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Commission honors long-term volunteer Gwen McKellen and Tenderloin Safe Passage program
Summary
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment presented environmental service awards to volunteer Gwen McKellen for a decade of outreach and to the Tenderloin Community Benefit District's Safe Passage program, recognizing grassroots efforts that keep children and seniors safe while supporting the city's sustainable-transportation goals.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment presented two environmental service awards at its July 24, 2018 meeting, recognizing long-term volunteer work and a neighborhood safety program that supports sustainable trips to school.
President Bermejo and Commissioner Joanna Wald joined Commissioner Walt in presenting the Commission's Environmental Service Award to Gwen ("Green Gwen") McKellen for more than a decade of volunteer work with the Department of the Environment. Commissioner Walt noted McKellen logged more than 500 internship hours and over 1,000 volunteer hours, led zero-waste audits at City Hall, assisted with mandatory composting efforts and helped pass the plastic bag ban. McKellen said she volunteered because of the department's dedicated staff and community spirit.
The commission also recognized the Tenderloin Community Benefit District's Safe Passage program. Commissioner Sullivan presented the award to Greg Moore, director of the program, who described Safe Passage as a volunteer-led effort started by neighborhood parents that assigns trained "corner captains" to monitor school walking routes, reroute children around unsafe situations and support seniors. Moore said Safe Passage has expanded work to the Bayview and SoMa neighborhoods and is partnering with the Department of the Environment's Safe Routes to School program.
Margaret McCarthy of the Department of the Environment praised Safe Passage as a partner in the city's Safe Routes to School efforts and highlighted the program's focus on making walks to school both safe and joyful. The commission noted the awards underscore the role of community volunteers in supporting the city's climate and transportation goals.
The presentations included a short video of volunteers and program participants describing street-level safety challenges and the program's visible presence (green vests and signs) that changes neighborhood behavior. The commission recessed the awards to take a photo of award recipients before moving on to the evening's agenda.
