is why this young woman has a master's. i tried to make her go to

law school, but she got her master's instead. every week, london, law school or master's, what is it going to be? so that is extremely important. debbie mezlo, emily, how much work with did in the world of domestic violence. and when the super bowl came to san francisco, how much work we have done around human trafficking. and how much more work has to be done. and we found a high-profile case that has led to having those tough discussions about human trafficking and what goes on around big sporting events and other things in every city of america. deb has held the domestic violence consortium together for decades. i take this honor today honoring all of you and all of the work that we've done. i want to shout a special shout out to chief hazel

white. i want to give her a happy birthday. [applause] >> joanne is actually two days older than i am. and i have to say again about age, when margan exacted me about this award, i said i think i'm a little too young to be part of history. and as joanne knows, and you can look this up because our profiles have always been public, with our age, she is 55, and i'm not, until tomorrow. [laughter] >> and how unfair the press can be sometimes because when joanne became fire chief, and i helped her a lot get there with mayor newsom, and it said chief hazel white, 39, and two months later, i became head of l.e.s. emergency services, and it said

conroy, 40. and i thought, that is so unfair. but there is just so much love and camaraderie in this room. i think part of that is our great mayor. she is so good at bringing everyone together, not letting waring faction continue. getting people to work together because she cares so incredibly deeply about this city. i just want to thank you, mayor, for being our mayor. there were several times in the tough talks we've had over london's career, when she ran for supervisor, i actually begged her not to do it. i said, you have so much promise, you have so much potential, the world is your oyster. do not waste your life's energy on the mud puddle of city politics. and she said, that's my seat, anne-marie, and i'm going to take it. and i said, okay, kid, i'm with you all the way. and i'm glad she didn't

listen to my advice. and i look very much forward to the great things she is going to do for our city. thank you. [applause] [cheering] thank you. okay. last, but not least, marlene tran. now, marlene tran is one of those persons who is kind of a quiet/loud force. she works for the san francisco unified school district and city college for over 35 years, teaching bilingual courses, working to fight for her community, in visitation valley, it is a community on the south side of san francisco that sometimes feels forgotten, feels left out, but marlene doesn't let that happen. she makes sure that

everyone who is supervisor, that anyone who is mayor, they are not going to forget about visitation valley and providing this community, and especially seniors -- especially seniors -- with the support that they need to thrive and feel safe in their community. i got to know her over the past years in just watching her run for supervisor in district 10. you didn't win, but you sure did create a lot of heck. and i said, i really was drawn to her because i love the fight in her. he is unapologetic in her commitment to fight for people who oftentimes don't have a voice, especially many of the seniors who in visitation valley, they may not speak english. and she is right there helping with bilingual courses, helping with translation, helping to be the voice to fight for the resources that this community needs. and we really appreciate

you. because oftentimes she doesn't stop to realize how impactful she is. every time we have a conversation, it's about muni, it's about police officers, it's about what's going on. and today it is about you. it's about you and the work that you have done in order to make the lives of so many in the visitation valley and the southeast sector of our community and our city so much better. we appreciate you for your advocacy, for your commitment to education and our young people, and how you continue to hold young people accountable. i'm sure you had a few young kids in your classes that gave you problems, and you said, those are the best ones because you know that those are going to be the ones to go on to do great things. we talked about so many things involving improving the quality of life of san francisco, and she has, for years, put her words into action and has made

not only the visitation valley community a better place, she has made san francisco a better place. ladies and gentlemen, marlene tran. [applause] [cheering] >> i think i am so overwhelmed. i was going to make a speech, but right now i'm lost for words. what a great honor it is to be with the mayor, and utey and carol. and i am -- and all of my friends and supporters from my educational background, from my police background, community --

oh, i am so overwhelmed. and everybody is here to support all of us. mayor breed, you already summarize a lot of things i do. yes, i am quiet in my ways, but i'm very determined. i'm very persistent because we're talking about women's rights, equal rights, immigrant rights, human rights. those are the things i've been fighting for all my life because for 35 years, when i taught at the san francisco unified school district, every morning i put my hand across my heart and said "with liberty and justice for all." these are the things i work for every day. even though i retired from 37 years, teaching evening and sundays the city college, and 35 years in the daytime teaching newly arriving immigrant kids, i continue my passion to do whatever is best for the community, for san francisco, for the voiceless. that's what i do because i am buddhist, and i feel any time we have, any

energy, we should be able to share that. i just want to give you a little brief background about what happened years ago, when my mother and i and my two siblings came to san francisco. she was a new widow and struggling a lot because obviously she didn't speak the language. in those days, everything was english only. so being the oldest of three, i had to assist my mother in every way while also going to school, to navigate all of the services for her, funerals, and so on and so forth, for my stepfather. i witnessed her daily frustrations and dispair. but with her ongoing encouragement -- keep on doing it. so as a result, i earned several college degrees and credentials, that launched my rewarding 35 years of teaching newcomers. so never forgetting the difficult times my mother

