Young Life Memphis

In Memphis, Pastor Eli T. Morris serves as a chaplain for the FBI and, through his work with Hope Presbyterian Church, works to discourage teens from gangs, drugs, and violence.

Born and raised in Memphis, Dr. Morris spent 11 years on the staff of Young Life Memphis, a non-denominational Christian organization that works with teens. For eight of those years, he worked as the urban director, helping youth find healthy alternatives to gang life and violence.

In 1989, Dr. Morris left Young Life to join the staff of Hope Presbyterian Church, which at the time had only 120 parishioners. Today, Hope is the largest Presbyterian Church in the United States.

In addition to teaching and preaching at Hope, Dr. Morris remains committed to serving the city’s urban core. He was the first executive director of the Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies and has served as an adjunct professor, helping urban leaders access theological education.

Dr. Morris was also the first executive director of the Urban Youth Initiative, which works to equip, empower, and support dedicated youth ministers and the local church community to effectively reach urban youth in Memphis.

He is also a founder and current chairman of Oasis of Hope, a Christian community development corporation in North Memphis. He has served on the board of directors for the STREETS Ministry, the Neighborhood Christian Center, Luke 4:18 Ministries, and MIFA Emergency Services.

Teen Angels

In New Jersey, Parry Aftab has worked with the FBI and the Newark Division since the 1999 inception of Newark’s Innocent Images Initiative.

Ms. Aftab, a noted author, child advocate, attorney, and leading authority on security, privacy, and cyber law, is the founder and executive director of wiredsafety.org. In addition to writing and promoting the first law enforcement investigator’s guide for social networks, Ms. Aftab also helped create MTV’s “A Thin Line” campaign, which educates teens about cyber safety.

In an effort to keep kids safe online, Ms. Aftab created a cyber safety initiative for the Girl Scouts, which has since educated 2.5 million girls regarding online safety. In addition, she drafted the Teen Angels Program, which allows teens to train for two years to become cyber crime prevention and cyber safety experts. Graduates of the Teen Angels Program go on to train their peers and have helped advise law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.

Currently, Ms. Aftab is creating a law enforcement cyber safety training portal for Ontario law enforcement agencies in Canada, and has created presentation materials and resources for law enforcement worldwide to be used in community outreach programs.

Throughout her career, Ms. Aftab has proven to be a tireless advocate for children. In 1999, UNESCO recruited her to lead its sexual exploitation of children awareness campaign, Innocence in Danger. When the program was not funded as planned, she continued her work without funding.

In 2001, she was asked to meet with the White House to help address the growing fear that children of Middle Eastern descent would be targeted by hate groups in the aftermath of 9/11. In response, she organized the E-Mail to America project, inspiring her clients and supporters to create a portal where children across the world could voice their fears and concerns.

Courage to be You

Jenny Williamson works with victims of human trafficking and helps educate the community about sex trafficking of minors. She has also led a fundraising campaign to purchase a ranch that can house young girls who have been rescued from a life of prostitution.

Currently, there are no other similar homes in Northern California for girls who are rescued from trafficking. With no place to go, many victims must be charged with a crime and taken to juvenile hall—the only safe group “house” that currently exists.

The founder and CEO of the non-profit Courage to be You, Ms. Williamson works to “equip, encourage, and empower individuals to discover their God-given purpose.” She bases her work on the principle that before any individual can recognize their potential and discover their purpose, their most basic human needs must be met.

Ms. Williamson believes that the world is changed one individual at a time. As a professionally trained life coach, former women’s ministry director, conference speaker, workshop leader, business owner, wife, mother, and very passionate cheerleader of those wanting to embark on a journey of purpose and passion, Ms. Williamson believes that discovering and fulfilling one’s unique purpose is the adventure of a lifetime.

Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization

Since 1976, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) has empowered more than 100,000 refugees and legal immigrants to successfully integrate into American society. IRCO has been a national leader in promoting community cooperation, education and crime prevention efforts, and youth services.

IRCO leads the way in offering educational and crime prevention programs. It holds workshops on public safety, the legal system, and emergency services for newly arrived refugees. IRCO has also been instrumental in helping immigrants and refugees become engaged in the civic process through its innovative Civic Engagement Program. This is a four-month program in which community leaders agree to put aside their fears of government in order to be more informed and engaged citizens. It is through educational workshops such as these that IRCO is helping to develop community cooperation and change negative perceptions of government and law enforcement in the immigrant and refugee communities.

Additionally, IRCO has played a key role in the state of Oregon in developing programs for local youth, including mentoring, employment, and gang prevention services. IRCO’s goal is to increase graduation rates while lowering criminal activity, truancy, and substance abuse. For instance, a recent effort placed 228 young people between the ages of 16 and 24 in summer jobs within the city of Portland, private businesses, and non-profit organizations. The youth were at risk for or experiencing homelessness, criminal activity, exposure to gangs, teen pregnancy, foster care, runaway status, and/or mental or physical disabilities. In 2006, IRCO created a Youth Gang Prevention Program to address the growing gang problem and gang violence. Nearly 4,000 youth have benefited from these services.

Sokhom Tauch is the executive director of IRCO. In his 34 years of work with IRCO, he has helped to grow IRCO into an organization that serves more than 45 ethnicities with more than 60 different languages. Under Tauch’s leadership, IRCO continues to provide exemplary immigrant assistance programs to address Oregon’s growing refugee and immigrant populations.

