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His office had recently recognized Ismaili CIVIC Volunteers at the annual Unsung Heroes event for their continued commitment to the city of Milpitas, and the impact of their service to the underserved members of the community during the height of the pandemic.
“Ismaili CIVIC Volunteers support our community by donating food to the Milpitas Food Pantry and Second Harvest Food Bank, providing needed resources for Milpitas students, and volunteering to help beautify our neighborhoods,” said Assemblymember Lee. “I was proud to recognize them at our Unsung Heroes ceremony for their incredible work to better our community.”
At the award ceremony, Assemblymember Lee expressed a desire to visit the Santa Clara Valley Jamatkhana to gain a better understanding of the Ismaili Community. On December 4, 2021, Assemblymember Lee and Anurag Pal, District Director, were welcomed by the NCAC leadership and Ismaili ambassadors and given a tour of the Santa Clara Valley Jamatkhana.
The guests were also informed of the recent projects done by the Ismaili community including Ismaili healthcare professionals volunteering to administer COVID vaccines, seniors making masks for first responders, multiple food drives for the Milpitas Food Pantry as well as making care packages for the Milpitas Fire Department that included special thank-you notes written by the youngest members.
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The ambassadors also shared an overview of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) including its Agreement of Cooperation (AOC) with the State of California in areas of education, health sciences, environment and culture. Assemblymember Lee was particularly impressed by AKDN’s focus on education, the environment and climate change. He shared his recent work with Santa Clara County to help educate residents on water conservation during the current California drought and was especially pleased to hear that the local Ismaili CIVIC volunteers are actively working with the community to create educational videos demonstrating water conservation practices.
Assemblymember Lee was impressed with the work the Ismaili community is doing and has asked for our continued help and support in future service projects.
