Love Merced organizer Aubrey Nelson is 2015 Woman of the Year

A late-evening phone call on a recent Monday startled Aubrey Nelson as she concentrated on her computer screen.

The 40-year-old was working on projects for Love Merced, a community cleanup day she’s organized since 2006. But after glancing down at her ringing phone, Nelson knew she had to take the call.

It was Assemblyman Adam Gray calling.

“When you see your assemblyman calling you, you know you have to pick up – even if it was 8 p.m.,” Nelson said. “He said, ‘This is Adam, and I wanted to let you know I nominated you for Woman of the Year.’”

Nelson, a Merced resident for 16 years, said she was floored to find out she actually won the prestigious honor. “I was just really in shock. I think I had to call him back the next day and make sure it was real,” she said.

Less than a month later, Nelson found herself accepting the award on the Assembly floor of the state Capitol in Sacramento. It was an experience she calls surreal and unforgettable.

Nelson got involved with Love Merced after her pastor invited her to a meeting.

The idea of the community coming together – people from all walks of life – to roll up their sleeves and clean up Merced appealed to Nelson. She became the coordinator of Love Merced and has organized more than 200 cleanup projects for the event.

Love Merced volunteers tackle cleanup projects in city parks, schools, creeks and bike paths. The tasks include everything from cleaning and painting to picking up trash and doing yardwork. Last year, about 850 volunteers signed up to be part of 30 projects throughout Merced.

Gray, D-Merced, called it an “honor” to recognize Nelson’s achievements. “Her work with Love Merced has been extraordinary,” Gray said in a news release. “Her ability to mobilize hundreds of volunteers is impressive.”

Love Merced started as a result of the success of the Love Modesto event in 2007. The movement has spread to 44 cities, including Atwater, Winton and Los Banos.

Nelson said 400 volunteers have signed up for 32 projects in this year’s Love Merced in April.

Without the volunteers, Nelson said, she couldn’t be named 2015 Woman of the Year for Gray’s district.

“Love Merced is not about me. It’s about the everyday people,” Nelson said. “It’s because of them that I’m able to do what I do. I’m just so unbelievably humbled that I get to do this.”

For the first time, the dog park on Yosemite Avenue and R Street has been added to the list of projects. The large dog park needs shade, a new water fountain for people to use, and new lights after thieves stole the copper wiring connecting the existing ones. The large dogs could also use an agility course to expend their energy, Nelson said.

Jayleen Boyd, 42, signed up to volunteer at the dog park during Love Merced this year. “I’m so excited it’s on the list,” she said, adding that the park has helped her meet new people. She moved to Merced about a year ago.

With the drought on everyone’s minds, Nelson said trees are not the only way to add shade. A wooden gazebo or shade sails could be a better alternative. Love Merced volunteers are encouraged to use their skills to build those items or spend the morning cleaning the dog park and raking leaves.

The city-owned park hasn’t been a high priority, and city officials say they’re grateful for the help. So are dog lovers.

“The shade is number one for the dogs as well as the owners,” said Justin Hicks, watching his dog Sawyer play in the sun Wednesday. “This park was basically put in and there’s been no maintenance. It’s a huge investment, so why let it go?

Nelson said Love Merced brings residents together, helps them meet new people and changes the face of the community.

“As soon as I had my son in Merced, I realized I wanted my city to be different,” Nelson said. “Love Merced changes the community. It changes the youth. I have a picture of my son at age 10 picking up trash in Rahilly Park and to this day he won’t walk past garbage.”

Love Merced kicks off at 8:30 a.m. April 18. For more information or to sign up for a project, visit LoveMerced.com.

This story was originally published March 29, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Love Merced organizer Aubrey Nelson is 2015 Woman of the Year."