Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Peacemaker Awardees
2023
Duke Givens
Duke Givens grew up in District 6 of Long Beach and is a graduate of Poly High School. Givens served in the United States Air Force, during the desert storm conflict, and was honorably discharged.
Given’s passion for helping the most vulnerable led him to found the non-profit Care Closet LBC. The focus of Care Closet is on serving people by delivering sleeping bags, new shoes, providing scholarships and employment opportunities.
Debra Kahookele
Debra Kahookele has been a local resident in Long Beach for 13 years. As a LGBTQ+ Asian American, Kahookele has made it one of her life’s missions to fight for civil rights and the empowerment of Asian Americans to create a more just America for all. She leads her own non-profit, Takekele Foundation, which assists with local events, as well as benefits the LGBTQ+ community.
Kahookele has dedicated most of her time in Long Beach to volunteering to help make Long Beach a safe and friendly place to live and play. She plans to continue her dedication to this city, the LGBTQ+ community and all Long Beach residents.
David Mc-Gill Soriano
David McGill-Soriano was born and raised in Long Beach
and grew up in the Washington and Westside
neighborhoods. Soriano started a youth development
organization to bring youth programming to neighborhoods that did not have any. He has helped empower 100+ gang
impacted youth and raise over $300,000 for youth
development in his community. He credits his mom, Celia McGill-Soriano, an immigrant from Jerez, Zacatecas,
Mexico, for teaching him how to advocate and be an
agency for change.
Venerable Seang Hor Leng
Venerable Seang Hor Leng was born in Kompong Speu
Province, Cambodia. He came to the US in 1999 and
became a monk in 2008. Ven. Seang Hor Leng
contributed to leading Wat Pomonaram in Pomona City,
and Wat Khmer Santa Ana in the City of Santa Ana. Since 2019 Ven. Seang Hor Leng has become the head of
monks at Wat Khemara Buddhikaram in Long Beach.
Ven. Seang Hor Leng is a respected leader in supporting monks to actively promote peace and harmony.