Introducing the Inaugural 2024 Neighbor of the Year to celebrate the hidden heroes of Riverside doing incredible works of service throughout our different neighborhoods.
Introducing the Inaugural 2024 Neighbor of the Year to celebrate the hidden heroes of Riverside doing incredible works of service throughout our different neighborhoods.
In May of 2024, The Raincross Gazette introduced our Neighbor of the Week feature. Publishing news and events that inspire neighborliness in Riverside is our core mission, and we felt it was important to feature, as a matter of habit, Riversiders who embody that spirit. It has become one of our most popular features, and we have highlighted some really incredible people making big differences on a grassroots level.
Today, we are excited to introduce our inaugural Neighbor of the Year Award given to a Neighbor of the Week from the previous year whose neighborliness exemplifies what we love about our community and whose acts are durable enough to extend a year of honor each January.
While she was not one of last year’s Neighbors of the Week, we are honored to announce Ofelia Valdez-Yeager as the Inaugural Neighbor of the Year. This past Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of her passing, making this a serendipitous time to celebrate Ofelia’s neighborliness, which set the standard for future Neighbors of the Year.
Being a neighbor involves only proximity. It is a passive role. There is no fault in keeping to yourself. Neighborliness is an action. It requires collaboration, compromise, vision, and the knowledge, skill, and will to execute that vision. Mary Ann Stalder, Ofelia’s actual neighbor, tells of the work Ofelia did to ensure their street was well-cared for and maintained. “Ofelia Valdez-Yeager was my neighbor and friend for over 50 years. She was very proud of our neighborhood, a designated historic district. She was often the first to know new neighbors. She was very knowledgeable about the community and its many public and private resources and helped neighbors to navigate using them.”
Ofelia’s commitment to those in her community didn’t stop at the end of her block. Ofelia operated in many communities. From the PTA, the RUSD Board of Trustees, the Latino Network, and so many other organizations, Ofelia gave of her time and effort to ensure those communities were the best they could be.
“Ofie served on Altura Credit Union’s Board of Directors from 1994 to 2020, leaving an enduring legacy on our organization and the communities we serve.” Altura Credit Union’s CEO Jennifer Binkley-Heiting told us. “Ofie played a critical role in making The Cheech a beacon of hope and opportunity. Her vision and dedication ensured that Altura became an integral part of this vital community center, empowering families to learn, grow, and thrive.”
The effect of Ofelia’s Neighborliness can be seen throughout the city, and those who knew and worked with her will tell you that her spirit is still a part of so many projects and institutions. The most conspicuous artifact of her community effort is, of course, The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture. It is a monument in tribute to her life and work.
“Ofelia’s deep commitment and determination never wavered, even in the middle of a global pandemic,” Drew Oberjurge, Executive Director of Riverside Art Museum and The Cheech, shared last January at Ofelia’s memorial service, “It was about five years from the time Ofelia agreed to serve as campaign chair in May 2017 to when the doors of The Cheech opened in June 2022. No one opens a museum in 5 years! But despite all odds and with Ofelia’s leadership, we did!”
With great honor to have known her and to live in the city she served, we present the inaugural Neighbor of the Year Award to Ofelia Valdez -Yeager. She has set the standard, her neighborliness serves as the template for all future recipients, and her legacy inspires and challenges those of us dedicated to making Riverside the best that Riverside can be.
