Arts and Community at Disability Rights California’s Third Annual Gala

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May 29, 2025

Arts and Community at Disability Rights California’s Third Annual Gala

Disability Rights California recently celebrated our third annual gala, The Art of Disability Justice. At the gorgeous Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, 366 people gathered, including extraordinary disability, policy, sports, arts, and social justice leaders.

Disability Rights California recently celebrated our third annual gala, The Art of Disability Justice. We proudly hosted 366 extraordinary leaders in disability, policy, sports, arts, and social justice at the gorgeous Tsakopoulos Library Galleria.

The Art of Disability Justice gala provided an opportunity to connect through live performances, art, and a shared mission to advance disability rights for all Californians. As leaders in the disability space, we were proud to host a distinctly accessible evening, with accommodations for people with a variety of disabilities.

Inspiring Awardees

The evening honored Dolores Huerta and Taryn Williams for their contributions to advancing disability rights.

Dolores Huerta received the California Leadership Award for her lifelong work as a civil rights activist and community organizer. Her tireless commitment to the labor movement and social justice for the past five decades made her the perfect recipient of this recognition. Dolores could not attend the ceremony in person, so her daughter-in-law, Grace Huerta, and her son, Dr. Fidel Huerta, accepted the award on her behalf.

Taryn Williams was honored with the National Leadership Award for her career as a national expert on disability employment policy. Her most recent role was as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy, where she led the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) for the Biden Administration. Taryn’s lived experience with disabilities has propelled her career in advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.

Comedy, Music, and a Mini Halftime Show

The evening featured comedy from Nina G., a Bay Area stand-up comedian, author, and keynote speaker. Nina G. performed stand-up that infused her perspective as a person with a stutter, challenging the audience to think about disabilities differently.

The program also featured shout-outs to adaptive athletes in attendance from the Golden State Warriors Wheelchair Basketball team, including Coach Paul Jackson and players Marcus Oden, Arthur Renowizki, and three-time Paralympic gold medalist Brian Bell.

DRC staff Raven Sutton and Matt Maxey of DEAFinitely Dope giving an ASL performance at the gala.

Closing out the program was a performance from Matt Maxey, founder of DEAFinitely Dope, a movement that provides hip-hop performances in American Sign Language. The first song Matt performed was “I’m Blessed.” The second performance was a medley of songs from Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show. The medley performance also featured Raven Sutton, an Advocate with DRC’s Advocacy and Community Engagement team. Together, the two of them excited the crowd with their expressive, engaging performance, bringing the evening’s program to a close.

Words from the evening and reflections:

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DRC CEO Andy Imparato and Taryn Williams who was honored with the National Leadership Award.
"It has been a pleasure to see the gala grow each year. This event builds community, celebrates leaders, lifts up artists and engages sponsors, elected officials and coalition partners. It raises the visibility and influence of our movement in Sacramento and helps generate resources to advance our mission. We are grateful to everyone who attended and supported DRC on this night full of compelling speakers and wonderful performances."
Andy Imparato
Chief Executive Officer of DRC
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"It is important that we all come together tonight, and we honor two strong women who have committed their lives to justice for people with disabilities…Together, we can meet any challenge that we face and as our honoree Dolores taught us, ‘¡Sí se puede!’ yes, we can."
Sheri Farinha
DRC Board Chair
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Eric introduced athletes from the Golden State Warriors Wheelchair Basketball team. "Wheelchair basketball is how I entered into the disability community. I was always the only person with a disability in my school. Wheelchair basketball introduced me to other kids with disabilities, let me travel the country, and let me be a competitor at a high level."
Eric Harris
Associate Executive Director of External Affairs
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Nina told jokes about how sometimes people accuse her of faking her stutter for her comedy act: "If I’m faking it, I’m the Meryl Streep of stuttering."
Nina G.
Stand-up Comedian and Gala MC
"
Vanessa presented the California Leadership Award to Dolores Huerta. "I want to personally thank her [Dolores] for what she’s done and continues to do for our people and families."
Vanessa Ochoa
Special Advisor to the Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement unit at DRC
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Left to right: DRC Staff Vanessa Ochoa, Grace Huerta and Dr. Fidel Huerta accepting the California State Leadership Award on behalf of Dolores Huerta.
While Dolores Huerta could not attend the gala in person to accept her award, Dolores’ daughter-in-law Grace Huerta shared words Dolores wrote on her behalf: "Now more than ever we need to stand strong and continue to fight," Dolores said. "Not too long ago, people with disabilities were institutionalized and people with disabilities have broken so many barriers."
Dolores Huerta
California Leadership Award honoree
"
Taryn reflected on being a member of the disability community and the importance of standing firm in the progress the disability movement has made. "We [the disability community] are who we are, and the rights that we have are because we are fighters…," Taryn said. "…I have the privilege and responsibility to fight right now, and I implore you to continue to fight."
Taryn Williams
National Leadership Award honoree
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"Being D/deaf does not always define you as one thing…what we can control is the skills and the powers that we do have."
Matt Maxey
DEAFinitely Dope
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"It’s fun planning an event like the Disability Rights California "The Art of Disability Justice" Gala. I got to meet so many interesting people and artists like DEAFinitely Dope and Raven Sutton, who gave us an incredible performance and really brought the energy we’ve all been needing. The best feeling is walking into a room filled with community leaders, performers, and guests, all with the same goal of lifting up disability rights and each other."
Karen Mercado
Events Manager for DRC

Thank you to everyone who was able to come!

We look forward to another great event next year and appreciate all your continued support of Disability Rights California. Special thanks to our wonderful sponsors for their support.

Together we can affect change for the disability community in California and across the nation!

Disability Rights California Gala 2025 Event