Community and friendship sustain activists through the ups and downs of striving to create a more just society, said several California "giants" honored for a lifetime of work May 25.

"Giants of Justice: Sustaining the Struggle for a Lifetime," a benefit luncheon for Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), recognized the exemplary leadership of Rev. Norman Copeland, Sister of Social Service Diane Donoghue, and Dr. Rev. George Regas for their work in the civil rights movement, in building affordable housing, and in promoting peace.

Sister Donoghue said it was through her religious order, the Sisters of Social Service, that she first found the commitment to dedicate her life to transforming unjust social structures.

"Who has access and who's left out?" is a question that has guided Sister Donoghue's work as she launched multi-million dollar projects for affordable housing in South Central Los Angeles through the Esperanza Community Housing Corporation which she formed.

Renowned for her energy and feistiness, Sister Donoghue said she was "absolutely committed to creating healthy neighborhoods" having discovered that "housing is a health issue and health is a housing issue." In addition to developing 10 affordable housing projects, Esperanza has created child-care community centers, health education programs and a food and goods market that gives new entrepreneurs the opportunity to start businesses.

The healthy neighborhood, she added, gives people a sense of "rootedness" and belonging. "You and I cannot be a complete person alone," said the 75-year-old religious sister who has lived in the Adams-Hoover community for more than 30 years.

Rev. Copeland, presiding elder of the L.A. District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, recalled as a young boy asking his mother why they had to eat hot dogs standing up next to rows of empty stools. She couldn't answer him, but the boy who grew into a large man with a towering presence, used his talents for preaching and organizing to embark on a lifetime of work to tear down the walls of segregation and discrimination and to support striking workers.

"People of faith never give in or give out," said Rev. Copeland. He observed the many times he's seen poor families raise children who go on to get advanced degrees and make significant contributions to the community. "How can people with so little accomplish so much?" he asked. The answer: "Faith."

This year CLUE honored the work of young adults entering the social justice field by recognizing a "future giant." Jaime Rapaport, a three-time CLUE intern and program director at Progressive Jewish Alliance, was honored for her commitment to working on labor campaigns, to promoting Muslim-Jewish dialogue and to participating as a freedom rider on behalf of immigrant workers.

Rapaport said she had learned that to work for justice is to "decide to take risks on a daily basis." She credited her family, co-workers and other activists for listening and helping her confront her fears in order to take on the challenges of social activism.

Maria Elena Durazo, who has succeeded her late husband Miguel Contreras as head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, reflected on the impact of her husband's vision in creating and growing a progressive labor and social movement in Los Angeles.