address some of these services. if you do some research, they are not effective for native people or effective for people that come from cultural backgrounds. we have to go back and turn to the community. we have to go back to always. we have been here for thousands of years. our communities and others carry knowledge that is effective in serving the people that come to the native american health. i just want to say that having worked with aurora, the applause and the amount of acknowledgement she is getting. it is not just because all of her friends and family are here. the speaker previously just talked about dealing with the key issues in developing healthy well this and good spiritual relations. aurora is the epitome of someone that is very humble and who understands the spiritual need. let me just give you some water. let me find a place for you to sit down. let's acknowledge that you are here. that is the key components that shields our people. where she really demonstrated this, the essence of this, when the native american health center was awarded -- native americans and alaskan natives living with hiv/aids, it seems complex enough. when we begin to work with people in, a lot of it has to do with substance abuse. they were basically left out in the cold by their families. it brings the whole lot of other things. it is aurora that stepped up in this project. she put that together. there is also the outcome six years later, up to 70% of the services that people came in with, they did not come for emergency services. it came because there was a spiritual group that aurora was running. to this day, a lot of the folks who participated from this program still are connected. they were brought back into the community and into the ceremonial community. it was not addressed in just a medical follow-up. it was really bringing people together. and finally, having allowed people to have relations. one of the things that she had to come around, she spoke very briefly earlier. sometimes, the community can make you who you are. on the other hand, it also takes a special individual to step forward and say, a understand the importance of traditional knowledge, traditional people, the principles that are very central to a lot of our spiritual ways. she carries the medicine of the people. she can carry on the traditional [unintelligible] a number of things she continues to bring to the community to teach our loved ones, to teach our to aldrin -- our children. on behalf of my sister, i want to say that on behalf of my community and, i want to thank you and i hope for you. a lot of happiness and joy, and i hope you walk with beauty all around you. we have the community members, a blanket for all of the appreciation. i think livingston is going to be doing that. thank you, aurora. [applause] >> the evening and thank you. i am very honored. i would like to say thank you to the san francisco mayor's office. and my acceptance speech -- i am loving this life, i am loving this dream called my life. life is not about finding yourself. it is about creating yourself. i would like to acknowledge and thank my husband for being my rock and my support. [applause] my sons, kevin, baby monty, my beautiful mother and sisters for the teaching of unconditional love. my ancestors that walk before me. my mentors. my sf bay area community, the yin and the yang. i am proud to be an american indian and will continue to be inspired by the way of life. don't sweat the small stuff, life is too short. angels fly high because they take things lightly. love generously, carried the flag -- care deeply. speak kindly. thank you. [applause] >> please join us in presenting. congratulations, aurora. [applause] >> barack, all i have to say is -- aurora, all i have to say is, omg. calling to the podium at this time, joan. good to see you, joan. >> i am the executive director of the native american aids project. it was founded by a group of gay american indians back in 1984 as the american indian aids institute. we have become the most comprehensive hiv/aids organization for native americans. besides providing care and prevention services for our community, we also strive to create a home for the most disenfranchised members of our community. those who are struggling with hiv, those who are struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. one of the things that we share with the honorees tonight is that we strive to create a sustainable and of the community. -- healthy community. i would like to present our fourth honorinee. marvin grew up in a rural community in arizona and has been living in san francisco for nine years. he is a member of the navajo nation and has dedicated his life to serving the usyouth of the community. by creating a true partnership with them and their families, he honors the building programs with community that highlights the role of leaders today and the potential to give back as global citizens of this ever increasingly connected world. marvin has influenced the development of progressive and youth-driven projects for generations to come. i like to invite those who would say a few words about marvin. [applause] >> hey. it is our honor to present this award to someone who is truly special to us. working. y -- working with youth is not an easy task. not only must we be there to support them in their studies, we are there to advocate for them and help them to become strong individuals. to allow kids to be kids and support their development in the coming world citizens is a balancing act. this man has taken on