Media contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
17th Annual International Ocean Film Festival Holds “Global Online Audience Award” for Student Films March 25 – April 5
Winners will be announced online via the International Ocean Film Festival newsletter and social media on Monday, April 6 at 12 noon PDT.
25 March 2020 – San Francisco, CA: The International Ocean Film Festival often called “Sundance for the Ocean” will host a very special “Global Online Audience Award” for its Student Film Competition submissions. The online voting form and the films are listed by title at www.intloceanfilmfest.org/student-film-competition. Online viewers are asked to vote for their one top choice in each category of middle school and high school students. The contest will run from Wednesday March 25 at 12:00 noon and end at midnight Sunday, April 5th(all times Pacific Standard Time)
“While we’re all doing our best to ‘bend the curve’ and decrease coronavirus infections, this is a great opportunity to acknowledge the great work by our student filmmakers around the world,” said Ana Blanco, Executive Director for the IOFF. “With submissions from across the US, the Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Thailand and Turkey, this will truly be a global audience award. These next generation of artists, activists and ocean leaders are telling stories whereby we can truly save the world’s oceans. This is an opportunity for people around the world to be entertained, weigh in and engage with us during this challenging period.”
Rules for the online contest are:
Only one vote per email.
Votes can’t be changed once submitted.
Open to anyone around the world
The winning student filmmaker will receive a cash prize of $100, a Jenga Ocean game, and a Global Online Audience Award Certificate. Winners will also be honored =at the Festival’s rescheduled full event later this year, along with the announcement of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place student film winners in each category.
For 17 years, San Francisco’s International Ocean Film Festival has been pursuing its ocean conservation mission through film: Saving Our Oceans – One Film at a Time. This year’s Festival selection comprised 56 films from 15 countries including four world premieres, six United States premieres, nine West Coast premieres and six Bay Area Premieres.
“This is easily the most diverse group of films we’ve ever had, with the greatest international participation to date,” said Blanco.
For the 2020 Festival, 160 submissions were received from around the world, including films from the USA, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Turkey, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, South Korea, Madagascar and South Africa. The list includes films of all genres – documentaries, narratives, shorts, and animation films of all lengths. As always, the Festival focuses on all ocean centric themes including but not limited to: ocean exploration, wildlife, environmental, conservation, oceanography, seafaring adventures, maritime issues, ocean sports and coastal cultures.
In order to fulfill its conservation mission, and in addition to screening films, the International Ocean Film Festival has aligned itself with the Ocean Unite’s #Love30x30 initiative to bring more awareness to this global effort. #Love30x30 is a call to action to safeguard at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030 through a network of highly protected marine areas where no destructive or extractive activities like fishing or mining can take place.
Since its launch in 2004, the San Francisco-based International Ocean Film Festival has attracted thousands of spectators of all ages from around the world, including film enthusiasts, sea athletes, educators, and environmental activists. Since then, the Festival has presented over 600 films from 50 different countries and featured post-film Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, special panel discussions with content experts, and the Annual Free Student Education Program. It was the first event of its kind in North America, inspired by the well-established ocean festival in Toulon, France, which has continued to draw large audiences for more than 40 years.
Current sponsors for the 17th Annual International Ocean Film Festival include National Marine Sanctuary, BigBus of San Francisco, Gray Line Tours, SSA, Alcatraz Cruises, the Port of San Francisco, the Consul General of Canada, Blue and Gold Ferry, RBC Wealth Management, Heidrick & Struggles, Pacific Gas & Electric and Troutman Sanders LLC.
The International Ocean Film Festival encourages its patrons, supporters and partners to follow the most current advice from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for preventing the further spread of the COVID-19 in Northern California and beyond, and to stay tuned for announcements about International Ocean Film Festival events once the threat level is reduced. A new date for the entire 17th Annual International Ocean Film Festival will be announced in a few weeks.
15-20k viewers expected & many news outlets tuning in and participating
What: To continue our mission, Manny’s is excited to announce that we’ll be hosting over one hundred live civic conversations over video for the public. We’ll be providing opportunities for the public to continue to be civically engaged all at the convenience of their home for free or with a suggested donation. With an expected reach of 15,000 – 20,000 viewers with many news outlets also tuning in and participating.
What:
To continue our mission, Manny’s is excited to announce that we’ll be hosting over one hundred civic conversations over video for the public. We’ll be providing opportunities for the public to continue to be civically engaged all at the convenience of their home for free or with a suggested donation.
Who:
Guests speakers will include Secretary Madeleine Albright, Representative Stacey Abrams, Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts, District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Author Michael Pollan, SF Giants CEO Larry Baer, a majority of the SF Board of Supervisors, City Administrator Naomi Kelly, SFMTA DIrector Jeff Tumlin, and folks on the front lines of our public health system from ER Doctors to Epidemiologists.
{{BIG LIST ADDED IN HERE}}
When:
Conversations will start on Monday, March 23 at 1 PM conversation with famed Drag Queen, Heklina, followed by a 3 PM conversation with Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.
Manny’s Super Civic Cyber Conversations will continue for one month on weekdays at 1, 3, 5 and 7pm PST.
Manny’s was opened with a crystal clear purpose: civically engage the public in person. It’s imperative that we rise to the occasion and continue to bring hope and inspiration to the public given the times in which we find ourselves. I’m humbled and excited at how quickly my team and I put together the “Manny’s Super Civic Cyber Conversations,” and I look forward to continuing to put in the work.
Heklina (3/23) 1 p.m. – Heklina has been entertaining the SF nightlife for over two decades. Being half Icelandic, she named herself after the Icelandic volcano Hekla
LT. Eleni Kounalakis (3/23) 3 p.m. – Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis was sworn in as the first woman elected Lieutenant Governor of California by Governor Gavin Newsom
Laurie Thomas (3/23) 5 p.m. – Laurie owns and operates local restaurants Rose’s Cafe and Terzo and is a board member of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association
Tom Temprano (3/23) 7 p.m. – Member Board Of Trustees at City College of San Francisco & Legislative Aide, Office of Supervisor Rafael Mandelman
Myrna Melgar (3/24) 3 p.m. – Myrna Melgar is the Executive Director of the Jamestown Community Center
Gregory Ferenstein (3/24) 5 p.m. – Gregory Ferenstein is the editor of the Ferenstein Wire, a syndicated publication on tech, health, and politics
Max Patinkin (3/24) 7 p.m. – Max is a lawyer and second generation family farmer (on both his father’s and mother’s side). He’s passionate about civic and community engagement, including chairing a recent red-to-blue congressional campaign and assisting in the launch of Manny’s.