Marin City

Bridge the Gap College Prep provides comprehensive educational support for children in Marin City, with the goal that every Marin City child remains and excels in school, graduates from high school, and completes college.

Since its inception in 1995, Bridge the Gap College Prep has been leading Marin City students to realize academic achievement through its extended learning program, evening tutoring, and other initiatives.

To date, more than 275 children—most living in generational poverty—have improved their academic performance through Bridge the Gap’s programs. By keeping children engaged in academics, Bridge the Gap College Prep programs have prevented many of the city’s most vulnerable children from being lured into violent street gangs, substance/drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, and/or criminal behavior.

Marin City is predominately comprised of minority communities who reside in high-density Section 8 housing. Residents experience high unemployment rates and live in a high-crime area, evidenced by the fact that 65 percent of the total number of calls served by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office resolve to Marin City.

FBI employees regularly volunteer as tutors for the program and have personally experienced the impact Bridge the Gap College Prep programs have on disadvantaged youth.

KENS 5 Excel Award

Deborah Knapp is an award-winning television news journalist who demonstrates a strong commitment to community, law enforcement, and the FBI. Ms. Knapp has been an anchorwoman at CBS affiliate KENS 5 TV since 1987. Her numerous national and international assignments include covering Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath in New Orleans, the tragedy at Columbine, and the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Ms. Knapp has been instrumental in developing partnerships between the community and her television station. When gang violence was escalating across the city, Ms. Knapp produced a series of special reports entitled Keep Our Kids Safe, which brought community leaders together in televised forums to solicit community input and support.

In 1999, she helped launch the KENS 5 Excel Award, recognizing an outstanding public school teacher from every local district. Education and community service are important to Ms. Knapp, and in 1994, she established a scholarship at her alma mater, The University of Texas. Each year, a San Antonio student who has demonstrated a commitment to community is awarded the Deborah Knapp Scholarship to help pay for his or her education. Active in the community, Ms. Knapp is currently serving on the boards of the Boy Scouts of America, the FBI San Antonio Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association, the Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio, and the Las Misiones Capital Campaign, which raises money to restore San Antonio's historic missions.

A 2008 graduate of the FBI’s Citizens’ Academy, Ms. Knapp produced a number of news stories about her experience attending the class. In March 2010, she traveled to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia to film a series that focused on the Behavioral Science Unit’s development of the Evil Minds Research Museum, which is dedicated to understanding serial killers.

Ms. Knapp has also been instrumental in establishing the FBI San Antonio Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association (CAAA) chapter. She served as secretary for the interim CAAA board and currently sits on the board of directors and chairs the program committee. Her commitment to the chapter has reaped great benefits for the FBI—in less than a year, 80 Citizens’ Academy graduates have become members of the alumni chapter.

CARE Centers

Dr. Earl Sutherland, Jr. is a clinical child psychologist who also serves as the director for the Child and Adolescent Referral and Evaluation (CARE) Centers located on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations in Montana. In this capacity, he utilizes proactive and innovative approaches to address the prevention of child sexual abuse and family violence by providing a variety of services to children and families.

Through his work, Dr. Sutherland has made a multi-generational impact on a significant social problem in the Native American community, helping to prevent sexual abuse and family violence.

Dr. Sutherland’s work with the CARE Centers started in April 2007, when he opened the first center on the Crow Indian Reservation. The child advocacy foundation offers specialized diagnostic counseling, behavioral health services, and medical services to children who have been impacted by violent crime. The success with the first center resulted in the opening of the second location on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in January 2010. Both centers assist law enforcement by responding to investigations of child sexual abuse involving multiple perpetrators.

In an effort to reach more people and assist other communities, Dr. Sutherland is sharing his expertise by providing training for every Indian reservation in Montana and for other tribes across the country.

M.A.N. U.P.

Travis Terrell Gabriel, Safe Coordinator with Orange County Schools, works as a positive role model to at-risk youth. Six years ago, he started Modeling Alternatives to Negative and Undesirable Perceptions, or M.A.N. U.P., which is used by the State Attorney’s Office as a diversion program, allowing first-time offenders a chance to avoid formal prosecution if diversion requirements are successfully completed.

The six-week program for at-risk males teaches young men values including discipline, respect, motivation, honesty, and becoming positive assets to society.

Growing up in a high-crime, poverty-stricken area of Miami, Mr. Gabriel was raised by a single mother who died a day after his 16th birthday in connection with alcoholism and domestic violence. In 2003, Mr. Gabriel graduated from the University of Central Florida and made it his priority to positively influence at-risk young males.

To date, Mr. Gabriel has educated more than 400 young men and has an estimated 80 percent success rate of keeping participants from re-entering the juvenile system. He receives no financial compensation for running the program.

Proyecto Sin Paredes, Inc.

In San Juan, Carlos McCormack works as the co-founder of Proyecto Sin Paredes, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to serving adults with disabilities.

For more than 18 years, Proyecto Sin Paredes has touched the lives of many adults with disabilities, acting as an instrumental force in providing educational programs on violence prevention, discrimination laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other topics.

This year, Proyecto Sin Paredres invited the FBI San Juan office to participate in their summer camp.

Mr. McCormack, a 2009 FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni member, remains committed to supporting the FBI by increasing public awareness as well as the safety of the community.

As an organization, Proyecto Sin Paredes contributes to the well-being and quality of life of its members by espousing the philosophy that there are no limitations to how far one can go.

Having participated as a volunteer for the Muscular Dystrophy Association from a young age, Mr. McCormack has been a long-standing advocate for community awareness of the civil rights of people with disabilities.

