welcome to the bridge to excellence scholarship awards ceremony. please, give it up. what a beautiful day we've been blessed with. it's warm. it's sunny. and we're going to give out some amazing awards to some tremendously talented and perseverance students. the bridge to excellence scholarship is awarded to seniors who are highly dedicated to their academic success. the award is giving to students so they can overcome the financial barriers that come along with attending a four-year university. and so today, i would like to

introduce mayor breed. i would just like to say a couple words about mayor breed. she was born and raised in plaza east public housing by her grandmother. fast forward to 2018, she was elected to be the first african american woman to serve as mayor of san francisco. in 2019, she was re-elected and her and her administration have worked very hard and tirelessly to focus on some of the most crucial issues in san francisco including homelessness, public housing, workforce development, and, of course, covid-19 recovery. we all remember 2020 and we want to thank mayor london

breed for taking a leadership role in recovery. the vaccination point was very scary times. but she set up many vaccination sites all around the city. and, today, over 89% of eligible residents are vaccinated, so let's give it up for that. not only did she help the public health, but she also helped the businesses, the small businesses recover. she gave over $65 million in grants and loans to 3,000 small businesses around san francisco. since 2020, she's been working

on a homeless recovery act where over 6,000 units are being created as we speak to help house unhoused individuals. i can go on and on about mayor breed. she was the executive director of the african american art and culture complex for over seven years and it just goes to show how much effort and how much she cares about the youth in san francisco and that's why she created this scholarship in 2019 to help youth overcome the hardships and barriers that come along with attending college. these students have maintained a very high gpa. they have overcome some of the toughest situations of being a young person in san francisco

and these students have been dedicated to going to a four-year university and being one of the first people in their family to go to university. so let's give it up for them. once again, i would like to introduce one of my personal heroes, mayor london breed. all right. how are you doing? >> good morning. come on. the first thing i'm going to say is obviously i'm not mayor london breed. so we got that out the way. my name is murell green. my name is dr. murell green. i am the newly appointed board of trustee for city college of san francisco by mayor london

breed. and she asked me to come here this morning, today to express a couple words to the scholarship recipients. first of all, i'd like everybody to clap for our scholarship recipients and i think you can do a little better than that. please. there you go. secondly, it wasn't too long ago, well, actually it was that i was sitting in your place. a product of the san francisco unified school district, george washington high school off going to clark atlanta university and received a scholarship from various organizations. now, let me tell you what that did for me. if it wasn't for those scholarships, i would have been able to afford to go to the college of my choice. someone somewhere believed in

me. and, so this is what i did while i was in college. so this is the first lesson for the recipients. college is a time where you're going to have options some good, some bad. you're going to have to make decisions. whatever you do, remember who was that invested in me to get here and i have to make them proud. i have to follow through with what was delivered to me. as you think about the scholarships, it's more than money. it's a privilege. and i want you guys to take advantage of that privilege as you go on to your universities. i've looked over the list of outstanding universities. we have the cal state university system. university of california system. one of my favorites historically black colleges and universities. but, congratulations to all of you. but remember there's somebody

somewhere that's invested in you whether you know them or whether you don't know them. none of you know me. i'm invested in your future. there are people here today that are invested in your future and there are people who are not here that are invested in your future. so go forth, do well. we are so proud of you. thank you. [applause] and, with that, i will introduce the mayor of the city and county of san francisco, the honorable mayor london breed. [applause] >> i'm so -- testing, one. two. i'm so really excited to be here with all of you today. i know it's been a long journey to get here and i want to thank murell for joining us and

murell and i are still friends despite the fact i want to gal and he went to wash. are those rivalries still going on? kind of. a lost generation back in the day. anyway, i am really excited to be here because i started this program when i first became mayor. and i started it along with opportunities for all where young people can access to a paid internship and also folks who are first in their families to go to college can have access to a scholarship. and i've got to tell you, you know, i'm the mayor here of san francisco today because i had people who believed in me because i had support and even though i had a lot of challenges growing up, i'm here. and i was able to attend college. and so when i started this scholarship fund, i wanted it

to be something that really focused on kids who kind of grew up through similar challenges like i did. because i will tell you that people who i grew up with, are they didn't in some cases make it. sadly, they've ended up on drugs. they've ended up in jail. they've ended up dead. and, i remember going to more funerals as a teenager than i can even count and thinking to myself what can change? what can we do to make a difference? and i remember being in college and getting the phone calls of people that i loved and i care about who we had lost. there was a lot of pain and a lot of suffering to the point where i felt like i wanted to give up. i didn't always have all the financial resources i needed. my grandmother who raised me in public housing, she didn't have the money to help. she did what she could.

