Diocese of Los Angeles Honored for Refugee Work
Episcopal News Service. [80440]
Los Angeles -- For "remarkable leadership in the resettlement of refugees from other lands and cultures into Los Angeles and helping to nurture a climate of acceptance for them in the community," the Community Relations Conference of Southern California has awarded its Membership Trophy to the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles.
In presenting the trophy, Toshiko Yoshida noted that the churches of the diocese had resettled more than 800 refugees this past year. She also paid tribute to the Diocesan Resettlement Office and St. Anselm's Refugee Center for their ongoing work in helping refugees toward self sufficiency. Yoshida is vice president of the Conference and City Human Relations Commissioner.
The presentation took place at the Conference's 35th anniversary dinner held at the Town and Gown Foyer on the University of Southern California campus. David Ochoa, a former Conference president and now a television producer in New York, was master of ceremonies for the affair.
The Community Relations Conference serves as an umbrella bringing together 85 Los Angeles area organizations and 2,500 individual members concerned with racial, ethnic, human relations, governmental and civic issues. For 35 years it has championed the rights of the poor and minorities and attempted to educate the public as to its responsibilities concerning the needs of this large group of citizens.