FOX News Most Wanted

For the past two years, Q13 FOX News’ “Washington’s Most Wanted” show has worked to highlight missing fugitives and promote community awareness and safety. The show has become a statewide crime-fighting effort, helping to catch more than 190 fugitives to date, including murderers, bank robbers, and child molesters.

Mr. Rose is an anchor for Q13 FOX News and is the host and producer of “Washington’s Most Wanted.” Working with local, state, and federal law enforcement, he features hundreds of unsolved crimes on the show, including many cold cases.

The show has also highlighted the FBI’s Citizens’ Academy program—promoting the program and educating viewers on the FBI’s mission and priorities.

Mr. Rose has become a partner of the Seattle Community Outreach program, acting as a commencement speaker for Citizens’ Academy graduations and as a celebrity host for the G-Man Desert Shootout golf tournament, a charitable event benefiting the FBIAA National Trust Fund, which provides college scholarships to the children of agents killed in the line of duty.

Through all of his efforts, Mr. Rose has demonstrated a significant commitment to the community—not only by reporting on crime, but by acting as an advocate for victims and as a conduit for law enforcement.

Human Trafficking Victim Services

In Buffalo, the Human Trafficking Victim Services program at the International Institute of Buffalo recently assisted the Western New York Human Trafficking Task Force and Alliance, which is comprised of the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, in a joint investigation involving sex trafficking and related charges.

The International Institute of Buffalo was established in 1918 to support immigrants who face exploitation. In 2007, the Human Trafficking Victim Services program was created to provide services to victims of human trafficking.

Thanks to their most recent assistance, the FBI and other local partners were successful in dismantling four massage parlors acting as fronts for commercial sex operations.

The main defendant, Len Wah Chong, admitted to owning and operating four targeted massage parlors. Victims were coerced into performing sex acts at Chong’s parlors for a fee, which went to Chong. Victims were also forced to pay Chong $25 a day.

After the defendants were arrested and the victims were rescued, the International Institute of Buffalo Human Trafficking Victim Services program provided resources and assistance to the victims, which included protection and safety plans, social services advocacy, interpretation/translation services, medical assistance, legal assistance, job training, and English training. After the conclusion of the investigation, the International Institute of Buffalo continued to show its leadership and partnership capabilities by assisting the task force with ongoing cases regarding civil rights violations.

Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents

In Little Rock, Martha Deaver’s tragic experiences with two Arkansas nursing homes caused her to become an advocate for the elderly. After both her mother and mother-in-law were victims of nursing home abuse, she shared her story with a journalist, and it was later published in Ladies Home Journal.

Today, Mrs. Deaver is the president of the Arkansas Advocates for Nursing Home Residents (AANHR), an organization dedicated to protecting the elderly from abuse in nursing homes and seeking justice through prosecution of those victimizing the elderly.

For three years, she worked to supply information and data to Trudy Lieberman, the director of an organization that provides consumer reports regarding health issues. As a result, Consumer Reports released one of the most in-depth looks at America’s nursing homes to date.

Mrs. Deaver also created the AANHR’s first National Nursing Assistant Recognition Awards to recognize certified nursing assistants from across the state. In addition, she established the first program that recognizes National Resident’s Rights Week. She has chaired both events for the past five years.

Her efforts are best described by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, who said, “She is an advocate in the best sense of the word, tirelessly supporting and defending others.”

American Legion

Robert K. Caudell serves as the deputy director for the Americanism and Children & Youth Division at the American Legion National Headquarters, working as a liaison to the National Commission on Children & Youth and as executive secretary to the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.

After serving as an educator for 17 years in Indiana, Mr. Caudell worked as the program coordinator for the American Legion’s education and scholarship program. He has also worked as the assistant director of the Americanism and Children & Youth Division.

Because of his extensive community involvement, Mr. Caudell was selected as a participant in the Indianapolis Division’s inaugural Citizens’ Academy program. As a graduate of the first class, Mr. Caudell has served the Citizens’ Academy Alumni Foundation for the past nine years. Most recently, he served on the executive board as the foundation’s treasurer.

LEAD

LEAD San Diego works to affect positive change by developing leaders to improve underserved communities. Through their Leadership Action Team initiative and Graduate Task Force efforts, LEAD has addressed the needs of agencies that are invested in prevention-based strategies and after-school/mentoring programs by raising awareness and providing educational training.

By offering issue-based programming, leadership skill-building, and community volunteer opportunities, LEAD helps develop regional leaders who understand and can respond to the quality of life challenges facing the greater San Diego region.

LEAD programs are designed to engage, develop, and mobilize diverse groups of emerging and current San Diego leaders, equipping them with an understanding of the region, the personal skills, and the right network of people to accomplish great things as civic and community leaders.

LEAD San Diego is committed to the development and emergence of women, minorities, and those living in traditionally underserved areas of San Diego County as future leaders, and to ensuring that leadership reflects the diversity of the San Diego area.

Columbia Urban League, Inc.

In Columbia, James T. McLawhorn, Jr. has served as the president and CEO of the Columbia Urban League, Inc., since 1979. and is nationally recognized as a leader in race and community relations. He has appeared in hundreds of articles, news features, and public affairs programs addressing topics such as race and social policy.

Under Mr. McLawhorn’s visionary leadership, the Columbia Urban League has partnered with various organizations and entities to promote social justice, civil rights, and equal opportunities. In addition to partnering with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office and churches, he has supported and worked with the

Drug Court

to generate awareness about the program and encourage collaboration.