every now and then she'll send me a card in the mail with $20 and say stay focused and do good and $20 was a lot. and, what i am so excited about today is with my story knowing that regardless of my circumstances that i could be here with you all today and be in a position as mayor and to tell you directly if someone like me can grow up in the most challenging of circumstances, then you all can grow up in the most challenging of circumstances and you can still overcome that and you can still succeed in life. and, i don't want you to tell anyone -- i don't want anyone to tell you what you can't do because the fact that you were able to maintain a high grade point average. the fact that you were able to

graduate from high school. the fact that you were able to focus on applying to major universities in this country. and the fact that all of you, each and every one of you has a story that probably most people wouldn't even believe that you've gone through these extraordinary obstacles to be here today. and so i wanted you to know how important you are. how hard it was to make a decision to receive this scholarship. more importantly, this is really about making sure that money is not a barrier to your success. and that's what it means to make sure that we provide scholarships, that we provide resources, that we provide support. and, today, i have a special surprise. yes, you're still getting your scholarships, but you're also getting something real special

because i also think what you see is what you know you can be. the reason why i brought all these special people here today is because i want you to see yourself in them. i want you to know that there are people who have experienced the same challenges you have experienced and have become successful in life. so today i have a very special guest. this person grew up in san francisco just like all of you. he graduated from lowell high school. he participated in various programs including project level where he received a stipend because of the opportunities for all the programses. all these great things and he went on to be this multi-platinum artist with 1.6 million, you know that stuff on spotify, streams.

thank you. ya'll know i'm old. but here's the special thing about him, he continues to give back to the community. and so ladies and gentlemen, i want to platinum recording artist 24k golden. where's the walk-up song? ♪ oh, baby you you got what i need, but you say i'm just a friend ♪♪ ♪ oh, baby you, you got what i need ♪♪ >> so let me just say, i wanted to invite him here because not

only did he participate in some wonderful programs in san francisco, he's really a star. he's performed on the grammy's. he performeded here at what was that concert here? yeah. outside land in front of thousands of people, but he's not just a talented singer and recording artist. he worked so hard to perfect his craft. ment he worked so hard to do everything it is that he's doing and because of his hard work, he's a success and he's right here from the city and county of san francisco. so you should be proud. so i wanted to do something special and i asked him to come talk to all of you and he said yes without hesitation. he gets paid a lot of money to show up. so when we asked him to come

and talk to all of you about his experiences he said without hesitation, yes. but i wanted to do something special for him because he's been doing a number of things. he has not forgotten where he came from. when he had an opportunity to give to any charity he wanted, someone else's money, he chose project level and i see big rich in the back. thank you for having here. big rich works with project level who works with young people through a number of things, not just using their talents, but their skills and choreography and graphic arts and all these things that you all do and he chose this organization to not only give back, but he continues to be actively engaged in the community in some capacity. he knows that it's meaningful to ensure that regardless of your success and how successful you become in life, it's so important that you give back and you provide opportunities to other people.