the challenge for many years. he has become part of the lives of these young individuals and does not only care and work for them, but for their families and for the community as well. we all truly care for him and are thankful for all that he does. it has been a pleasure to work for him. >> i just want to say that martin is such an exceptional person. even when he is -- more than -- marvin is such an exceptional person. even when he is just playing basketball, and getting into a tickle war, you can feel his intentions and how much he really just cares. he is there unconditionally. a lot of young people -- they don't really see them as native people. marvin never gives up and always rises to the occasion. being a youth worker, you do so much more than what your job description says. he goes above and beyond what he needs to. it is really amazing to work with someone that genuinely and deeply understands. i am trying to build a new youth program in san francisco, and i want to say that we all have so much love and respect for him. he understands that they are not just tomorrow's leaders but today's leaders. it is not just their own happiness, but it contributes to the native community. i am really glad to present this award for him. [applause] >> we also have a present for marvin on behalf of the kids. he is not only a super star, but a native super star. [cheers and applause] >> an echo. that's a nice echo. hello, my name is marvin paddock, and i would congratulate the recipients this evening. here at city hall, i was watching the world series on monday. voted right down here. now receiving this awesome acknowledgement. i first must thank the french house association for native americans -- the friendship house for native americans. [applause] and for the laughter that you guys give me. i would like to thank the youth and their families. thank you a lot. as the youth workeres, this is the hot -- workers, this is the highest compliment to say that your a local hero -- you are a local hero. the center for youth services does matter. it is a healthy identity for urban youth. this award makes me want to work that much harder to maintain the integrity of the program in a time of financial uncertainty. think you very much. -- thank you very much. [applause] [applause] >> all right. getting ready to wrap up. you guys haven't heard a joke in awhile, have you? any comanches out there? it's a comanche joke. this man, he had lost his sight so he was walking around with a white cane. he came up to this committee restaurant, and it serves only comanches. comanche owned and operated. he has a seat and says, i would like some biscuits and gravy. the waiter took his order. he yells out, anybody want to hear a comanche joke? it got real quiet. the waiter comes back over and says, before you tell the joke, i want to make sure that you know we know you're blind. there are five things you need to know before you tell the jokes. the comanche says, the cook is comanche. he has a baseball bat. second, that bouncer by the door is comanche. third, there is a six-foot five- inch, 275-pound comanche man over there with a black belt in karate. that man next to you is a professional wrestler, a comanche. the comanche on the other side of you, he's a professional weight lifter. after hearing these five things, my friend, but you still want to tell that comanche joke? the man pauses for a second, shakes his head, no. not if i will have to explain at five times. [laughter] all right. getting ready to close this up, i want to send out a special shout out to kqed, public broadcasting. the native american health center. native american aids project. the mayor's office right here in san francisco, neighborhood services. i would like to mention that the native american aids project, very close. the two spirits. my cousin, probably one of the first native americans to pass away with aids. from my family to you, thank you. thank you, thank you. [applause] an appropriate flag song, and a quitting song. please stand if you're able. these songs, long before the star spangled banner. this nation's national anthem. our native people. they sang these songs. it pays homage to the first of this land. our eagle staff. these flags, the national standard. our american flags. our eagle staff fought on the same battle fields. today, they stand side by side with each other. remember our veterans with these songs as well. [singing and chanting] given up one more time for the singers, dancers, veterans. leaders in our native american community as well. calling up joaquin to present the native american health center with a mayoral proclamation. >> we share a responsibility for vibrant communities, and we have an opportunity to share recognition. last year, the native american aids project honored november as native american heritage month, and we will receive the proclamation from mayor newsom. we are proud to be partners with kqed. let's thank them. thank you so much for your hard work. thank you to the native american aids project for bringing the spirit into the room. thank you for all of our dancers, singers, but veterans, we salute you. on behalf of mayor newsom, the city and county of san francisco, we proclaim november 2010 as american indian heritage month in san vances go. -- san francisco. thank you very much. [applause] >> we are asking the four honorees to come on up. photo-op. it's not really over yet. until i say so. we give thanks this day, the opportunity to gather and honor our own today. blessings upon all those as they travel home