Disability Rights California Gala 2024 Program

Welcome to the Disability Rights California Gala, The Art of Disability Justice! We’re thrilled to have you join our annual gathering of disability leaders, policy leaders, social justice leaders, and representatives of our state government.

DRC works for a world where all disabled people have power and are treated with dignity and respect. In this world, people with disabilities are supported, valued, included in their communities, afforded the same opportunities as people without disabilities, and make their own decisions.

We’re proud of the work we’ve been doing for the past 45 years, and excited for you to join us in our mission to advance and strengthen the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities.

We strive to make this event fully accessible, where everyone can participate equally. If you require any assistance during the event, please locate a staff member at the registration area.

Thank you for joining us this evening!

Evening Program:

5:00 p.m.

Event doors open at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Land Acknowledgement
Dance performance from Infinite Flow Dance
Opening Remarks
DRC honors Dolores Canales on behalf of The California Mandela Campaign with the California State Leadership Award
DRC honors Troy Kotsur and Deanne Bray with the National Leadership Award
Closing Remarks
Salsa dance performance by Haben Girma and Dr. Conchita Hernandez Legorreta

9:30 p.m.

Conclusion of gala

Awardees

Troy Kotsur & Deanne Bray
We are thrilled to honor award-winning actor and director Troy Kotsur and his wife, actress Deanne Bray with DRC’s national leadership award. Troy’s starring role in the 2021 film “CODA” earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the first deaf man to receive the distinction. With decades of experience on the stage and screen, Troy and Deanne have been long-time advocates for authentic representation of D/deaf people and people with disabilities in the entertainment industry.

The California Mandela Campaign
DRC is excited to present The California Mandela Campaign with our California Leadership Award. The campaign is made up of solitary confinement survivors, immigrant rights, disability rights and civil rights advocates and other organizations working to end the use of solitary confinement in California. Solitary confinement is one of the most severe and harmful practices used in facilities throughout the state. The California Mandela Campaign is pushing to change the law in California through Assembly Bill 280 (Holden), which would limit the use of solitary confinement and ban it completely for vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities, in jails, prisons and immigration detention centers. DRC is proud to honor the campaign for this work.

Special Guest

Candis Welch
DRC is excited to welcome Ms. Wheelchair California, Candis Welch as a special guest. Candis is an accomplished Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practitioner through developing and facilitating a DEIA training series for nonprofits. A lifelong Angelino, she works at the Los Angeles Homeless Service Authority and serves on several city and county committees. In 2023, Candis, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, was crowned Ms. Wheelchair California by the Ms. Wheelchair of California Leadership Institute.

Featured Performances

Infinite Flow Dance
DRC is excited to welcome Infinite Flow Dance, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit and professional dance company composed of dancers with and without disabilities using dance to promote inclusion and innovation. Their dance videos have been viewed by over 75 million people on Facebook alone, and they have been featured by NBC Today, ABC Good Morning America, and other national and international media outlets. Infinite Flow was founded by Marisa Hamamoto, a professional dancer and stroke survivor who was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down.

Haben Girma
We will have an engaging salsa dance performance from Haben Girma and Dr. Conchita Hernandez Legorreta. Haben Girma is an American disability rights advocate, and the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. Conchita Hernandez is a Disability Rights Advocate and Educational Consultant who specializes in English and Spanish interpretation.

DJing from DJ Elements (djelements.com)