By Stephanie Wang
Each Assembly District annually names an outstanding community member as the Woman of the Year. The honorees attend a celebration of their achievements at the Capitol in Sacramento during Women’s History Month.
In 2015, Assemblymember Jose Medina recognized Rose Mayes’s contributions to the Inland Empire area by honoring her as the Woman of the Year for the 61st District, which represents Riverside County.
Rose Mayes
When Rose Mayes moved to Riverside 30 years ago, she began volunteering for the Fair Housing Council where she realized her passion for promoting equal housing opportunities. Since 1993, she has served as the executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside, continuing to inspire the community with her advocacy for fairness. The council has expanded their services under her leadership. Mayes has also been recognized by her community with the Spirit of the City award, the Bank of America Neighborhood Builder’s award, and the YWCA Woman of Achievement award.
Rose Mayes (second from the left) at the 2014 Housing Conference with Assemblymember Jose Medina (left), Springboard Senior Vice President Melinda Opperman (second from the right), and Springboard Education Manager and Senior Communications Specialist Sheri Stuart (right).