had endured, i used my multi-lingual and immigrant background to do community work. and i am very fortunate that we are having a lot of people involved. and one of them happens to be susanna, the young lady here, who, you know, is doing more work. we need a lot of young blood because there is only so much we can do. so, of course, i was very surprised that the town newspaper called me, am movinamusing in some ways, a modern day warrior. those were the terms i wasn't familiar with and i thought, this is what everybody should be doing. i'm great that this women's month kickoff offers the opportunities to hear of each other's successes. people have been wondering, marlene tran, why are you wearing this green hat? i want to honor mother earth. mother earth. and then, of course, my

symbols. i have a lot of symbols here. this is our earth. we have to do everything to protect our environment. i am so grateful that san francisco is doing all of that. and every time you see my facebook, i'm always talking about environmental issues because without mother earth, without helping her, we are nowhere. so today while we're here to honor all these amazing honorees, and i'm so very grateful to have so many dignitaries, city officials, family members, i also want to give the mayor a little token. it says "100%," because she is doing 100%. may i also give her a little token of our appreciation. [applause] [cheering] >> okay. thank you. [applause]

>> and this is for you. >> well, well, well... [laughter] >> aren't these ladies outstanding. let's give them another round of applause. i want to thank all of you for joining us here today. thank you for honoring three phenomenal women who have just really touched the hearts and lives of so many people throughout our city, over so many years. we are grateful for your service and your commitment, and all that you have done and will continue to do to make life better for so many people. thank you for accepting this honor. thank you to all of the folks who are here today, the friends and family members who came to celebrate them. and as we celebrate women's history month, kicking off today, let us make sure that we take

time in our lives to honor some phenomenal women that have played a role in our lives in some capacity. the way that we make our city, our country, a better place, is how we treat one another. how we support one another. how we encourage one another, and how we make sure that we prepare the next generation for the incredible opportunities that exist in this world. i wouldn't be here if it wasn't for phenomenal women like the ones we honor today. and so now it is our time to make sure that the next generation has the same opportunities that we are so lucky to enjoy in the great city and county of san francisco. thank you all so much for coming here today. [applause] >> so now we're going to >> so now we're going to

>> i'm rebecca and i'm a violinist and violin teacher. i was born here in san francisco to a family of cellists, professional cellists, so i grew up surrounded by a bunch of musical rehearsals an lessons. all types of activities happened in my house. i began playing piano when i was 4. i really enjoyed musical activities in general. so when i was 10, i began

studying violin in san francisco. and from there, i pretty much never stopped and went on to study in college as well. that's the only thing i've ever known is to have music playing all the time, whether it is someone actually playing next to you or someone listening to a recording. i think that i actually originally wanted to play flute and we didn't have a flute. it's always been a way of life. i didn't know that it could be any other way. >> could you give me an e over here. great. when you teach and you're seeing a student who has a problem, you have to think on your feet to solve that problem. and that same kind of of thinking that you do to fix it applies to your own practice as well. so if i'm teaching a student and they are having a hard time getting a certain note, they can't find the right note.

and i have to think of a digestible way to explain it to them. ee, d, d, e. >> yes. then, when i go on to do my own practice for a performance, those words are echoing back in my head. okay. why am i missing this? i just told somebody that they needed to do this. maybe i should try the same thing. i feel a lot of pressure when i'm teaching young kids. you might think that there is less pressure if they are going on to study music or in college that it is more relaxing. i actually find that the opposite is true. if i know i'm sending a high school student to some great music program, they're going to get so much more instruction. what i have told them is only the beginning. if i am teaching a student who i know is going to completely

change gears when they go to college and they never will pick up a violin again there is so much that i need to tell them. in plain violin, it is so difficult. there is so much more information to give. every day i think, oh, my gosh. i haven't gotten to this technique or we haven't studies they meese and they have so much more to do. we only have 45 minutes a week. i have taught a few students in some capacity who has gone on to study music. that feels anaysing. >> it is incredible to watch how they grow. somebody can make amazing project from you know, age 15 to 17 if they put their mind to it. >> i think i have 18 students now. these more than i've had in the past. i'm hoping to build up more of a

studio. there will be a pee ono, lots of bookshelves and lots of great music. the students will come to my house and take their lessons there. my schedule changes a lot on a day-to-day basis and that kind of keeps it exciting. think that music is just my favorite thing that there is, whether it's listening to it or playing it or teaching it. all that really matters to me is that i'm surrounded by the sounds, so i'm going top keep doing what i'm doing to keep my life in that direction.

