Disability Rights California Gala 2024 - Sold Out
Disability Rights California Gala 2024 - Sold Out
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Disability Rights California Second Annual Gala 2.28.24
Tickets for this Event are Sold Out
Disability Rights California is excited to host our second annual gala celebrating the Art of Disability Justice! Join one of the nation’s largest disability rights organizations for an evening of engaging live performances from members of the disability community at the beautiful Tsakopoulos Library Galleria!
Last year, our gala was a tremendous success, with over 300 attendees and a generous outpouring of support from our community. We’re thrilled to continue the momentum with our upcoming gala that will feature a silent auction, surprise guests, live entertainment, and more. We hope you will join us for this historic evening!
When
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
5:00 PM PST - 9:30 PM PST
Where
Tsakopoulos Library Galleria
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Conchita Hernandez. 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.
We will have an engaging salsa dance performance from Haben Girma and Conchita Hernandez. 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.
A special thank you to our sponsors
Andy Imparato and Betsy Nix | Ralph Black and Catherine Campisi | Attorney Mark and Dr. Marianna Harris
Choice in Aging | Merrill Lynch | King Cong Brewing | David and Sandra Smith | Gallagher
RIT National Institute for the Deaf | Justice in Aging
Choice in Aging | Merrill Lynch | King Cong Brewing | David and Sandra Smith | Gallagher
RIT National Institute for the Deaf | Justice in Aging
