Church of Scientology National Affairs Office Celebrates One-Year Anniversary
Members of Congress, ambassadors and hundreds of guests mark the first anniversary of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C.
Jenna Elfman (left) and U.S. Congresswoman Corrine Brown of Florida (right), hosted by National Affairs Office Executive Director Beth Akiyama (center).
Government officials, diplomats and community leaders joined the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office October 3 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the dedication of their office at Fraser Mansion in Washington, D.C. Special guests included U.S. Congressional member Corrine Brown of Florida, former U.S. Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana, four ambassadors, congressional staff, dignitaries and numerous representatives of NGOs.
Helping to host the celebration was actress Jenna Elfman, Golden Globe Winner and recipient of the Howard University Goodwill Ambassador Award for her work in the field of human rights and criminal rehabilitation and reform.
Jenna Elfman spoke of the humanitarian programs the Church of Scientology supports. “When you reach to help someone you want to actually see results,” she said. “That’s what is unique about these social betterment programs. Every time they are implemented, effective change happens, conditions improve in society, people get better.”
As a hub for disseminating these programs internationally, the National Affairs Office has worked with dozens of Congressional offices, embassies, U.S. State Department desks and nonprofit groups since its dedication September 12, 2012, to bring the public and private sector together to effect change. It has hosted more than 100 workshops, forums and seminars on issues including human trafficking and other human rights abuses, illicit drugs, recidivism, energy reform and illiteracy.
One such event took place on United Nations Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, when the National Affairs Office partnered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to present a forum on synthetic drug abuse, featuring DEA Special Agent Robert Bell. The program featured the Scientology-supported Truth About Drugs initiative, used by more than 1,200 organizations, government and law enforcement agencies internationally.
The Church also supports a worldwide human rights education initiative, a global network of literacy and learning centers and the Scientology Volunteer Minister program, one of the world’s largest independent relief forces.
The office makes its Fraser Mansion facilities available to nonprofit groups to meet on issues ranging from civil rights and immigration reform to criminal justice and drug prevention. The office also partners with embassies to provided unique cultural and humanitarian events.
On the first anniversary of the opening of the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office in Washington, D.C., former U.S. Congressman Dan Burton, a speaker at the 2012 dedication of the office, acknowledged the year of accomplishment.
About The Church Of Scientology National Affairs Office
Through its continued work with community, national and international leaders, the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office is carrying out the vision expressed by author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard in The Aims of Scientology: “A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights.”
To learn more about the Church’s global humanitarian initiatives, visit the Scientology website at http://www.Scientology.org.
Press Contact: Karin Pouw
Phone: (323) 960-3500
Email: mediarelations@ChurchofScientology.net
Church of Scientology International
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Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: 1-323-960-3500
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