Legacy of Maria Guevara Echoes Through Time

May 6—Five years ago, Vallejo Together founder Maria Guevara was tragically struck and killed by a train in Suisun City.

Today, her radiance and lifelong advocacy for the unsheltered community continue to live on through all who knew and loved her.

Born in Manila, Philippines, at 9 Guevara was adopted and moved to the United States, where she grew up in Vallejo. Through self-imposed community outreach and frequent connectivity to those unsheltered, she always made an effort to lend a hand.

Even from a young age, "she was a kind soul," says her godmother and close friend, Deme Stall-Nash. "She would come to my house — when she was 17 at the time — and go through my cupboards and pack up bags and bags of food to give out to the homeless."

Together, the founder launched Aaliyah’s Closets, named after a 9-year-old homeless girl who passed away while residing in a vehicle. In collaboration with the Vallejo City Unified School District, they supplied needy students and their families with vital clothing, meals, and personal care items.

She likewise set up a Support Services Center in collaboration with the Mira Community Cultural Center and Vallejo's First Baptist Church, offering meals, computer and printer usage, a mailing address, along with shower and laundry amenities.

Over the course of her career dedicated to continuous advocacy, she assisted in establishing numerous "over-the halfway houses" or supportive living spaces designed for both men and women seeking independence. Additionally, she often arranged enjoyable excursions for underprivileged and homeless young people, offering them experiences typically associated with luxury rather than basic necessities.

As many as 50 children and volunteers would join these gatherings at the cinema, enjoying tea parties, dressing up for Halloween, and participating in lively Christmas and Easter celebrations. “She made sure nobody felt left behind,” Stall-Nash commented. Guevara organized these events, giving children experiences they might not have had otherwise, simply because seeing those small hearts glow with joy was everything to her, according to what she mentioned.

It goes without saying that Guevara was deeply passionate about advocating for those who were less fortunate.

Thanks to her “stealth squad” — as she frequently referred to her tight-knit group of buddies and co-activists — her objective remains ongoing.

He found strength in his hidden army of silent ninjas," chuckled Stall-Nash. "Whenever Maria reached out, it meant she needed your assistance for those less fortunate.

Regardless of whether he was involved in meal preparation, purchasing groceries, or checking on campsites, Guevara consistently took charge, managing affairs. Rose Laugtug, a long-time associate and volunteer with Vallejo Together, initially crossed paths with the organization’s founder in 2000 during an interaction with local government officials regarding the possibility of establishing a navigation center.

Her first impression of Guevara was one that she'll never forget. "I was just so impressed with how, in her very gentle quiet way, she pressed on city officials and really fought for people who have no voice in this city ... it was quite amazing to see."

After retirement in 2015, Laugtug sought volunteer work and responded to an ad placed in the Times Herald — an advertisement, which as it turns out, was placed by Guevara herself.

Laugtug recalls, "She'd request something from me with a tiny sparkle in her eye and a grin as if to say, 'You have to agree.' It was impossible to refuse her due to the elegance and affection she exuded."

In collaboration, they worked alongside the Seventh-day Adventist Central District to manage a community service initiative offering laundry services and basic provisions. Juggling responsibilities between Vallejo Together and overseeing various outreach programs, she was described as “a force” by Lautug.

She chuckled as she marveled at how someone seemed to conjure everything from nowhere,” recalls Lisa Gutierrez-Wilson, an advocate and long-time friend who worked alongside Guevara in 2015, distributing meals and teaming up with Vallejo.

Laughing, Gutierrez-Wilson said, "She tackled everything based on instinct," and added, "without getting bogged down in all the logistical and legal details, she managed to achieve far more." For several years, they collaborated closely on numerous projects led by Guevara, including various outreach initiatives.

The ones that particularly caught attention were the vigils.

For many years, Guevara organized vigils and modest ceremonies to honor homeless people who had died. According to Gutierrez-Wilson, her tenderness and sincere concern for these communities were truly commendable.

During one vigil, Guevara arranged a tribute for an unsheltered individual who was sadly discovered deceased at Mare Island. They held a ceremony where they commemorated him using balloons, a violinist, and a heartfelt recited poem by Guevara herself.

The founder went out of their way to reach out to the man’s daughter, ensuring she could witness the tribute paid to her father. “That sort of gesture is exactly what she would do, and it was truly heartwarming,” stated Gutierrez-Wilson. Additionally, the poem penned by Guevara highlighted the essence of unhoused communities and underscored the dignity they profoundly merit.

"That was a big part of what she wanted to impress on people, that we need to realize they are human and if nothing else, just look at them and smile and acknowledge their presence instead of trying to avert our eyes because it's scary and we don't understand it," said Gutierrez-Wilson. "That's the kind of person she was," she said.

Beyond her lifelong dedication to advocacy, it was Guevara's push for inclusivity that forever impacted those around her.

“She would state, ‘I refer to them as my friends and neighbors since that’s what they are. They reside in this town and should be acknowledged with respect and dignity,'” said Laugtug. Regardless of whether she was organizing Thanksgiving feasts or working outside, her admiration for others resonated through all her endeavors.

“To everyone she encountered, it was through her perspective and depiction of individuals living in camps, homeless, or residing in their vehicles that she bestowed immense dignity,” stated Laugtug. “Indeed, these are our neighbors and our friends.”

She went so far as to commit their first names to memory. Despite the challenge many faced in recalling the names and faces of homeless people they met, Guevara “could list them all... she knew every one of them, and they all knew her too; they adored her greatly,” according to Stall-Nash.

A lot of people in her inner circle believe they have been permanently transformed by the influence she had and the inclusion she advocated for so fervently.

He keeps drawing inspiration from her," stated Stall-Nash. "Everyone who was acquainted with her often wonder, 'What would Maria do?'

As an ardent supporter of establishing a "dignity village" offering the homeless a secure place along with facilities like restrooms and waste removal, Guevara and her fellow "ninjas" were nearly successful, according to Stall-Nash.

In 2014, when participatory budgeting began, they both joined forces as part of a team granted $688,000 for constructing a navigation center. Nevertheless, the nonprofit organization under section 501C named Guevara, which was expected to oversee the management of this center, did not materialize. Consequently, the allocated money returned to the pool, according to Stall-Nash.

People who were familiar with Guevara remember this period as when she began to lose optimism.

Today, though, she finds this hope sustained by her fellow advocates and closest confidants.

“We are all simply striving to maintain her mission,” says Stall-Nash. “Her ninjas are still out in the field. Regardless of whether we’re preparing meals, distributing food and clothes, or providing tents—we, as part of the Vallejo Together community, are doing our utmost to carry on her work.”

Even though Guevara has passed away, the effort to establish a dignity village remains vibrant.

“I genuinely think that was her solution, and what mattered most to her was aiding those who were less privileged,” states Stall-Nash. “She remained committed to this cause until the very end.”

Colleagues who have long admired Guevara and considered themselves close friends keep her memory alive through their efforts within the community and in their individual journeys. As Gutierrez-Wilson stated, “Guevara united numerous individuals among us, and even though she isn’t physically present amongst us now, our connections remain strong.” She further emphasized, “Each one of us continues to advance her initiatives.”

Originally Published: May 6, 2025 at 4:46 PM PST

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