Latina Immigrant Rises To The Top In Local Community

This week the Commission for Women’s annual Women of the Year awards took place during the Board of Supervisor’s meeting. Every year, a woman is honored in each district for her contributions to the community.

In District 1 represented by Supervisor Kevin Jeffries--which includes Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Lakeland Village and other surrounding jurisdictions--Ofelia Valdez Yeager was honored.

According to the supervisor's office, Valdez Yeager has served in a variety of leadership positions, from Little League, PTA and other community organizations. She was elected to the Riverside Unified School District Board of Trustees in 1992 -- her first publicly elected position. She is the first Latina ever elected to the local School Board. Among a host of other accomplishments, she currently holds the position of President of the Latino Network and is one of the three founders to the organization. She is the Founder of Latina Women’s Forum, Director to Altura Credit Union, and serves as the Honorary Chair and funding leader to the Cesar E. Chavez Memorial of Riverside.

“She is a mentor to women. Throughout her career and service to the community of Riverside, Ofelia has demonstrated that she is in fact a role model and innovator that women of all ages can admire and appreciate,” said Jennifer Fuller of the Riverside County Audit-Controller’s office.

Valdez Yeager’s story dates back to her immigration to the United States as a child.

As a tribute to her, here is what Sen. Barbara Boxer had to say about Valdez Yeager in 2010 when she retired from her position as chief administrative liaison to the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools:

Mr. President, I am honored to recognize the career accomplishments and service of Ofelia Valdez-Yeager as she retires from her position as chief administrative liaison to the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.

Ofelia--a native of Tayoltita, Durango, Mexico--immigrated with her family to the United States in 1958. Although she began first grade as a non-English-speaker, she completed the school year at the top of her class--realizing her parents' high expectations for the academic achievement of their 10 children, even though they themselves had been educated only at the elementary level in Mexico.

Ofelia was admitted to the University of California, Riverside--UCR--in 1965 as one of the initial group of five Educational Opportunity Program--EOP--students. After graduating in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and completing the requirements for an elementary teaching credential in 1971, she embarked upon a professional career that has included work as an Upward Bound tutor and counselor, high school counseling assistant, elementary school teacher, bilingual resource teacher, and consultant for several public agencies.

In 1992 Ofelia was elected to serve as the first Latina trustee on the Riverside Unified School District Board; she was later elected vice president of this same body. She expanded her commitment to public service by accepting a part-time position as administrative assistant to the mayor--focusing her expertise and energies on youth, education, and crime issues. She also served as executive assistant to the superintendent of the Riverside Unified School District.

In addition to her current responsibilities as chief administrative liaison, Ofelia also serves on boards and committees of a number of local agencies and organizations, including the United Way, Concilio Child Development Centers, Fiesta de la Familia, Mission Inn Foundation, Raincross Group, Riverside County Library Foundation, Riverside Library and Museum Taskforce, UCR Medical School Community Advisory, Riverside Community College Foundation, Hispanic Education Foundation, and the Riverside County Sheriff's Commission on Recruiting, Retention, and Diversity. As founder of the Latina Women's Health Forum, as one of three founders of the Latina Network, and as a strong influence behind the Nati Fuentes Centro de Ninos on the Eastside, she continues to exert influence on education and community priorities.

In recognition of her professional contributions and service, Ofelia has received the Hope Luminarias Award and the La Sierra University President's Community Service Citation. She has been named CHARO Minority Business Advocate of the Year and has been cited by the Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper as one of the People Who Make a Difference.

It is my pleasure to recognize Ofelia Valdez-Yeager as she prepares to retire from the Office of the Superintendent, Riverside County Schools. I commend her for her fine service to the community.