City, Mayor honor nonprofits for promoting diversity

Community Action offers play groups, home visits to connect Somali families

Community Action, which has helped Beaverton Somali families make the transition to American life easier through its Early Head Start Home-Based Program, was recognized Monday night with the city’s Diversity Award.

Susi Brothers, chairwoman of the city’s Human Rights Advisory Commission, presented the award to Community Action Executive Director Jerralynn Ness and Farzana Siddiqui, director of child development, during the City Council meeting.

The commission created the award in April 2003 to promote the appreciation for diversity, human rights and cultural understanding in the city.

The award also honors individuals, groups and nonprofits in the community who demonstrate a sustained commitment to raising awareness and concern for the values and importance of civil and human rights through advocacy and education.

The commission recognized Community Action’s ongoing dedication to serving Beaverton’s diverse community by helping to meet the needs of families.

Its Early Head Start Home-Based Program has been serving low-income families, including recent Somali immigrants and their children, since September 2006.

The program serves families with children from infancy to age 3 through weekly educational home visits and two monthly parent and child play-group sessions.

“The play groups foster parent understanding of child development and promote socialization and literacy,” Brothers said during her presentation to the council. “The play groups offer Beaverton Somali families positive exposure to American culture, English language and American children.”

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