Countywide : Ten Honored as Models of Unity

A Fullerton teacher. A Huntington Beach marriage counselor. A Garden Grove councilman.

They are among the recipients of the Models of Unity award. They come from different parts of Orange County, and at first glance have little in common.

But in their own way, each has worked to find common ground in a diverse community, where differences sometimes become sources of friction.

The award--presented this month by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Anaheim--is designed to honor people and organizations that foster understanding and unity among different groups.

“We want to bring together people who have a positive effect on the community,” spokeswoman Teri Knoll Binaei said. “So often in the newspaper and on television we hear about problems with racial or religious unity. We want to bring forward the good things that are happening.”

The group honored 10 people and organizations with its 1992 award. They are:

* Alma Buis, the minority affairs officer for the Fullerton Police Department. She works at fostering communications and “building bridges” between law enforcement and the city’s ethnic communities.

* Ho Chung, a Garden Grove councilman, for his efforts to create programs that celebrate his city’s cultural diversity. He helped form a program that helps Garden Grove police better interact with people of different cultures. Chung has also worked to build an international trade and cultural center in the city.

* Sister Arminda Deck of Santa Ana for her work with the county’s Latino community. She served for 10 years in the Diocese of Orange’s Hispanic Ministry, where she helped develop leadership programs for Latino youths.

* Ethel Hanna, a marriage, family and child counselor in Huntington Beach, for helping families in need get through difficult times. She has been praised for treating her clients with respect and for going out of her way to help make their lives better.

* Nampet Panichpant of San Clemente for his work as a health services advocate and for promoting understanding among different Asian cultures.

* Ann Rose, a teacher at Orangethorpe Elementary School in Fullerton, who incorporates “peace studies” in her classroom lessons.

* A Place of Us, a Gardena facility that gives interracial couples a place to meet and discuss common concerns.

* The Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee, for its work in fostering cultural awareness.

* The Interfaith Peace Ministry of Orange County, for striving to bring about a better understanding of the county’s different religious and ethnic groups.

* UC Irvine Cross Cultural Center, for offering a place for people of diverse cultural backgrounds to meet.

The award winners were nominated by various community leaders, city officials and members of the news media.

The Baha’i Faith is a modern religion whose principles include unity and harmony among all people.