Our Programs

Mayor's Big Tent Tour

Launched in July 2021, the Mayor’s Big Tent Tour made thirteen stops throughout the city’s twenty-seven neighborhoods rallying several hundred residents. The Mayor’s objective for these meetings was to actively listen to the concerns and ideas of Riversiders and ensure their inclusion in decision-making processes. The tour concluded in June 2022 where the Mayor and staff shared the results of what residents said was working best in Riverside: neighborhood pride, police and 311 responsiveness, walkability, parks, and maintaining city trees.

Beautify Riverside

Launched in July 2022, Beautify Riverside is a citywide beautification initiative focused on the installation of public art, community cleanups, and landscape improvements. This privately funded and volunteer driven initiative has installed fourteen murals, hosted twelve community cleanups and a myriad of other beautification projects. The Riverside Arts Council is the financial partner of Beautify Riverside.

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Riverside Military Wall of Honor

First unveiled on May 31, 1997, the Riverside Military Wall of Honor’s purpose was to be a great register of names of Riversiders who lost their lives while on active military duty. On November 11, 2021, Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson launched a fundraising campaign to support an enhancement of the memorial. On May 24, 2022 - 25 years after its unveiling - a rededication of Riverside Veterans Plaza and Military Wall of Honor was held. This memorial is located at Main and 10th Streets outside City Hall.

Project Dash: DoorDash Partnership

Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and DoorDash made a first-of-its-kind partnership with the City of Riverside and DoorDash’s Project DASH to address food insecurity. With the help of DoorDash’s delivery logistics, Project DASH delivers food to Riverside residents experiencing food insecurity. DoorDash collaborates with the City of Riverside to leverage DoorDash data to help identify areas of greatest need for food in the city.

Coffee with the Mayor

Launched in January 2023, Coffee with the Mayor: Straight to Businesses is held at local coffee shops to connect with the business community on available resources and city supports. Businesses and residents are welcome to attend this meet-and-greet-style gathering to learn and share. Coffee with the Mayor is catered by generous Riverside-based coffee shops.

Art with the Mayor

As the City of Art & Innovation, showcasing the vibrant arts scene Riverside has to offer is important. Launched in February 2023, Arts with the Mayor is a series of events highlighting various kinds of art, such as plays, music, films, and painting. Arts with the Mayor occurs on a quarterly basis.

Riverside Youth Council

Launched in 2004, the Riverside Youth Council provides high school students with the opportunity to participate in city governance and share in decision-making through youth-led initiatives. The Youth Council organizes various immersive events such as the RYC Youth Summit, Campus Riverside, Mock City Council Meeting, Civics Webinars, and honoring Riverside’s 25 Most Remarkable Teens.

Campus Riverside

Campus Riverside is a one stop shop for all students in Riverside. The program provides students with resources to guide them throughout their years of college. Students can find exclusive student discounts, activities to do around the city including local attractions and events, as well as job and internship opportunities from local businesses.

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Project Connect

Launched in July 2023, Project Connect is a partnership between the non-profit Victory Outreach, Riverside Police Department, and Riverside Sheriff’s Department to perform jail in-reach programming. Individuals preparing to be released from the Robert Presley Detention Center in downtown Riverside can obtain employment opportunities, housing, a trip back to their city of origin, and other programs to prevent recidivism into crime and homelessness upon release.

Californians For All Youth Jobs Corps

A grant-funded program to employ approximately 100 young people aged 18-30 throughout city departments and non-profits focused on climate resiliency, food insecurity, and recovery from the pandemic. Riverside is one of only a dozen California cities to have a fully operational Youth Jobs Corps program which is creating the workforce of the future.

Riverside Mayor’s Challenge to End Youth Homelessness

At the Mayor’s 2023 State of the City, the Mayor issued a Challenge to End Youth Homelessness after the success in 2017 with ending veteran homelessness. The effort utilizes previously secured state funding, a Youth Jobs Corps employment pipeline, and youth-centric housing options to address this root cause of chronic homelessness.

Mayor's Public Safety Neighborhood Tour

Launched in February of 2024, the Mayor's Public Safety Neighborhood Tour, in collaboration with Riverside Police Department (RPD), conducts a stop in each Ward highlighting key concerns, innovative ideas, and proactive measures to address public safety issues. The Mayor is accompanied by key city staff, including the Councilmember for each Ward, City Manager, City Attorney, Riverside Fire Department, Riverside Police Department, and Code Enforcement. Topics are focused on resources provided by the city, RPD public safety efforts, and the Mayor’s advocacy efforts both locally and regionally.

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Crafty Conversations

Beginning in the summer of 2024, the Mayor visits local breweries in each area of the City of Riverside to celebrate the stories of innovative businesses. The Mayor, Councilmember, and Community and Economic Development Department will facilitate conversations with business owners to learn about how they honed their craft, barriers they have faced, and how Riverside can further support local businesses. The Inland Empire Small Business Development center is invited to share a presentation on available resources for small businesses in the City of Riverside.