SALAM Receives 2012 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award

Sacramento, CA: During a brief ceremony held at the Sacramento Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) November 14, Herb Brown, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), presented the Director’s Community Leadership Award to Farrukh Saeed, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims (SALAM). The annual award recognizes the achievement of an individual or organization for commitment to violence education and prevention in the community.

In April, Saeed will travel to Washington DC to receive the official, engraved crystal award from FBI Director Robert Mueller during a public ceremony at FBI Headquarters.

“SALAM is an asset to the greater Sacramento area. They have built a foundation of unity among the multi-ethnic Muslim community, established and maintained a dialogue with the FBI and have welcomed crime prevention programs such as the FBI Citizens Academy and cyber safety awareness presentations that aid awareness and understanding,” said Brown. “SALAM’s openness and commitment to the community as a whole, regardless of faith, makes them a shining example of community leadership.”

SALAM was founded in 1987 to promote Islamic teachings, understanding and unity among Muslims in the greater Sacramento community. The first SALAM advisory council was multi-ethnic – not common among Muslim organizations at the time – and was chosen from all supporters of the center. SALAM has been focused on establishing communication with the non-Muslim community to dispel myths about religion and educate all about Islam. SALAM established dialogues with people of other faiths and participated in media interviews.

Almost 25 years later, SALAM has continued its commitment to its membership and the greater Sacramento community as a whole. SALAM’s leadership has participated in the FBI Citizens Academy to better understand what the FBI and how they can aid efforts to promote programs and prevent criminal acts. The center has hosted Friday Family Nights at which FBI personnel have offered presentations about Internet safety including netiquette, bullying, and online impersonation issues. SALAM also opened its auditorium to host Easter services for the displaced Spiritual Life Center. Despite initial negative attention, SALAM supported the Christian service and it became so popular with the community that two services were scheduled to accommodate more than 500 congregants.

“We are extremely excited and thrilled to have been chosen to receive FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2012,” said Farrukh Saeed, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SALAM. “This award is in recognition of SALAM Center’s efforts to help make our community a better, safer and more understanding place to live. We have been striving to accomplish this by maintaining our positive and proactive relationship with the interfaith community, law enforcement and public entities for the past 25 years.”

 

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