Audrey Cooper (3/25) 1 p.m. – Audrey Cooper is the editor in chief of the San Francisco Chronicle, the first woman to fill the role in the company’s 153-year history
Aram Fischer (3/25) 3 p.m. – Aram escalated his action substantially in response to the 2016 election, taking on a leadership role with Indivisible San Francisco
Jeff Kositsky (3/25) 5 p.m. – Jeff Kositsky is a recognized leader in innovative solutions to homelessness and poverty in the United States and internationally
Broke-Ass Stuart (3/25) 7 p.m. – Travel Writer. TV Host. Poet. Motherf*cking Hustler. San Francisco is THAT city. How do we continue to honor the greatness of it? The funk. The weirdness. The all of it.
Eliza Nemser (3/26) 1 p.m. – Eliza Nemser is an earth scientist, environmental advocate, and organizer with over 15 years of technical, research, and consulting experience.
Hadar Aviram (3/26) 3 p.m. – Professor Hadar Aviram specializes in criminal justice, civil rights, law and politics, and social movements, and her research employs socio-legal perspectives and methodologies
Tyler MacNiven (3/26) 5 p.m. – Tyler MacNiven is a producer and director, known for Kintaro Walks Japan (2005), Jonny Ramada (2017) and Big in Bollywood (2011)
Cody Harris (3/26) 7 p.m.– Mr. Harris also developed a first-hand understanding of a prosecutor’s mindset by spending a year trying and resolving cases at the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office
Shamann Walton (03/27) 1 p.m.– Supervisor Shamann Walton is the Supervisor for District 10 of San Francisco.
DA Chesa Boudin (3/27) 3 p.m. – Chesa Boudin is the District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco
Leah Culver (3/27) 5 p.m. – Computer programmer and startup founder Leah Culver is a 2006 computer science graduate of the University of Minnesota
Levi Maxwell (3/27) 7 p.m. – Let’s talk about the ideal queer dance scene with our dearest friend Levi Maxwell! Grab yourself a drink and let’s kiki!
Del Seymour (3/28) 1 p.m. – Del Seymour founded Code Tenderloin in 2015
Mark G DeVito (3/28) 3 p.m.– Mark has owned a portfolio of bars in SF for a decade and is well-networked in the field
David Plouffe (3/28) 5 p.m. – David Plouffe is an American political strategist best known as the campaign manager for Barack Obama’s successful 2008 presidential campaign
Lateefah Simon (3/28) 7 p.m. – Lateefah Simon was elected to serve District 7 on the BART Board of Directors on November 8, 2016
Larry Baer (3/29) 1 p.m. – Laurence M. Baer is the Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball
David Perry (3/29) 3 p.m. – David Perry is a crisis communications consultant and a member of SF Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Andrea Dew Steele (3/29) 5 p.m. – Andrea Dew Steele is the Founder of Emerge America and the Co-Founder of our first affiliate, Emerge California
Abbie Dillen (3/30) 1 p.m. – Abigail Dillen is the President of Earthjustice, leading the organization’s staff, board and supporters to advance our mission of using the courts to protect our environment and people’s health
Stacy Mason (3/30) 3 p.m. – Stacy is a co-founder of Electing Women San Francisco, a giving circle that is part of a new national network
Jane Kim (3/30) 5 p.m. – Once SF’s most prominent supervisors, now Jane Kim heads the Bay Area campaign operations for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders
Patrick Ayscue (03/30) 6 p.m. – Dr. Ayscue is an applied epidemiologist with over ten years of experience in infectious disease outbreak response, surveillance, and analysis. He has previously worked as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, where he was deployed to Liberia early in the course of the West Africa Ebola virus outbreak in 2014.
Betty Yee (3/30) 7 p.m. – State Controller Betty T. Yee was elected in November 2014, following two terms of service on the California Board of Equalization
Rosny Daniel (03/31) 11 a.m. “My Experience with Coronavirus: UCSF ER Doctor Rosny Daniel”– Medical staff is on the frontline of this pandemic, risking their lives to save the lives of others. Dr. Rosny Daniel is Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency Medicine who contracted Coronavirus.
Heather Knight (3/31) 1 p.m. – San Francisco Chronicle columnist; host of SF City Insider podcast; co-founder of #TotalSF and #49MileMakeover; cable car bell ringing judge; public transit fan
Morgan Bailey (3/31) 3 p.m. – Morgan Bailey’s curiosity led me to pursue a PhD in Engineering, a Masters in Public Health, and a certificate in Co-Active Coaching
Sam Moss (3/31) 5 p.m. – Sam Moss oversees the administration of all Mission Housing assets, programs and services
Kevin Roose (3/31) 7 p.m. – Kevin Roose is a columnist for Business Day and a writer-at-large for The New York Times Magazine
Jeff Bleich (4/01) 5 p.m. – Longtime friend of President Obama, Jeffrey Laurence Bleichis an American lawyer and diplomat from California, currently the chair of Pacific Gas and Electric Company and of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
Scott Wiener (4/01) 7 p.m. – Scott Wiener is an American politician and a member of the California State Senate
Regulating through Crisis (4/02) 1 p.m. – Comedian and playwright Luna Malbroux and Trauma Expert Sarah Buffie explore ways to help ground ourselves and our friends during tough times
SF Mayor London N. Breed (4/02) 4 p.m. – Leading San Francisco in a Time of CrisisMayor London Breed was re-elected to be the Mayor of San Francisco just months before the halting of much of the world’s economy and the outbreak of a global pandemic. She is leading San Francisco during unprecedented times and her decisions are having real world consequences for the life and well-being of us all. Tune in to hear her in conversation with Manny’s and to ask her your questions during this time our City’s history.
Rebecca Rolfe (4/02) 7 p.m. – Rebecca Rolfe is a community activist who has worked on issues of social justice for over twenty-eight years
Valerie Jarrett (04/03) 11 a.m. “Presidential Leadership During Crisis: A Conversation with Valerie Jarrett”– Ms. Jarrett was the longest serving Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She oversaw the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls..
Emmett Shear (4/03) 1 p.m. – Emmett Shear is an American internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv and TwitchTV with and is the Chief executive officer of Twitch.
