Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 47

and camps.
(d) Visits by Jain dignitaries and scholars.
(e) Outreach programs, including annual medical camps in the United
States and India; parent/youth workshops; interfaith dialogues; and relief projects.
(f) Affiliate organizations including Mahavir Mahila Mandal; Jain
Senior Association; and Jain Center Youth Council (JCYC).
(g) Coordination with JAINA, Anekant Community Center, the Bidada
Sarvodaya Trust and others to promote and implement humanitarian relief projects in the United States and abroad.
JCSC AND JAINA
The concept of establishing an umbrella organization for all Jain organizations in the USA and Canada was proposed and initiated in mid1980 by the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC). JCSC is one of the original founding members of Jain Associations In North America (JAINA) which was established at the first national convention of Jains in the USA hosted by JCSC from May 22-25, 1981 in Los Angeles.
five & let live
JAINA is an internationally known organization which represents over 67 Jain Centers in USA and Canada. It was recently recognized by the United Nations as a member of its Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which puts it in par with the Red Cross and UNICEF. JCSC adults and youths continue to serve in leadership roles in JAINA and Young Jains of America (YJA) respectively. Their contributions and achievements have been duly recognized by JAINA with numerous awards and citations.
After its inception in 1981 in Los Angeles, JAINA is coming back to its place of origin. The next JAINA Convention will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center 2-5 July 2009. Approximately 4,000 participants are expected to attend from all over the world. Once again, Jain Center of Southern California will be a proud host for JAINA.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The successful completion of the Jain Bhavan Expansion Project is a tribute to the tremendous effort and thousands of hours invested by the volunteers of the JCSC Building Committee who for nearly 9 years met regularly on Sunday mornings at the Jain Center to plan and monitor the progress of the project. Contributions of their spouses who prepared and dispatched delicious breakfasts to keep the attendees motivated and productive at such meetings are gratefully acknowledged.