Levent Koch Receives the 2014 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award
Levent Koch, chief executive officer of Peace Islands Institute, was the FBI Newark Division’s recipient of the 2014 Director’s Community Leadership Award. The Director’s Community Leadership Award is the FBI’s national honor for community partners; recipients are nominated by the leaders of the FBI’s field offices across the country.
In its profile of Mr. Koch, the FBI noted that Peace Islands Institute was founded in 2003 by Turkish Americans in North Jersey to promote respect and mutual understanding among all faiths and cultures. The FBI described the Institute’s work with interreligious groups through lectures, seminars, conferences, panels, luncheons and trips to Turkey, and credited Mr. Koch with bringing together academics, law enforcement, clergy and government officials. It also noted his role in helping lead a community initiative to reduce school dropouts and help former students return to school.
On May 1, 2015, FBI Director James B. Comey recognized the 2014 recipients, 57 individuals and organizations from around the nation, at a ceremony at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.