2008 SILVER SPUR HONOREES

Oz Erickson is a leader in the Bay Area housing and development industry. A principal with the San Francisco development firm Emerald Fund , responsible for the construction of nearly 2000 housing units, plus two shopping centers and four office buildings, Oz has volunteered often in the non-profit and public sectors, most recently with Friends of City Planning and Berkeley Repertory Theater. He was also the founding chair of the SPUR Housing Production Task Force which led to the reinstitution of neighborhood planning in San Francisco. Oz cites his nine years on the SPUR Board of Directors (four as Chairman), and working with other SPUR volunteers to raise over $12 million for the SPUR Urban Center, as his proudest accomplishment in civic service. 

Sandra R. Hernández brings leadership to both the public health field and the philanthropic sector of the Bay Area and the nation, as exemplified in her current role as CEO of The San Francisco Foundation. In her previous position as the Director of Public Health for the City and County of San Francisco, she won accolades for her effectiveness as a public sector leader. She serves on the boards of the Council on Foundations, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing. She has also served on President Clinton's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Healthcare Industry, the Pew Commission on Environmental Health, and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. Dr. Hernández also maintains a clinical practice at San Francisco General Hospital in the AIDS clinic.

Paul Sedway, one of the foremost American planners and Lynn Sedway, one of the nation’s leading economists, have each worked to help define contemporary American urbanism. An inaugural Fellow in the American Institute of Certified Planners, Paul has consulted around the nation, helping plan the cities, counties and regions of the 21st Century.

Lynn Sedway has tackled many of our area’s toughest projects, from the Presidio to the Westfield San Francisco Centre. As individuals they have both been elected member of the year by the Lambda Alpha Land Economics Society; taught at UC Berkeley; and authored ground-breaking books, articles and reports. They are both active in SPUR, now serving on the Advisory Council. 

Reverend Norman Fong is a third generation San Franciscan who has committed his life to grassroots neighborhood involvement in “doing justice” and improving the quality of life for San Franciscans, especially Chinatown residents. Rev. Fong, Deputy Director for the Chinatown Community Development Center, serves on numerous boards and coalitions such as the Chinatown Alleyway Improvement Association, the Chinatown Coalition for Better Housing, and the Justice, Advocacy and Caring Committee of the San Francisco Presbytery. He established the Adopt-An-Alleyway Youth Project where youth all over the city monitor and advocate for improvements of Chinatown’s 40 alleyways.