As the chief planner for the King Day at the Dome, the largest civil rights demonstration held in the history of South Carolina, he drew more than 50,000 people to downtown Columbia to protest the flying of the Confederate flag atop the South Carolina State House.

He is also involved with the Columbia FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association, Harvard University Civil Rights Project, United States Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee for Minority Veterans, Wachovia National Bank Community Advisory Board, National Governors Association Public Policy Advisory Board on Transitioning Foster Care, and numerous other organizations.

Peace Valley Foundation

In Birmingham, the Peace Valley Foundation (PVF) works to build bridges in the Turkish American community, promoting better understanding and closer relations between individuals and communities.

As an organization, PVF hosts dialogue dinners, dialogue trips to Turkey, essay contests, and the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi. PVF seeks to proactively contribute to solving educational, cultural, environmental, social, and humanitarian issues.

FBI Citizens’ Academy graduate Satilmis Budak, PVF president, will be receiving the award on behalf of the Peace Valley Foundation.

Founded in Huntsville, Alabama, PVF has six chapters across the state. The group believes dialogue is critical to solving the world’s problems. PVF hopes to contribute to world peace by showcasing the Turkish historical experience of the art of living together via respect, acceptance, dialogue, love, and richness of faith and culture.

The ultimate goals of PVF, according to President Budak, are building bridges, promoting diversity, and preventing terrorism.

PVF operates on the following principals:

■We will not engage in debates because debate implies a winning and losing side. Dialogue should result in both sides winning by improving their understanding.

■We will not engage in political discourse since political differences often result in highlighting dissimilarities and feelings out of anger. Instead, we will focus on universal and timeless human values.

■We will focus on our similarities while acknowledging our genuine differences.

■We will respect everyone’s God given right to choose what they believe. It is possible to respect someone while not agreeing with them on every issue.

■We will work hard to remove misunderstandings and take the first step when necessary.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Part of the 300-member National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) family, the 64-member Team Adam provides rapid, on-site assistance to law enforcement agencies and families in cases of missing, abducted, and sexually exploited children. Its members are retired law enforcement professionals with years of investigative experience at the federal, state, and local levels. Team members deploy to sites where investigations are initiated, providing on-the-ground technical assistance and connecting local law enforcement with a national network of resources. The team’s mission is to improve the odds of recovering missing or abducted children by responding quickly.

The Washington Field Office’s Crimes Against Children squad works closely with NCMEC in their daily efforts to protect children exploited by predators, pornographers, and other criminals. Team Adam also offers on-site guidance and expertise in pursuing child exploitation investigations, as well as assistance to victims and families. Team Adam provides these services free of charge.

Since its inception in 2003, Team Adam has deployed personnel to support 450 investigations. To date, more than 500 children have been located. Because no child is forgotten, team members continue to assist in the search of 38 children who are still missing.

As is often said, time is the enemy in the case of a missing child. This award recognizes Team Adam’s effort to provide expert citizen assistance to law enforcement.

Sister Mary Lou Specha

In New Orleans, Sister Mary Lou Specha works with at-risk youth at Café Reconcile, a non profit organization committed to stopping the generational cycle of poverty, violence, and neglect by providing life skills and job training programs.

Since 2000, Café Reconcile has graduated more than 500 youth between the ages of 16 and 22 from the nine-week program, empowering them to successfully enter the workforce.

As executive director, Sister Mary Lou Specha offers culinary arts training to more than 90 young people a year. Many of these youth come from a background of extreme poverty and horrific violence. In addition to helping students finish high school (more than 90 percent of Café Reconcile participants are high school dropouts), the program also teaches financial literacy, parenting, communication, and conflict resolution skills.

By encouraging personal growth, workforce development, and entrepreneurship, Café Reconcile works to place its graduates with local restaurants, including the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Roosevelt Hotel, Tulane University, and Oschner Hospitals.

After students graduate, their progress is tracked for four months. Café Reconcile has found that more than 60 percent of students successfully work for the entire period.

The Community Idea Stations

In Richmond, The Community Idea Stations have partnered with the FBI to promote the FBI Safe Online Surfing (FBI-SOS) program—an initiative aimed at keeping students safe on the Internet.

This year, The Community Idea Stations—a division of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting—began reaching out to its more than 400,000 viewers and listeners with a campaign promoting the FBI-SOS program. The campaign is expected to expand with the inclusion of radio and television advertising as this partnership continues to grow.

CEO Curtis Monk, an FBI Citizens’ Academy graduate, has become a strong partner of the FBI’s Community Outreach Program, and has allowed the division to host FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association events at the station. Recently, close to 100 Citizens’ Academy alumni gathered to learn about the FBI’s Safe Online Surfing Program.

The Community Idea Stations have worked to develop a strategy to promote the FBI SOS in Central Virginia. Through this collaboration, the FBI has developed strong relationships with local school districts.

Shakila Ahmad

A strong partner of local law enforcement and the FBI, Shakila Ahmad is an enthusiastic community leader who has dedicated herself to numerous civic and community causes. An active member of the board of trustees at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati since 1995, Mrs. Ahmad has worked to educate law enforcement personnel and community leaders about the Muslim faith through the Tours & Talks program. She also spearheaded the creation of the nationally recognized A Visit to a Mosque in America, an educational DVD which has increased understanding of Islam and the Muslim community in the United States.

