For his work in the Peoria and surrounding communities, Joe Eriquez has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Spiritual category.
The Hometown Heroes Awards are a celebration of individuals who live or teach in the city, and Peoria businesses for their local achievements and distinguished contributions to the community.
What I like most about living/working in Peoria.
Peoria is a great city to live in, between community, beautiful parks and great youth programs. It is a well run city.
Personal background highlights.
My family is very important to me, knowing they all love the Lord and are all willing to serve others shows me they understand life is not just about them but the people and the community they live in.
Professional background highlights.
Working with kids is a blessing. When a kid gets that “ah-ha moment” to see them achieve things they thought they never could is always a huge highlight.
What does it mean to be a Peoria resident/worker?
I have the privilege to serve community leaders as well as the kids that live in it.
What do you think you bring to the local community that makes it better?
Serving at-risk youth giving them a vision for life, the love they deserve, and providing a way to serve their own communities.
What would you tell people about why it’s important to make a difference?
If we learn to serve the people in our community then the community becomes better and your own way of life becomes better.
Changes I’d like to see in this area.
I’d like to see kids and adults being taught that hard work in school and with their jobs is greater then believing they are entitled to anything.
My family (what have they taught you).
The way they love their kids and others is a great reflection of their character.
My interests and hobbies.
Golf.
The trait(s) I admire in others.
Serving others.
People who inspired me (and how).
My high school coach who I am close friends with 46 years later. He shared life skills with me that I use today. My pastor of the first church I pastored at. He helped me grow in my knowledge in Christ. And my dad, who showed how a man should live and cherish his family.
My guiding philosophy.
As a former pastor, the Bible leads and guides me through good and bad times. I lean on the Lord to help me make the best decisions for our organization, my family and my personal life.
My advice to today’s youth.
Who you hang around is what you will become. Choose your friends wisely. Life is tough enough, and when you have friends that live negatively, that will spill over to your life if you have good, healthy friends that will reflect in your character and your actions.
Name a couple future goals.
To reach more Title I schools and empower kids with the hope and vision for life.
Editor’s note: Peoria City Councilmember Vicki Hunt contributed to this report. Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Philip Haldiman is a third generation Arizona native with brief residencies on the east and west coasts.
He has bachelor’s degrees in Theater and Journalism at Arizona State University, and is an award winning journalist with more than 15 years worth of experience in reporting and editing.
Most recently, he took first place for investigative reporting and third place for best sustained coverage or series at the 2023 Arizona Newspapers Association awards.
In his free time, he produces an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
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