so he's here to talk to you today, but before he does, i wanted to do something special to welcome him back home with all of his success to give him something that i hope would be beneficial, something he can be privileged and honor to carry around the world. today on behalf of the city and county of san francisco, we're going to officially declare it 24k golden day in san francisco. >> thank you so much. oh, my god. yo, can ya'll hear me all right? i'm a little more familiar with this one. first of all, thank you so much, mayor breed. i didn't know that this was going to be happening coming in today. this is a huge surprise and i just want to say that this city made me who i am today. you know, it wasn't so long that i was in all your guys'

position right there applying for college, trying to get scholarships and i know how crazy it is to grow up in this city, how beautiful it is, how special it is to all of us and even though you've put in a lot of work in the last 12, 13 years in the public school system, that's just the beginning. what ya'll are about to do now, that's the real beginning of your story. that's the real first step. so wherever you're going next whether it's college, university, community college, just make sure that next step is a stride and sorry to my mom because she probably wanted to be here to see this happen but i forgot to tell her. so my bad. congratulations to all the talented scholars for your excellence that you demonstrated. >> let's make some noise for

24k golden. 24k golden day. right on, bro. so i'd like to just say that this is a very special moment for our young people right now. and i just want to say give yourself a round of applause once again, please. i'll be mcing and i'll be awarding, not awarding, but i will be telling the young folks to come up here. but before we do all that, are i'd like to introduce a special guest. mike hill gregory. someone who i think is just an amazing person. i just have a few remarks to say about mikel. i've known him since i think he

was a freshman in high school and he's always been such a hard worker, great leader and just a dedicated and motivated individual. i'm very praud of him. he went to u.s.f. getting his b.a. in communications, kept it going. he got his miner in african american studies and was on the pre-med track to go to columbia. he's getting his medical degree at columbia university. he's striving to help folks that are not usually comfortable going to the medical office or comfortable with doctors. he wants to change that. he wants to intersect communication and medicine. he's super interested in medicine and that's what keeps him going. that's what keeps him

motivated. mikel, i'm really proud of you and i would just like to say, you're going to do great things and i know it and i've seen it from the very beginning. so please come up here. mikel is so happy that his family, spiritual parents, his parents have all come to support him and it takes a village and that village. yes, sir. thank you so much. >> give another round of applause for nico. i'm from a baptist church. so i like call and response. amen? amen? thank you. i am a village project. my name is mikel gregory. i am a village project. that means 100% college prep. that means more magic. that means collective impact. opportunities for all. college track, seo scholars, the list goes on. i can definitely acknowledge i'm not where i am right now by my own merit without my parents and my community, it would not

be possible. again, good morning. ya'll playing. i'm call and response. good morning. there we go. my name is mikel gregory. and i'm the first in my family to attend college and now a proud graduate of the university of san francisco. yes, sir, clap it up. where i majored in communication studies and biology on the premedical track. i know that was a mouthful. but each of those identities and i'm talking to you 15 and those accolades were so pittal to my success up until this very moment. i know this time is many speeches and overdone messages so i'm not going to stand before you here long. i want to recognize as a peer, as a peer graduate who stood in your shoes a little over four years ago, i know those emotions that you are currently feeling. excitement about the new journey ahead. anxiety over how you're going

to pay for it. nervousness as to how it will work out and lastly, fear on whether or not you should be the one that's chosen or if you're capable of doing the work. let me be the first to say although i understand, i know you can do it. if i can do it, that if the individuals sitting here with degrees can do it, then by golly, you can too. and not to mention, you have us here to support you as well. i'm going to leave you with three critical aspects to success. if you remember anything from my words that i've given you, i want you to remember this, own your story. your full authentic self is needed in that classroom, at that university. don't filter it. don't hide it or for the fame. don't filter it, don't hide it, the real you because of shame. stand proud of your story even the painful elements because it was the accumulation of that story that brought you to this very place. it's not about where you start,

but about where you're going. and, fail forward. and what i mean by that is i always like to tell people their story about me in my biology class and how i failed two tests and how i was asked to leave the major. but trust yourself and your journey enough that even in the times of perceived failure, you can still make it. if i didn't grow to believe that the valleys in my life were necessary to my development, i wouldn't be preparing to attend columbia university in the fall. and, finally, remember to give back and share gratitude about what you've learned. to let people -- to let the people know who've poured into you thank you. the teachers, the relatives, the mentors, the friends. they were individuals that poured into you on nights you didn't want to pour into yourself. so be careful enough to offer your deepest appreciation and thanks on this day and forever more.

