Bayview community leaders celebrated at event and on radio

Folks in the neighborhood took to the stage, screen and radio waves as the featured acts at a multimedia event last Thursday at the Bayview Opera House. KALW radio personalities narrated stories about the locals as images and video clips played out behind them. James Martin and the women of Ladies in Line performed.

 

Some of the featured neighbors are well-known to locals, including Olympic Silver Medalist (and confident "Olympic hopeful") Rachael Miller, and fatherhood program policymaker James Martin.

 

The event was part of "Sights and Sounds of Bayview," a program of the SF Arts Commission. It was broadcast live on KALW public radio which is also broadcasting audio segments on-air, and serving related videos and slideshow stories on its website.

 

The Arts Commission's Robynn Takayama, the program's Executive Producer, worked closely with KALW reporter Ninna Gaensler-Debs to create a celebratory event that was well-received by a full house of Arts Commission and KALW staffers and fans, and by the family and friends of the Bayview Hunters Point leaders who were being featured.

 

Among those cheered at the event were Tracy Zhu, who leads Toxic Tours of the neighborhood by bicycle, Juana Tello, a committed youth organizers with POWER, and healthy food advocate Kenneth Hill.

 

Several groups of leaders were also featured including Ladies in Line, Bayview seniors who are changing their lives through dance; H.P. U.N.I.T.I., a congregation of former gang members who minister to young men about leaving violent street life; and Quesada Gardens Initiative, a network of local community builders who act on the belief that everyone should know their neighbors.

Many friends and family of Rachael Miller were on hand, though Rachael couldn't be there herself.  The Coach (he really does coach Rachael) and Carla strike a pose and smiles.  Taneshia Miller, Rachael's sister and half of Ladies in Power, was also at the event.

 

In Line Dancers get the room moving.

 

Tracy Zhu gets a bite to eat before the program.

Quesada Gardens Initiative Co-Founders Linda Pettus and Annette Smith.

James Martin surprised the crowd with a song.