FBI Honors Serve & Connect with national award

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Lexington, S.C. — Serve & Connect, a Midlands-based organization, has been awarded the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for its service to South Carolinians. Receiving the award on behalf of Serve & Connect was Kassy Alia Ray, founder and CEO of the organization. Serve & Connect was chosen as this year’s South Carolina recipient as it exemplifies a standard of excellence through its many programs designed to improve the quality of life for everyone.

The FBI established the DCLA in 1990 to publicly acknowledge the achievements of those working to make a difference in their communities through the promotion of education and the prevention of crime and violence. Each year, one person or organization from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices are chosen to receive this prestigious award.

“Our success as both a law enforcement and an intelligence agency hinges on our ability to foster and maintain genuine partnerships with people in all communities,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “People like this year’s Leadership Award recipients not only identify what others need, but they are willing to roll up their sleeves and provide services. They are building bridges and relationships while putting in the work to have hard conversations and find common purpose. They do it out of kindness and compassion with a sincere belief that justice – in its many forms – requires all of us to do the right thing in the right way.”

The events sponsored by Serve & Connect strengthen the ability of law enforcement and community partners to foster and act on shared goals of safety, resilience, and well-being. These events also help the community to address the root causes of crime and promote safety and thriving society. Serve & Connect provides the tools, training and technical assistance necessary for police departments, local organizations, leaders and residents to work together to improve community outcomes.

“We are honored to receive the 2023 FBI Director’s Community Service Leadership Award,” said Ray. “The award represents the incredible commitment of our partners who demonstrate daily the power of collaboration and trust in action. We are proud to stand alongside them in our shared effort to promote community safety through partnerships.”

“Public trust and public cooperation are paramount to our mission of upholding the rule of law and protecting American citizens,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “Serve & Connect and its various programs help pave the way by bringing together community members and law enforcement so that we can all strive in making our community a great place to live.”

Director Wray hosted the 2023 DCLA winners in a special ceremony at FBI Headquarters today emphasizing the importance of community partnerships in keeping our shared communities safe. These partnerships – as exemplified by the breadth of the work by the DCLA recipients – have led to a host of crime prevention programs that protect the most vulnerable in our communities, educate families and businesses about cyber threats, and work to reduce violent crime in our neighborhoods. Learn more about the Director’s Community Leadership Award program https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/outreach/dcla, the FBI’s general outreach efforts, and the FBI Columbia Field Office online.