FBI honors Lutfi Dagci for El Paso community work bridging cultures, faiths
The FBI recently honored an El Pasoan for his community work in helping to cultivate friendship and promoting understanding and peaceful dialogue among diverse cultures.
FBI Director Christopher Wray presented the 2023 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award to Lutfi Dagci, director of the Raindrop Turkish House / Dialogue Institute of El Paso, at a ceremony last week at FBI Headquarters. Award recipients were selected by local FBI offices.
"This is one of the proudest moments of my life. I am very honored to represent the city of El Paso, my community and myself," Dagci said in a statement.
The Raindrop Turkish House in East El Paso is a nonprofit social, educational, cultural and charitable organization that has helped introduce Turkish culture to the Borderland.
Dagci was recognized for his "extraordinary contributions" in helping create a relationship between the El Paso Muslim community and the FBI and his work fostering understanding among diverse religious groups.
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"Mr. Dagci’s involvement in other faith-based groups has allowed him to work with leaders of the El Paso Jewish community to ensure the Jewish-Muslim communities communicated and worked together during this tense period of high emotions and concern on both sides," the FBI stated.
Dagci has taken part in the FBI El Paso's community outreach programs since 2020, including inviting FBI personnel to attend an Eid-al-Fitr celebration.
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"Mr Dagci’s passion to serve, open dialogues, and bridge cultures have helped not only the FBI but the entire El Paso community," FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales said in a statement.
"His outreach to El Paso’s diverse religious communities has raised awareness and have fostered relationships with law enforcement entities across the board helping to dispel myths, tackle adversity, and move forward in protecting vulnerable members of under-represented religious communities," Morales said. "The FBI is proud to honor Mr. Dagci’s leadership and service with the designation as the FBI El Paso’s 2023 DCLA recipient."
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: FBI honors Lutfi Dagci of El Paso for work bridging cultures, faiths
