Human Dignity Program Community Harmony Awards

The City of Long Beach Human Dignity Program Awards The City of Long Beach is proud to honor the following recipients of the 2008 Human Dignity Program Community Harmony Award which was given at the September 18th California Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ) 44th Annual Dinner and Gene Lentzner Human Relations Award Celebration. These individuals have made outstanding contributions toward promoting community harmony in the celebration of the strengths of diversity. Read their bios. Yvonne Duke Jail Administrator, Long Beach Police Department & Black Managers' Association President Karen Owens Community Relations Division Administrator, Long Beach Police Department Dora Hogan Human Resources Manager of Employee Benefits and Equal Employment, City of Long Beach Sherriel Murry Human Resources Personnel Analyst, City of Long Beach Steve Adams Director, Long Beach Unity Festival Project Alma Campos and Aroldo Campos Co-Directors, New Generations youth group top Biographies of the 2008 Community Harmony Award Recipients Yvonne Duke Yvonne Duke was appointed as the Long Beach Police Department Jail Administrator on September 30, 2004.She is the first female, civilian and African American employee to hold this position. Yvonne began her career in corrections in 1981 working as a corrections officer for the New York State Department of Correctional Services. In 1993, after twelve years with NYDOCS she relocated to Charleston, South Carolina and accepted a position with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.Yvonne worked in the jail and quickly promoted to the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, and Administrative Lieutenant. In 2001 she was promoted to the rank of Captain and became the first female Captain for this agency working in the jail. Yvonne has served as an instructor in jail related topics for over twenty years.She is certified as an instructor trainer in Interpersonal Communications Skills (National Institute of Corrections), Standard First Aid and Fundamentals of Instructor Training (American Red Cross). Ms. Duke has served as a consultant for the National Institute of Corrections and has conducted workshop presentations for the American Jail Association, South Carolina Jail Administrators Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and numerous jail facilities. Yvonne is the current President for the Long Beach Black Managers Association 2008-2010.She is a member of the LB Managers Association, National Council of Negro Woman and NAACP.Additionally Yvonne serves as the command staff liaison for the Long Beach Police Department’s African American Advisory Committee. Yvonne has a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University and an Associates Degree in Law Related Studies from Trident Technical College. In her spare time Yvonne enjoys traveling and has visited Japan, several tropical islands and Central America.Her next travel adventure will take her to Egypt.Her leisure time activities include reading, listening to new musical artist and mini shopping sprees. top Sherriel Murry Sherriel Murry is a Personnel Analyst in the Department of Human Resources for the City of Long Beach.She has worked for the City for 17 ½ years, with 8 years in HR.Her primary job duties are to process harassment and discrimination complaints for, and against, City employees.Sherriel also provides staff support to various City Departments regarding personnel-related matters.She chose a career with the City because she likes public service. She received her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.And, she also has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Sherriel is most herself when she is taking care of others.As a result, she is a member in several community-based organizations, and has served on various committees.She is an active member of the Normandie Church of Christ, which is a community-based organization.She serves in various capacities, from fundraising for the Homeless Ministry and Nigerian Mission, Seniors –Bridge Gapper Ministry, Fellowship Committee, and Vacation Bible School. Sherriel is a member of the Long Beach Black Managers Association where she served on the Scholarship Committee, which provides scholarships to college-bound students from various Long Beach High Schools. She has participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “Locked-Up” campaign to raise funds for muscular dystrophy and collected over $2,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Sherriel is also a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha honor society.She worked on the committee to provide career development seminars to Public Administration students at California State University, Dominguez Hills. top Karen Owens For the past 18 years, Administrator Karen Owens has worked to build a positive relationship between the Long Beach Police Department and the community it serves. Under her leadership, the department’s Community Relations Division has evolved into a dynamic team of employees who promote public safety through communication, education and community partnership. Karen began her career with the Police Department in October of 1990 as a Police Services Assistant and was selected as the department's first civilian Public Information Officer in 1993. In 1999, Karen was promoted to the Administrator of Community Relations. As the commanding officer of the division, Karen is responsible for building and maintaining positive relationships throughout the community and managing a wide variety of programs and assignments in the areas of Crime