Neighbor Eden Stein (right) wearing a stylish 94110 ensemble while receiving her commendation from D9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen.

Last week, Bernal Neighbor Eden Stein was recognized at the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as a “Trailblazing Woman in Business and Labor.” Woo-hoo!

As you probably know, Neighbor Eden is the energetic, entrepreneurial, and supremely elegant proprietor of the fabulous Secession Art & Design store at 3235 Mission, near Valencia. On the side, she’s also leads the Mission Bernal Merchants Association, which represents many of the restaurants, bars, and stores along Bernal/La Lengua’s delightfully underrated stretch of Mission Street, and in that capacity she helped organize a support network for the families and businesses displaced by the Cole Hardware Fire last year.

In a post on the Secession website, Neighbor Eden writes:

My strength comes from the women in my family. My grandmother owned a retail store in South Philadelphia for forty years. My mom has been a full time artist since the day I was born. I have always been an entrepreneur, working as a poet, activist, jewelry maker, early childhood teacher, and now a gallery owner.

I moved to San Francisco in my early twenties to a room on Mission Street with a view of El Rio and Roccapulco. For twenty years, Mission Street has always called me home. Secession opened in 2007 and is dedicated to our 60+ artists.

On Tuesday, I was honored to accept a Certificate of Honor from the Board of Supervisors for Women’s History Month, along with several other civic awards. District 9 Supervisor Hilary Ronen nominated me for being a community leader, for the work I passionately do in Mission Bernal. This was a moment I will never forget, and it will continue to be with me as I keep pushing to make our stretch of Mission vibrant, accessible, and thriving.

Here’s the commendation:

Hurrah! This recognition for all of Neighbor Eden’s hard work is so well-earned. Bernalwood sends our congratulations, along with thanks for everything Neighbor Eden does to make our stretch of Mission Street vastly more fabulous.