Supervisor Fiona Ma: Taking Care of Our Families

As we begin a new year, it is a great time to think about the future and about improving San Francisco for our children and families.

In the next month, there will be several meetings and activities in the Sunset District and beyond of specific interest to our families and neighborhoods. In January, the San Francisco Unified School District will host a series of community meetings throughout the City to discuss the Board of Education's upcoming decisions on school closures, mergers and relocations. The regional meeting that will affect Sunset/Parkside area schools will be held on Thursday, Jan. 5, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Roosevelt Middle School, at 460 Arguello Blvd., between Clement Street and Geary Boulevard.

Schools to be discussed include: Cabrillo Elementary, Japanese bilingual Bicultural Program West, George Peabody Elementary and Newcomer High School.

For more information, please call (415) 241-6000.

On Jan. 8, SF Mayor Gavin Newsom is presenting Family Appreciation Day. Coordinated by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, Family Appreciation Day will open the doors to more than 20 museums all over the City for free to San Francisco families with children.

Families can visit one, some or all of the participating museums from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday as long as parents bring along proof of San Francisco residence. For more information or a list of participating attractions, contact the Department of Children Youth and Their Families at (415) 554-8990.

On Jan. 15, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi and I will co-host a Lunar New Year benefit for the Sunset Library Capital Campaign. In September of 2005, the Sunset Branch Library finally closed for much needed renovations.

The Sunset Library Capital Campaign was formed to help raise funds for those things that public bond money cannot cover in the renovated or newly constructed branch library, but that are essential to any thriving branch library - furniture, fixtures, up-to-date technology and other equipment. The benefit event will be held at the Sunset Recreation Center, located at 28th Avenue and Lawton Street, from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Please contact Christine Leishman for more information at (415) 626-7512, ext. 101.

The Department of Children, Youth and Their Families is also hosting a series of community meetings to help chart the future course of the Children's Fund and to discuss community needs related to children and youth services.

The community meeting in the Sunset will be on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Sunset Recreation Center, located at 28th Avenue and Lawton Street. For more information, contact the department at (415) 554-8990.

Supervisor Fiona Ma represents District 4.