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# State of the City Recognizes Community Impact, Innovation and Beautification
- URL: https://www.raincrossgazette.com/state-of-the-city-recognizes-community-impact-innovation-and-beautification/
- Published: 2026-01-30T19:15:21.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-08T18:09:32.000Z
- Description: Civil Rights Institute named Riverside Hero, Edge Sound Research wins innovation honor, 15 projects earn beautification awards at annual address.
- Author: Gazette Staff
- Tags: City Hall, Mayor, community

Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce presented awards in three categories during the [49th annual State of the City address](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/mayor-declares-riverside-is-leveling-up-in-state-of-the-city-address/) Jan. 28 at the Riverside Convention Center.

## Beautification Awards

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/01/2-4.jpg)

Magnolia Church Executive Pastor Mike Lovato accepts the sustainable design and innovation award.

Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful presented awards across seven categories.

Winners included Mariposa's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina for small business curb appeal, Spruce Commons for new construction and Denny's at 18451 Van Buren Boulevard for property maintenance. Scholarship Prep Riverside won for exterior remodel/reconstruction.

City Hall received the historical and cultural preservation award. Magnolia Church earned the sustainable design and innovation award.

Farmhouse Collective earned the Chairman's Award, UC Riverside North District Phase 2 student housing received the Mayor's Award and Casablanca Elementary School won the award of distinction.

## Riverside Hero Award

[The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California received the Riverside Hero Award](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/civil-rights-institute-receives-riverside-hero-award-from-chamber/).

Executive Director Sabrina Gonzalez, Board President Launa Wilson, co-founder Rose Mayes and Surekha Acharya, representing co-founder [Lalit Acharya](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/in-memoriam-riverside-leaders-we-lost-in-2022/), accepted the award.

"When I heard from Nick that CRIISC was receiving this award, my first emotion was an overwhelming sense of gratitude for community, gratitude for those that walked the path before us, to the people who walk this path with us and to the trust this community has bestowed upon us to continue the legacy of the stories of the past, to foster community advocacy and to champion the future," Gonzalez said.

[Recent exhibitions highlighted Riverside as home to the nation's first Koreatown and homegrown civil rights leaders](https://www.raincrossgazette.com/civil-rights-institute-opens-lgbtq-history-exhibition/).

Chambers of Commerce President and CEO Nicholas Adcock said: "Their work is rooted in the courage and memory and belief that understanding our past is essential to shaping our future. They bring important overlooked chapters of Riverside story into focus."

## Riverside Innovation Award

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b3/b2/b3b29e3b-298e-485f-86ca-3034c21e3784/content/images/2026/01/3-3.jpg)

Edge Sound Research Co-founder and CEO Valtteri Salomaki accepts the Riverside Innovation Award from Chambers of Commerce President and CEO Nicholas Adcock.

Edge Sound Research received the Riverside Innovation Award.

Co-founder and CEO Valtteri Salomaki accepted the award on behalf of the company, based on UC Riverside PhD research, which develops haptic audio technology.

"As a team filled with UCR graduates, it's a great honor to be able to receive this award," Salomaki said.

He added: "We continue to hire from UC Riverside, we'll always continue to hire from UC Riverside and all the local universities here."