This Week In Civics: Cycle Smart, Compost Smart and Show the Mission Some Love

Date:

Calle Limpia, Corazón Contento

Various Locations within Calle 24 Latino Cultural District
Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Free

Calle Limpia, Corazón Contento translates to “clean street, happy heart.” But Saturday’s event hosted by the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District is more than just a neighborhood cleanup. 

The volunteer-based day of street beautification will also activate almost the entire Mission District—from 16th to 24th streets, from Guerro to Potrero—with music, art and outreach for the community’s street vendors, small businesses and vulnerable neighbors. It will also kick off economic recovery efforts for the neighborhood. 

“It’s not only a cleanup, it’s the launch event … to come together and work together so that we can all thrive together in our neighborhood,” said Susana Rojas, executive director of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District, noting that the Mission’s Latino community was among the hardest hit during the pandemic. 

Over the past month or so, the cultural district, one of eight geographic areas within the city that “embodies a unique heritage,” has been working with the neighborhood’s local street vendors to educate them about upcoming permitting requirements mandated by a new city law about to take effect as well as encouraging the area’s small businesses to keep their blocks tidy and supplying them with resources and information as needed. It’s all part of an effort to legitmize the businesses of local street vendors and maintain the Mission as an attractive commercial corridor. 

“It’s really about creating that community communication and that community thread of support among all of us,” Rojas said. “We already have a lot of beautiful murals. We have great restaurants. We have amazing stores, and so now we want to add amazing vendors with unique stuff people want to come and buy.” 

On Saturday, volunteers will spread out throughout the Mission for the massive neighborhood cleanup, but DJs will also be spinning sets throughout the area as street vendors showcase their wares on Mission Street and 14 murals are painted simultaneously. The event will also host resource tables for those struggling with homelessness or substance use. 

Rojas said Calle Limpia, Corazón Contento is a great volunteer opportunity for anyone who wants to show their love and support for the Mission. 

“It’s like a big day of loving our community,” said Rojas. “When community takes care of community things thrive.”

Volunteers can sign up for a Zoom orientation on Monday, May 2, here. 

— Christina J. Campodonico 

City Hall Pop-up Shop

City Hall,1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Tuesday, May 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Free

Courtesy of Office of Economic and Workforce Development

City Hall can be a one-stop shop for paying property taxes, getting a copy of a birth certificate and even getting married. But on Tuesday, it turns into a different kind of store. Over 40 local vendors will showcase their wares in the heart of San Francisco’s city government, transforming it into a vibrant bazaar of artisans and merchants. It’s a great opportunity to support local businesses and shop small in a one-of-a-kind pop-up mall. (CJC)

Smart Cycling in the City

San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, 1833 Page Street

Several bikers ride through the intersection of Transverse and John F. Kennedy drives in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 | Ekevara Kitpowsong

Maneuvering through city streets into bike lanes does not have to be intimidating, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition is here to reassure you of that. As the name indicates, their “smart cycling” series teaches you everything you need to know about biking safely in the big city. 

Smart Cycling 1: Classroom | Tuesday, May 3, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | Free

For part one of their comprehensive curriculum, Smart City Cycling: In-Person Class, students will explore: choosing a bike, rules of the road, biking in city traffic, handling intersections and avoiding collisions.

Smart Cycling 1: Maneuvering | Saturday, May 7, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Free

Alright, now that you got book smarts, let’s get you onto the bike! This class will teach you hand signals, scanning over the shoulder and maneuvering to avoid crashes. Esta clase también se imparte en español.

Smart Cycling 3: Road Practice | Saturday, May 21, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Free

In the last of the class sequence, you will go on a group ride to put your new skills to the test. By the end of this, those windy San Francisco roads will be a breeze. Esta clase también se imparte en español. (MM and RT)

Yascha Mounk: The Fate of Diverse Democracies

Commonwealth Club, 110 Embarcadero & Virtual
Tuesday, May 3, 6 p.m. | $5 – $50

Can diverse democracies survive the forces of populism, painful histories, nationalism and the fractious nature of power and politics in a multicultural world? Yascha Mounk argues that despite the challenges of maintaining diverse and equal democracies, there are still reasons to hope. He discusses the struggles of heterogenous democracies to remain free but also outlines a bold new vision for learning from the social injustices of the past to create a harmonious future for all. Mounk is a professor of international affairs at Johns Hopkins University, a contributing editor at The Atlantic and author of the book The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure. Attendees can choose to see Mounk’s talk in-person at the Commonwealth Club or listen to the livestream.  (CJC) 

Courtesy of Lisa Gali

SF Joins National Day of Action & Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

City Hal,l 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Place
Thursday, May 5, 6 p.m. | Free

City Hall will be illuminated in red to honor the indigenous community of San Francisco and tribes everywhere. Join, Restoring Justice for Indigenous Peoples (RJIP) to acknowledge the national day of awareness for the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous people with an evening of ceremonial traditions, shared memories, native performances and speakers from the city. Murder is the third-leading cause of death for indigenous women, according to the CDC. RJIP is an organization dedicated to shining a light on these often under-reported cases, demanding more investigative efforts and support for the loved ones who were impacted with valuable resources. (RT)

Poetry in the Park

SF Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave.
Thursday, May 5, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Free

Courtesy of San Francisco Botanical Garden

The city’s middle school kids studied poetry during April’s Poetry Month. Now, San Francisco Botanical Garden will be graced with their voices on Thursday, May 5th. Poetry in the Park, a signature event of the botanical garden, will celebrate both the intellect and imagination of San Francisco’s youth. When visiting the garden, you will find them scattered throughout, reciting their original work or favorite published poems. Also joining will be special guests, San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin, Azure Antoinette, and SF Day’s Ruth Bissell and Dean Rader. (MM)

Urban Composting Workshop

1590 7th Ave.
Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Free

Trying to level up your garden? What about your sustainability game? Get your hands dirty with the San Francisco Parks Alliance and learn how to make your own backyard compost. Figure out what type of soil will keep those stubborn plants healthy and start working with worms who make their own fertilizer. Composting seems like a mess but it might just improve your garden. Plus it will prevent organic waste from ending up in the landfill! (MM)

The post This Week In Civics: Cycle Smart, Compost Smart and Show the Mission Some Love appeared first on The Paloalto Digest.

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