EDUCATORS, ENVIRONMENTALISTS, TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES, PARK REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS JOIN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AS IT PLANS FOR THE FUTURE SAN FRANCISCO

SAN FRANCISCO (April 24, 2001)--California Academy of Sciences Executive Director Dr. Patrick Kociolek recently invited nearly 20 community representatives to serve on the Academy's Community Advisory Group (CAG). The newly formed CAG is charged with assisting the institution as the Academy moves forward with a multi-year, comprehensive renovation and rebuilding project in Golden Gate Park.

The Academy of Sciences CAG is comprised of individuals whose personal and professional experiences make them uniquely qualified to guide and counsel the Academy as the institution engages the public in planning for the future. Grassroots in nature, the Academy CAG is designed to help the park institution communicate effectively with San Francisco's diverse communities that are served by the Academy of Sciences. "Our hopes with the Community Advisory Group are twofold: we want to be aware of the impacts of our project, both short-term and long-term, as they pertain to all communities throughout San Francisco, whether residents live in the Bay View or in the Haight. And we want to share with all of San Francisco the exciting plans for the Academy in Golden Gate Park and invite them to join us in this planning as we shape one of San Francisco's oldest civic institutions for the next century," says Dr. Patrick Kociolek. "The rebuilding of the California Academy of Sciences will be the result of a public/private partnership. We are committed to making this the most synergistic relationship as is possible."

The CAG is made up of representatives from a wide range of expertise and experience. The following is a list of the Academy's Community Advisors to date. They do not represent the groups with which they are affiliated: these are listed for identification purposes only.

Dennis Antenore Neighborhood advocate; former Planning Commissioner
Margaret Brodkin Executive Director, Coleman Advocates for Kids
Doug Chan Chairman and President, Chinese American Voters Education Committee, Inc.
Jim Chappell Executive Director, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR)
Pat Christensen Member, Inner Sunset Merchants Association
Jennifer Clary Environmental advocate; Board Member, San Francisco Tomorrow
Liz Dunlap Disabled Community advocate
Becky Evans Sierra Club activist
Ruth Gravanis Environmental advocate
John Holtzclaw Board Member, League of Conservation Voters
Maggie Lynch Community and Public Relations Director, MUNI
Ron Miguel President, Planning Association for the Richmond (P.A.R.)
Ave Montague Ave Montague & Associates, Public Relations; Founder, San Francisco Black Film Festival
Toye Moses Director, Southeast Community College
Tom Radulovich BART Board Director; transportation advocate
Isabel Wade Executive Director, Neighborhood Parks Council
Alex Wong Chair, San Francisco Democratic Party
Jill Wynns President, San Francisco Board of Education