CMCBD News

Meet Tajiri Winesberry, Community Guide Program Manager

09/12/2008 12:00am

In a city made up of distinct neighborhoods, each with their own unique flavor and personality, Tajiri Winesberry is creatively working to enhance the safety and cleanliness of the public space for two seemingly different districts: Central Market and Union Square.

As Program Manager for both the Central Market Community Benefit District (CMCBD) and the Union Square Business Improvement District (BID), Winesberry understands the unique challenges each neighborhood presents and the similarities shared between the bordering communities.

His employer, MJM Management Group, provides programs and services designed to activate and reinvigorate the public realm and enhance the cleanliness and safety of public spaces in areas around the city.

In Central Market, the CMCBD and MJM Management Group developed and manage the Community Guides Program, a hybrid approach to creating clean, safe, and inviting public right-of-way in an urban, mixed-use and diverse neighborhood. MJM Management Group also operates the Ambassador Program and cleaning and maintenance services for the Union Square BID.


Helping to oversee the city center

For Winesberry, making the transition from managing one neighborhood to supervising services for the other is as easy as crossing Fifth Street.

“When working collaboratively with City agencies – such as the San Francisco Police Department and the Department of Public Works – and social service groups, it benefits both neighborhoods at the same time,” Winesberry says. “If issues arise that affect both areas, we are alerted almost simultaneously, thereby serving as the eyes and ears for both neighborhoods,” he says.

But Winesberry is also quick to point out the distinct differences between the Central Market district and other areas of downtown that he helps to oversee.

“One major difference is that the CMCBD focuses more heavily on social service outreach, and this is reflected in how the Community Guides are trained and work in partnership with the City’s Homeless Outreach Team and other social service groups in helping to connect individuals on the street to much-needed assistance,” Winesberry says. “Union Square is a shopping destination and tourist hub, so the Union Square BID Ambassadors provide more wayfinding and directions to visitors,” he says.

Winesberry adds that while the programs may be designed differently, the goals are the same. “Both organizations are working everyday to create a clean, safe and welcoming environment,” Winesberry says.

Prior to the launch of the CMCBD and its core services, Winesberry was already working to improve the Sixth Street corridor. Through a contract with the City’s Redevelopment Agency, MJM Management Group has been helping to improve Sixth Street from Market to Folsom Streets since 2005.

“Since joining MJM Management Group three years ago, I have supervised street sweepers, steam cleaners, graffiti abatement crew, landscape and gardening workers as part of our effort to beautify Sixth Street. I have also been very involved with the Sixth Street community and participate on the planning committee for the Positively Sixth Street Fair,” he says.


Central Market Community Guides

Now in its eighth month of operation, the Community Guides Program launched following several months of extensive community outreach, careful planning and program development, strengthening partnerships with social service providers and the San Francisco Police Department, and finally finding the right people for the Community Guides and Dispatcher positions.

“We conducted an extensive search to find the right individuals to serve as Community Guides,” Winesberry says. “We looked for individuals with strong interpersonal skills who had a background, qualifications and skills in social services, customer service and safety,” he says.

Winesberry credits much of the success of the Community Guides service to the program staff. “What is helping to drive the program’s success is, first and foremost, having the right people in the right positions who are properly trained and equipped. MJM Management Group’s thorough search for qualified individuals contributes significantly to the success of the service,” he says.

“The Central Market Dispatch and Call Center Service is another major factor. The community itself is incredibly supportive when they participate in the CMCBD’s effort and call the Dispatch and Call Center to report public safety concerns, cleaning and maintenance issues and social service needs in the neighborhood,” Winesberry says.

Winesberry also credits the continued accomplishments of the Community Guides Program to the community partners such as the City’s Homeless Outreach Team, the San Francisco Police Department’s Southern Station, and Mobile Assistance Patrol.

“There are so many partners who have been so cooperative and involved in helping to develop, design, implement and monitor the program, and I know the Central Market community greatly appreciates their ongoing support,” Winesberry says.


Life after business hours

A Bay Area native, Winesberry now lives in South San Francisco with his wife Christine and their five children.

“I’ve been happily married to my lovely wife, going on 12 years. We have three daughters ages ten, nine, and five, and two sons ages three and one.

When not walking the Central Market and Union Square districts, Winesberry enjoys spending time with family and friends. Winesberry is also very active in his church. “I actually play the keyboard for my church, and my wife Christine plays the drums. Quite naturally, we love to make music together,” he says.

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The Central Market Community Guide Program operates between the hours of 9am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Call the Central Market Dispatch and Call Center at 415.543.5223 for non-emergency safety, social service outreach, and cleaning and maintenance issues in the public realm of Central Market. Visit here to learn more.