About 30 West Dallas residents from Los Altos and community leaders gathered to honor the life and legacy of the late Rosa Lopez at the street toppers unveiling ceremony at Vecinos Unidos, Inc. on Friday, March 31. She is the first Latina, openly-gay woman in the City of Dallas to receive an honorary street topper.
Mary Velez, chair of Vecinos Unidos, says the Lopez toppers will be a reminder of her work in the community to improve the quality of living and empower neighbors to be aspiring small business owners or local artists. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Omar Narvaez, who represents West Dallas as the District 6 councilmember, credits Lopez’s advocacy work for creating today’s highest percentage of home ownership in 75212 — higher than the city’s average of 41 percent. In West Dallas’ 75212 ZIP code, 62 percent of residents are homeowners, according to the ZIP Code Tabulation Area from the Census Bureau. Carmen Ayala, a representative of Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett’s office, also recognized Vecinos Unidos, a community-led advocacy group, with an award commemorating Lopez’s community work.
All the attendees counted down on the street corner of North Winnetka Avenue and Vecinos Boulevard to reveal the first of eight street toppers in the Los Altos neighborhood. Afterward, everyone celebrated in Vecinos Unidos’s building for a reception with Lopez’s advocacy work displayed throughout the room to look back at her community impact.
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