by Bella De Soto
His recent sad passing has been felt by many. Aris Anagnos and his wife Carolyn until her death in 2000, were founders of the well-known “Aris & Carolyn Anagnos Peace Center,” currently located at 3916 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City 90230. They established a non-profit foundation which has made space available at the Center to many other non-profits and community organizations.
In 1989, they established the original Peace Center, at 8124 W. Third St. in Los Angeles, which housed several peace and human rights organizations rent free, including the Americans for Democratic Action and CISPES, as well as the fund-raising thrift store The Closet Liberal. In 2008, Anagnos formally donated the building for such use by establishing it as a nonprofit foundation. A few years ago, the Peace Center was relocated to the present location in Culver City, which houses the offices of the National Lawyers Guild, the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, and other groups.
Anagnos was a resistance fighter in Greece against the Nazi/fascist occupation, and helped to achieve peace accords in Central America. He devoted much of the wealth he gained from real estate to progressive causes.
The Peace Center he and his wife established has always provided free meeting space to local progressive groups. It has been a hub for cultural convergence of global flavor. Aris himself continued financially supporting a national an international array of social justice and anti-war causes and films. With the assistance of Eric Mann, he published the first part of his autobiography last year.
For his extensive Biography, please visit this link: https://usa.greekreporter.com/2018/07/25/greek-american-human-rights-activist-aris-anagnos-dies-at-94/ (1923 – July 23, 2018)
Learn more: httpss://americanhellenic.wordpress.com/board-of-directors/aris-anagnos/
A Memorial Service is planned for October, 2018. Details next month.