Photos courtesy of Nyeland Promise.
NYELAND ACRES — Nyeland Promise is proud to announce that its “Safe Travels in Nyeland Acres” initiative has been recognized with the prestigious 2026 Carmen Ramirez Award for Equity by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) during the 2026 Regional Conference and General Assembly
The Carmen Ramirez Award for Equity honors projects and collaborations that advance equity and improve outcomes for historically underserved and marginalized communities across Southern California. The award is named in honor of the late Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez, a tireless champion for social justice, sustainability, and underserved communities.
Nyeland Promise Co-Founder Mary Anne Rooney and Board Member Brenda Heredia attended the SCAG Regional Conference to accept the award and were honored to be joined by Ventura County Supervisor Vianey Lopez in recognition of the community’s ongoing efforts to advance equity and transportation safety in Nyeland Acres.
The “Safe Travels in Nyeland Acres” program was created to address long-standing pedestrian and bicycle safety concerns in one of Ventura County’s most underserved communities. Through multilingual outreach, community walk audits, safety education campaigns, and resident engagement, the initiative has amplified the voices of Nyeland Acres residents and advocated for safer streets, improved walkability, and greater transportation equity.
“Our community has faced transportation and infrastructure challenges for many years,” said Mary Anne Rooney. “This award is incredibly meaningful because Carmen Ramirez was a true advocate for equity and for communities like Nyeland Acres. We are grateful for Supervisor Ramirez’s support and for standing alongside our community when she served as our County supervisor.”
The initiative has focused heavily on engaging residents in English, Spanish, and Mixteco to ensure community voices are included in conversations about transportation safety and infrastructure improvements. The program has also helped raise awareness about the dangers residents face daily due to limited sidewalks, speeding vehicles, and unsafe routes used by children and families.
SCAG’s Sustainability Awards recognize projects that support the goals of Connect SoCal, the region’s transportation and sustainability strategy aimed at building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable Southern California. (scag.ca.gov)
About Nyeland Promise
Nyeland Promise is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the residents of Nyeland Acres. Nyeland Promise was designed to transform Nyeland Acres into a community filled with hope and pride. Nyeland Acres is a Disadvantaged Unincorporated Community as defined by Senate Bill 244. For more information, visit www.NyelandPromise.com