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  Milton Marks currently holds elective office as a Member of the Board of Trustees for San Francisco City College. He was born in San Francisco in 1959 to parents with long family histories in the state—dating back to the California Gold Rush. He grew up in San Francisco's Richmond district with his sister Caro, his brother David, and his parents Milton Marks, Jr. and Carolene. From an early age, his parents instilled in him the importance of public service. In fact, his family’s commitment to serving the people of San Francisco goes back three generations. He is the third “Milton Marks” to hold elective office in our city. His father, Milton Marks Jr., had a long and distinguished career as an Assemblyman, Judge, and, finally, State Senator, while Milton’s grandfather served in the State Assembly representing San Francisco and later on the Board of Supervisors. Working to Build Community Milton’s life has been enriched by his experiences living in other parts of the United States. He attended Bowdoin College in Maine where he received his bachelor’s degree in history, and the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his master’s degree in historic preservation. He spent his junior year during college at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Upon completing his education, Milton began a career in the nonprofit sector, dedicating himself to promoting healthy, vibrant, and culturally rich communities. He worked at Shared Housing Resource Center where he consulted on various housing projects that reused historic rectories. He also administered various programs for the Preservation Coalition (later, the Preservation Alliance), an organization that advocated for more community-based historic site planning. In 1997, Milton was selected as Executive Director of San Francisco’s Friends of the Urban Forest (“FUF”), an environmental organization whose aim is to expand the green canopy in San Francisco. FUF’s accomplishments flourished in the successive years and include the planting of more than 12,000 street trees in San Francisco and providing care to thousands more. Under Milton’s leadership, FUF expanded programs for economically-disadvantaged youth, enabling these youth to gain employment skills in tree care. He spearheaded the creation of the City’s Urban Forestry Council, bringing together city agencies, nonprofit, and concerned citizens to develop better management practices for a healthier urban forest. Currently, Milton serves as the Managing Director for Public Architecture, a San Francisco-based, national nonprofit organization whose goal is to bring the resources of architecture to communities who often lack a connection to design services. Public Architecture has developed design campaigns focusing on affordable housing, green building, and immigrant rights and facilitates pro bono architectural services. Milton’s Career in Public Service Milton’s political career began in 2000 when he won his first election to serve on the Board of Trustees of City College of San Francisco. He was re-elected in 2004 garnering the highest number of votes of any candidate in the history of the College Board. Milton’s tenure on the College Board has been marked by a commitment to open government and to protecting the interests of everyday San Franciscans. He is a strong proponent of community partnerships playing a greater role in decisions related to health services, neighborhood planning, and environmental stewardship. Milton has improved the College District’s commitment to accountability, evaluation, and public accessibility to District operations. He served as Vice President of the Board in 2004, and has chaired the Education Committee of the Board since 2001. In addition, Milton was selected by his colleagues to be the Board’s liaison to the 2006 Self-Study that led to the renewal of the College’s accreditation. His accomplishments include being the primary author of a Board resolution to update the District’s environmental policies and create a sustainability plan. Milton and his wife, Abigail, a clinical psychologist, live in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco with their three young sons: Nathan, Will, and Theo (and their four pets: Lucy, Roosevelt, Charlotte, and an unnamed goldfish). |
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