Deborah Cullinan (4/03) 3 p.m. – Deborah Cullinan is the Chief Executive Officer for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Debra Walker (4/03) 7 p.m. – Artist and housing policy advisor Debra Walker serves on the San Francisco Arts Commission, appointed by Mayor London Breed
Terry Beswick (4/6) 1 p.m. – – Executive Director at GLBT Historical Society. San Francisco is rich in LGBTQ+ history. However, how do we remember LGBT history? How do we honor it? Why is it that we don’t have a museum?
Marianne Williamson (4/6) 2 p.m. – Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, political activist and spiritual thought leader. For over three decades Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She was one of 29 Democratic candidates to run for president in 2020.
Eric Swalwell (4/06) 5 p.m. – Eric Swalwell in 2012 was elected to represent California’s Fifteenth Congressional District, which includes a large part of the East Bay
Matt Haney (04/06) 6 p.m. – As President of the Board of Education, Haney was known for tackling some of the city’s biggest challenges with creative solutions. He led initiatives to build affordable housing for teachers and protect them from evictions, launch a new school in Mission Bay, secure housing and expand services for homeless students, and ensure all our kids have access to computer science and technology.
Rudy Gonzalez (04/06) 7 p.m. – In 2018, Rudy Gonzalez was selected to be the youngest Executive Director and first person of color to head the San Francisco Labor Council in its 125 year history.After leading organizing campaigns that nearly doubled the size and strength of his local union, he became a director and officer of Local 856.
Christine Pelosi (04/07) 1 p.m. – Pelosi is the author of Campaign Boot Camp 2.0 (2012) and Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders’ (2007), books used in her leadership training for candidates and causes. Since 2005 she has directed the AFSCME PEOPLE Congressional Candidates Boot Camp, which prepares Democrats for campaigns and has helped over 40 challengers get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rob Avruch (4/07) 5 p.m. – Advocacy Associate, Housing Affordability at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. You can ask them anything. The floor is open.
Joaquin Torres (04/07) 7 p.m. – Joaquín Torres is the Director of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
Jamie Rudman (04/08) 3 p.m. –Jamie Rudman has more than twenty years of experience representing management in labor and employment matters.
Dr. Judy Kuriansky (4/08) 5 p.m. – Dr. Judy Kuriansky is a world renowned radio advice host, clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist, popular lecturer, newspaper columnist, and author of many books
Rodney Fong (04/09) 3 p.m. – Fong sat on San Francisco’s Port Commission for four years and also on the city’s Planning Commission. Fong was also the chair of the San Francisco Travel Association board. Now he is the president of SF Chamber of Commerce.
Ritchie Torres (04/09) 7 p.m. – Ritchie Torres is an American politician from New York.. Elected in 2013, he is the first openly gay candidate to be elected to legislative office in the Bronx, and the youngest member of the city council.
Jess Nguyen (04/10) 3 p.m. – Join us for a conversation with student activist, Jess Nguyen, on Community College of San Francisco’s student activism.
Jim Haas (04/10) 7 p.m. – James W. Haas has lived most of his life in the city. Now retired, he has written about San Francisco including a biography of the long-forgotten Mayor Edward Robeson Taylor which appeared in the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society’s journal.
Ben Bleiman (04/13) 3 p.m. – Ben is currently the President of the California Music & Culture Association, which is the only trade group to represent bars, clubs, music venues and music festivals in SF.
Aria Sa’id (04/13) 5 p.m. – Aria Sa’id is a transgender advocate and award winning political strategist based in San Francisco Bay Area. She is a founder and the Executive Director of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District- the world’s first transgender district.
Laura Tam (04/15) 1 p.m. – Laura Tam is the Sustainable Development Policy Director at SPUR, a Bay Area think-tank and one of the leading urban policy groups in the United States.
Jeffrey Tumlin (4/15) 7 p.m. – Jeffrey Tumlin is the former director of strategy at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, a San Francisco-based transportation planning and engineering firm that focuses on sustainable mobility
Hillary Ronen (04/16) 1 p.m. “Q&A with District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen”– Supervisor Ronen attended UC Berkeley School of Law. Upon graduating she joined La Raza Centro Legal in San Francisco’s Mission District where I spent over six years fighting for immigrants’ rights and organizing to get unpaid back wages for domestic workers and day laborers. She went on as Chief of Staff for-then Supervisor of District 9, David Campos.
Naomi Kelly (04/21) 1 p.m.– Naomi Kelly is San Francisco’s City Administrator, the highest-ranking non-elected official of San Francisco City and County government. In this capacity, Ms. Kelly oversees 25 departments, divisions, and programs
Ben Rosenfield (4/22) 7 p.m. – Ben Rosenfield serves as the City Controller. Mr. Rosenfield was initially appointed to a 10-year term as Controller by Mayor Gavin Newsom in Spring 2008 and re-appointed to a second term by Mayor Mark Farrell in Spring 2018
Lex Sloan (4/24) 3 p.m. – Manager of the movie theart The Roxie, Alexis ‘Lex’ Sloan is an American, Jewish, middle-class feminist filmmaker
Cecilia Cabello (04/24) 7 p.m. – Cecilia Cabello is the Vice President of the Board of Public Works. She was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in November 2018. She was tapped as Hillary for America’s California State Director during the 2016 general campaign and California Deputy Political Director for the 2016 primary campaign.
Tal Klement (4/27) 7 p.m. – Tal Klement is a Deputy Public Defender in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office
***Meena Harris TBD “Inspiring Hope Online with Meena Harris”– Meena Harris is an American lawyer, tech-policy expert, political activist, and entrepreneur. She is the niece of California Senator, Kamala Harris. On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2017, she launched the Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign, a grassroots fundraising initiative that benefits women’s organizations like Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List.
What: To continue our mission, Manny’s is excited to announce that we’ll be hosting over one hundred live civic conversations over video for the public. We’ll be providing opportunities for the public to continue to be civically engaged all at the convenience of their home for free or with a suggested donation. With an expected reach of 15,000 – 20,000 viewers with many news outlets also tuning in and participating.
What:
To continue our mission, Manny’s is excited to announce that we’ll be hosting over one hundred civic conversations over video for the public. We’ll be providing opportunities for the public to continue to be civically engaged all at the convenience of their home for free or with a suggested donation.
Who:
Guests speakers will include Secretary Madeleine Albright, Representative Stacey Abrams, Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts, District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Author Michael Pollan, SF Giants CEO Larry Baer, a majority of the SF Board of Supervisors, City Administrator Naomi Kelly, SFMTA DIrector Jeff Tumlin, and folks on the front lines of our public health system from ER Doctors to Epidemiologists.
