Accomplishments

Chris Jackson is a 3rd Generation San Francisco and District 10 Resident. He Lives in the Bayview and is raising his family here.

CITY COLLEGE

Chris is an elected member of the San Francisco Community College Board (CCSF), where he serves as budget chair. Chris is responsible for overseeing a $200 million budget and negotiating with labor unions that represent the college system’s 12,000 employees. In his tenure as budget chair:

• City College is the only major public institution in the City of San Francisco that has not laid off employees to close budget deficits.
• Chris fought for and  saved $300,000.00 in childcare subsidies that were slated to be cut during the budget process.
• Created a local preference in the CCSF lottery system that gives San Francisco residents a higher priority to obtain coveted nursing program slots.
• CCSF added 200 classes during a difficult budget season, 50 of these classes at the southeast campus.
• Helped institute the Gateway to College Program at CCSF. This program serves students who have dropped out of high school in San Francisco earn credit towards their high school diploma and a college degree or certificate at the same time. 55% of students served through this program are from the southeast.
• Created and brought the Green Job Corps program to the Southeast Campus with a $930,000 State grant. This program will provide at-risk 16-24 year olds with job skills relevant to the green industry.
• Authored  the Student Achievement resolution, passed by the board, which creates a One-Stop financial aid center, increases the number and frequency of basic skills classes and  increases access for work study programs to all students.
• Co-sponsored the City College Sunshine policy ordinance- bringing greater transparency and accountability to the legislative process.

A HISTORY OF ACTIVISM FOR WORKING PEOPLE

Chris is a Land use professional. In his capacity as a Land Use researcher with the San Francisco Labor Council, Chris was part of a large community based coalition that negotiated the Community Core Benefits Agreement (CCBA) with Lennar- the first such agreement with strong, enforceable protections for residents. In addition, Chris has served as a San Francisco Youth Commissioner where he was elected by that body as Governmental Affairs Officer, as well as served as Board member and President of organizations that help young people gain access to education and employment. Chris’ successes in these fields include:

• Negotiating the Community Core Benefits Agreement (CCBA) .The CCBA Provides the residents of District 10 with 32% affordable housing with a 2.5 room average per unit throughout the development, secured $27 million in a community first housing fund, $17 million in workforce development funding, and provides for a New grocery store to be built on site.
• Developed city-wide policy on minimum wage increases and paid sick day leave. These policies were later used in the creation of the San Francisco Paid sick day leave act, passed by the voters in 2006
• Created the Youth Employment Committee to identify and operationalize ways for San Francisco to provide quality jobs for our City’s youth.
• Worked in a coalition with neighborhood groups, many in District 10, to create community based solutions to and raise awareness of the lack of employment and need for Violence Prevention among San Francisco Youth.
• Established Project Connect, a campus academic/community recruitment and retention center; now one of the largest service learning programs at San Francisco State University.