i want to make an announcement that president julie soo has joined us and if it's okay we go back to item one and if president soo would like to make some opening remarks. >> thank you. i apologize for being late. we are pleased to have this meeting today and we have been instrumental in equal pay for women and what was launched recently with the gender equity principles to balance -- have a work place balance and that includes men and without the support of the entire city and the agencies we couldn't make this work possible. as you know we do work on domestic violence and human trafficking and for the domestic violence victims psychologically it's difficult to leave a united states -- abusive relationships and it's difficult to leave the situation. we are impressed with programs like the womens' initiative which launches entrepreneurial programs for women and in particular immigrant women. what is impressive after the intensive training they do have the ability to open a business within one year and after five years those businesses are sustainable which is very impressive given the