{{BIG LIST ADDED IN HERE}}
When:
Conversations will start on Monday, March 23 at 1 PM conversation with famed Drag Queen, Heklina, followed by a 3 PM conversation with Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.
Manny’s Super Civic Cyber Conversations will continue for one month on weekdays at 1, 3, 5 and 7pm PST.
Manny’s was opened with a crystal clear purpose: civically engage the public in person. It’s imperative that we rise to the occasion and continue to bring hope and inspiration to the public given the times in which we find ourselves. I’m humbled and excited at how quickly my team and I put together the “Manny’s Super Civic Cyber Conversations,” and I look forward to continuing to put in the work.
Heklina (3/23) 1 p.m. – Heklina has been entertaining the SF nightlife for over two decades. Being half Icelandic, she named herself after the Icelandic volcano Hekla
LT. Eleni Kounalakis (3/23) 3 p.m. – Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis was sworn in as the first woman elected Lieutenant Governor of California by Governor Gavin Newsom
Laurie Thomas (3/23) 5 p.m. – Laurie owns and operates local restaurants Rose’s Cafe and Terzo and is a board member of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association
Tom Temprano (3/23) 7 p.m. – Member Board Of Trustees at City College of San Francisco & Legislative Aide, Office of Supervisor Rafael Mandelman
Myrna Melgar (3/24) 3 p.m. – Myrna Melgar is the Executive Director of the Jamestown Community Center
Gregory Ferenstein (3/24) 5 p.m. – Gregory Ferenstein is the editor of the Ferenstein Wire, a syndicated publication on tech, health, and politics
Max Patinkin (3/24) 7 p.m. – Max is a lawyer and second generation family farmer (on both his father’s and mother’s side). He’s passionate about civic and community engagement, including chairing a recent red-to-blue congressional campaign and assisting in the launch of Manny’s.
Audrey Cooper (3/25) 1 p.m. – Audrey Cooper is the editor in chief of the San Francisco Chronicle, the first woman to fill the role in the company’s 153-year history
Aram Fischer (3/25) 3 p.m. – Aram escalated his action substantially in response to the 2016 election, taking on a leadership role with Indivisible San Francisco
Jeff Kositsky (3/25) 5 p.m. – Jeff Kositsky is a recognized leader in innovative solutions to homelessness and poverty in the United States and internationally
Broke-Ass Stuart (3/25) 7 p.m. – Travel Writer. TV Host. Poet. Motherf*cking Hustler. San Francisco is THAT city. How do we continue to honor the greatness of it? The funk. The weirdness. The all of it.
Eliza Nemser (3/26) 1 p.m. – Eliza Nemser is an earth scientist, environmental advocate, and organizer with over 15 years of technical, research, and consulting experience.
Hadar Aviram (3/26) 3 p.m. – Professor Hadar Aviram specializes in criminal justice, civil rights, law and politics, and social movements, and her research employs socio-legal perspectives and methodologies
Tyler MacNiven (3/26) 5 p.m. – Tyler MacNiven is a producer and director, known for Kintaro Walks Japan (2005), Jonny Ramada (2017) and Big in Bollywood (2011)
Cody Harris (3/26) 7 p.m.– Mr. Harris also developed a first-hand understanding of a prosecutor’s mindset by spending a year trying and resolving cases at the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office
Shamann Walton (03/27) 1 p.m.– Supervisor Shamann Walton is the Supervisor for District 10 of San Francisco.
DA Chesa Boudin (3/27) 3 p.m. – Chesa Boudin is the District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco
Leah Culver (3/27) 5 p.m. – Computer programmer and startup founder Leah Culver is a 2006 computer science graduate of the University of Minnesota
Levi Maxwell (3/27) 7 p.m. – Let’s talk about the ideal queer dance scene with our dearest friend Levi Maxwell! Grab yourself a drink and let’s kiki!
Del Seymour (3/28) 1 p.m. – Del Seymour founded Code Tenderloin in 2015
Mark G DeVito (3/28) 3 p.m.– Mark has owned a portfolio of bars in SF for a decade and is well-networked in the field
David Plouffe (3/28) 5 p.m. – David Plouffe is an American political strategist best known as the campaign manager for Barack Obama’s successful 2008 presidential campaign
Lateefah Simon (3/28) 7 p.m. – Lateefah Simon was elected to serve District 7 on the BART Board of Directors on November 8, 2016
Larry Baer (3/29) 1 p.m. – Laurence M. Baer is the Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball
Andrea Dew Steele (3/29) 5 p.m. – Andrea Dew Steele is the Founder of Emerge America and the Co-Founder of our first affiliate, Emerge California
Abbie Dillen (3/30) 1 p.m. – Abigail Dillen is the President of Earthjustice, leading the organization’s staff, board and supporters to advance our mission of using the courts to protect our environment and people’s health
Stacy Mason (3/30) 3 p.m. – Stacy is a co-founder of Electing Women San Francisco, a giving circle that is part of a new national network
Jane Kim (3/30) 5 p.m. – Once SF’s most prominent supervisors, now Jane Kim heads the Bay Area campaign operations for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders
Patrick Ayscue (03/30) 6 p.m. – Dr. Ayscue is an applied epidemiologist with over ten years of experience in infectious disease outbreak response, surveillance, and analysis. He has previously worked as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, where he was deployed to Liberia early in the course of the West Africa Ebola virus outbreak in 2014.
Betty Yee (3/30) 7 p.m. – State Controller Betty T. Yee was elected in November 2014, following two terms of service on the California Board of Equalization
Rosny Daniel (03/31) 11 a.m. “My Experience with Coronavirus: UCSF ER Doctor Rosny Daniel”– Medical staff is on the frontline of this pandemic, risking their lives to save the lives of others. Dr. Rosny Daniel is Assistant Professor at the Department of Emergency Medicine who contracted Coronavirus.
