Voted by the People: Center for Social Justice Earns Community Recognition at Mayor’s Ball

04/24/2025

The Riverside Community College District’s Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties earned second place in the Art Facility category at this year’s Mayor’s Ball for the Arts, held April 5 at the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts.

The themed “Alice in Wonderland” celebration honored standout contributors to Riverside’s creative landscape, with awardees nominated and voted for by the community. The Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties, directed by Tracy Fisher, Ph.D., was recognized alongside other prominent institutions, placing just behind the Riverside Art Museum & Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture.

“It is wonderful for the Center to be recognized by the community in this way. This is such an honor, said Fisher. “It’s the result of visionary programming, intentional partnerships with artists, the city, and our schools, and a relentless commitment to community. The Center isn’t just part of Riverside’s cultural fabric—it helps weave it. This award is a powerful tribute to our team’s dedication and a community that believes in the power of art to inspire, connect, and transform.”

Housed in a historic Spanish Baroque building in downtown Riverside, the Center was established through the bequest of Miné Okubo—an acclaimed Japanese American artist, author, and Riverside City College alumna. The Center now serves as an educational hub, research museum, and art gallery dedicated to preserving the legacy of civil liberties and social justice movements.

Its permanent collection features over 8,000 works by Okubo, including her seminal memoir, Citizen 13660, the first published account by a Japanese American who was incarcerated during World War II. In addition to rotating exhibits, the Center offers lectures, workshops, and community events that elevate local voices and illuminate the ongoing fight for equity.

The Mayor’s Ball is an annual fundraising event benefiting the Riverside Arts Council and showcases excellence in public art, music, theater, dance, and more.

For more information about the Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties, visit https://socialjustice.rccd.edu.

Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications