Committee hears multiple nominees for Children, Youth and Their Families oversight body, raises diversity concerns
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Summary
The Rules Committee reviewed mayoral appointees to the Children, Youth and Their Families Oversight and Advisory Committee (including Carmen Sosa, Vita Bonilla, Patricia Siegel and Michael Wald). Supervisors expressed concern about racial and experiential diversity and representation for high-need neighborhoods.
The Rules Committee considered several mayoral appointments to the Children, Youth and Their Families Oversight and Advisory Committee on Sept. 10, hearing presentations from nominees and community supporters and discussing representational diversity.
Nominees included Carmen Sosa, an 18-year-old youth leader from the Mission who described long involvement with the Boys & Girls Club and outreach to youth outside the San Francisco Unified School District; Patricia Siegel, a long-time childcare advocate who recounted decades of work expanding access and training; and Michael Wald, who described a career focused on outcomes for children and workforce and education initiatives. Vita Bonilla’s candidacy was summarized by youth commission staff because she was in class.
Supervisor London Breed and others raised concerns about whether appointments reflected the city’s racial and neighborhood diversity, particularly African American representation and capacity to reach Bayview Hunters Point residents. Committee members discussed outreach, ensuring that advisory appointments are connected to communities most affected by dropout rates and service needs. The hearing was filed and the nominees will be transmitted to the full Board for consideration.