Heather Knight (3/31) 1 p.m. – San Francisco Chronicle columnist; host of SF City Insider podcast; co-founder of #TotalSF and #49MileMakeover; cable car bell ringing judge; public transit fan
Morgan Bailey (3/31) 3 p.m. – Morgan Bailey’s curiosity led me to pursue a PhD in Engineering, a Masters in Public Health, and a certificate in Co-Active Coaching
Sam Moss (3/31) 5 p.m. – Sam Moss oversees the administration of all Mission Housing assets, programs and services
Kevin Roose (3/31) 7 p.m. – Kevin Roose is a columnist for Business Day and a writer-at-large for The New York Times Magazine
Jeff Bleich (4/01) 5 p.m. – Longtime friend of President Obama, Jeffrey Laurence Bleichis an American lawyer and diplomat from California, currently the chair of Pacific Gas and Electric Company and of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
Scott Wiener (4/01) 7 p.m. – Scott Wiener is an American politician and a member of the California State Senate
Regulating through Crisis (4/02) 1 p.m. – Comedian and playwright Luna Malbroux and Trauma Expert Sarah Buffie explore ways to help ground ourselves and our friends during tough times
SF Mayor London N. Breed (4/02) 4 p.m. – Leading San Francisco in a Time of CrisisMayor London Breed was re-elected to be the Mayor of San Francisco just months before the halting of much of the world’s economy and the outbreak of a global pandemic. She is leading San Francisco during unprecedented times and her decisions are having real world consequences for the life and well-being of us all. Tune in to hear her in conversation with Manny’s and to ask her your questions during this time our City’s history.
Rebecca Rolfe (4/02) 7 p.m. – Rebecca Rolfe is a community activist who has worked on issues of social justice for over twenty-eight years
Valerie Jarrett (04/03) 11 a.m. “Presidential Leadership During Crisis: A Conversation with Valerie Jarrett”– Ms. Jarrett was the longest serving Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama. She oversaw the Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls..
Emmett Shear (4/03) 1 p.m. – Emmett Shear is an American internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv and TwitchTV with and is the Chief executive officer of Twitch.
Deborah Cullinan (4/03) 3 p.m. – Deborah Cullinan is the Chief Executive Officer for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Debra Walker (4/03) 7 p.m. – Artist and housing policy advisor Debra Walker serves on the San Francisco Arts Commission, appointed by Mayor London Breed
Terry Beswick (4/6) 1 p.m. – – Executive Director at GLBT Historical Society. San Francisco is rich in LGBTQ+ history. However, how do we remember LGBT history? How do we honor it? Why is it that we don’t have a museum?
Marianne Williamson (4/6) 2 p.m. – Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, political activist and spiritual thought leader. For over three decades Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She was one of 29 Democratic candidates to run for president in 2020.
Eric Swalwell (4/06) 5 p.m. – Eric Swalwell in 2012 was elected to represent California’s Fifteenth Congressional District, which includes a large part of the East Bay
Matt Haney (04/06) 6 p.m. – As President of the Board of Education, Haney was known for tackling some of the city’s biggest challenges with creative solutions. He led initiatives to build affordable housing for teachers and protect them from evictions, launch a new school in Mission Bay, secure housing and expand services for homeless students, and ensure all our kids have access to computer science and technology.
Rudy Gonzalez (04/06) 7 p.m. – In 2018, Rudy Gonzalez was selected to be the youngest Executive Director and first person of color to head the San Francisco Labor Council in its 125 year history.After leading organizing campaigns that nearly doubled the size and strength of his local union, he became a director and officer of Local 856.
Christine Pelosi (04/07) 1 p.m. – Pelosi is the author of Campaign Boot Camp 2.0 (2012) and Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders’ (2007), books used in her leadership training for candidates and causes. Since 2005 she has directed the AFSCME PEOPLE Congressional Candidates Boot Camp, which prepares Democrats for campaigns and has helped over 40 challengers get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rob Avruch (4/07) 5 p.m. – Advocacy Associate, Housing Affordability at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. You can ask them anything. The floor is open.
Joaquin Torres (04/07) 7 p.m. – Joaquín Torres is the Director of the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
Jamie Rudman (04/08) 3 p.m. –Jamie Rudman has more than twenty years of experience representing management in labor and employment matters.
Dr. Judy Kuriansky (4/08) 5 p.m. – Dr. Judy Kuriansky is a world renowned radio advice host, clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist, popular lecturer, newspaper columnist, and author of many books
Rodney Fong (04/09) 3 p.m. – Fong sat on San Francisco’s Port Commission for four years and also on the city’s Planning Commission. Fong was also the chair of the San Francisco Travel Association board. Now he is the president of SF Chamber of Commerce.
Ritchie Torres (04/09) 7 p.m. – Ritchie Torres is an American politician from New York.. Elected in 2013, he is the first openly gay candidate to be elected to legislative office in the Bronx, and the youngest member of the city council.
Jess Nguyen (04/10) 3 p.m. – Join us for a conversation with student activist, Jess Nguyen, on Community College of San Francisco’s student activism.
Jim Haas (04/10) 7 p.m. – James W. Haas has lived most of his life in the city. Now retired, he has written about San Francisco including a biography of the long-forgotten Mayor Edward Robeson Taylor which appeared in the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society’s journal.
Ben Bleiman (04/13) 3 p.m. – Ben is currently the President of the California Music & Culture Association, which is the only trade group to represent bars, clubs, music venues and music festivals in SF.
Aria Sa’id (04/13) 5 p.m. – Aria Sa’id is a transgender advocate and award winning political strategist based in San Francisco Bay Area. She is a founder and the Executive Director of the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District- the world’s first transgender district.
Laura Tam (04/15) 1 p.m. – Laura Tam is the Sustainable Development Policy Director at SPUR, a Bay Area think-tank and one of the leading urban policy groups in the United States.
Jeffrey Tumlin (4/15) 7 p.m. – Jeffrey Tumlin is the former director of strategy at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, a San Francisco-based transportation planning and engineering firm that focuses on sustainable mobility
Hillary Ronen (04/16) 1 p.m. “Q&A with District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen”– Supervisor Ronen attended UC Berkeley School of Law. Upon graduating she joined La Raza Centro Legal in San Francisco’s Mission District where I spent over six years fighting for immigrants’ rights and organizing to get unpaid back wages for domestic workers and day laborers. She went on as Chief of Staff for-then Supervisor of District 9, David Campos.
Naomi Kelly (04/21) 1 p.m.– Naomi Kelly is San Francisco’s City Administrator, the highest-ranking non-elected official of San Francisco City and County government. In this capacity, Ms. Kelly oversees 25 departments, divisions, and programs
Ben Rosenfield (4/22) 7 p.m. – Ben Rosenfield serves as the City Controller. Mr. Rosenfield was initially appointed to a 10-year term as Controller by Mayor Gavin Newsom in Spring 2008 and re-appointed to a second term by Mayor Mark Farrell in Spring 2018
Lex Sloan (4/24) 3 p.m. – Manager of the movie theart The Roxie, Alexis ‘Lex’ Sloan is an American, Jewish, middle-class feminist filmmaker
Cecilia Cabello (04/24) 7 p.m. – Cecilia Cabello is the Vice President of the Board of Public Works. She was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in November 2018. She was tapped as Hillary for America’s California State Director during the 2016 general campaign and California Deputy Political Director for the 2016 primary campaign.
