Three local advocates for housing, equity and youth received high honors from the Arlington Community Foundation last week.
The latest honorees exemplify a “tireless and unselfish commitment” to serving others, said former County Board member and retired Circuit Court Judge William Newman Jr., the namesake of the 2025 William T. Newman Spirit of Community Awards.
“The heart of our community is our people,” Newman said at a Nov. 7 luncheon that drew 550 community leaders to the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.
For 2025, the awards were split into three categories:
- Claudia Ramirez Cuellar was honored with the Spirit of Community Award for her service with county schools and Aspire! Afterschool Learning
- Nina Janopaul was presented with the Spirit of Leadership Award for her service leading the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, now known as True Ground Housing Partners, and her social-safety-net advocacy
- Kellen MacBeth was honored with the Spirit on the Rise award for his service with the Arlington NAACP, chairing the county’s Housing Commission and founding Equality Arlington
Cuellar emigrated from Guatemala to the United States in 2002 to “look for a better future for my son, my family and myself,” she said. In the years since, she has worked and volunteered to support immigrants in need of a helping hand.
“I love it,” she said. “When I volunteer, what I receive is love.”
Her advice for those in need of support during troubled times: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, as “Arlington has a lot of resources — we embrace our diversity.”
Janopaul recalled the story of her grandfather, sent as an 11-year-old from his native Greece to the United States via Ellis Island. As a youth, he shined shoes and sold newspapers in D.C. to support himself and his family.
“My grandfather came from nothing. It motivated me — a lot — to welcome immigrants to our community,” Janopaul said.
Her father’s career as a civil engineer was also a motivating factor in getting into the field of affordable housing.
“What a wonderful thing it is to build something, to have a legacy,” she said.
Arlington, Janopaul said, has “always been a community that cares, a welcoming and giving and compassionate community.”
MacBeth came to Arlington two decades ago to attend Marymount University.
“It became my adopted hometown. It was such a welcoming and open place,” he said. “You get to meet people of all ages, and get to learn from them.”
For those skittish about entering the world of Arlington civic life, MacBeth’s advice was to jump in and figure it out as you go. That is how everyone else has done it, he said.
“Arlington is a wonderful place to have a quick impact,” he said. “If you’re willing to learn and put in the time and effort, you’ll get good at it.”
Civic activist Joan Cooper was the first to receive the Spirit of Community Award in 1993. Subsequent recipients have included:
- 1990s: H. Paul Mount, Anna Barber, Elizabeth Campbell, Walter Tejada, John McCracken
- 2000s: Julia Connally, Charles Overby, Jennie Davis, Jean Berg, Eric Schaeffer, Ralph Johnson, the Woman’s Club of Arlington, Preston Caruthers, Rich Doud, L. Karen Darner
- 2010s: George Varoutsos, Mary Ann Nirschl, Meg Tuccillo, John Andelin, Ginger Geoffrey, Lola Reinsch, Mary Ann Moran, Jonathan Kinney, John Milliken, Emma Violand-Sánchez, Dr. Alfred Taylor
- 2020s: COVID front-line workers, Lucy Bowen, Florence Ross, Kay Nassetta, Portia Clark, Mark Riley, Dr. Michael Silverman, John Foti, Andres Tobar, Dr. Tsehaye Teferra, Jeanne Broyhill, Dr. Raymond Hoare and Martha (Marty) Swaim
During the event, Arlington Community Foundation president/CEO Jennifer Owens announced that a new round of at least $500,000 in the organization’s “Meeting the Moment” grants will be available in $25,000 increments to Arlington-serving nonprofits over the next six months.
The foundation also previewed its sixth annual Nonprofit Wish Catalog, giving residents and businesses the opportunity to connect with more than 70 social-service agencies in need of support at the end of the year.
