Mission Housing's 2026 Quezada Awards honors community heroes
Updated: 12 hours ago
On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Mission Housing Development Corporation gathered community members, partners, supporters, and honorees for the 2026 Eric Quezada Spirit Awards, a celebration recognizing individuals and organizations whose service and commitment have made a lasting impact on San Francisco communities.
Held at 518 Valencia: Eric Quezada Center for Culture and Politics in San Francisco’s Mission District, the intimate ceremony recognized four 2026 honorees: John Barber; the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD); Fernando Gomez-Benitez, Deputy Director and Chief Administrative Officer at Mission Neighborhood Health Center; and Lupe Gomez, a 25-year Resident Manager at Mariposa Gardens.
The Eric Quezada Spirit Awards are named in honor of Eric Quezada, a dedicated affordable housing organizer and activist who left an enduring legacy in the Mission District. Before his passing in 2011, Quezada worked tirelessly at Mission Housing and throughout San Francisco to advocate for affordable housing and stronger, more equitable communities.
Through these awards, Mission Housing continues to honor Eric Quezada’s legacy while recognizing those who carry his spirit of community service forward,” said Mission Housing Executive Team of Sam Moss and Marcia Contreras. “Our honorees demonstrate how lasting change is cultivated through collaboration, commitment, and care.
The celebration convened members of the Mission Housing Cultivation Network, a growing community of corporate leaders, philanthropic supporters, and grassroots affordable housing champions united by a shared belief in the importance of affordable housing and investing in San Francisco communities.
By bringing together people from housing, community health, resident leadership, public service, and advocacy, the 2026 Eric Quezada Spirit Awards highlighted the many ways individuals and organizations contribute to creating a more equitable San Francisco.
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