Is it true that Margaret Brodkin is leaving San Francisco's Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF)? I’d sooner believe France sold the Eiffel Tower to Dubai.

I first met Margaret at a national conference in Washington in 1993: She spoke on her Advocacy Work; I spoke on Youth Work in New York City, where I was serving as Commissioner of Youth Services. Over the last 15 years, I have observed her take the leadership to replicate and build on New York City’s youth work, specifically with Beacon Schools and the Youthline. Significantly, the coming National Beacon conference is taking place in San Francisco because San Francisco’s Beacon Schools are considered the country’s strongest. Likewise, as Youthline America begins to build a national Youthline, our business plan requires the San Francisco Youthline as an anchor.

When Margaret first spoke to me about working on the “inside” for Mayor Gavin Newsom, I was enthusiastic, knowing her skills for organizing were rooted in solid administrative practices.

The first four years have confirmed Mayor Newsom’s bold choice. Together, the Mayor, Margaret and her colleagues have provided the country a vision and many concrete examples of how a 21st Century city needs to reimagine itself for all its citizens.

So why is there talk of Margaret leaving DCYF? In speaking with Margaret, she is uncharacteristically quiet; only saying she’s not leaving government.

Here’s my take: Mayor Newsom and Margaret could be planning for life after the their city jobs expire. Perhaps they are thinking how to leverage the current work and their national connections into new jobs for themselves in Sacramento or DC???

Here’s my recommendation: Margaret, stay where you are. Mayor Newsom, become a national voice for San Francisco’s innovative children, youth and family work from which all of America can learn and be inspired.

To paraphrase Thoreau, “If you(both) stand in one place(doing great work), eventually the whole world comes round.

Richard Murphy currently serves as Executive Director of Youthline America. Prior to serving as New York City’s Youth Commissioner from 1990-94, he founded Rheedlen Foundation, now known as Harlem Children’s Zone.