FBI Honors Community Leaders

 “You did not simply lament the problems you saw. You came up with solutions for them and went out and took action.” 
Sounds like a definition of leadership—so it’s not surprising that it’s how Director Robert Mueller characterized the latest winners of the Director’s Community Leadership Award in a Friday ceremony at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

For the second straight year, the Director personally presented the awards to more than 50 individuals and organizations that went above and beyond to make their communities safer and stronger. Each of the FBI’s field offices has the opportunity to select one winner annually, recognizing achievements in preventing and/or educating the public on crimes like terrorism, cyber fraud, illegal drugs, gangs, and violence. The award was launched in 1990. 

The individual story of each recipient shows what a difference a single person or organization can make. By publicizing their achievements, we hope that others will be inspired to use their time and talents for the good of their communities.

Dr. Saeed Fahia of Minneapolis is presented his Director's Community Leadership Award.  - Video: Recipients Talk About Their Programs - Gallery: Reception at FBI Headquarters - Profiles: Learn More About the Recipients

• A man from Vermont, whose 13-year-old son took his own life after being victimized by cyber bullys, became a tireless advocate for young teens and convinced his state to pass an anti-bullying law.
• A circuit court judge in Arkansas holds a special drug court at area high schools and middle schools, where students observe official court proceedings and get a first-hand look at where drug abuse can take them.
• An imam in Sacramento—a passionate advocate of interfaith dialogue to build a better society—has devoted much of his time to educating the community about the religion of Islam working with other faith-based organizations.
• A journalist in Los Angeles launched a Spanish-language website for the Latino community that has become a trusted source of crime information in areas like Internet safety, wanted fugitives, missing children, cold cases, fraud prevention, hate crime, and terrorism threats.
• A women’s group in Alaska, dedicated to educating the public on domestic violence, provides a safe shelter for women and children victims of violence and delivers comprehensive services to victims of human sex trafficking.
• An Alabama pastor responded to an increase in violence within his community by reaching out to young people and sponsoring activities—with other pastors, political leaders, and school officials—that fostered understanding and respect for one another.
• The executive director of a Somali organization in Minnesota provides a multitude of services to help settle immigrants and refugees and serves as a bridge between the Somali community and entities like law enforcement, the health care system, and the schools.

On our website, we have posted a complete list of the recipients and full descriptions of their achievements—along with high-resolution pictures of each attendee with Director Mueller. Congratulations to all the winners!