2022 City Spirit Award Nominee Biographies
Lalit Acharya (Posthumous)
Nominated by Mayor Lock Dawson
Lalit, who was born in Hyderabad, India, made Riverside his home after earning a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Upon coming to Riverside, he was passionate for his new community and soon began volunteering. Lalit quickly became connected to the Asian/Indian Community and led the charge to have a statue of Gandhi along the mall in Downtown Riverside. During that time, he began more than a decade-long career in the Mayor’s Office as the International Relations Officer. He worked with the International Relations Council and the City’s Sister Cities program, which included a number of international trips with both Mayor Ron Loveridge and Mayor Rusty Bailey. His work included raising funds for Sendai, Japan after a devastating tsunami, helping establish academic relationships between UCR and Sister City universities, and the establishment of the Long Night of Arts and Innovation. His vision was to create a gathering place for discussions promoting inclusivity and innovation, which led to the inception and creation of the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California with his partner Rose Mayes.
Residente of Eastside Active in Leadership
Nominated by Councilmember Cervantes
The residents of Eastside Active in Leadership are made up of dedicated and passionate people who are committed to improving the quality of life for their neighbors and neighborhood, specifically focusing on messages that elevate healthy eating and active living. The group leaders are a core five women who have gone above and beyond to volunteer for 9+ years in this program to activate residents. Because of the trust they’ve fostered throughout the Eastside, hundreds of residents and youth have come out to help transform local alleyways with art and mural installations. They have partnered with our local schools to create safe walking paths, install little libraries, little free pantries and programming that promotes walkability and healthy eating. The group recently drafted and championed a local municipal ordinance known as the “Smoke Free Multi-Unit Housing Ordinance” which was passed by the City Council in May 2022. Each of these residents have given countless hours and years to advocate for their community with their goal being to make a difference that will foster positive change. They have served as an inspiration for their families, residents and are role models to many across the Eastside and Riverside. They embody what it means to be “City Spirit” and show up every day giving and cultivating love in Riverside.
Mike Anderson
Nominated by Councilmember Fierro
Mike Anderson has been in Riverside, California since 1990. He got a job at California School for the Deaf, Riverside as a residential staff. He attended Pierce College and transferred to Riverside City College. He got his teaching credential at California State University, San Bernardino. He became an Activities Director for ten years before he retired after 31 years. His wife, Tina also worked at California School for the Deaf, Riverside as a Behavioral Specialist. He has two daughters, Sam who graduated from J. W. North HS, and Makayla, who is now a senior at Riverside Poly.
Mike has been very involved with the Deaf community in Riverside. He was a part of Deaf Awareness month with RUSD and CSDR back in 1990’s. He had participated with CO-ED softball for years. He maintained a good relationship with the annual Riverside Police and Deaf Community Softball game. He attended Riverside Police Interactive Training Program; brought over 50 different deaf students to the training over a 2-year span. Mike was always very involved with over 15 different Deaf organizations in Riverside. He became a chair for Model Deaf Community, an advisory group to the City of Riverside Mayor’s office for two terms. He has been avid about sharing the City officials with Deaf Awareness, Communication, Public Safety, Aging, Youth, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Public Library, Parks, Recreation and Communities, Fire/CERT departments, Police Departments and many more. Mike and his colleagues valued the fast-growing deaf population in Riverside. Mike was proud to see the accomplishments for the Riverside communities; launched ASL classes at Riverside Poly and Martin Luther King high schools. Riverside City College proposed and passed a new curriculum- Bachelor of Arts in American Sign Language Interpreting Program. The Model Deaf Community committee had worked hard planning and made a motion: Commission of the Deaf. The Council members recognized the needs for the Deaf community and passed.
Mike is looking forward to another event- partnered with the City of Riverside- Deaf Awareness Week, known as DeaFestival in the fall with more or less than 5,000 visitors going to this event.
