http://www.westsidetoday.com/n3887/east-west-gala-awards.html

East/West Gala Awards to Honor Jodie Evans, Bana Hilal and Roxana Saberi on December 1st.

The East-West Awards takes place at the Beverly Hills Women's Club, 1700 Chevy Chase, Drive, Beverly Hills CA 90210, with a red carpet cocktail and hors h 'douevres reception starting at 6:30 pm; dinner and entertainment, including stand-up comedy by Maz Jobrani, will follow at 7:30 pm. Individual dinner gala tickets are $100 until Nov. 24th and $125 thereafter. Tables (seating up to 10) are $800 till Nov. 24th, $1000 thereafter. Tickets are on sale now. RSVP to 310.657.5511.

By Amy Sommer
Event date: December 01, 2010

In celebration of the Levantine Cultural Center's (LCC) mission to bridge political and religious divides and champion a greater understanding of the Arab/Muslim world, the LCC will recognize the excellence of three individuals who have contributed to a positive dialogue between the Middle East and the US.

The gala will be a chance for the LCC and the Los Angeles community to reflect on the progress that has been made as well as look towards the future and the work that has yet to be done. In the current social climate Levantine programs grow even more vital to ensure the continued mutual respect and understanding among all of the diverse communities in the area. The main goal of the LCC has been to foster this respect and understanding through artistic, educational and outreach programs that address ethnic and cultural fears within the US, as well as the conflicts in the regions.

Since 2001 the LCC has presented more than 500 public programs reaching thousands of people. More than 1 million people have visited the center's web site. The LCC hopes to expand in the future in order to reach more people with this message and will continue to do the hard work of cultural diplomacy in this era of fear and anxiety.

The honorees are three prominent activists from the Arab, Iranian and American communities-Jodie Evans, Bana Hilal and Roxana Saberi.

Jodie Evans, co-founder of CODEPINK, has long been committed to empowering marginalized groups of women and "waging peace" in the Middle East through her work as a community and political activist for the past thirty years.

Bana Hilal is a Lebanese American community activist and humanitarian dedicated to empowering women and underprivileged children and was the founder of the Women's Intellectual Network (WIN) in Orange County.

Roxana Saberi is an Iranian American journalist who was sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison after she was falsely accused and convicted for espionage for the US. Since her release, she has spoken out for Iranian political prisoners, including those detained in the aftermath of the 2009 Presidential Election.

For more information: www.levantinecenter.org.