FACE & Multi-ethnic Leaders Hosts Inspirational SAIGU Closing Ceremony to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of LA Riots |
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FACE hosted an inspirational closing ceremony of the SAIGU Campaign commemorating the 30th anniversary of the LA Riots on April 29th, 2022. The SAIGU Campaign was a multi-ethnic, multi-state, multi-prong series of events and initiatives. To learn more, visit www.facela.org/saigu.
The closing ceremony brought together a coalition of leaders representing the diversity of Los Angeles, revisiting the pains of LA Riots but also the lessons learned, as well as highlighting the Heroes of Hope who have contributed to making LA a more unified city and have helped the city to rise from the ashes and come back even stronger than before.
Special gratitude to all who participated in the SAIGU 30 Campaign events as well as all those who made the entire campaign possible including our Sponsors and in-kind donors, Campaign Co-Chairs, the Honorary Committee, the Planning Committee and Supporting Organizations as well as Honored Guests, the special performers and all the behind the scene volunteers as well as Pastor Charles Choe and Tapestry LA Church.
Please see below the full list of speakers and presenters, photo highlights of the evening, and links to the video replay of the event and complete photo gallery.
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One of many highlights of the evening -Fireside Chat on Pursuit of Love, Healing & Solidarity moderated by Melvin Roberts, Spectrum 1 Anchor with panelists Najee Ali, Community Relations at Operation Hope, Hyepin Im, FACE CEO, and Joanna Sweatt, National Field Manager for Common Defense. |
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FACE CEO Hyepin Im gave a warm welcome to all those attending the closing SAIGU ceremony, and SAIGU 30 Campaign Co-Chair and LA City Councilmember John Lee brought opening remarks about his experience during the LA Riots.
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Latasha Harlins' family member Shinese Harlins-Kilgore, COO of Latasha Harlins Foundation, shared message of need for healing and moving forward during the Light of Unity of Hope closing session. |
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We were honored to have LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell & Consul General of Korea Youngwan Kim share their heartfelt special remarks.
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As a closing uplifting moment of solidarity, the various leaders representing Los Angeles were invited to participate in the Light of Unity of Hope lifting up their lighted pens while jointly singing 'the Blessing' led by multi-ethnic choir members from Faithful Central Baptist Church, Vintage Church and Tapestry LA. |
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California State Senator Dave Min shared a few words about his personal experience regarding the LA Riots, and Jinah Kim, NBC Correspondent, did a wonderful job of emceeing the evening. |
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Jumah Hamilton, representing Union Bank, Chief Data Officer of MUFG Union Bank, N.A., Lead Sponsor and also on behalf of Julius Robinson, SAIGU Campaign Co-Chair, brought greetings and Pauline Nishida, Convener for Cru LA closed the SAIGU 30 closing ceremony in prayer. |
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FACE was honored to recognize the following Heroes of Hope who through their service and leadership have brought unity and healing during and in the aftermath of the LA Riots. |
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Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Faithful Central Baptist Church, Heroes of Hope Award Honoree presented by James Cho, Professor at GMU and FACE CEO Hyepin Im. |
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The Korean Young Adult Team, Heroes of Hope Award Honoree represented by Han Sung Chang, 6th President of the Korean Young Adult Team presented by TC Kim, President of KASEF and FACE CEO Hyepin Im. |
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John Lim, Co Founder of Lim Nexus LLC, Heroes of Hope Award Honoree, presented by Grace Yoo, Public Affairs Specialist at St Barnabas Senior Services & FACE CEO Hyepin Im |
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PAVA World, Heroes of Hope Honoree represented by Julie Baek, presented by Carol Chung, Evaluator for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health & FACE CEO Hyepin Im |
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KJLH Radio, Heroes of Hope Honoree, represented by by Karen E. Slade, Vice President of KJLH presented by Vinnie Malcolm of Malcolm Media Advisors and FACE CEO Hyepin Im |
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Ruben Hernandez, President of UDLA, Heroes of Hope Honoree presented by Yonah Hong, Founder of Sharing Love in Korea & FACE CEO Hyepin Im. |
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Rev. Dr. Mark E. Whitlock of REID Temple AME Church, Heroes of Hope Honoree, gave a special video message of gratitude and was presented by Hyepin Im, FACE CEO. |