i promise you it will go a long way. but also, your words of wisdom and expertise being shared to the generations coming after you is almost required at this point. because after all, the more you know, the more you owe. again, i'm going to say that for you one more time. the more you know the more you owe. it's not stopping with you. thank you, congratulations bridge of excellence scholars. i wish you the best. please use me as a resource in the future. [applause] >> okay. let's give it up for mikel one more time. please. [applause] so i would like to bring up mayor breed to issue the certificates and i will be announcing the names. students will be coming up. d.j. carlos will be playing their song. >> i'm going to ask some

special guests to join me to issue the certificates. first of all, 24k golden, he's going to issue you your certificates. so he's going to be joining me as well as the president of the board of education, jenny lam. and then there's also a member of the board of education who's here, ann chiu. and finally the people who will make magic happen for students shgts the director of the department of children, youth, and families, maria sue and the human rights director cheryl davis. and, last but not least, when we're done issuing the certificates, we're going to take a group photo and then you all can also take your blow-up photographs with you. something you can walk away with. all right. let's get started.

you're going to use that microphone. >> yeah. sure. okay. our first recipient of the bridge to excellence scholarship is ayindi hamilton. [applause] [♪♪] ayindi attended mission high school. graduating from mission high school and is going to u.c. berkeley. [♪♪]

next, we would like to introduce amy woo who graduated from galleleo high school. next, we would like to introduce chris yang. he graduated from lincoln high school and is attending the university of california berkeley.

[♪♪] >> next, we would like to introduce diani dillard who graduated from soto high school and is attending [ indiscernible ] [♪♪] . >> next up is hayley. [♪♪]

>> please make some noise for jayden degree who's graduating from miss high school and is attending u.c. davis. [♪♪] >> please make some noise for jasmine bailey. [♪♪] >> jasmine is graduating from galileo. she's attending san jose state university. [♪♪]

>> index is joanna lam. [♪♪] >> jasmine is graduating lowell high school. and she will be attending u.c. berkeley. [♪♪] >> let's give it up for john huwin. [♪♪] >> john has graduated from balboa high school. john will be attending u.s.c. [♪♪]

>> johnny linn, come on up here. johnny graduated from george washington high school. [♪♪] >> now he's attending u.c. berkeley. [♪♪]

>> folks, make some noise for jordan nicholson smith. jordan has graduated from mission. he will be attending southern university. [♪♪] >> please welcome constance ford. constance has just graduated

from lincoln high school and she'll be attending cal state los angeles. [♪♪] >> give it up for shayla dubose. shayla has also graduated from lincoln high school and she will also be attending cal state los angeles. [♪♪]

>> please, give some applause to vanessa perez. [♪♪] >> vanessa has just graduated from gateway high school. she will be attending colorado college. [♪♪] >> and, last but certainly not least, let's give it up for wynona [ indiscernible ] [♪♪]

>> wynona just graduated from burton high school. she will be attending san francisco state university. [♪♪] congratulations, wynona. [♪♪] >> all right. let's give it up for the class of 2022! [cheers and applause]

san francisco, 911, what's the emergency? >> san francisco 911, police, fire and medical. >> the tenderloin. suspect with a six inch knife. >> he was trying to get into his car and was hit by a car. >> san francisco 911 what's the exact location of your emergency? >> welcome to the san francisco department of emergency

management. my name is shannon bond and i'm the lead instructor for our dispatch add -- academy. i want to tell you about what we do here. >> this is san francisco 911. do you need police, fire or medical? >> san francisco police, dispatcher 82, how can i help you? >> you're helping people in their -- what may be their most vulnerable moment ever in life. so be able to provide them immediate help right then and there, it's really rewarding. >> our agency is a very combined agency. we answer emergency and non-emergency calls and we also do dispatching for fire, for medical and we also do dispatching for police. >> we staff multiple call taking positions. as well as positions for police and fire dispatch. >> we have a priority 221. >> i wanted to become a dispatcher so i could help people. i really like people.

