2011 HUMANITARIAN AWARDS BRUNCH

Diane Goodman & Nicolasa Cecilia Nevarez
Diane Goodman and Nicolasa Cecilia Nevarez are being honored with the BCC Humanitarian Award for their on-going involvement in various causes and advocacy on behalf of GLBT families. Diane and Nicolasa met in 1978 while members of the ACLU gay rights chapter. Diane served as vice president, and both women worked to defeat Proposition 6 that proposed to bar lesbians and gays from teaching, a time when Nicolasa was becoming a teacher. Diane joined BCC in 1977 and Nicolasa in 1978. Diane served as BCC Vice President and as secretary. Nicolasa served as membership chair and Vice President over different terms. Both women became involved in BCC’s new children’s programming. In 1980, Diane was appointed by then Mayor Bradley to the LA City Commission on the Status of Women, serving for ten years, with one term as President. Rabbi Erwin Herman wrote a recommendation letter on her behalf. While Diane attended law school, Nicolasa helped found the Harvey Milk Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club. Nicolasa then founded Disneyana for Disney collectors, having served on the board and as President. Nicolasa has been an accomplished public school teacher for thirty years, as well as a respected math coach. She has advocated for teachers as UTLA chair. She holds a master’s degree in school administration. Diane has been an attorney for twenty-six years. Diane’s extensive writing, lecturing, case law and unparalleled advocacy have helped create many of the laws passed in California that benefit and protect GLBT families. She has assisted countless GLBT families in their quest to achieve equal rights, including the 2005 case that established parentage rights to a non-biological same-sex parent. She is a member and Past President of the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers and serves on the California State Bar Family Law Executive Committee.

The Rabbi Erwin & Agnes Herman Award is named for two pioneers of Reform Judaism who were instrumental in BCC’s founding in 1972 and acceptance into the Union of Reform Judaism in 1974. First presented in 1985, the Herman Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the LGBT and Jewish communities.

Ira Dankberg, A.I.A., LEED® AP
Ira joined BCC in 1993 and immediately joined the Building Committee. He then joined the "Pretttee" Committee designing and managing the remodel of 6000 Pico for the 25th Anniversary in 1997. Once the need for a new temple home became a reality Ira again jumped in, dedicating himself to serving as BCC’s project manager. He has helped select the building’s professionals and is liaison between the architect, construction manager and BCC building committee. Ira is a professional architect. He founded Urban Strategies Real Estate Consulting to provide real estate development project management expertise. His extensive project management experience includes the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, Warner Bros Studios, and Tribune/KTLA Broadcasting. He also has worked on several LEED® certified residential and commercial buildings. A native New Yorker, Ira earned a Bachelor of Architecture and B.S. degree in Finance from Syracuse University. He is a member of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Jewish Federation Real Estate Cabinet and a Board Member of the non-profit Hollywood Community Housing Corporation. In 2008 Ira became a LEED® Accredited Professional with the United States Green Building Council.

The BCC PRESIDENTS AWARD became the official name of the BCC community’s annual recognition of dedicated service by its own members in 2003. The award commends outstanding BCC members for their leadership both within the synagogue life and in the community at large.

• Howard CDM
  6090 Building Contractor
  
  
• Toni Lewis and Mark Schoeplein
  Lewis/Schoeplein Architects
  6090 Building architect
  
  
• Glenn Melnick
  Real Estate Agent
  6000 and 6090 Pico
  
  
• Felicia Park-Rogers
  BCC Executive Director
  
  
• Mark Randall
  Mark Randall Company
  Capital Campaign Consultant
  
  
• Brett Trueman
  BCC Treasurer and Past President,
  for his vision of 6090 Pico and extraordinary dedication to making it a reality

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Allison Diamant
Rabbi Lisa Edwards and Tracy Moore
Bruce Maxwell
Steven Hochstadt and Stephen Sass
Bill Resnick
Maggie and Dave Parkhurst
Lauren Schlau and Lana Soroko
Mark Miller and Brett Trueman
Hannah Theile and Kenna Love

More info soon!

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Congregation Beth Chayim Chadashim, "House of New Life" is a progressive and diverse community that celebrates Jewish faith and culture. Established in 1972, we are the world’s first synagogue founded by and for lesbians and gay men. Today BCC is an essential element of the Los Angeles community, welcoming all who seek a comfortable and warm place to worship, learn, socialize, celebrate, and engage in the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (betterment of the world).

BCC’s Annual Humanitarian Awards event was established in 1985 in order to recognize and honor those leaders who have made major contributions toward  tikkun olam.

The event has grown significantly in size and importance since its inception, and is now BCC’s primary fundraiser. Proceeds raised are crucial to sustaining our synagogue’s vibrancy and to further our bridge building between the broader Jewish and LGBT communities.