In addition to her extensive work at the Islamic center, Mrs. Ahmad has taken a proactive role in promoting peace through dialogue by establishing the Muslim Mothers Against Violence initiative. This group works to connect with mothers of all faiths to increase awareness about violence and find constructive ways to resolve conflict.

Mrs. Ahmad continues to be a dedicated supporter of the FBI’s outreach initiatives. In 2008, she worked with the Cincinnati Field Office in assembling a Multi-Cultural Advisory Council to strengthen ties between the office and local ethnic, religious, and minority communities.

Mrs. Ahmad also serves as the board chair of BRIDGES for a Just Community, a local organization dedicated to achieving inclusion, equity, and justice. In addition, she is on the executive board of directors for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Islamic Educational Council board of trustees, the Ohio Humanities Council, and the YWCA Cincinnati board.

Angela DeLeon

In New Haven, FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni member Angela DeLeon is the originator and coordinator of a nationally recognized crime prevention program for senior citizens, the People’s United Bank Masters Program.

In 1996, People’s United Bank became one of the first banks in the country to develop a program designed with the safety of its senior citizen customer base in mind. The program is intended to promote financial security and awareness and brings together representatives from law enforcement, private and not-for-profit business, the office of the attorney general, and senior advocacy agencies.

Prior to joining People’s United Bank, Ms. DeLeon worked for the Bridgeport Police Department, where she instituted the first formal crime prevention program tailored to the needs of senior citizens. She initiated the nationally recognized File of Life Program and the Yellow Dot Program, both of which offer first responders medical history information in the event that a patient cannot speak.

Ms. DeLeon is a national expert who speaks at senior centers, senior housing associations, assisted living facilities, and seminars held in People’s United Bank branches throughout the country, working to keep senior citizens from being unsuspecting targets.

She is a member of the advisory board of the National Association of Triads, Inc., and the director of the State of Connecticut Triad Association. In 2000, she was recognized by the Crime Prevention Association of Connecticut as the Practitioner of the Year.

Michael DeStefano

In Pittsburgh, Michael DeStefano works tirelessly to invest in his community. As the chairman of the Federal Executive Board, Hispanic Employment Program Committee, he has worked to improve Hispanic recruitment in federal government. He has directed the committee in organizing multiple job fairs to promote employment opportunities and in presenting Hispanic community human resource panel discussions.

In addition to his work with the Department of Defense’s Defense Electronic Supply Center, he also serves on the executive board of the local American Federation of Government Employees union. In 2010, he graduated from the FBI Citizens’ Academy.

Mr. DeStefano is involved in multiple volunteer endeavors, including the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania, where he serves as a handball, basketball, softball, track and field, and soccer coach. He has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, refurbishing abandoned buildings in at-risk areas for families in need.

As a result of the contract work he performed during his government service, he was inspired to volunteer with small businesses in the Pittsburgh area, organizing local presentations on the process of small business growth through collaboration with various government agencies. He remains committed to improving his community, taking pride in service and helping people in emergency situations.

Polly Brunkhardt

In Kansas City, Polly Brunkhardt is a former president and active member of her local Citizens’ Academy Alumni chapter.

In 2010, Mrs. Brunkhardt served as the chairperson for the FBI National Citizens’ Alumni Association (FBINCAA) and the coordinator for the FBI Community Outreach in-service held in Kansas City. In that role, she worked with FBI Headquarters staff to select, implement, and execute the FBINCAA’s first community engagement project.

In her role as the conference coordinator, Mrs. Brunkhardt worked for more than a year to locate local community partners and financial supporters for the community engagement project, which brought more than 200 FBI and FBICAAA members together in June 2010.

Working with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Mrs. Brunkhardt identified a local soccer league that serves more than 600 youth and teens. Despite the popularity of the league, which was started by two fathers looking to keep their sons out of gangs, their local field was in disrepair.

In an effort to build bridges between the Kansas City Field Office and the diverse Old Northeast neighborhood, which encompasses more than 54 different languages and cultures, Mrs. Brunkhardt located additional sponsors and, along with her conference committee and the FBI National Citizens’ Academy alumni, raised more than $20,000 for the project.

Through her efforts, FBI staff and Citizens’ Academy representatives from across the country traveled to Kansas City and worked to enhance the field—clearing overgrown brush and installing bleachers and picnic benches—with the goal of developing and enhancing relationships and providing a safe and usable environment for the children of the area.

Mike and Mickey Gottfried

In Mobile, Mike and Mickey Gottfried have been providing support for young men without father figures through their community outreach program, Team Focus.

A former major college football coach at the University of Kansas and University of Pittsburgh, Mr. Gottfried also worked as a college football analyst for ESPN. Now, he’s dedicated to having a positive impact on youth who need adult role models.

In conjunction with families, teachers, and counselors, Team Focus works to equip boys ages 10-18 with leadership skills, guidance, godly values, and a continuing relationship with a mentor.

Mr. and Mrs. Gottfried launched the first Camp Focus in Mobile, Alabama during the summer of 2000. The program continued to grow, and since 2004, Team Focus has hosted between four and seven leadership camps per summer across the country in Texas, Alabama, Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, California, and Washington, D.C.

The summer programs focus on inspirational, community, social, and academic guidance. During the school year, Team Focus staff follows up with activities so that members can develop lifelong friendships and participate in new and different life experiences.

In 2006, the organization held its first Team Focus United Rally. More than 600 Team Focus members from 28 different states attended the four-day leadership rally.

