Community Corner

Prime Poway Woman No. 31: Barbara Lerma

She's contributed 45 years of her life to improving the "City in the Country."

Poway Patch's Prime Poway Women feature is ending with a bang because it ends with a woman who has dedicated years of her life to the city.

Barbara Lerma moved to Poway 45 years ago and immediately became involved in the city.

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Lerma, who onced worked and retired from UC San Diego, has served on the city's Budget Review Committee, Arts Advisory Committee and Housing Committee. Outside of these civic duties, she's been a leader in the Palomar District of the GFWC/California Federation of Women's Clubs and Escondido Alumnae Panhellenic, volunteer for the Poway Library and Poway Boys & Girls Club and is now a board member of the Poway Senior Center and Poway Center for the Performing Arts.

But that isn't all. Lerma has also served on the House Corporation Board of her collegiate sorority Gamma Phi Beta and chaired Greek Row Panhellenic at San Diego State University.

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Her involvement in the community and the opportunity to see Poway grow over the years is what she is most proud of.

"I've enjoyed seeing the community grow and prosper, seeing the city develop into such a great place to live," she said, "to contribute along with so many others to help make and keep this a most desirable place to live."

Lerma, who has inspired many in Poway, said she looks up to Eleanor Roosevelt.

"She cared about humanity, used her position to help all," she said. "An honest, intelligent woman who saw wrongs and wanted to see them righted, such as child labor, the work week, segregation and public welfare in general."

What does Women's History Month mean to you? 

"It's a great chance for women of all ages to think about their, and other women's, contributions to our society, our communities; to think to the future, to encourage our daughters, nieces, granddaughters to be the person they want to be, whatever that may be. The opportunity to look to the past and plan for the future of all."


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