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| Above: Felix Fraga (left) was the first Fraga to be Community Developer of Ripley House, from 1977-1990. His son Bolivar (right) will carry on the legacy. View more photos of Ripley House. |
Neighborhood Centers Inc. recently announced that Bolivar Fraga will take on the role as Ripley House Community Developer. By doing so, Bolivar follows his father’s footsteps in serving the East End Community. His father, Felix Fraga, served as the Center Manager over Ripley House Community Center from 1977-1990. Felix is still actively involved in Neighborhood Centers, where he is Vice President of External Relations.
"I guess you might say, they (Neighborhood Centers) got stuck with me," the senior Fraga jokes. "Since 1946 when they got me that first job to stay in school, to this day, this is the only place I’ve ever worked."
Felix’s son’s decision to carry on the legacy at Ripley House brings Felix great joy.
"It makes me very proud to see my son carry on the work at Ripley," says the senior Fraga. "I was lucky to have been part of Ripley House from the beginning. I just hope and pray that Bolivar will be able to have the same kind of experiences that I have had and get the same joy out of helping people in the same way, or even better ways, that I did."
Most recently, Bolivar was responsible for organizing ten of Metropolitan Congregations United’s 35 member congregations within the St. Louis metropolitan area on issues related to immigration reform, affordable-workforce housing, health care, education and workforce and economic development. He holds a Bachelor Degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Dual Master Degree in Social Work and Pastoral Studies from Saint Louis University and Aquinas Institute of Theology.
"Walking in my father’s footsteps is a great honor," says Bolivar. "But, it’s also a great challenge and I’m looking forward to a world of opportunities upon which to build." When asked what he’s learned from his Dad, "Keep a positive attitude and always be willing to understand the other person," the younger Fraga recalls. "There’s good in everyone and look for every opportunity to build bridges. Those are things that my Dad has taught me."
Felix has also made quite an impression on the people he’s served throughout the years.
"One of the greatest joys I get is when I run into someone, much older now, and they tell me that they still remember the activities they did at Ripley and how much good it did them," Felix remembers. "That’s got to be one of the best feelings anyone can experience. When you actually meet people who tell you that, it makes everything you’ve done feel worthwhile."
And so the legacy continues.