06/27/2026
We are so very proud of Westminster’s Elizabeth Richmond as the recipient of the West Bluff Neighborhood Association’s Marj Klise Community Action Award.
Marjorie Klise Community Service Award Nomination:
A neighborhood is a network of homes, schools, places of worship and businesses. Of course, making the network thrive requires a human element - people dedicated to breathing life into those structures and, sometimes, reimagining how to meet their changing needs.
One such person within the West Bluff is Elizabeth Richmond.
Having spent most of her adult life in the West Bluff (as a Bradley undergraduate and graduate student, then later with husband Tom as an Uplands resident, raising their family including approximately 40 foster-children), Elizabeth is deeply woven into the fabric of the West Bluff.
As a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, she has recently taken on the formidable task of steering Westminster into developing and implementing mission-centered community programs.
After seeking input from members of the Moss-Bradley Residential Association (MBRA), Elizabeth spearheaded efforts to expand Westminster's community reach.
Most notably, Elizabeth collaborated with a team to create First Fridays at Westminster Hall, a free, music-centered gathering built to foster connection through the arts. This all-are-welcome, donation-based, monthly series provides local artists an opportunity to showcase their talents while attendees enjoy the company of others and refreshments.
A bonus off-shoot of First Fridays has been Second Tuesdays- "open mic" nights encouraging musicians of all experience levels to share musical expression.
Since their inception in 2025, these programs regularly bring neighbors together from all over Peoria to experience the unique vibe of the West Bluff!
With Elizabeth's direction and enthusiasm, these and other outreach programs are being offered at Westminster including Meet & Greet events (for foster-care families to network) and an essential items Supply Closet (providing donations of supplies many children lack upon entering foster care).
In addition, Elizabeth has collaborated with the Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging to provide weekly opportunities for fellowship, lunch and informative programs to keep senior citizens actively engaged.
Any proceeds from these programs directly support the WestMark Food Pantry - evidence that these are truly community-focused efforts that strengthen the West Bluff and Peoria.
While learning about Elizabeth's passion for building community, we discovered that she models her mother's example of tirelessly engaging others while avoiding the limelight at all costs. She has been described as a genuine "problem solver" and "relentless in her pursuit of solutions for the less fortunate"- all traits that Marjorie Klise would have admired about Elizabeth Richmond!
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Directors
Moss Bradley Residential Association
