Liliana

Costa

A native of Costa Rica, Liliana Costa has made her home in Jacksonville for many years. She has served on numerous local non-profit boards, many aimed at serving local youth. A social worker by training, Ms. Costa is an advocate and spokesperson on immigration issues, and has served for many years on the Jacksonville Human Relations Commission. As part of her work with the Commission, she created a series of "Diversity Dinners" in Jacksonville, where local residents from diverse backgrounds can come together to learn about each other's cultures. In addition to these dinners, she has also helped to organize at least two community-wide gatherings to promote understanding and introduce local residents to Hispanic culture. According to her nominators, her work in the community provides "an exciting opportunity to build bridges of friendship, acceptance, and hospitality and enrich the lives of all involved."