The following year, First Lady Laura Bush visited Team Focus during the national camp, where she served as part of a panel discussion with Team Focus campers, their mothers, other mentors, and Coach Mike Gottfried.

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

In Atlanta, Daniel O. Vargas is an advocate for the Latino community and serves on numerous boards in the Atlanta area, to include The Mexican Center, Roswell Intercultural Alliance, Hugh Spaulding Children’s Hospital, The Latin American Association, United Way Outreach Program, and the Cobb County Hispanic/Latino Initiative.

In 1990, Mr. Vargas established Vargas Flores & Amigos—the only Hispanic advertising agency in Atlanta at that time. Mr. Vargas and his wife, Jennifer, also established The Three Kings Celebration, a housing service that helps needy families. Mr. and Mrs. Vargas have collected over 11,400 diapers, 51 baby cribs, numerous twin beds, sleeping bags clothing, furniture, and food in an effort to help families in need.

Mr. Vargas has earned more than 75 national and international community service awards for his work. He is also a member of the FBI Atlanta Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association.

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

Oklahoma City resident Mark Elam became an advocate for stopping the cycle of human trafficking and subsequently traveled to India, South Asia, and the Philippines to actively work with organizations that rescue girls from sex trafficking.

Since then, he has formed an international organization—Angel Eyes—to help support, house, and restore victims of human trafficking. He also works to combat the problem in the United States, serving as a member of the FBI-led Oklahoma Human Trafficking Group (OHTG) and as the founder of the Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans.

Currently, Mr. Elam serves as the primary administrator of OHTG and has developed an extensive network of social service providers, medical providers, shelters, and victim advocates, many of whom joined OHTG as active members. Through his work, Mr. Elam maintains a victim-centered approach that is needed to successfully rescue and rehabilitate victims of trafficking.

In an effort to increase understanding of the issue, Mr. Elam has formed two community action teams, staffed by hundreds of volunteers, that actively work toward public awareness, victim advocacy, shelter, and foster care, The teams also work with Oklahoma state legislators to improve state laws and increase funded assistance to the recovery and rehabilitation of victims.

In recognition of his work, Mr. Elam was among a very select set of national experts invited by the Bureau of Justice Affairs to participate in a focus group intended to develop a new model for the government to combat human trafficking.

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

As the executive director of Project Oz, a youth service agency representing central Illinois, Peter Rankaitis endeavors to keep troubled youth from being sent to out-of-state institutions.

Mr. Rankaitis started Project Oz in 1973 and has worked since then to develop McLean County’s first emergency placement network for youth, as well as street outreach to homeless youth, transitional housing programs, and a youth gang intervention program.

Currently, Mr. Rankaitis remains committed to helping youth work out their problems in the context of their everyday lives. He leads several youth service task forces and service networks and is active in policy development at the local and state levels.

Under his leadership, Project Oz has been recognized at the local, state, and national level. It recently received the Executive Leadership Award of Excellence from the National Network for Youth.

Violence Prevention

In Norfolk, Gloria Morales works as a liaison for the Hispanic community, developing community-based violence prevention programs and other materials to educate the Latino population there.

Born and raised in Colombia, Ms. Morales immigrated to the United States in 1999, searching for a better life. Three years later, she became a caseworker for the faith-based non-profit Refugee and Resettlement Organization in Richmond. While there, she helped Cuban refugees assimilate into the American culture and was subsequently promoted to program coordinator.

Since then, she has been working with public safety officials to improve communication and prevent misunderstandings with the Hispanic community.

In 2006, Ms. Morales was hired as the coordinator of the Network for Latino People (NFLP), a community coalition comprised of 29 member organizations. As a result of her efforts, the coalition has doubled in size and includes 59 law enforcement, immigration, legal, civic, and school agencies and officials working to identify and support the needs of the Spanish-speaking population in Williamsburg, Virginia.

She recently established NFLP’s Community and Medical Interpretation Service as a viable and sustainable program. As a result, the NFLP has been awarded an additional $20,000 by the Williamsburg Community Health Foundation, a 20 percent increase in program support from previous years.

Through her work and leadership, Ms. Morales remains accessible to and committed to meeting the needs of the Latino community. In August 2010, she achieved her 10-year dream of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Whistleblower

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

Dr. Steven Bander knew he would lose his career and would have to pay upfront lawyer fees and costs when he became a whistle blower in April 2001. What he didn’t know was whether his case would prevail or how it would affect his family. But as the chief medical officer for Gambro Healthcare U.S., the world’s third-largest supplier of kidney dialysis services, he knew he had to do what was right.

In an agreement three-and-a-half years later, Gambro paid $350 million in civil and criminal penalties to settle claims it defrauded Medicare and Medicaid out of hundreds of millions of dollars. This agreement, made in December 2004, remains the largest fraud settlement in Missouri history and, at the time, was the sixth largest in the country.

Under the federal whistle-blower law, Dr. Bander received a $56 million share of the settlement. To this day, Dr. Bander lives in the same house. He has donated more than 20 percent of his money, after legal fees, to establish a charitable foundation that focuses on business ethics in health care.

Dr. Bander’s philanthropy includes donating to St. Louis University in 2006 to form The Bander Center for Medical Business Ethics. Dr. Bander has also donated to Washington University (St. Louis) to establish the Bander Business Ethics in Medical Research Funding Program.

Spin-offs from this case include a lawsuit against Renal Care Group, which was ordered to pay more than $19 million for similar allegations. The judge in the case is now considering whether to award the government additional damages and penalties.

