Commission Vice President Receives Award (Civil Service Adviser 2)

To establish, ensure and maintain an equitable and credible merit system for public service for the citizens of San Francisco.  As such, the Commission vision is that the San Francisco Civil Service Commission sets the new national standard for excellence in personnel management through an effective, fair and modern system that recognizes and builds on the diversity, skills and dedication of public employees, and consistently provides the best-qualified candidates for public service in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Commission Vice President receives award

Commissioner Karen V. Clopton - A "woman who makes a difference.”

Civil Service Commission Vice President Karen V. Clopton recently received the Women Who Make a Difference award from the Commission on the Status of Women.  The Women Who Make a Difference award honors distinguished women from the private and public sector and businesses throughout San Francisco who make a positive difference in women’s lives in the areas of employment and economic advancement.

Commissioner Clopton was honored for her commitment and leadership in the advancement of women.  She is an accomplished labor and employment lawyer with Leland, Parachini, Steinberg, Matzger & Melnick, LLP. Her work with management staff clientele emphasizes sexual harassment prevention policies and family-friendly benefit policies.

In accepting her award, Commissioner Clopton remembered her mother, godmother and grandmother who instilled self-confidence with an equal measure of humility in her and reminded her to share whatever she had with others.

In their words, “Lift as you climb”, Let your little light shine” inspired her to create a mentoring program, “Sister to Sister” which continues to benefit African American girls attending middle schools in Visitation Valley and Bayview Hunters Point.

Commissioner Clopton is the first African American woman commissioner in the 100-year history of the Civil Service Commission.  In her five year tenure on the Commission, she served an unprecedented two consecutive terms as Commission President in 1994-95 and 1995-96.  She chaired two executive director search committees that resulted in the hiring of two women to lead both the Civil Service Commission (Executive Officer Kate Favetti) and the Department of Human Resources (Human Resources Director Andrea Gourdine).

Commissioner Clopton credited the inspiration of her family, friends and colleagues who continue to nourish and energize her in her ongoing fight for social justice and equality.