Duane and Kelly Roberts
Nominated by Councilmember Conder
Few individuals have made a greater impact on the City of Riverside than Duane and Kelly Roberts. Thirty years ago, the Mission Inn Hotel was mired in bankruptcy, shuttered and surrounded by a chain link fence. The Roberts rescued it and completed the restoration of the Mission Inn, ensuring that the beautiful historic hotel once again served as the cornerstone of the City, transforming it into a world- class destination with an award-winning spa and restaurants. The renaissance of the Mission Inn by the Roberts was the catalyst for the economic revitalization of Downtown Riverside, which has blossomed into an economic engine for Riverside. The Roberts also created the annual Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Festival of Lights, the City’s premier event, which annually draws thousands of visitors and international attention to Riverside and contributes over $120 million in economic benefit to the local economy. Riverside is where Duane Roberts invented the frozen burrito at his family’s meat company, Butcher Boy Food Products, Inc., which became one of the City’s major employers in the 1960s and 70s, and the Roberts have continued to give back to the community through their support of local schools and non-profits, including the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center, named in honor of Mr. Roberts’ mother. Through their vision, commitment and support of our Community, Duane and Kelly Roberts have embodied the Spirit of Riverside.
Gabe Maldando
Nominated by Councilwoman Plascencia
Gabe Maldonado is the CEO of TruEvolution and a true champion for the LGBTQIA+ community. Gabe sat on the President Of The United States Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS under former President Barack Obama. He has brought millions into the region through his new efforts Project Legacy. Gabe’s dedication and plight for the LGBTQIA+ Is unmatched.
Francisca Beltran
Nominated by Councilmember Hemenway
Francisca Beltran has been with the Riverside Community Health Foundation (RCHF) for about 15 years. Her position consists of spreading Health and Wellness awareness throughout the Riverside Community. She is a lifestyle Coach for The National Diabetes Prevention Program and holds a certificate as a Group Instructor with the American Fitness of Athletics Association. She enjoys teaching Health Education Classes and leading Physical Activity programs such as ZUMBA, TAI-CHI, and ZUMA Kids. Aside being active in the physical aspect in her community she also leads health workshops and has presented in Health seminars. She is currently in association with Mujeres Activas en la Salud (M.A.S). This group consists of Women becoming active in their community and educating them on the importance of health and staying physically active in the Arlanza and La Sierra areas in Riverside. She devotes a lot of her time to the community with her career and on her spare time, she and her family volunteer with The American Heart Association and lead a dance group of youth to help keep them active and out of the streets.
Francisca has been living in Riverside for 26 years. She first came to the United States in 1989, she married two years later and has been married to her husband Clemente Beltran for 28 years. She and her husband have three children, two college graduates, Erika (La Sierra University), Daniel (Cal State Sacramento), and the youngest Aileen, who is currently in 5th grade.
Francisca has always dedicated her time to her kids and community. She would volunteer with the ELAC and DELAC committee, supported the PTA and volunteered in the classroom to help teachers. She would manage her time to volunteer around her two part-time jobs, to help her husband support their children. Aside school, she would volunteer in her children’s recreational sports teams, she was a team mom, assistant coach, and scorekeeper. Today, she is involved in supporting her daughter Aileen, for the Student Council Committee and extracurricular activities.
On her spare time, Francisca enjoys doing outdoor activities from hiking on the weekends with her family and dogs, playing volleyball with friends on weekend evenings, to cooking and singing Karaoke at family gatherings. She is a very family-oriented woman who has always had a passion for learning and influencing others to be more than they can be. In reality, Francisca has been promoting health and wellness since she was 17, in her hometown, in the rural zones of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She would walk kilometers to take information to the less fortunate. She was a runner in her school’s sports team and would take any given opportunity to influence others and try to impact their life with educational information she would learn.
Today, Francisca has received various awards throughout the years for her outstanding performances in impacting the community, but her most recent, was being recognized as a SHEro on December 14th at the 9th Annual Multicultural Council Day of Inclusion in her outstanding efforts for the health and well-being of underserved residents and risk-youth community.
Francisca has grown and learned a lot thanks to her passion and love for Health. Her passion and positive influence on her community have only grown throughout the years. She plans to continue being a health promoter in combination with other well-being activities for the rest of her life. In all, Francisca Does What She Loves, and Loves What She Does.