Mayor's Nominating and Screening Committee
March 24, 2026

3/12/2026
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RiversideCA.gov
Mayor’s Nominating and Screening CommitteeMarch 24, 20262025 CITY SPIRIT AWARD NOMINEESCity Clerk’s Office RiversideCA.gov2
The Mayor and City Council have honored a community member each year since the establishment of the City Spirit Award in 1995.BACKGROUNDCITY SPIRIT AWARD RECIPIENTSRuben and Diana Ayala2017Natividad Fuentes2006Dickey DeLoss1995Brian Jaramillo2018Damon Castillo2007Rich Biber1996Zack Earp2019San Huang2008Michael Goldware1997Ofelia Valdez-Yeager2020Cindy Roth2009Rose Mayes1998Lynn Heatley 2021Kathy Allavie2010Rita Norton1999Francisca Beltran2022Jane Block2011Vic Miceli2000Beth Schwandt2023Stan Morrison2012Daniel Hantman2001Senator Richard Roth (ret)2024 Debbie Guthrie2013William F. Gavitt20022025Gordon Bourns2014Dell Roberts2003Anthony Rivera2015Stan Brown2004Henry Coil, Jr.2016Jim Erickson2005 3/12/2026
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2025 SPIRIT AWARD NOMINEES2025 CITY SPIRIT AWARD NOMINATIONSNomineeRecommended by:Justin PardeeMayor Lock Dawson*Note: previous year recipientCouncilmember FalconeLeimamo TaylorCouncilmember RobillardLorna JenkinsCouncilmember ConderGerardo "Jerry" PulidoCouncilmember MillElia CamarenaCouncilmember Perry RiversideCA.gov4
Mayor’s City Spirit Award Nominee: Justin PardeeJustin Pardee is the energetic founder of The Raincross Gazette, a digitally native newspaperreinventing local news to serve Riverside for the next 100 years. What started in 2021 with just89 subscribers has grown into a thriving newsroom, delivering free, community-centeredjournalism to over 14,000 subscribers every morning. Pardee sits on the Economic DevelopmentCommittee for both the Chamber and The Raincross Group, the Chamber's Downtown Council,and the Supervisory Committee for Altura Credit Union. He has previously served on the boardof The Pick Group of Young Professionals, working to address Riverside’s “brain drain”challenges.A proud graduate of Riverside City College and California State University, San Bernardino, he iscommitted to creating high-quality jobs and career opportunities that help Riverside take itsrightful place on the national stage. A lifelong Riversider, Pardee's commitment to the city runsdeep. 3/12/2026
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City Spirit Award Nominee: Leimamo TaylorOver seven years ago, as a single mom with a big dream, Leimamo Taylor took a leap of faith and took over asmall café at the Riverside Airport. What began as a modest venture quickly became a mission to create awelcoming space where families, friends, and neighbors could gather, connect, and feel at home.Under her leadership, the Airport Café has blossomed into a vibrant community destination filled withlaughter, creativity, and care. Leimamo has brought new life and awareness to the Riverside Airport,transforming it into a bustling hub of activity and connection. Her vision has helped showcase the airport asmore than a travel stop. It is now a gathering place that reflects the best of Riverside’s community spirit.Leimamo is also a passionate advocate for local restauranteurs and small business owners. During the heightof the COVID-19 pandemic, she created a coalition of restauranteurs to provide mutual support, resources,and encouragement during one of the most challenging times for the industry. Her willingness to lead and liftothers has earned her deep respect across the local business community.In addition to her entrepreneurial and civic efforts, Leimamo gives back in countless ways, from organizingtoy drives to supporting neighborhood events and city partnerships. She helped launch the belovedPlanesand Treatsevent at the Riverside Airport, bringing families, local businesses, and city partners together incelebration. Leimamo Taylor truly embodies the spirit of Riverside. Through her generosity, perseverance,and unwavering commitment to others, she continues to make our city a warmer, stronger, and moreconnected place for everyone.WARD 3 RiversideCA.gov6
City Spirit Award Nominee: Lorna JenkinsA resident, an entrepreneur of our great city, a past graduate ofLeadership Riverside, having received a multitude of awards andrecognitions, a leading member of our Riverside business community,and the founder of My Learning Studio. The studio offers private 1-on-1tutoring for Riverside County students of all academic subjects, K-12,including adult learners, at-risk youth, court appointed, ESL students andadditionally provides FREE Reading Assistance Program (RAP) tostruggling students. This nominee has a passion for helping childrenwith academic challenges.WARD 4 3/12/2026
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City Spirit Award Nominee: Gerardo “Jerry” PulidoGerardo "Jerry" Pulido is the Executive Director of the Casa Blanca Home of NeighborlyService, an organization he has supported from the very beginning as a dedicatedvolunteer. Motivated by a genuine desire to serve his community, Jerry steadily tookon greater responsibility, becoming a Board Member and later President. Hisleadership is rooted in firsthand experience, deep community ties, and a strongcommitment to finding meaningful solutions to local challenges. Under Jerry’sguidance, Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service continues to provide vital programsthat strengthen and uplift the community, including annual toy drives, turkeygiveaways, back to school events, weekly food distributions, educational forums, andcommunity clean ups, all offered at no cost to residents. Known as a unifying andcollaborative leader, Jerry is widely respected for bringing people together and servingas a trusted advocate for Casa Blanca and neighborhoods across the city.WARD 5 RiversideCA.gov8
City Spirit Award Nominee: Elia CamarenaElia Camarena has called Arlanza home for the past 28 years. She has dedicated several years ofservice- 15 years with the Alvord Unified School District as a member of ELAC (English LearnerAdvisory Committee) at the school level, and DELAC (District English Learner Advisory Committee)at the district level. Elia is a proud member of Padres Unidos, a Norte Vista High School parentgroup that is committed to raise funds to provide scholarships to Latino students. Her involvementwith this group spanned more than 10 years.Elia is a beloved member of the community. She is known as a gatherer who has organized variousevents including- National Night Out, multicultural events, recognition nights for Latino students,and fundraising activities for dance groups within the community. Her work as a Community HealthWorker with the Riverside Community Health Foundation for the past 20 years has allowed her theopportunity to support the community in different areas. She has led health and wellness classesand this year alone she helped educate a cohort of residents via Resident Leadership Academies.Elia’s commitment to education and civic engagement has enabled her to support and help familiesovercome difficult situations. Her understanding of the community and her passion for servicemerits her nomination for the City Spirit Award.WARD 6 3/12/2026
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That the Mayor’s Nominating and Screening Committee select a communitymember nominee(s) for consideration by the City Council for the 2025 City SpiritAward to honor their extraordinary deeds and community spirit, good citizenship,and dedication to enhancing the quality of life in the City.RECOMMENDATION