On Friday, April 19, 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray presented Mr. Shin Koyamada with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for his service to the people of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Koyamada is esteemed in Los Angeles and worldwide for his unwavering commitment to philanthropy through the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF). Mr. Koyamada co-founded this international nonprofit organization with his wife Carolina.

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. Koyamada works very closely with Los Angeles City Officials, the Consul General of Japan, the FBI, and local law enforcement agencies in Los Angeles County to provide a platform that empowers and inspires individuals to embrace leadership making meaningful contributions towards crucial causes. KIF launched its flagship program, Guardian Girls, a global initiative dedicated to preventing & addressing gender-based violence. This program empowers adolescent girls & women to defend themselves against all forms of violence through sports and holistic martial arts training. In 2023 Guardian Girls expanded to seven countries, including the United States, Japan, Spain, Egypt, Morocco, Ireland & Hungary. This expansion was made possible through collaborative efforts with governments and sports federations positively impacting hundreds of girls & women.

Mr. Shin Koyamada is also a graduate of the 2021 FBI Citizens Academy program in Los Angeles.

“In the FBI, our four guiding principles are people, partnerships, process, and innovation. What Shin Koyamada has done through his dedication, innovation, and creative work in the Los Angeles community aligns with these principles and the vision that we work towards every day in the FBI” said Mehtab Syed, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “By working closely with community partners and law enforcement, Mr. Koyamada’s efforts continue to stretch beyond international borders, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of girls and women. We are proud to partner with Shin Koyamada and congratulate him on receiving this well-deserved recognition.”

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 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award program, the FBI’s general outreach efforts, and the Los Angeles Field Office online.