Video Transcript

Zeynep Kariparduc: We are setting up the twenty-first multicultural ethnic dance festival. Today, there will be 14 different groups that will be performing their ethnic dance performances. Cultural diversity is very important to us, and also we live in this society together and each community has their own unique cultures, backgrounds and strengths, values.

I am Zeynep Kariparduc. I am the board member of Emerald Hills Institute, NS Qe promote dialogue between different cultures and all walks of life to create love, harmony, and understanding among them. Then we bring people together here. We share culture, we share beauty, we share our strengths together, and we become friends. People are afraid of what they don’t know, but when they become closer and when they start knowing about other people or other cultures different than theirs, then they feel more comfortable and happy.

SAC Shohini Sinha: Zeynep is really a powerhouse, so she is an incredibly valued partner to the FBI. The Emerald Hills Institute seeks to improve inclusiveness and community by building bridges between different ethnic and religious groups. Zeynep does all of the work for the institute on a volunteer basis, and she balances that with a full-time job and a family.

Graphic Text: We are proud to announce Zeynep Kariparduc as the recipient of the 2023 Director’s Community Leadership Award for FBI Salt Lake City. On April 19, 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray honored all the 2023 DCLA recipients at a ceremony held at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Sinha: She was Salt Lake’s nominee because she has supported our community outreach program very significantly. She's helped us to bridge bridges, especially with the Muslim community in the greater Salt Lake area.

Kariparduc: When you volunteer for a non-profit organization, you don’t expect anything in return because it is already a fulfilling and rewarding job for you because this is how you give back to your community. But it has been nice to hear someone actually see the value of your work and recognize the impact that you make.