Howard B. Lang, Jr. Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service presented to Rigel Oliveri
(COLUMBIA, MO) - Rigel Oliveri received the 11th Howard B. Lang, Jr. Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the City of Columbia at the Monday, March 7, City Council meeting. Rigel's family, friends and supporters were in attendance to celebrate with her. The award was presented by Mayor Brian Treece.
Khaki Westerfield, daughter of Howard B. Lang Jr., and Columbia resident also attended Monday's City Council meeting.
The Lang Award was initiated by a gift from Leo Hill in 2008 to honor the memory of Howard B. Lang, Jr., who served as Columbia's mayor from 1953 to 1957, and to recognize a citizen who models the highest qualities of volunteerism to City programs and services. Mr. Hill was city manager during Mr. Lang's tenure as mayor.
Rigel, this year's award recipient, has served her City well, primarily through involvement with fair and affordable housing programs and services, which includes her work with the Columbia Housing Authority and other agencies and programs.
In the words of her four primary nominators, Nancy Thompson, Randall Cole, Adam Kruse and Rose Wibbenmeyer, "Rigel exemplifies the ideal candidate for this award. Her longstanding commitment to her volunteer work has assisted our community in understanding the importance of fair and affordable housing, and has been critical to the City of Columbia's efforts to increase housing opportunities for all."
Rigel, a law professor at the University of Missouri, currently serves on the Columbia Housing Authority Board and works on providing support services for low-income, public housing residents in Columbia in order to help them improve the quality of their lives and their children's lives. Her goal is transformative change.
She has volunteered time and expertise for years to the City of Columbia to help the cause of fair and affordable housing. One of her key contributions is through leading numerous seminars on the topic of fair housing and lending. Bankers, lawyers, real estate professionals, college students and the general public attend these events. She has also allowed the City to broadcast her addresses and content on YouTube and the City Channel.
The City of Columbia Commission on Human Rights, a group supporting Rigel's nomination, views housing as a fundamental human right, and it "appreciates Rigel's volunteer efforts and dedication to improving housing opportunities for everyone in our community."
What impressed her nominators more than anything is that when it comes to fair and affordable housing, Rigel can always be depended on to help. No matter what is asked, or when it's asked, she will do what she can.
The selection committee for the annual Lang Award changes every year, but always includes the sitting mayor of Columbia. Other members of the 2022 selection committee were past Mayor Mary Anne McCollum, City employee Stephanie Brown, at-large citizen Rev. James A. Gray, and City of Columbia New Century Fund Chair Fran Meunch. The committee considers each nominee's volunteer activities, personal initiative and impact as criteria for its selection.
A cash gift of $1,000 was included with the award; Rigel requested that her gift be given on her behalf to the Columbia Community Housing Trust, so that it might increase the supply of affordable housing in Columbia.
Past recipients of the Lang Award are Ed Kaiser, Darwin Hindman, Dave Griggs, Robert C. Smith, Eva Jo Sapp (posthumously), Kee Groshong, Genie Rogers, Mary Ann McCollum, Cheryl Price and Marin Blevins.
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