Honoring Community Leadership

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

Eric Idehen serves as vice president and diversity consultant at Wells Fargo Bank in Des Moines, Iowa, a position that allows him to draw from his global life experience and language skills. Under his direction, the bank has developed mentoring programs and increased diversity recruiting programs and activities.

Mr. Idehen is currently a board member of the Iowa Council of Understanding and has been recognized for his volunteer work with immigrants settling in Iowa. He plays a key role on the board of the local Red Cross, is an active member of the Alianza-Latino Business Association and the Iowa Chinese Association, and was honored as the 2009 recipient of the Dr. David Jiagian Wang Award for Humanity.

In 2009, Mr. Idehen graduated from the first FBI Citizens’ Academy in the state of Iowa and has remained diligent in the creation of the Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association for the Omaha Division, serving on the executive board.

Mr. Idehen moved from Nigeria to Iowa 10 years ago to provide a better life for his family and has devoted himself to giving back to the community. In addition to his contributions in Iowa, he and his wife have also founded the Cornerstone of Hope, an orphanage in the heart of Benin City, Nigeria.

Improving Communities

Community leadership honored in Washington D.C.

In Phoenix, the Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Inc., is providing a unique and educational prevention program for underage females who have been sexually exploited and are incarcerated at the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections’ Black Canyon School.

As the result of a partnership formed through the Innocence Lost Phoenix Initiative, the Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council partnered with the Department of Juvenile Corrections to address a population of prostituted children.

In an effort to reach young girls, the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council created the Adelante Jovencitas (Young Women Moving Forward) program, a mentorship effort intended to help “build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.”

The Girl Scouts collaborated with other agencies and Arizona State University’s College of Education and Service Learning program in the formation of Adelante Jovencitas, which provides girls the tools they need to solve problems relating to education, health, homelessness, violence and crime, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and gang violence.

Adelante Jovencitas has three primary components, including a non-traditional Girl Scout program that operates within the juvenile corrections systems and group homes; a transitional mentoring program that works with girls before and after their release; and a community troop that serves girls from the community and various justice system housing placements.

The Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Inc. is instrumental in working alongside governmental organizations to combat the sexual exploitation of young females.

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

As the director of the Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission, Dr. Mallory O’Brien has led its development, implementation, and evaluation since 2004. She is a trained epidemiologist and has worked in the field of violent injury prevention for the past 15 years.

In 1994, she began her work developing, implementing, and evaluating the Firearm Injury Reporting System, a regional tracking system for firearm deaths, at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

She later went on to continue her work and expand it to the national level as the associate director of the National Violent Injury Statistics System at Harvard University’s Injury Control Research Center.

Dr. O’Brien has atken a leadership role as a consultant to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services - Wisconsin Violent Death Reporting System. She is currently a member of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the advisory committee of the Safe Streets Initiative, and the Wisconsin Attorney General’s Crime Victim Council.

Dr. O’Brien is currently a researcher with the Terry Sanford Institute for Public Policy at Duke University.

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

In Philadelphia, Matthew Chea is known for his community leadership work and being a partner of the FBI.

An active member of the Philadelphia Division’s Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee, Mr. Chea has been instrumental in contributing relevant topics for discussion. He also developed and spearheads the Cambodian American Professionals Association—a group that promotes giving back to the community and involvement among young professionals.

Statistics show that few Cambodian Americans graduate from college and many don’t earn a high school diploma. Because of a lack of education, some are stuck in a cycle of poverty. Through his work with the Cambodian American Professionals Association, Mr. Chea has recently raised $2,000 for a scholarship to encourage Cambodian students to go to college. The recipient of the scholarship will receive mentorship while attending college.

Mr. Chea works as a victim/witness coordinator in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Because he is fluent in multiple languages, he also often serves as an advocate for crime victims of diverse populations.

He also works as a volunteer and is an active member of the Philadelphia Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition and Interpersonal Violence Against Asian Communities Task Force.

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

Susan M. Seligman, New Mexico Anti-Defamation League (ADL) regional director, has spent 21 years working to ensure freedom from prejudice and discrimination. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to combating anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred through education, legislation, law enforcement, and the media.

Under her leadership, the ADL has been instrumental in passing anti-terrorist and hate crime state legislation. As one of the state’s experts on domestic terrorism, she is a strong supporter of the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

Through her partnership with the Bureau, she has provided hate crime training opportunities for executive management and personnel. In 2008, she helped expand the FBI’s reach through the ADL’s annual national meeting, where former Deputy Director John S. Pistole was the keynote speaker.

After graduating from the FBI’s Citizens’ Academy in 2007, Ms. Seligman volunteered to establish the local FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association chapter and attended the first national FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association leadership conference. Since the chapter’s inception, she has served a three-year presidential term and currently sits on the board of directors. She is also a member of the Albuquerque Division’s Community Engagement Council.

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

In Dallas, Christina Yampanis is devoted to bringing community involvement to law enforcement by encouraging crime awareness, prevention, and education. Through her work with the North Texas Crime Commission and other volunteer efforts, she has effectively promoted community awareness and the FBI.

Ms. Yampanis is a participant in the Dallas Mayor’s Council on Morals and Values conference and the Mayor’s Back to School Fair for underprivileged children, and is involved with the Denton State School residential facility for adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. She volunteers monthly at the Austin Street Homeless Shelter and is the co-chair for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, which provides Christmas presents to needy children and the elderly.

