Longtime Advocate for Torture Survivors Receives 2017 Inspiration Award
In 1997, Kathi Anderson co-founded Survivors of Torture, International.
Kathi Anderson, Survivors of Torture, International’s (SURVIVORS’) executive director, was selected among six remarkable finalists to receive The Wealth and Legacy Center’s prestigious 2017 Inspiration Award recently at the Sanford Consortium, La Jolla. Anderson was chosen because of her longtime dedication in working with an invisible population – torture survivors.
In 1997, Anderson co-founded Survivors of Torture, International with George Falk and Bill Radatz. Since then, the agency has served thousands of men, women and children who have fled from over 80 different countries that practice torture. There are currently more than 35,000 torture survivors living in San Diego County
“It was an honor to share Kathi’s and SURVIVORS’ story with such a distinguished group of business leaders to whom public service and giving back to the community are core values,” says Carmen Kcomt, Director of the Legal and Social Department of La Maestra and who nominated Kathi for the award.
Kcomt spoke about Anderson’s vision and leadership, and how much Survivors of Torture, International meant to her personally based on her experience as a former client and as an asylee from Peru.
Anderson’s commitment ensuring quality accessible services for torture survivors is evident in her active participation in many local, state, national and international committees and boards that impact the lives of this invisible population. She was recently elected to California’s State Advisory Council of the Refugee Programs Bureau.
Anderson encourages individuals and groups interested in learning more about being part of the healing community for torture survivors to attend the agency’s Journey to Healing tours offered twice a month. Additional information on Survivors of Torture, International, can be found at www.notorture.org.
Category: Local News, National News