i enjoy talking to people. this is a way that i thought that i could be involved with people every day. >> as a 911 dispatcher i am the first first responder. even though i never go on seen -- scene i'm the first one answering the phone call to calm the victim down and give them instruction. the information allows us to coordinate a response. police officers, firefighters, ambulances or any other agency. it is a great feeling when everyone gets to go home safely at the end of the day knowing that you've also saved a citizen's life. >> our department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. >> this is shift work. that means we work nights, weekends and holidays and can involve over time and sometimes that's mandatory. >> this is a high stress career so it's important to have a good balance between work and life. >> we have resources available like wellness and peer support

groups. our dispatchers of the month are recognized for their outstanding performance and unique and ever changing circumstances. >> i received an accommodation and then i received dispatcher of the month, which was really nice because i was just released from the phones. so for them to, you know, recognize me for that i appreciated it. i was surprised to even get it. at the end of the day i was just doing my job. >> a typical dispatch shift includes call taking and dispatching. it takes a large dedicated group of first responders to make this department run and in turn keep the city safe. >> when you work here you don't work alone, you work as part of a team. you may start off as initial phone call or contact but everyone around you participating in the whole process. >> i was born and raised in san francisco so it's really rewarding to me to be able to help the community and know that i have a part in -- you know, even if it's behind the scenes

kind of helping the city flow and helping people out that live here. >> the training program begins with our seven-week academy followed by on the job training. this means you're actually taking calls or dispatching responders. >> you can walk in with a high school diploma, you don't need to have a college degree. we will train you and we will teach you how to do this job. >> we just need you to come with an open mind that we can train you and make you a good dispatcher. >> if it's too dangerous to see and you think that you can get away and call us from somewhere safe. >> good. that's right. >> from the start of the academy to being released as a solo dispatcher can take nine months to a year. >> training is a little over a year and may change in time. the training is intense. very intense. >> what's the number one thing that kills people in this country? so we're going to assume that it's a heart attack, right? don't forget that.

>> as a new hire we require you to be flexible. you will be required to work all shifts that include midnights, some call graveyard, days and swings. >> you have to be willing to work at different times, work during the holidays, you have to work during the weekends, midnight, 6:00 in the morning, 3:00 in the afternoon. that's like the toughest part of this job. >> we need every person that's in here and when it comes down to it, we can come together and we make a really great team and do our best to keep the city flowing and safe. >> this is a big job and an honorable career. we appreciate your interest in joining our team. >> we hope you decide to join us here as the first first responders to the city and county of san francisco.

for more information on the job and how to apply follow the links below. >> chinatown battleground is something i have always wanted to do because we have never had the chinese americans in the military. our history goes back all the way to 1861 to afghanistan. the exhibition is two-parts. one is a visual history which is told through the banners. then basically what i wanted to do was make sure that people understood that every one of these objects tell a story. for example, my uncle was one of two chinese american pilots during world war ii.

they come planed they were giving baggy men's coveralls to wear. we have a veteran of the war. now what is notable is that he is the first and only chinese american prisoner of war. we have the met kit. that was the only thing he has for water, rice and soup. he carried for over four and a half years in captivity as prisoner of war. this exhibition is a first base undertaking. also important and i want to take away the big picture that the chinese americans have been involved in united states military since the civil war,

over 150 years. we have given service to the country, blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice for a long time. our story of chinese americans are part of the mainstream. chinese american history is american history that is the take away i want to come off with, especially the younger generation. the tenderloin is home to families, immigrants, seniors, merchants, workers and the housed and unhoused who all deserve a thriving neighborhood to call home. the tenderloin initiative was

launched to improve safety, reduce crime, connect people to services and increase investments in the neighborhood. as city and community-based partners, we work daily to make these changes a reality. we invite you to the tenderloin history, inclusivity make this neighborhood special. >> we're all citizens of san francisco and we deserve food, water, shelter, all of those things that any system would. >> what i find the most fulfilling about being in the tenderloin is that it's really basically a big family here and i love working and living here. >> [speaking foreign language]