By working with the North Texas Crime Commission, she has also helped further law enforcement awareness. The North Texas Crime Commission promotes community involvement in supporting federal, state, and local law enforcement. The commission works to keep communities safe by increasing communication between the arenas of law enforcement, business, education, government, the media, and all citizens. The cooperative, comprehensive effort involves concerned citizens like Ms. Yampanis and highlights the motto, “Fighting Crime is Everyone’s Business.”

2010 Director’s Community Leadership Awards

In Boston, educational advocate Patricia Spence works tirelessly to ensure that all children have access to quality educational experiences.

From booster-seat safety programs and youth-driven newspapers to involving children in nature exploration trips and home reading programs, Ms. Spence utilizes her resources for the educational advancement of students.

Working with both public and independent schools, corporations, churches, and the community, she draws upon her more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience and 10 years of media experience to expand educational options for youth.

For the past six years, she has spearheaded the “They Made It, So Can I” program, aimed at fifth-grade students. In collaboration with the FBI’s Community Outreach Program, Ms. Spence’s initiative presents a diverse speaker series to students in the hope that they will carry seeds of empowerment to middle school and beyond.

Ms. Spence also works for the Ellison Parks Early Education School as the home and school literacy coordinator. She has implemented several programs in this position, including the Ellison Parks Home Reading Program, Reading with Friends, My Reading Buddy, Men’s Night Out and Women’s Night Out, Family Fun Days, and empowerment seminars.

In addition, Ms. Spence serves as an educational consultant for Unity First Magazine and helped develop the Diversity in Education fall issue, which is now in its sixth year. Working with more than 50 independent schools annually, she shares open house and diversity success stories.

Ms. Spence also volunteers with the Boston Public Schools to further the mission of educational options for youth.

Reducing Total Ownership Costs is Focus for SPAWAR San Diego Leadership

By Steven A. Davis, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Space and Naval Warfare Systems (SPAWAR) Command leadership, and San Diego defense industry executives assembled to discuss key acquisition issues at the Anti-Submarine Warfare Command's Admiral Kidd Club March 24.

The discussion attracted nearly 300 people and centered around the rapid fielding of cyber/information technology capabilities, and reducing costs of systems throughout their lifecycles. San Diego Daily Transcript Editor George Chamberlain served as the event's moderator.

The panel members, who represented more than 200 years of federal acquisition and defense industry experience, engaged in candid conversation on the challenges associated with the current acquisition environment.

"We have to look closely at total ownership costs for individual systems," said SPAWAR Commander Rear Adm. Patrick Brady. "But we also have to focus on operational excellence and total capability that allows for maximum deployment of our platforms."

Total ownership cost refers to the price tag associated with developing, deploying, modernizing and sustaining a system throughout its life cycle. Today's budget climate demands that SPAWAR and the Navy acquisition community closely examine acquisition strategies, training and installation plans to minimize these costs.

"We're developing a strong business case for long-term savings," explained Brady. "This requires us to work closely with the other systems commands and program executive offices to ensure our acquisition strategy for systems on new platforms is correct up front."

One way this goal can be accomplished is through the reduction of legacy systems. The Navy Multiband Terminal is being introduced to the fleet to improve satellite communications while streamlining the number of terminals (two to one) and antenna systems (three to one).

"This consolidated approach will significantly minimize failure rates, and reduce training burden, sustainment costs and the quantity of terminals being procured," said Rear Adm. Jerry Burroughs, program executive office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I).

In addition to these prevalent issues, the panel members also pondered inherent acquisition issues, including upfront costs associated with systems development versus long-term operational and sustainment costs. Systems development and operations/maintenance funds come from different funding sources, which complicates how lifecycle costs are calculated.

The panel also addressed the necessity for IT systems acquisition improvement. Today's defense acquisition model is platform-focused, meaning it takes years for a program to get through the requirements process, develop a design and then install the system on platforms. This approach is appropriate for a ship or an airplane that needs to last decades, but not for IT systems that require agility and continuous software upgrades.

SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific Commanding Officer Capt. Joe Beel noted the command has addressed the IT issue with the development of the Navy's next generation tactical afloat network. The design for the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services, or CANES, is analogous to today's smart phones that feature common core services on a single hardware platform. Once the CANES hardware is installed on ships, system upgrades can be pushed rapidly and at minimal cost.

"We're developing systems that better focus on the fleet operator," said Beel. "Reducing the complexity of systems also reduces the costs associated with training and maintenance."

As the Information Dominance systems command, SPAWAR is increasingly focusing on responding to emerging, high priority cyber issues. This requires close coordination with Fleet Cyber Command/10th Fleet, which is responsible for the defense of Navy networks. Although Navy-wide cyber issues are typically unbudgeted and difficult to predict, "We are better positioned now than ever before to respond quickly to these kind of challenges," said Brady.

While panel members discussed a number of ways in which capabilities can be more quickly delivered to the fleet, a number of recent success stories emerged regarding the rapid response in Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Terry Simpson, PEO C4I's principal deputy for intelligence, discussed how the Deployable Joint Command and Control modules, which provide a mobile, expeditionary command and control capability, have been deployed to help coordinate the disaster relief efforts in Japan.

Beel noted that several SPAWAR capabilities have been rapidly adapted and deployed for humanitarian assistance efforts, such as counter improvised explosive device robots – originally designed for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan – that are being used for disaster relief.

SPAWAR also adapted a command and control combat network to be used by naval aircraft operating from USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The network allows E2-C "Hawkeye" aircraft to better coordinate search and rescue operations, relay real-time data to operational assets and assist first responders on the ground.