Tal Klement (4/27) 7 p.m. – Tal Klement is a Deputy Public Defender in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office
***Meena Harris TBD “Inspiring Hope Online with Meena Harris”– Meena Harris is an American lawyer, tech-policy expert, political activist, and entrepreneur. She is the niece of California Senator, Kamala Harris. On International Women’s Day, March 8, 2017, she launched the Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign, a grassroots fundraising initiative that benefits women’s organizations like Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List.
What: To continue our mission, Manny’s is excited to announce that we’ll be hosting over one hundred live civic conversations over video for the public. We’ll be providing opportunities for the public to continue to be civically engaged all at the convenience of their home for free or with a suggested donation. With an expected reach of 15,000 – 20,000 viewers with many news outlets also tuning in and participating.
Who: Guests speakers will include Secretary Madeleine Albright, Golden State Warriors President Rick Welts, District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Author Michael Pollan, SF Giants CEO Larry Baer, Tom Steyer, a majority of the SF Board of Supervisors, City Administrator Naomi Kelly, SFMTA Director Jeff Tumlin, BART Board President Lateefah Simon, State Controller Betty Yee, Former Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe, Twitch CEO Emmett Shear, Congressional Representatives Eric Swalwell, Seth Moulton, Joe Kennedy and Max Rose, Chair of the PG&E Board Ambassador Jeff Bleich, California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Rueff, State Senator Scott Wiener, San Francisco City Economist Ted Egan, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, SF City Controller Ben Rosenfield, SF Chamber of Commerce CEO Rodney Fong, San Francisco’s Director of the Office of Workforce and Economic Development Joaquin Torres, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz and folks on the front lines of our public health system from ER Doctors to Epidemiologists.
When:
Conversations will start on Monday, March 23 at 1 PM conversation with famed Drag Queen, Heklina, followed by a 3 PM conversation with Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.
Manny’s Super Civic Cyber Conversationswill continue for one month on weekdays at
1pm, 3pm, 5pm and 7pm PST.
Manny Quote: Manny’s was opened with a crystal clear purpose: civically engage the public in person. It’s imperative that we rise to the occasion and continue to bring hope and inspiration to the public given the times in which we find ourselves. I’m humbled and excited at how quickly our team put together the “Manny’s Super Civic Cyber Conversations,” and I look forward to continuing to put in the work.
Heklina (3/23) 1 p.m. – Heklina has been entertaining the SF nightlife for over two decades. Being half Icelandic, she named herself after the Icelandic volcano Hekla
LT. Eleni Kounalakis (3/23) 3 p.m. – Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis was sworn in as the first woman elected Lieutenant Governor of California by Governor Gavin Newsom
Laurie Thomas (3/23) 5 p.m. – Laurie owns and operates local restaurants Rose’s Cafe and Terzo and is a board member of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association
Tom Temprano (3/23) 7 p.m. – Member Board Of Trustees at City College of San Francisco & Legislative Aide, Office of Supervisor Rafael Mandelman
Eric Swalwell (3/24) 1 p.m. – Eric Swalwell in 2012 was elected to represent California’s Fifteenth Congressional District, which includes a large part of the East Bay
Myrna Melgar (3/24) 3 p.m. – Myrna Melgar is the Executive Director of the Jamestown Community Center
Gregory Ferenstein (3/24) 5 p.m. – Gregory Ferenstein is the editor of the Ferenstein Wire, a syndicated publication on tech, health, and politics
Max Patinkin (3/24) 7 p.m.– Max is a lawyer and second generation family farmer. He’s passionate about civic and community engagement, including chairing a recent red-to-blue congressional campaign and assisting in the launch of Manny’s.
Audrey Cooper (3/25) 1 p.m. – Audrey Cooper is the editor in chief of the San Francisco Chronicle, the first woman to fill the role in the company’s 153-year history
Aram Fischer (3/25) 3 p.m. – Aram escalated his action substantially in response to the 2016 election, taking on a leadership role with Indivisible San Francisco
Jeff Kositsky (3/25) 5 p.m. – Jeff Kositsky is a recognized leader in innovative solutions to homelessness and poverty in the United States and internationally
Broke-Ass Stuart (3/25) 7 p.m. – Travel Writer. TV Host. Poet. Motherf*cking Hustler. San Francisco is THAT city. How do we continue to honor the greatness of it? The funk. The weirdness. The all of it.
Eliza Nemser (3/26) 1 p.m. – Eliza Nemser is an earth scientist, environmental advocate, and organizer with over 15 years of technical, research, and consulting experience.
Hadar Aviram (3/26) 3 p.m. – Professor Hadar Aviram specializes in criminal justice, civil rights, law and politics, and social movements, and her research employs socio-legal perspectives and methodologies
Tyler MacNiven (3/26) 5 p.m. – Tyler MacNiven is a producer and director, known for Kintaro Walks Japan (2005), Jonny Ramada (2017) and Big in Bollywood (2011)
Cody Harris (3/26) 7 p.m.– Mr. Harris also developed a first-hand understanding of a prosecutor’s mindset by spending a year trying and resolving cases at the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office
DA Chesa Boudin (3/27) 3 p.m. – Chesa Boudin is the District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco
Leah Culver (3/27) 5 p.m. – Computer programmer and startup founder Leah Culver is a 2006 computer science graduate of the University of Minnesota
Levi Maxwell (3/27) 7 p.m. – Let’s talk about the ideal queer dance scene with our dearest friend Levi Maxwell! Grab yourself a drink and let’s kiki!
