Cyndi Loza

Reno native Dolores Feemster always has tried to solve problems.

Known for her longtime activism in the black community, Feemster, 77, has worked on many fronts to improve awareness of issues that not only confront black Americans but also the broader community.

She remains involved in various organizations and has been honored by groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Community Services Agency Development Corporation, to name two.

The trailblazer has recognized some of herself in Reno resident Janet Anderson, who has worked with local youth earning vocational degrees and high school diplomas.

“I think she’s better than me and younger,” Feemster said. “No one that I know has done as much as Janet.”

Good works

As public relations officer for Word of Life Ministries, Anderson, 45, has helped local teenagers and young adults at summits and programs and through donations. She has worked with mostly low-income and black youths to coordinate choirs, visit predominately black colleges, provide them shelter and teach them life skills, she said.

“I just believe that most youth have to be fortified and strengthened so that they can be able to deal with adversity that comes their way,” Anderson said.

In 2002, Anderson established a counseling program for students who entered and graduated Sierra Nevada Job Corps. Through Women in Community Service, Anderson said she counseled students who are earning their vocational or high school degree to smooth their transition in and out from the center.

Anderson said her motivation to help the community comes from her faith and seeing good in people.

“As long as they have another alternative, even if they steer off, I think they will manage to come back to the right path,” Anderson said.

It is because of Anderson’s work with youth that makes her “a beautiful person inside and out,” Feemster said.

“She thinks about youth the same way I do,” Feemster said. “She doesn’t see the bad side, and if they have problems she tries to help them out with it.”

Bertha Mullins, a longtime friend of both Anderson and Feemster, said they have served youth and their community through their diverse civic activities.

“They both seem to care so much about youth and trying to add to their quality of life,” Mullins said.

Feemster in particular is “an unsung hero in the community,” Mullins said.

Working in the Washoe County School District for 30 years, Feemster worked on issues affecting students and parents. Among other things, she helped integrate the school district in the late 1960s.

In 1969, Feemster worked with the districts diversity program, Intergroup, to relocate black students from predominately black schools in northeast Reno to other schools in the community.

“They would have more advantages there, like computers, science labs and teaching tools,” Feemster said.

Feemster also helped to make more low-income housing available. She said she worked with organizations to persuade the city and other agencies to build them.

In 1998, her longtime efforts were recognized, and an apartment complex for low-income families was named after her. The apartments are on the northeast corner of Sutro Street and Carville Drive in Reno.

“I donate my time because I have no money,” Feemster said. “If I had money, I would donate that.”

Anderson said she will continue her work with local youths through her church.

“I see myself now training these young people to take over,” Anderson said. “Because I don’t see them as the future. I see them as today.”