Hundreds of local residents, dignitaries and elected officials gathered in San Bernardino Valley College’s historic Auditorium on Saturday to celebrate the swearing-in of California State Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes.

Ms. Reyes, who graduated from San Bernardino Valley College in 1976, went on to receive her law degree from Loyola Law School and is notable for being the first Latina to open her own legal practice in the Inland Empire, as well as for providing free legal services to local residents who could not afford them.

Elected in 2016, Ms. Reyes represents District 47 in the California State Assembly.