Little Rock FBI honors Little Rock cultural advocate with national award

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Little Rock man who works to improve understanding and communication between cultures recently received a prestigious national award from the FBI.

Mehmet Ulupinar was presented the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award award by FBI Director Christopher Wray on April 19 at the agency’s headquarters. Officials said Ulupinar was one of 56 recipients of the award through his nomination through the Little Rock FBI field office for his work as president of the board for Little Rock’s Arkansas Culture and Dialog Center.

Officials said Ulupinar works tirelessly to foster relationships between diverse communities and law enforcement in Arkansas by providing easily accessible educational, social, and cultural services at the center. They added he assists the FBI in pushing key safety concerns to minority youth and adults throughout Central Arkansas through training and networking events with the goal of creating a more connected community.

Wray said people like Ulupinar are critical to the agency’s mission.

"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,” Wray said. “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.”

Ulupinar, who came to Arkansas from Turkey, said he was honored by the award and its meaning.

“I am extremely humbled to be one of the 2023 FBI DCLA recipients,” Ulupinar said. “As an immigrant to this country, I am fascinated by the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, specifically where we recite ‘with liberty and justice for all.’ What a powerful commitment that is! It prompts me to think about what I can do for my neighbors, for my community, and for other human beings to preserve and exercise liberty and justice for all.”

This led him to get involved, serve, and be a part of the solution, he added.

FBI Little Rock Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder said Ulupinar was a “treasured asset” to the community.

“His passion for fostering prosperous relationships between law enforcement and minority groups in Arkansas is deeply appreciated by myself and many others,” Corder said.

FBI officials said the award was established in 1990 to acknowledge those working to make a difference in their communities through education promotion and preventing crime and violence. They added that nominations came from each of the FBI’s 56 field offices.

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