[♪] >> i just don't know that you can find a neighborhood in the city where you can hear music stands and take a ride on the low rider down the street. it is an experience that you can't have anywhere else in san francisco. [♪] [♪] >> district nine is a in the southeast portion of the city. we have four neighborhoods that i represent. st. mary's park has a completely unique architecture. very distinct feel, and it is a very close to holly park which is another beautiful park in san

francisco. the bernal heights district is unique in that we have the hell which has one of the best views in all of san francisco. there is a swinging hanging from a tree at the top. it is as if you are swinging over the entire city. there are two unique aspects. it is considered the fourth chinatown in san francisco. sixty% of the residents are of chinese ancestry. the second unique, and fun aspect about this area is it is the garden district. there is a lot of urban agriculture and it was where the city grew the majority of the flowers. not only for san francisco but for the region. and of course, it is the location in mclaren park which is the city's second biggest park after golden gate. many people don't know the neighborhood in the first place if they haven't been there. we call it the best neighborhood nobody has ever heard our. every neighborhood in district nine has a very special aspect. where we are right now is the

mission district. the mission district is a very special part of our city. you smell the tacos at the [speaking spanish] and they have the best latin pastries. they have these shortbread cookies with caramel in the middle. and then you walk further down and you have sunrise café. it is a place that you come for the incredible food, but also to learn about what is happening in the neighborhood and how you can help and support your community. >> twenty-fourth street is the birthplace of the movement. we have over 620 murals. it is the largest outdoor public gallery in the country and possibly the world. >> you can find so much political engagement park next to so much incredible art. it's another reason why we think this is a cultural district that we must preserve. [♪]

>> it was formed in 2014. we had been an organization that had been around for over 20 years. we worked a lot in the neighborhood around life issues. most recently, in 2012, there were issues around gentrification in the neighborhood. so the idea of forming the cultural district was to help preserve the history and the culture that is in this neighborhood for the future of families and generations. >> in the past decade, 8,000 latino residents in the mission district have been displaced from their community. we all know that the rising cost of living in san francisco has led to many people being displaced. lower and middle income all over the city. because it there is richness in this neighborhood that i also mentioned the fact it is flat and so accessible by trip public transportation, has, has made it very popular. >> it's a struggle for us right now, you know, when you get a

lot of development coming to an area, a lot of new people coming to the area with different sets of values and different culture. there is a lot of struggle between the existing community and the newness coming in. there are some things that we do to try to slow it down so it doesn't completely erase the communities. we try to have developments that is more in tune with the community and more equitable development in the area. >> you need to meet with and gain the support and find out the needs of the neighborhoods. the people on the businesses that came before you. you need to dialogue and show respect. and then figure out how to bring in the new, without displacing the old. [♪] >> i hope we can reset a lot of the mission that we have lost in the last 20 years. so we will be bringing in a lot of folks into the neighborhoods pick when we do that, there is a demand or, you know, certain types of services that pertain

more to the local community and working-class. >> back in the day, we looked at mission street, and now it does not look and feel anything like mission street. this is the last stand of the latino concentrated arts, culture and cuisine and people. we created a cultural district to do our best to conserve that feeling. that is what makes our city so cosmopolitan and diverse and makes us the envy of the world. we have these unique neighborhoods with so much cultural presence and learnings, that we want to preserve. [♪]

>> my biggest take away is that you can always find a way. most people who go into public policies really want to make a difference and have a positive impact on the world, and that's what i love most about my job. i feel like every day at the sfpuc all of the policies that we're involved in have major impacts on people's lives both here in the city and across the state and the nation. in 2017, california senate bill 649 was released. it would have capped the fees that cities such as ourselves would be able to charge telecom

companies for the right to use or poll for their cell equipments, and it also would have taken away city's abilities to negotiate what the equipment looks like, where they could be placed, and potentially we could even be in a position where we would not be able to stop them putting equipment especially on our light poles. my name is emily lamb and i am director of policy affairs for the sfpuc. i really am involved with a team of people and building a strong coalition of a team of folks. we are working very closely to get this bill defeated and ultimately vetoed by governor brown. >> emily is one of those people who is a bright star with regards to her passion, her commitment, her tenacity and she's just a great, fun person. she's all of the things that you would want in an employee

and an ambassador for our organization. >> my biggest take away is you can always find a way, especially when something is important and worth fighting for, if you put your heads together with people, and you collaborate, that usually you can find some solution to get to your goal. in this case, it was a bill that most people considered politically difficult to complete, and we didn't have a chance of doing it, but with a lot of strattizing with a lot of different partners, we got it done. my name is emily lamb, and i am the director of policy and government affairs, and i've been with sfpuc for 2.5 years. sustainability mission, even though the bikes are very

minimal energy use. it still matters where the energy comes from and also part of the mission in sustainability is how we run everything, run our business. so having the lights come on with clean energy is important to us as well. we heard about cleanpowersf and learned they had commercial rates and signed up for that. it was super easy to sign up. our bookkeeper signed up online, it was like 15 minutes. nothing has changed, except now we have cleaner energy. it's an easy way to align your environmental proclivities and goals around climate change and it's so easy that it's hard to not want to do it, and it doesn't really add anything to the bill.