The SFPUC’s Southeast Community Facility Commission will appoint Emily Rogers-Pharr to serve as the Executive Director of the Southeast Community Facility (SECF) during a regularly scheduled Commission meeting on February 27.
“Our Southeast Community Facility has a long, rich history of supporting the education and workforce needs of local residents,” said SFPUC General Manager Harlan L. Kelly, Jr. “As we embark on building a new center, we are so pleased to welcome Director Rogers-Pharr to our team. Her proven leadership ability, Bayview roots and strategic vision make her the perfect person to take the helm as we create a new, world-class facility for our Southeast community.”
Located at 1800 Oakdale Ave., the existing SECF was constructed to offset the environmental and social impacts of an expansion to the Southeast Treatment Plant – San Francisco’s largest wastewater treatment facility. The SFPUC operates and maintains the SECF for the benefit of the Bayview community. After an extensive engagement process, the community expressed a preference to build a new center at 1550 Evans Avenue, owned by the SFPUC. The new center will include a large, state-of-the-art special events space and multi-purpose space for meetings, events and recreation, such as dance classes and day care services. The center will also provide a range of social services supporting workforce development and education for Southeast residents of all ages.
As the new Executive Director for the Southeast Community Facility, Director Rogers-Pharr will be responsible for the day-to-day operations at the center, including programs, staff, facilities, budget, community engagement and SECF Commission support. She will also lead the planning, development and operations of the new community center at 1550 Evans Avenue. She joins the SFPUC from the City of East Palo Alto where she served as the Community Programs Manager. In this role, she managed a variety of initiatives, spanning topics that included community grant programs, community engagement, and park and recreational programs for children, families and seniors.
As the daughter of the late Bayview community activist, Adam Rogers, Director Rogers-Pharr has personal and longstanding ties to the community. Director Rogers-Pharr served as a Legislative Aide to former District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, and oversaw a foster care taskforce convening, coordinated legislation to strengthen the Citywide Surety Bonding Program, and organized legislative efforts to ban the free distribution of tobacco in San Francisco. She also worked for the Bayview Hunters Point Project Area Committee (PAC), providing administrative, policy research and analysis support to the 21-member community advisory body. Over the years, she has served on several boards and advisory bodies, including the Musically Minded Academy and the City of Oakland’s Youth Commission as an adult advisor.
“The Southeast Community Facility is an important piece of history in San Francisco,” said Director Rogers-Pharr. “It is an honor to be a part of that legacy by creating a community center and supporting programs and fostering community partnerships that ensure Bayview is a better place to live, work, learn and play.”
“Our SECF Commission worked alongside the SFPUC to conduct a comprehensive Executive Director search process and we are fortunate to have found such a dedicated community advocate and experienced leader in Emily,” said Steve Good, Chairperson, SECF Commission. “We are excited to have her join us at such an exciting and pivotal time for our community.”
Director Rogers-Pharr will be appointed at the February 27 SEFC Commission meeting, which is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. in the Alex Pitcher Room of the community center at 1800 Oakdale Avenue. The public is invited to attend this meeting in addition to a community mixer at the same location at 4 p.m., where they can meet Director Rogers-Pharr.
SFPUC 