Renea Magnani honored by the City of Sonoma

‘You are known to be dogged, local, honest, genuinely kind and straight shooter,’ said Councilmember Rachel Hundley.|

Sonoma Mayor Amy Harrington declared Sunday, March 10, “Renea Magnani Day.” At the City Council meeting on March 4, Harrington presented Magnani with the “Celebrate Sonoma” certificate of recognition.

Magnani was born and raised in Sonoma and has taught at the Dunbar School in Glen Ellen for nine years. She also represents Sonoma Valley’s teachers as co-president of the Valley of the Moon Teachers Association.

Councilmember Rachel Hundley praised Magnani for her dedication to quietly taking care of her students and families while instilling a love of learning.

“You are known to be dogged, local, honest, genuinely kind and a straight shooter,” said Hundley. “You are known for your heroic acts of kindness. You embody the very best of Sonoma. It is obvious by all that you do.”

Magnani was praised for her hard work during the fires.

“It was because of people like you that we were all able to get through that difficult time,” said Hundley.

When reached after the awards, Magnani said that it was a “true honor” to be recognized by the Sonoma City Council as part of Celebrate Sonoma.

“Having been born and raised here and only ever lived here, my heart and soul are here,” she said.

Magnani credited Evelyn Berger, Peg MacAleese, Helen Fernández, Adele Harrison, Celeste Cook, Ligia Booker and Sheana Davis, as “just some of the local women who set a path and showed me how to care for a community.”

“The work I do is not alone,” she added. “When I am arranging support for an individual or family there are people and organizations (Lions, Native Sons of the Golden West, Rotary and more) who answer the call and help without hesitation, often quietly and behind the scenes. This propels me to continue helping.”

Celebrate Sonoma is a new program started by Harrington in 2019 to “recognize people that make up the fabric of Sonoma.” Once a month, a community member will be recognized at a City Council meeting with a presentation of a city recognition certificate honoring them by dedicating a “day” in their honor.

A recording of the entire presentation is available on the City of Sonoma’s website, sonomacity.org.

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