Renowned community champion, life-long organizer, and the heart of Albuquerque鈥檚 International District Reynaluz Juarez died on Feb. 7.
On Saturday, Feb. 12, hundreds of community members, friends, and family gathered to pay tribute to the legacy she left behind.
Cars lined the street as around 200 people packed a small courtyard in Southeast Albuquerque on an unusually warm afternoon to tell stories and bring flowers to an altar dedicated to Reynaluz Juarez.
Greeting almost everyone was Enrique Cardiel, one of the organizers of the event and long-time friend of Juarez.
鈥淲ell, 鈥楻eyna鈥� means queen in Spanish and 鈥榣uz鈥� is light,鈥� Cardiel said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 one of those persons that always let her light shine and always encouraged other people to let their light shine鈥撯�搕hat鈥檚 part of her legacy, is for all of us to step up for each other, not just ourselves.鈥�
Well-known for her saying 鈥淛ust trust the process,鈥� Juarez was very involved in nearly everything related to empowering communities in the International District鈥撯�揳nd she was even one of the organizers involved in renaming the area. Her work included leading the South San Pedro Neighborhood Association and organizing as a parent in Albuquerque Public Schools
Most recently, she served as the school coordinator for Whittier Elementary and helped prevent its closure and keep kids in class. Cardiel said she never stopped organizing.
鈥淒uring the pandemic she was part of coordinating food drives, vaccine drives for the flu vaccine, COVID vaccine,鈥� Cardiel said. 鈥淪he was always just trying to figure out how we provide the basics for folks.鈥�
Nearby family member Magdalena Avila Silva sat waiting for the service to start. She said Juarez was extraordinary.
鈥淐ommunity organizers in OUR community are the gems," she said. "They鈥檙e our diamonds. They speak out for us, they talk about the issues and Reyna鈥檚 leadership was instrumental to change.鈥�
The memorial began with a blessing, complete with singing and chanting, while people threw bright and colorful flower petals beneath a large picture of Juarez that read 鈥淏adass鈥� in large letters.Music and stories full of laughter and tears followed.
Bernadette Hardy is co-coordinator of the , where Juarez also worked.
鈥淲e lived really close to each other and were really good friends for a long time.鈥�
Hardy said Juarez was relentless in her commitment to the International District.
鈥淪he never stopped working and supporting our families and that鈥檚 who I鈥檓 worried about the most,鈥� Hardy said, fighting back tears. 鈥淣o one can fill her shoes and continue what she did. There's a huge void she leaves behind.鈥�
Cousin Maria Esteli Juarez said the Juarez family has a long history of activism around New Mexico, but Reynaluz stood out.
"She always moved with love, without an ego," she said. "Her humility was her greatest quality and it taught those of us who were raised up under her, the value of that humility.鈥�
Juarez鈥檚 impact did not go unnoticed among city and state officials. When the news of her passing reached lawmakers, they observed a minute of silence on the Senate floor. And Mayor Tim Keller declared February 12th, 2022 as Reynaluz Juarez Day in the city of Albuquerque.
As a band played some of Juarez鈥檚 favorites tunes, daughter Eloisa Silva said her mother brought many important problems to public attention.
鈥淭he issues that she was facing, that she was dealing with, are things that a lot of people don鈥檛 notice,鈥� Silva said. 鈥淪he made real, systemic change. Those things affect entire communities in a different way that you just can鈥檛 quantify.鈥�
Now family and friends will focus on keeping Juarez鈥檚 legacy alive鈥撯�� following her example of serving those you love with humility and grace.
NOTE: This story has been updated to correctly reflect Magdalena Avila Silva's relationship to Juarez.
