Life at Sierra Ridge, an apartment complex developed by Foundation Communities, has improved substantially for many residents in the two years since Norma Garces came to live there. A woman of enormous energy and enthusiasm, Garces has lent her abilities to a number of causes and projects that have had a positive impact on the community.

She has worked tirelessly with the community center staff at Sierra Ridge to develop and improve the emergency food pantry program. She has been instrumental in increasing the number of participants in classes of English as a second language, Spanish, money management, computer and home ownership. She even badgered another resident who had become proficient in English after two years of classes in ESL to become an instructor of Spanish classes.

She organized an informal daycare cooperative that helps mothers at Sierra Ridge take advantage of educational opportunities offered at the complex. After becoming alarmed at a rise of crime in the community, Ms. Garces organized a Neighborhood Watch committee, enlisting more than 30 residents to serve as building captains and participate in monthly meetings.

Now, Garces is turning to the political arena. She recently brought together a group of residents and taught them how to work within the system to oppose budget cuts to major social service programs in Texas. She directed a letter-writing campaign by about 40 Sierra Ridge residents to oppose cuts to Medicaid and the children's health insurance program. She also coordinated a group of residents and community members to support a bill that would allow the Department of Public Safety to accept certain authenticated foreign identity documents as proof of identify for issuing driver's licenses, a major issue for many residents of Sierra Ridge.

Norma Garces is a tremendous asset to the community of Sierra Ridge, the first in line to confront any new challenge and lead any cause.