EL PASO, TX— FBI Director Christopher Wray presented Lutfi Dagci, Director of the Raindrop Turkish House / Dialogue Institute of El Paso with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for his service to the people of El Paso, Texas. Mr. Dagci has exemplified leadership and qualities reflective of the FBI Core Values. His outreach and work with various area organizations and faith-based groups resulted in a deeper understanding and peaceful exchange of ideas and concerns within the FBI El Paso Field Office area of responsibility.

The FBI established the DCLA in 1990 to publicly acknowledge the achievements of those working to make a difference in their communities through the promotion of education and the prevention of crime and violence. Each year, one person or organization from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices is chosen to receive this prestigious award.

“Our success as both a law enforcement and an intelligence agency hinges on our ability to foster and maintain genuine partnerships with people in all communities,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “People like this year’s Leadership Award recipients not only identify what others need, but they are willing to roll up their sleeves and provide services. They are building bridges and relationships while putting in the work to have hard conversations and find common purpose. They do it out of kindness and compassion with a sincere belief that justice – in its many forms – requires all of us to do the right thing in the right way.”

Mr. Dagci’s mission as the Director of the Raindrop Turkish House, has been to introduce Turkish culture into American society, cultivate friendship, and promote the understanding of diverse cultures. In 2023, Mr. Dagci took his role a step further after attending the FBI’s Citizens’ Academy by becoming an FBI Ambassador and hosting FBI-centric trainings for his community. Community members received FBI Overview, as well as FBI Civil Rights Program and Color of Law discussions. Of note, the El Paso Field Office was invited to discuss “FBI Women in Leadership” at a dinner and dialogue event between female FBI special agents and Muslim women in the community who otherwise might not have engaged with FBI personnel. Mr. Dagci invited FBI personnel to attend an Eid al Fitr celebration in El Paso, a first with the Raindrop Turkish House, as a way for them to share Muslim tradition with FBI personnel.

Mr. Dagci’s extraordinary contributions have helped establish a transparent relationship between the El Paso Muslim community and the FBI. Mr. Dagci has enhanced the communities understanding of the Turkish community by providing avenues to open dialogue and collaboration with other FBI community partners involved in outreach. 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.

“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,” said Lutfi Dagci.

“Through his forum and connectivity within the community, Mr. Dagci has supported the mission of the FBI El Paso’s outreach program since 2020. FBI El Paso and Mr. Dagci have worked together on numerous projects to include becoming an FBI Ambassador and hosting FBI-centric trainings for the community,” said FBI El Paso Special Agent in Charge John Morales. “Mr Dagci’s passion to serve, open dialogues, and bridge cultures have helped not only the FBI but the entire El Paso community. His outreach to El Paso’s diverse religious communities has raised awareness and has 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. The FBI is proud to honor Mr. Dagci’s leadership and service with the designation as the FBI El Paso’s 2023 DCLA recipient.”

Director Wray hosted the 2023 DCLA winners in a special ceremony at FBI Headquarters today, emphasizing the importance of community partnerships in keeping our shared communities safe. These partnerships – as exemplified by the breadth of the work by the DCLA recipients – have led to a host of crime prevention programs that protect the most vulnerable in our communities, educate families and businesses about cyber threats, and work to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Learn more about the Director’s Community Leadership Award program, the FBI’s general outreach efforts, and the El Paso Field Office online at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/elpaso.