Del Seymour (3/28) 1 p.m. – Del Seymour founded Code Tenderloin in 2015
Mark G DeVito (3/28) 3 p.m.– Mark has owned a portfolio of bars in SF for a decade and is well-networked in the field
David Plouffe (3/28) 5 p.m. – David Plouffe is an American political strategist best known as the campaign manager for Barack Obama’s successful 2008 presidential campaign
Lateefah Simon (3/28) 7 p.m. – Lateefah Simon was elected to serve District 7 on the BART Board of Directors on November 8, 2016
Larry Baer (3/29) 1 p.m. – Laurence M. Baer is the Chief Executive Officer of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball
David Perry (3/29) 3 p.m. – David Perry is a crisis communications consultant and a member of SF Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Andrea Dew Steele (3/29) 5 p.m. – Andrea Dew Steele is the Founder of Emerge America and the Co-Founder of our first affiliate, Emerge California
Abbie Dillen (3/30) 1 p.m. – Abigail Dillen is the President of Earthjustice, leading the organization’s staff, board and supporters to advance our mission of using the courts to protect our environment and people’s health
Stacy Mason (3/30) 3 p.m. – Stacy is a co-founder of Electing Women San Francisco, a giving circle that is part of a new national network
Jane Kim (3/30) 5 p.m. – Once SF’s most prominent supervisors, now Jane Kim heads the Bay Area campaign operations for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders
Betty Yee (3/30) 7 p.m. – State Controller Betty T. Yee was elected in November 2014, following two terms of service on the California Board of Equalization
Heather Knight (3/31) 1 p.m. – San Francisco Chronicle columnist; host of SF City Insider podcast; co-founder of #TotalSF and #49MileMakeover; cable car bell ringing judge; public transit fan
Morgan Bailey (3/31) 3 p.m. – Morgan Bailey’s curiosity led me to pursue a PhD in Engineering, a Masters in Public Health, and a certificate in Co-Active Coaching
Sam Moss (3/31) 5 p.m. – Sam Moss oversees the administration of all Mission Housing assets, programs and services
Kevin Roose (3/31) 7 p.m. – Kevin Roose is a columnist for Business Day and a writer-at-large for The New York Times Magazine
Catherine Bracy (4/01) 1 p.m. – Co-Founder and Executive Director of the TechEquity Collaborative. Bracy also founded Code for All, the global network of Code-for organizations with partners on six continents.
Seth Moulton (4/01) 3 p.m. – Seth Wilbur Moulton is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’s 6th congressional district
Jeff Bleich (4/01) 5 p.m. – Ambassador Jeffrey Laurence Bleichis an American lawyer and diplomat from California, currently the chair of Pacific Gas and Electric Company and of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.
Scott Wiener (4/01) 7 p.m. – Scott Wiener is an American politician and a member of the California State Senate. He represents San Francisco and parts of San Mateo County.
Regulating through Crisis (4/02) 1 p.m. – Comedian and playwright Luna Malbroux and Trauma Expert Sarah Buffie explore ways to help ground ourselves and our friends during tough times
Rebecca Lozano (4/02) 3 p.m. – Rebecca is an ER Doctor at UCSF who recently contracted Coronavirus.
Sarah Hurwitz (4/02) 5 p.m. – Sarah Hurwitz was senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama and head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama. She is recent author of the book Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life — in Judaism (After Finally Choosing to Look There).
Rebecca Rolfe (4/02) 7 p.m. – Rebecca Rolfe is a community activist who has worked on issues of social justice for over twenty-eight years
Emmett Shear (4/03) 1 p.m. – Emmett Shear is an American internet entrepreneur and investor. He is the co-founder of live video platforms Justin.tv and TwitchTV with and is the Chief executive officer of Twitch.
Deborah Cullinan (4/03) 3 p.m. – Deborah Cullinan is the Chief Executive Officer for Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Michael Pollan (4/03) 5 p.m. – Michael Aaron Pollan is an American author, journalist, activist, and the Lewis K. Chan Arts Lecturer and Professor of Practice of Non-Fiction at Harvard University. Pollan is also professor of journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Debra Walker (4/03) 7 p.m. – Artist and housing policy advisor Debra Walker serves on the San Francisco Arts Commission, appointed by Mayor London Breed
Terry Beswick (4/6) 1 p.m. – Executive Director at GLBT Historical Society
Jose Espinosa (4/06) 3 p.m. Jose Espinosa is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama and an actor in New York City.
Rob Avruch (4/07) 5 p.m. – Advocacy Associate, Housing Affordability at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Robert Graham (4/08) 1 p.m. – Software Engineer at Apple / Campus Pastor @ VIVE Church
Dr. Judy Kuriansky (4/08) 5 p.m. – Dr. Judy Kuriansky is a world renowned radio advice host, clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist, popular lecturer, newspaper columnist, and author of many books
Evan Gelfand (4/08) 7 p.m. – GTM Chief of Staff & Program Manager @ Youtube
Catherine Stefani (4/09) 1 p.m. – Catherine Michele Stefani is an American politician from San Francisco. A member of the Democratic Party, Stefani has served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors since 2018, representing District 2.
Tom Steyer (4/09) 5 p.m. – Tom Steyer is a former United States presidential candidate and philanthropist.
Rick Welts (4/14) 5 p.m. – Rick Welts is the President and CEO of the Golden State Warriors. He is the first openly gay NBA Sports Executive and is a member of the NBA Hall of Fame.
Jeffrey Tumlin (4/15) 7 p.m. – Jeffrey Tumlin is the former director of strategy at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, a San Francisco-based transportation planning and engineering firm that focuses on sustainable mobility
Ted Egan (4/17) 1 p.m. – Ted Egan is San Francisco’s Chief Economist
Madeleine Albright (4/22) 1 p.m. – In 1997, Dr. Albright was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government.
Ben Rosenfield (4/22) 7 p.m. – Ben Rosenfield serves as the City Controller. Mr. Rosenfield was initially appointed to a 10-year term as Controller by Mayor Gavin Newsom in Spring 2008 and re-appointed to a second term by Mayor Mark Farrell in Spring 2018
Lex Sloan (4/24) 3 p.m. – Manager of the movie theart The Roxie, Alexis ‘Lex’ Sloan is an American, Jewish, middle-class feminist filmmaker
Tal Klement (4/27) 7 p.m. – Tal Klement is a Deputy Public Defender in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office
Media contact: David Perry / David Perry & Associates, Inc. (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
Palm Springs Premiere of Le Dîner en Blanc Rescheduled for Saturday, October 3.Internationally Renowned “Elegant Pop Up Picnic” originally slated for May 16
20 March 2020 – Palm Springs, CA: The Palm Springs Premiere of Le Dîner en Blanc, the popular Parisian-style pop-up picnic characterized by its famous all-white dress code, has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 3. Originally slated to take place May 16, the event has been pushed back in light of the current coronavirus pandemic. “We are all in this together,” said local Le Dîner en Blanc hosts Glenn Alexander and Geoffrey Macon “The most important thing is the health and safety of our attendees. October is gorgeous weather in Palm Springs, and we look forward to an amazing celebration of resiliency and joie de vivre on October 3.”