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YNanta from Hiza Yoo Korean Dance Institute opened the commemorative service with their dramatic drum performance, and the beautiful voices of Vocielesti Children's Choir, directed by Gloria Ahn, brought joy to the start of the evening program. |
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In a powerful moment of remembrance to recognize the victims of the LA Riots, the 2300 names of Korean storeowners whose businesses were destroyed and the 63 lost lives were lifted up as Hiza Yoo performed "Amazing Grace" on the kayagum. |
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The evening kicked off with professional musician Larissa Lam singing the national anthem with the presence of the LAPD National Honor Guard. |
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The Pava Dance team performed a beautiful traditional Korean fan dance, and the multiethnic choir comprised of members from Vintage Church, Faithful Central Bible Church, Tapestry LA and YWAM LA gathered on stage to sing 'the Blessing.' |
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Joanna Mendelson, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement of the Jewish Federation of the Greater Los Angeles on behalf of Rabbi Noah Farkas, SAIGU Campaign Co-Chair, shared her message of unity and hope during the Light of Unity & Hope.
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Guillermo Torres, Director of Programming of Clue and Deputy Chief of the LAPD Blake Chow shared a few inspiring words during the Light of Unity & Hope. |
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We were honored to have so many dignitaries and diverse community members join us for the commemorative closing service of our SAIGU 30 Campaign. |
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Councilmember John lee gave one more closing remarks during the Light of Unity & Hope. |
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The community leaders who participated in the SAIGU 30 closing commemorative service join together in singing 'the Blessing' and lifting up their 'lights of hope & unity.' |
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LAPD and other community leaders lighting their light of unity & hope! |
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Jay Chung, Board Treasurer of FACE opens the commemorative service with prayer and shares a few words, and Board Member Filiberto Gonzalez & Board Chair Jos Ferguson recognized & thank SAIGU 30 Campaign sponsors and supporting organizations.
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Volunteers at the SAIGU 30 closing commemorative service pose in front of the SAIGU 30 Campaing step and repeat, and FACE CEO Hyepin Im with KASEF President TC Kim and Director Hiza Yoo and Julia Jung of Hiza Yoo Institute at the VIP Reception. |
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FACE President & CEO Hyepin Im with Jin Kim and Shinese Harlins-Kilgore, COO of Latasha Harlins Foundation and also with Consul General of Korea Youngwan Kim and City Councilmember John Lee at the VIP Reception. |
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Councilmember John Lee and State Senator David Min share a few words during the VIP reception before the ceremony. |
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SAIGU 30 Campaign Commemorative T-Shirts with names of all LA Riots victims including 63 lost lives and the 2300 business owners whose stores were destroyed memorialized, and Joanna Mendelson, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement of the Jewish Federation of the Greater Los Angeles, Lead Sponsor of SAIGU 30 Campaign, saying some special remarks at the VIP Reception.
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County Supervisor Kathryn Barger shared remarks about the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the LA Riots in a special video message. |
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See More Photos from the Event |
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View all the photos from our SAIGU 30 Closing Ceremony here:
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Ceremony Recording Replay |
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Didn't get to attend in person but still want to see how the ceremony went? You can check out the recording on YouTube.
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FACE T-Shirt Design
Highlighting the Victims of the LA Riots
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For the 30th Anniversary we lifted up the names of the 2300 business owners who lost their livelihoods and the 63 victims who lost their lives during the LA Riots. Many of these names had gone unacknowledged in the past but we have placed them front and center on this year's t-shirt design. T-shirt's can be ordered for $20.
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Special thanks to our Sponsors, Supporting Organization, and SAIGU Campaign Co-Chairs and all the Planning Committee Members! |
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FACE Mission
To advance the Asian American community's participation, contribution and influence through faith and community partnerships.
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Faith and Community Empowerment
3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1124 Los Angeles, CA 90010
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