from the Quality of Life Center/Bright Futures Scholars
This year’s recipient of the John Anson Ford Human Relations Awards for the fifth Supervisorial District is Quality of Life Center Inc.’s, Bright Futures Scholars Leadership Development Program. Supervisor Michael Antonovich presented the JAF Award to Commissioner Dr. Sandra E. Thomas, Dean of Scholars and CEO of the Quality of Life Center, Inc. and her staff members; Office Manager Greg Middleton, Finance Manager Tracy Richards and Program Coordinator Susie Dixon. Also pictured in the photo along with Supervisor Antonovich and Dr. Thomas are: Cynthia Banks, Director of Senior and Community Services, and Robin Toma, Executive Director of The Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission.
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations and the Board of Supervisors honors individuals, organizations and companies that have significantly impacted better human relations for our community. The annual JAF Awards are named for John Anson Ford, a past county Supervisor for six terms, from 1934-1958. He was committed to human relations through his 100 years of life. In 1944, the Board of Supervisors established the Joint Committee for Interracial Progress that later became the Human Relations Commission. His decades of service still endure as a model for all of us.
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations is dedicated to promoting positive race and human relations in an increasingly complex and multicultural county. The Commission works to develop programs that proactively address racism, homophobia, religious prejudice, linguistic bias, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other divisive attitudes that can lead to inter-cultural tension, hate crimes and related violence. Teaming with law enforcement, schools, cities, community-based organizations, youth, academics, policy makers, businesses and other leaders, the Commission brings key players together to resolve immediate inter-cultural conflicts and to lay the groundwork for a long-term campaign to eradicate bias and prejudice.
The Commission is part of Los Angeles County Government with its 15 members appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Each Supervisor appoints three Commissioners who serve multiple-year terms. Dr. Sandra Thomas is one of the commissioners from the 5th supervisorial district. A staff of 20 professional and support staff execute the Commission's programmatic work. The Commission's signature projects include an annual hate crime report, Human Relations Mutual Assistance Coalition -a countywide infrastructure for the delivery of human relations resources and technical assistance - and the John Anson Ford Awards which recognize effective practices in human relations work.
The Commission's mission is that of empowering youth through arts and action. Their vision is that of an informed multicultural and diverse community linked by interaction, compassion and understanding, and one that is committed to justice, equity, opportunity, accountability, respect and dignity.
This coincides with the mission of the Bright Futures Scholars Leadership Development Program that make opportunities available to youth that are in most cases from low-income and at-risk conditions in their personal and family lives yet still maintain a 3.0 or better Grade Point Average in school. These Bright Scholars are mentored by an array of Political, Business, Educational, and Professional leaders from the general Pasadena, Altadena and surrounding communities. Dr. Sandra E. Thomas and her staff graciously and humbly received this prestigious award.
