The executive directors of two Asian American non-profits are among those named by the Department of Homeland Security to its Faith-based Security Advisory Council.
The secretary of the department named Kiran Kaur Gill, the Executive Director of the South Asian Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) along with Hyepin Im, President and Founder of Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE).
The Council will attack acts of targeted violence, terrorism and other threats to members of religious groups and remove barriers to building trust with various communities.
“I am honored by this appointment by Secretary Mayorkas to serve on this Advisory Board. With the growing incidents and threats of violence and hate that target so many communities, including the AAPI community, in our places of worship, business, and community – I look forward to contributing to make our country a safer place in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security,” stated FACE CEO Hyepin Im.
FACE is based in Los Angeles and has long advocated for greater homeownership in the AAPI community and cementing stronger positive relationships between the Black and Korean communities.
SALDEF aims to empower Sikh Americans by promoting social justice and civic and political participation.
“We all have a role to play in protecting our communities and country. In this effort, I am proud to be appointed by Secretary Mayorkas to the DHS Government Faith-Based Security Advisory Council to help prevent, respond to, and recover from acts of targeted violence, terrorism, or other threats” said Kiran Kaur Gill.
Gill and Im are two of 25 members to the Council recently named.
Others include Chandru Acharya, member, Plymouth Canton Interfaith Community Outreach, Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali, Executive Director, All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center, Salam Al-Marayati, Co-Founder and President, Muslim Public Affairs Council and Imam Talib Shareef, Nation’s Mosque / Masjid Muhammed.
“These prominent faith and law enforcement leaders will help us build and strengthen the community partnerships that are so vital to our mission success,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “We will work together to increase access to our services, ensure equity, maintain openness and transparency, and fully restore the trust of the communities we serve.”
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