FOR THE MAYOR OF LEMON GROVE RACQUEL VASQUEZ, “HOME IS… LOVE.”

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mayor Vasquez moved to San Diego in 2001 due to her husband’s service with the Navy, and she has expanded her roots ever since. When they were first stationed in San Diego, she and her husband decided to purchase a home and settle down and found the most affordable place they could at that time was in the City of Lemon Grove. She expresses that she never would have guessed she would end up as the City’s Mayor 15 years later.

After the move, she secured a job with the City of San Diego’s Public Relations Department for the Cities Water Department and then eventually moved to the communications department. Mayor Vasquez says, “As my husband served in the Navy, he would sometimes have to leave the family for up to 6 months. Although it was hard, I decided to utilize that time to give back in the community. I would take my two daughters… and we would volunteer at community clean ups, help out at retirement homes, support different walks for different types of causes, but always keeping ourselves involved in the community.”

Mayor Vasquez explains that public service is invaluable and has always been extremely important to her and her family. She continues to make sure that her family was doing “their part” by volunteering. This commitment to serving others is what led her to greater responsibilities and civic engagement opportunities. In this, she has gone from community volunteering and leadership, to serving on the Lemon Grove Planning Commission, and eventually becoming the first person of diversity to be ever elected to serve on Lemon Grove City Council in 2012. And in 2016, she ran for the City of Lemon Grove Mayor, and won. She is now making history, serving as the first African American woman mayor elected in all of San Diego County. “Did I expect to be such a prominent leader? Absolutely not! It was not a part of my career path and I didn’t have a vision board saying Mayor of Lemon Grove on it. It just kind of happened because of my love for people and my love for the city that we live in.”

“My thought was that if my husband could serve our country with honor, courage, and commitment while protecting this nation, then while he is serving our country, I could do my part to help out at home.”

Mayor Vasquez feels, “Affordable housing is everything.” She continues, “if you have shelter insecurity then your quality of life just does not exist.” The Mayor found out about the Housing Federation through one of the current board members, Ginger Hitzke, who she describes as “an affordable housing champion.”

She describes the San Diego Housing Federation as an “amazing nonprofit, because there are a lot people and other organizations involved who put in work to ensure that affordable housing exists here in San Diego.” Mayor Vasquez calls those who are part of the SDHF, “heroes without capes.” She goes on to explain, “they do the work behind the scenes to bring about the greatest value to people and that is housing security.” Some of her most memorable moments with the Federation are shared at the Ruby Awards where these “heroes” are recognized.

Mayor Vasquez believes, “every voice has a value.”

When speaking about her experience working with diverse groups of people, Mayor Vasquez believes that even though often people think they have the best idea or approach, you should always consider alternative ways. When you are able to hear from people of diverse backgrounds and points of view she says, “That is when those conversations can happen that can shape the issue in a different way and lead to a better solution from that better feedback.”

For her, the holidays are an opportunity to reconnect with her daughters, who come home to spend time with the family. Mayor Vasquez describes that the holidays are also a chance to recognize how diverse we are as people, but also interconnected and the same when it comes to our needs. This season also serves as a special opportunity to be with the community and serve within it often. The Mayor says that she’ll “Participate in toy drives, and events where meals are being prepared and provided to those who need a good meal. It’s a really good time to connect with people and help reinforce the notion that in the end we are all the same, we just have different circumstances.”

Mayor Vasquez declares, “Home... is love. And, I say that because when you feel love, you feel secured, and when you have a roof over your head that is your security. It is a place where you can relax, it is a place where you can build a family and bonds. We all need shelter and no matter what form it is we all need a place to call home and feel loved.”

Thank you, Mayor Vasquez for sharing your story and shining a vibrant light on how impactful involvement within the community can be. You are an inspiration and wonderful spirit to be around. Thank you for all you do!