Prevention, Community Outreach, Public Relations, Volunteer Services and Media Relations. She serves as the department’s spokesperson to the media and also provides Media Relations and Crisis Communications training at the Long Beach Police Academy and for local law enforcement organizations and municipalities. Karen holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach and a Master's Degree in Conflict Management and Negotiation from California State University, Dominguez Hills.She is a member of numerous professional organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Emergency Public Information Officers Association and the Long Beach Police Foundation.Karen is also a graduate of the Leadership Long Beach Class of 1997 and was a member of their Board of Directors for six years. Karen and her husband, Rob, live in Long Beach with their son, Drew.She is an avid traveler and also enjoys reading, scuba diving, and spending time with family and friends. top Dora Hogan Dora Hogan is employed by the City of Long Beach, Department of Human Resources, as the Manager of Employee Benefits and Equal Employment. Dora’s primary responsibility is the development and administration of the City’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Program.Dora represents the City on all EEO matters including harassment and discrimination complaint resolution, training and monitoring compliance with state and federal EEO laws and regulations. Dora is deeply committed to equal access and opportunity for all persons on all matters affecting City employment and embraces a diverse workforce free from harassment and discrimination. Dora has been a City employee for twenty four years.She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University Long Beach.Dora is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach, Class of 2001.She is married to Lester and they have four children Frank, Anthony, Austin and Keeyonna. top Alma and Aroldo Campos Alma and Aroldo Campos have lived in Central Long Beach for over 16 years.They have served the community through their church and volunteering in community clean-ups, holiday events and cell groups.They opened a childcare in their home three years ago to serve needy families and presently coach 30 youth on the New Generation Soccer Team.They both are very active members of the Long Beach Weed and Seed Strategy and share the vision of creating Central Long Beach to be a model community.Recently, they formed the New Generation Board, which will catapult their ideas of working with youth into reality.They have spent countless hours serving to make the City of Long Beach a safe place for children, youth and families. top Steve Adams Stephen (Steve) Adams is an amazing ‘giving-back’ young man who despite a challenging childhood being raised by two deaf parents, has had, and lives, an exemplary life. He secured an education and subsequent profession as a Public Safety Officer and Facility Security Manager.While working two jobs, he created an organization in Long Beach called “Long Beach Unity Festival” in order to guide Long Beach youth away from gangs and drugs and into music and realizing their dreams. Steve has been with Long Beach Memorial Medical Center since 1994. His accomplishments within this Center include the following: Distinguished Employee, Quarterly Employee of the Month, Excellent Services Award and he received eight (8) Applause Card Awards. Even with his work in the community and at his profession, Steve is currently a member of the Long Beach Masonic Lodge #12 (Proud Sons), The Children’s Clinic Beach Walk Committee, Jonathan Jacque’s Children’s Cancer Center Torch Run Committee, Miller Children’s 50th Anniversary Committee and a member of the Interpreter Service Department from which he received a special recognition for his dedication to the Interpreter Service. Steve’s other achievements include providing shuttle services to bring homeless people to shelters, food coordinator for Parks and Recreation and a Reserve Park Ranger Officer for the City of Long Beach. Steve’s passion for music and involvement in the community led him to form The Long Beach Unity Festival, which encourages people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to participate. The festival also promotes Sickle Cell Anemia Awareness and brings a Blood and Bone Marrow Drive to the community. Since 1997, Steve has been the benevolent guiding force and energy behind the Long Beach Unity Festival, encouraging and prompting young talent to be nurtured, seen and heard. All profits from the Unity in the Community festivals have been donated to non-profit organizations and lately The Children’s Clinic of Long Beach has been its recipient. top

Human Dignity Program Community Harmony Award Winners: >>2007<< Anitra Dempsey Citizen's Police Complaint Commission & First Human Dignity Program Officer Lt. Tyrone Hatfield Long Beach Police Department Lt. Josef Levy Long Beach Police Department The Bixby Knolls "First Fridays Long Beach" Community Leaders: Peter Dopulos, Krista Leaders, Carina Cristiano Leoni, Keith Lewis >>Past Winners<< Cmdr. Laura Farinella Long Beach Police Department Community Assistance Team Members: Michael Asfall, Rita Cameron, Michelle Friesen, Anita Gibbins, Pat Hicks, Lydia HOllie, Susan Price, Karl Strandberg, Joe Thompson, Susan Welsh, Aneisa Young Deputy Chief Robert Luna Long Beach Police Department The Enough is Enough Partnership Craig Watson & Ron Petke, Charter Communications The City of Long Beach Youth & Gang Violence Prevention Task Force Dr. Lydia Hollie & Marc Rothenberg Leadership Long Beach Michelle Perrenoud The Press Telegram Rich Archbold