One by one, the women looked out over an audience of resident leaders who, like themselves, have impacted and strengthened their communities. The women, recipients of NeighborWorks America’s 2024 Dorothy Richardson Award for Resident Leadership, have made their communities safer and more beautiful, have fought for health and equity, and have helped rebuild after a devastating wildfire.
Richardson is known for creating the model upon which NeighborWorks was based when she and her neighbors gathered bankers, government officials and other partners to fight neglect and disinvestment due to redlining in their Northside Pittsburgh neighborhood in the 1960s. NeighborWorks presented the awards named for the leader earlier this month during an inspirational ceremony in Baltimore. Throughout the evening, the honorees shared their hopes, their wisdom and their calls to action.
Erica Alexia Ledesma, nominated by Casa of Oregon, took time to honor the grief and pain that brought her and childhood friend Niria Alica Garcia to found Coalición Fortaleza and work toward recovery in Oregon’s Rogue Valley after the Almeda wildfire. “In a moment of despair, the question emerged: What if we bought our neighborhoods back?” She talked about their hallmark project, the formation of Talent Mobile Estates, the region’s first resident-owned mobile home community. The victory represents “a significant step in restoring our dignity and reclaiming our sense of home,” she said. “Now we can say that we are paving the way for a just recovery in our hometown and rebuilding our community’s homeownership, restoring the sense of community, and rebuilding wealth that will have an impact for future generations. Let us continue to harness the strength of our hearts, the power of our dreams and the feeling and togetherness that this world needs.”
Niria Alicia Garcia, nominated by Casa of Oregon, began by thanking her ancestors, the ancestors of the people in the room, the water spirit, the wind spirit “and yes, even the fire spirit.”
“It takes a village to rebuild your village,” Garcia said. She decried the climate stress that led to a reality where “we have to live with drought, we have to live with tornadoes … and wildfires like the fire that scorched my father’s home on Sept. 8. I wish I didn’t have to tell you that your community could be next.
“If we learned anything on Sept. 8 it’s that nobody is coming to save us. We’ve got to save ourselves.” Her prayer for those listening, she said, is that you can be braver than your fears and do things you have never done before. “I hope you have the love in your heart to lead together because it’s going to take all of us working together, saving ourselves, helping each other out. And I hope that you all know that there is a little community in southern Oregon that’s going to have your backs.”
Elnora Q. Tellis Easley Jefferson, nominated by Community Housing of Wyandotte County, said that resident leaders don’t do the work they do because they’re looking for any kind of accolades or honor; they do it for their community. Her advice for those who are doing this work? “Know your joys. Because 
your joys will feed your passion.” Her own joys, she said, are meaningful challenges. “And I love a challenge.”
Jefferson said she was grateful that NeighborWorks “took the value of community service and raised it to a highly regarded profession.” In a list of thanks that included the very community she was helping, Jefferson thanked her mother, “who raised me with the Golden Rule: Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. And you do it when you agree and when you disagree; when you’re friends and you’re not friends. Because in the end, it makes you feel good about who you are as an individual.”
Leslie M. Radcliffe (nominated by Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven), was unable to attend the ceremony in person for health reasons. But she attended the ceremony virtually and was able to see and hear the applause. She delivered a speech via video, expressing gratitude, especially to Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven. “I thought of a seed that was planted in my over seven decades ago, growing up in a family of 10 children, my first village, one of love, sharing, responsibility and commitment to the group welfare.” The seed was nurtured by years of training, from the time she was a teen to the training she received through the New Haven organization where she continues to be an agent of change and a resource to her family and community. “Please make room in your lives for self care,” she said. “I cannot stress to you all enough, you must take time to take care of yourself so you can continue to take care of others. Let’s continue to honor the people we serve by being the best we can be to them, for them and for ourselves.”
Theresa Davis, nominated by Fifth Avenue Committee, recognized Richardson “for paving the way for people like me.” She has worked for decades to make her community better, and she also advocated self-
care.
“This work isn’t easy,” she said. “It requires patience, kindness and a willingness to collaborate.” It’s important to take time for yourself and approach the work with love and humility, she added. “Thank you to everyone who paved the way for me. I appreciate all of the work of the community leaders and what you’re doing in your community. I honor you and thank you.”
“Dorothy Richardson was before her time and we are following in her footsteps,” said Monica Underwood, also nominated by Fifth Avenue Committee. “One of the things I do is stay prayed up. You have to stay prayed up because you’re already fighting.”
We have bad days, she said, “days where we say to ourselves, ‘why am I doing this work?’” It’s a tough night-and-day job, she said, “So celebrate those wins. Sometimes it looks like there are only a little bit of us. But there’s David and Goliath, too, so don’t forget.”
“Life is a gift, a blessing and an honor,” said Arica Gonzalez, nominated by NHS of Baltimore. “We must use it and redeem it wisely.” She honored her elders during her speech, adding “we are the products of our circle and we each influence one another.”
Gonzalez recounted the story of creation. “God said ‘let there be,’ and there was … and he looked over it all and said what? It is good. It is good.” Humans, she said, have the authority now “to speak into life what is good. We’re not just talking about communities. We’re talking about hearts and schools and lives that make up these spaces.” Acknowledging what is good is something we all should do, she said. “I’m thankful to each of you and this world that we will transform.”
Marietta Rodriguez, president & CEO of NeighborWorks America, presented the awards, calling the evening one of the most inspirational nights of the year. “It is about community,” she said. “It is about hope and residents.”
The awards and the CLI wrapped up NeighborWorks America’s 45th anniversary year, a time when the NeighborWorks Community looked back but also to the future. Rodriguez addressed the future during the ceremony, too, telling the honorees: “I can’t wait to see what you’ll do.”
