On Nov 19, 2011 Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition awarded the 2011 Faith Community Diversity Award to So Shim Sa Zen Center. During a formal Interfaith Thanksgiving Dinner the president of the Coalition Dr. Tulsi Maharjan also presented Ven. Myong-Ahn and the Zen Center with citations from both the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders as well as The State of New Jersey. The Diversity Award and the citations were issued as a recognition of So Shim Sa's activities of "promoting the grater understanding and civility, tolerance, diversity, collaboration and cooperation". We are honored to receive this recognition from all three agencies.
Dinair Santana recieved a charter and will be the President of the Brazil Chapter of the So Shim Sa Buddhist Fellowship. Andrea Prados will be the treasurer for this first international chapter. Dinair has been studying Buddhism under Ven. Myong Ahn Sunim for 7 years and has completed the Chapter President Course. We look forward to supporting her in this expansion and watching our Sangha grow.