Congratulations  

Chancee Martorell

of the Wilshire Ward

She received special honors from the King of Thailand

 Chancee Martorell, standing next to 

Consul General of Thailand, Honorable Jesda Katavetin 

Chancee is the Relief Society President of the Wilshire Ward.  

We are so proud of her work in the church and in the community.  

Chancee with her family

For more details of this great honor, read the attached article.

HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Bestows a
“Medal of the Most Admirable Order of Direkgunabhorn” Upon Thai CDC Executive Director

July 16, 2012

Los Angeles, CA – Chanchanit “Chancee” Martorell, founder and executive director of the Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC), was nominated in early 2011 to receive a Royal Decoration of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On His Majesty’s birthday, December 5, 2011, the Office of the Prime Minister served Mrs. Martorell with a letter informing her that she is a recipient of the Royal Thai Decoration and Royal Thai Medal. Mrs. Martorell is a recipient of the Medal of the Most Admirable Order of Direkgunabhorn. Royal Thai Consul General Jesda Katavetin presided over the Presentation Ceremony of the Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn which was bestowed upon Mrs. Martorell on Friday, June 29, 2012 at the Royal Thai Consulate of Los Angeles.

Individuals who have rendered devotional services to the Kingdom of Thailand are identified by public or private bodies, by government departments or are nominated by members of the public. Mrs. Martorell has consistently demonstrated outstanding service to the people of the Kingdom of Thailand; therefore, members of the Thai CDC’s Board of Directors submitted her nomination to the Royal Thai Consulate General of Los Angeles on March 10, 2011.

Mrs. Martorell founded the Thai Community Development Center in 1994, a non-profit organization with a mission to improve the lives of Thai immigrants through services that promote cultural adjustment and economic self-sufficiency. In the process of building the agency, she created a myriad of social and human service delivery programs while engaging in advocacy, education, community and affordable housing development, small business promotion and neighborhood revitalization projects, making Thai CDC the first organization of its kind in the nation to serve Thai Americans in such a comprehensive manner.

She is known most notably for her work on several major human rights cases involving over 400 Thai victims of human trafficking who were discovered working in conditions of slavery in

the United States. Her tireless advocacy on behalf of the victims and the success of each case has made her a leading expert and sought after spokesperson on the serious issue of modern- day slavery.

One of Thai CDC’s most prominent neighborhood revitalization projects is the establishment and beautification of the first and only Thai Town, which is in the heart of East Hollywood, California. The executive director of Thai CDC played a pivotal role in the eight-year-long community organizing campaign which led to the designation of the world’s first and only Thai Town in the United States in 1999. The designation of Thai Town in East Hollywood serves as the first step of a multi-faceted, economic development strategy to revitalize a depressed section of Hollywood while enriching the city’s cultural and social fiber.

On Friday, June 29, 2012, the Royal Thai Consulate-General hosted the ceremony for the presentation of the Royal Decoration which had been bestowed by His Majesty King Bhumidol Adulyadej. Consul General Jesda Katavetin, Deputy Consul General Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, and Consul Komkrich Chongbunwatana warmly welcomed Mrs. Martorell and her family. Having been bestowed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the prestigious decoration, Mrs. Martorell is very humbled and grateful. “I am honored to receive this royal decoration. I am especially overwhelmed by the fact that our work in the United States has been recognized by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the Thai government. This prestigious award serves as a reminder that Thai CDC’s work has an impact on Thais in Los Angeles as well as Thais living in our native country,” said Mrs. Martorell.
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Photo caption: “Thai CDC Executive Director, Chancee Martorell, standing next to Consul General of Thailand, Honorable Jesda Katavetin, who presented her with the Medal of the Most Admirable Order of Direkgunabhorn from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.”

Photo caption: “Thai CDC Executive Director, Chancee Martorell, standing in front of a portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, with her family.”