SACRAMENTO–Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) honored Lauren Bandari, Executive Director of Hillel of San Luis Obispo, during an Assembly floor ceremony in recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month.
Born and raised as a third-generation Chicagoan, Bandari moved to California and has spent nearly 18 years serving her community while uplifting Jewish advocacy in San Luis Obispo County.
"Lauren Bandari exemplifies what it means to build community from the ground up," said Addis. "As Executive Director of Hillel of San Luis Obispo, she has dedicated herself to Cal Poly students and the broader SLO Jewish community with vision and heart. Her work doesn't just preserve heritage - it ignites it for the next generation. We are proud to celebrate her extraordinary impact."
Previously, Bandari served as Executive Director of San Luis Obispo's Jewish Community Center Federation, where she continues to provide leadership as a member of the Board of Directors. She also led her synagogue's religious school and earned a para-rabbinic certificate from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition," said Bandari. "This award reflects the vibrant and active Jewish Community I am proud to represent from San Luis Obispo County. It also honors the incredible students I work with at SLO Hillel, as well as our parents, as well as our partners who make Jewish life in San Luis Obispo so dynamic and meaningful. Together, we are building a strong and enduring future."
Dawn Addis was elected to the California State Assembly in 2022 to represent the coastal 30th Assembly District, which includes San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties. She is the Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee 1 on Health.
CONTACT: Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, (831) 649-2832