At the 12th anniversary celebration of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, inspiring community leaders were awarded for their dedication and innovative solutions as well as their effectiveness at coalition building in the community and at the national level.
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Awardees and speakers at award event
Cedric Hendricks, Associate Director Office of Legislative, Intergovernmental and Public Affairs of the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), was honored for his lifetime of public service in the US Congress and the City of Washington, DC.
Reverend Anthony J. Motley, social entrepreneur, community organizer, Senior Consultant, founder of several communitywide initiatives, also received a lifetime achievement award.
These recognitions were followed by humanitarian award presentations to Karen Gaal, Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) 3rd District Community Advisory Council (CAC) Chair, for the creation of the 3rd District CAC Pastoral Clergy Coalition; and Commander James Boteler and his 3rd District Outreach Team for the creation of the MPD 3rd District Cops & Clergy Coalition.
The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office has worked with Cedric Hendricks for over 30 years on issues including criminal justice, hate crimes, civil rights and education, while Mr. Hendricks worked on Capitol Hill as general counsel to several congressional committees, as legislative counsel to Congressman John Conyers, and legislative director to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Presenting Rev. Motley with his award, Rev. Susan Taylor, National Public Affairs Director of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, said, “Rev. Motley more than deserves our Lifetime Achievement Award for his 50 years of service to the District of Columbia, helping to bring private sector, government, police, churches and nonprofits together to make life better for the citizens of DC and especially our youth.”
In presenting the award to Karen Gaal, Thalia Ghiglia, Church of Scientology National Affairs Office Faith Liaison for the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, said, “Karen Gaal’s tireless work for her community is an inspiration to others. The 3rd District Community Advisory Council’s Pastoral Clergy Coalition is a beautiful example of Karen’s ability to bring people together for the betterment of our community.”
The program concluded by honoring the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department’s 3rd District Cops & Clergy Coalition’s Commander James Boteler and his outreach team for their innovative work in bringing together police and clergy to better the community.
MPD’s 3rd District Cops & Clergy Coalition award was accepted by Officer Randy Rogers, Cops & Clergy Coalition Liaison, on behalf of its founder Commander James Boteler. Officer Rogers said, “I would like to thank Commander Boteler. He brought this vision to the 3rd District ... to bring church together with law enforcement and with both of us together we can better serve our community. One of his slogans for Cops & Clergy is ‘we are stronger together.’ I firmly believe that, and my team firmly believes that.”
Assistant Chief for Patrol Services North, Sylvan Altieri, and new Third District Commander Michael Pulliam commended the Cops & Clergy Coalition, and are looking forward to continuing it.
Ms. Ghiglia said, “The Cops & Clergy Coalition is a vital program which has created a network of clergy and police, a force for good for the betterment of our community. Our church is honored to participate in this collaborative activity.”
Beth Akiyama, Executive Director of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, opened the evening’s event by highlighting the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office’s national and community work for the past year in the fields of international religious freedom, human rights, disaster response, and drug prevention.
The Church of Scientology National Affairs Office was established in Washington, DC, in 2012 to offer its services and community initiatives and outreach programs.
During the grand opening event in 2012, Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion, said, “We extend our reach by invoking what we hold to be the greatest of all rights, the one right which must be invoked if one is to fight for the freedom of others – the right to help.” He ended by saying, “All of it, not to convert, not to proselytize, but to do our part in uplifting this civilization as mandated in our Creeds and Codes.”
About the company: The Church of Scientology has engaged, throughout its existence, in activities to promote and protect religious freedom around the world for everyone. Scientologists are dedicated to this principle as evidenced by their pledge to support freedom of religion for the good of all.
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Organization: Church of Scientology National Affairs Office
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Release ID: 89145431
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