For a chance to be part of this unique night, people can sign up on the waiting list at: register.dinerenblanc.com/palmsprings/en/register More than 130,000 foodies and cultural enthusiasts around the world have already embraced this unique event. This très chic picnic is equal parts mystery tour, pop-up feast and je ne sais quoi. Over the years, Le Dîner en Blanc has become a worldwide epicurean phenomenon. What was a “friends and word-of-mouth only” event has grown into an international sensation celebrated on six continents. Launched in Paris in 1988 by François Pasquier and a handful of friends, Le Dîner en Blanc de Paris is a fantastic event where guests gather at an outdoor secret location for the sole purpose of sharing a gourmet meal with good friends in one of their city’s most beautiful locations. About Dîner en Blanc International: Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Dîner en Blanc International is responsible for developing this secret posh picnic in over 80 cities in 30 countries around the world. Each event is headed by passionate local organizers who fell in love with the concept and wanted to bring it to their city, giving this rendezvous a local flair. For more info, photos and videos of Dîner en Blanc events from around the world, visit dinerenblanc.com.
11 March 2020 – Milan, Italy: The International Lesbian & Gay Travel Association (IGLTA) Annual Global Convention, previously scheduled to take place in Italy in May, has been rescheduled to the fall of this year.
“It will be even better than before, and a celebration of Italian resiliency,” says Alessio Virgili, ILGTA committee chair and president of the Italian Gay & lesbian Tourism Association (AITGL). “I especially want to thank the Italian Tourist Board and Municipality of Milan for their support in these challenging times. There are no travel leaders more resilient, fearless and confident than those who belong to the ILGTA. Since COVID-19 and current government travel restrictions make short-term planning untenable, we have decided to postpone until autumn. The health and safety of everyone involved is our paramount concern right now, and always.”
According to Virgili, as soon as possible, new dates will be announced, based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization and in harmony with Italian Government regulatory measures.
“Since the beginning of the outbreak, we have been working day and night,” said Virgili who has been planning the conclave for two years in concert with the Italian Tourist Board (ENIT), The City of Milan, the United States Consulate, the Sonders & Beach Group and the Italian Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (AITGL).
“I am convinced that this will be a beautiful event,” Virgili added. “September and October are wonderful months in Italy. Moreover, we will keep the program as originally planned, fully committed to growing LGBT business and travel opportunities.”
Since 1983, the annual International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) convention has been a prestigious international event for the world’s major tourism brands that interact with the LGTBQ+ market. The presence of professionals from all over the world is a moment of great visibility and pride for the host country. Having not been in Europe for six years, the highly anticipated event returns to Italy this year. Representatives of hotel chains, buyers, travel agents, tour operators, influencers and media will meet in Italy with over 720 specialized international stakeholders, representing over 400 million Euros in business every year.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), there are over 35 million LGBTQ+ tourists who travel every year. According to UNWTO studies, LGBTQ+ tourists travel more frequently and spend more than non-gay travellers. It has been calculated that the LGBTQ+ market segment generates $ 211 billion a year for the global economy.
In addition to showcasing LGBTQ+ tourist offerings in Italy, the Convention represents an extraordinary opportunity for the promotion of Milan, and by extension northern and all of Italy.
“Educational panels, training sessions, networking opportunities and professional experiences will be featured as Italy shows a renewed face to the world,” says Virgili. “I am confident that the IGLTA will have largest convention ever held outside the United States. We look forward to seeing you in Italy this fall. Ciao!”
Media Contact: David Perry & Associates, Inc/David Perry (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com
SF Hotel Council 17th Annual Hotel Hero Awards “Celebrate the Arts” Thursday, March 19 (6pm-8:30pm) Hilton San Francisco Union Square
“Hotel Industry Celebrates its Heroes!”
6 March 2020 — San Francisco, CA: Every day, thousands of artful professionals put a face on San Francisco’s number one industry: hospitality. They welcome San Francisco’s visitors with a smile and do all that is needed to make guests feel at ease – from preparing delicious breakfasts, to arranging your daily itineraries and ensuring that you have a pristine space to return to at the end of your day. They are the hotel employees of the “City that knows how.” On Thursday, March 19, the Hotel Council of San Francisco (www.hotelcouncil.org) gives special recognition to these frontline ambassadors at the 17th Annual Hotel Heroes Awards. With a special welcome offered by Mayor London N. Breed, this year’s gala— “Celebrate the Arts” — will run 6pm to 8:30pm at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square (333 O’Farrell Street).
“The Hotel Council is the voice of San Francisco’s hotel industry and our members are our hearts and hands,” said Kevin Carroll, Hotel Council President and CEO. “Creating joyful memories for our visitors is an art, and each of our honorees and all our members are hospitality artists.”
Established in 2003, the Hotel Hero awards were created to pay tribute to the people who dedicate their lives to the hospitality industry. As the largest industry in San Francisco, hotels and tourism directly impact the success of many businesses throughout San Francisco, supporting over 105,000 jobs.
“No matter how early the morning or challenging the job, our hospitality professionals are our ambassadors to the world,” said San Francisco Mayor London N. Breed. “They are out every day promoting our city, supporting our economy, and ensuring that San Francisco continues to be a world-class tourist destination.”
Calling the Hotel Council’s membership “the driver of San Francisco’s economic engine”, Carroll stressed the longtime partnership between the arts and hospitality in the City. San Francisco’s Hotel Tax Fund whereby a portion of the transient occupancy tax (TOT) helps fund San Francisco’s vibrant arts community.
“San Francisco’s Grants for the Arts is a national leader in how businesses can support the arts and vice versa,” said Carroll. “With a world class ballet, opera and symphony, internationally-known museums, theatres, galleries and writers, San Francisco understands that not only do the arts feed our soul, they feed our economy.”
Presenting sponsor for this year’s event is Clearway Energy. Award sponsors are the Bay Club, Big Bus, Recology, Swinnerton Builders, San Francisco Travel and Tito’s Vodka. The reception sponsor is Cintas. The program sponsor is Pure Luxury Transportation. The evening’s entertainment is sponsored by the Golden State Warriors.
Prices for the 17th Annual Hotel Heroes Gala are: Table of 10: $2,000. Individual Member Ticket, $275; Individual Non-Member Ticket, $325: available at www.hotelcouncilsf.org
About the Hotel Council of San Francisco: The Hotel Council of San Francisco is a non-profit membership-based organization advocating for the economic and social vitality of the hospitality industry in San Francisco. Their membership roster includes over 200 hotels, allied members, and partner organizations. The Hotel Council is dedicated to protecting the San Francisco hospitality industry and connecting its members to support the growth and success of the industry.
