Riverside County remembers former executive director of CAP Riverside

July 29, 2021

Riverside County
NEWS RELEASE 

Riverside County remembers former executive director of CAP Riverside

Lois Carson passed away this month at 90 years old. She helped to establish many thriving organizations and networks that serve low-income families.

The passing of Lois Carson, who served for 30 years as the Executive Director of Community Action Partnership of Riverside County (CAP Riverside), is remembered with admiration and appreciation among long-time county employees and community members. Carson, who passed away earlier this month at 90 years old, led CAP Riverside towards ending poverty on a local level and obtaining recognition at the state and federal level for these efforts.

Carson promoted the vision of ending poverty through programs for utility assistance, conservation education, solar exploration and weatherization. During her tenure with CAP Riverside, she helped to establish the many thriving organizations and networks that serve low-income families today, including the Riverside County Consortium for Early Learning Services and the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition. She also implemented cool centers in 2001 in response to the extreme summer heat. Today, Riverside County has more than 60 cool centers. 

CAP Administrative Services Supervisor Tamara Martin, who served as an executive assistant for Lois Carson, referred to her as a “pearl of community action” for inspiring employees and residents.

“It was Lois that first introduced staff, many from humble beginnings, to social and economic initiatives that helped them prosper and contributed to our agency’s growth,” said Martin. “We use the mantra #LiveLikeLois to reaffirm our commitment to revitalizing our communities and alleviating poverty in Riverside County.”

Carson led the agency in development of a weatherization training program “Green TEAMWorks,” for emancipated foster youth. She also served on the Workforce Development Board for Riverside County for many years. 

Carson led CAP Riverside to receive the 2005 Award for Excellence in Community Action.  She was honored with the “Lyndon B. Johnson Human Service Award” in 2007 by the National Community Action Partnership organization. She was also the 2007 recipient of the State of California "Woman of the Year - Assembly District 62."

Her commitment went beyond Riverside County as she served as president of the California-Nevada Community Action Partnership Association (Cal-Neva), the state trade association and as vice president and president of the National Community Action Partnership, a national trade association. 

Lois Carson received a bachelor’s degree in English from California State University, San Bernardino and a master’s in English-Education from the University of California, Riverside.  She was named a distinguished alumna by both institutions. 

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