>> my hopes and dreams for the tenderloin are what any other community organizer would want for their community, safe, clean streets for everyone and good operating conditions for small businesses. >> everything in the tenderloin is very good. the food is very good. if you go to any restaurant in san francisco, you will feel like oh, wow, the food is great. the people are nice. >> it is a place where it embraces all walks of life and different cultures. so this is the soul of the tenderloin. it's really welcoming. the. >> the tenderloin is so full of color and so full of people. so with all of us being together and making it feel very safe is challenging, but we are working on it and we are getting there. >> you're watching san francisco rising with chris

manors. today's special guest is mary chu. >> hi. i'm chris manors, and you're rising on san francisco rising. the show that's focused on rebuilding, reimagining, and restarting our city. our guest today is mary chu, and she's here to talk with us about art and the san francisco art commission. well come, miss chu. >> thanks for having me. >> it's great to have you. let's talk about art in the city and how art installations are funded. >> the arts committee was funded in 1932 and support civic review, design

investments and art galleries. projects we have are funded by the city's art enrichment ordinance which provides 2% of construction costs for public art. >> so art is tied to construction. there's been a great deal in the southwest of the city. can you talk about some of the projects there? >> sure. our city has some exciting projected in the bayview-hunters point coming up. one artist created a photo collage. in the picture pavilion, one artist formed a collage of her

one-year residency coming together with residents, and anchoring the new center is a landmark bronze sculpture, inspired by traditional ivory coast currency which the artists significantly enlarges to mark that it's a predominantly african american community in bayview hunters point. >> are there any art installations around town that uses light as a medium? >> yes. the first is on van ness between o'farrell and geary. it's funded with the m.t.a.s van ness geary street project.

another project is for the central subway. it is one of ten artworks commissioned for the new line. it's over 650 feet long, consists of 550 l.e.d. panels between the powell street station and the union street station. it's called lucy in the sky, and the lights are patterned with unique sequences so that commuters can experience a unique pattern each time they pass through. >> perfect. what about the early day sculpture that was removed from the civic center? >> this is a question that cities have been grappling with nationwide. following the removal of early days in 2018, there was a

toppling of statues in golden gate park as well as the removal of the christopher columbus statue. we are partnering with the parks department as well as the community to engage with the public to develop guidelines to evaluate the existing monuments and memorials in the civic arts collection and evaluate the removal of a monument or statue but also installing new ones. >> finally, it seems like the weather might be nice this weekend. if i fancy taking a walk and seeing some outdoor art, where would you suggest i go? >> well, i would suggest the

embarcadero. this work was commissioned with funds from the fire station 35. this suggests the bow of a boat and the glass panel surrounding the structure depict the history of fireboats in the bay area. >> and where can i go from there? >> then, i would walk up to the justin herman plaza to check out the work of the art vendors. then check out the monuments like the mechanics monument. also, be sure to check out the poster series, installed in bus kiosks along market street, which features four artists each year. >> well, thank you. i appreciate you coming on the show, miss chu. thank you for your time today.

>> thank you, chris. >> that's it for this episode. we'll be back with another show >> everything we do in the tenderloin, we urban outfit. here, this gives us an opportunity to collaborate with other agencies and we become familiar with how other agencies operate and allow us to be more flexible and get better at what we depo in the line of work in this task. >> sometimes you go down and it's hard to get up. so we see ourselves as providing an opportunity for the unhoused to get up. and so i really believe that when they come here and they've said it, this right here is absolutely needed. you can't ask for nothing better. >> the tenderloin is the stuff that ain't on the list of remedies, liked the spiritual connection to recovery and why would i? why would i recover?

what have i got to live for? things like that. and sharing the stories. like i was homeless and just the team. and some people need that extra connection on why they can change their life or how they could. >> we have a lot of guests that will come in and say i would like -- you know, i need help with shelter, food, and primary care doctor. and so here, that's three rooms down the hall. so if you book them, they get all of their needs taken care of in one go. this is an opportunity for us here in the tenderloin to come together, try out these ideas to see if we can put -- get -- connect people to services in a

>> supervisor melgar: welcome to the june 6, 2022 of the land use and transportation of the san francisco board of supervisors. should i keep going? >> i'm going to i.m. them really quick. >> supervisor melgar: should i start over? do we need so