About the Event
This annual event is one of D.C.’s most notable gatherings of policymakers, influencers, and thought leaders working at the intersection of law, policy, and culture change. With over 1,000 attendees from the women’s, civil rights, corporate, philanthropic, and legal communities, the gala shines a light on the most pressing gender justice issues of our time, including Title IX, sexual harassment and violence, reproductive rights and health, equal pay, access to high-quality child care, and economic security for women, their families, and their communities. The extraordinary evening offers a unique opportunity to hear from changemakers across sectors who are fighting to build a country that is equitable for all women, girls, and those across the gender spectrum. Whether joining us in-person or tuning in virtually from across the country, the experience will bring the most conscientious and committed gender justice champions together, mark how far we’ve come, and shine a light on the path forward.
2023 GALA HIGHLIGHTS
Since 1972, the National Women’s Law Center has defied what people say women “should” or “shouldn’t” do. For over five decades, we’ve battled—and reigned victorious—over those who want the world to stay small, narrow, and available only to the select (and male) few.
But today, we find ourselves at the heart of the fight for gender justice.
The stakes have never been higher for abortion rights, LGBTQ+ children, and for women and families and all that we hold dear. And amid this moment of reckoning, our power comes from our community. Your support is what has helped us not just push back, but push forward, achieving so many hard-won victories over the past year. We are so excited for the opportunity to gather in gratitude and in commemoration, replenishing our joy so we can renew our resistance for the battles that lie ahead.
We honored incredible awardees like House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, a tireless advocate who has dedicated her career to helping children, workers, and families thrive. Her deep commitment to lifting up child care for what it is—an essential piece of our economic infrastructure—should serve as a model to all other lawmakers of what it truly means to support women in this country. Her award was presented by Melissa Boteach, Vice President for Income Security and Child Care/Early Learning at the National Women’s Law Center.
We also expressed our sincerest gratitude to Hogan Lovells, our trusted pro bono partner who has been supporting us behind the scenes for over 15 years.
Hogan’s partnership on a range of key cases have helped the Law Center demonstrate that women’s rights and trans rights are inextricably linked and leverage a unified effort to protect the lives and vulnerability of trans youth in our country, especially girls and women. Their award was presented by Emily Martin, Vice President for Education and Workplace Justice at the National Women’s Law Center.
Finally, we not only honored—but expressed our awe—of the over 40 former employees and survivors of the Washington football team who, along with their attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, banded together to fight decades of sexual harassment and abuse, all of which was fostered under the leadership of Daniel Snyder.
This year, Ms. Banks, Ms. Katz, and their clients achieved a victory that many said would never happen—ousting Snyder from the Commanders and marking the dawn of a new era of leadership for the team and for the entire D.C. community.
The courage and determination of these brave survivors, bolstered by their attorneys’ unwavering support, will help create a safer workplace and world for all women and girls. Their award was presented by Congressman Jamie Raskin. Additionally, there were remarks by 2019 WNBA Champion with the Washington Mystics and Social Justice Advocate, Natasha Cloud.
In an intimate fireside chat, we heard from thought leaders Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and Ai-jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. These two pathbreakers have a clear vision of not only how to meet the current moment, but how to build and wield power for the next generation. The chat was moderated by Marie Nelson, President of Hot Docs.
The 2023 Gala was chaired by Deborah Slaner Larkin, Former CEO, Women’s Sports Foundation, Title IX Advocate and Tonya Robinson, Vice Chair & General Counsel KPMG LLP. To view a list of our host committee, please click here. Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, we raised funds to support the Law Center’s work to advance gender justice in the courts, in the states, in the press, in our movement, and in Congress and our federal government. To view a list of our lead sponsors, please click here. To view the digital program, please click here.
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Watch our 2023 Gala program below!
2022 GALA HIGHLIGHTS
Since 1972, the National Women’s Law Center has been at the forefront of every major battle and victory in the fight for gender justice. From our country’s ongoing reckoning over the right to bodily autonomy and freedom, to the efforts to redefine what it means for parents and families to survive and prosper, to the core belief that women and girls should learn and work free from discrimination and violence, the Law Center has been there, demanding justice for her – and justice for all.
For five decades, our storied institution has worked to change our laws, policies, and culture to undo generations of systemic harm and forge a better path for the future. Our yearlong celebration of our history – and what’s yet to be done – culminated with NWLC’s 50th Anniversary Gala, held at the REACH at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This annual event is one of D.C.’s most notable gatherings of policymakers, influencers, and thought leaders, with over 1,000 attendees from the women’s, civil rights, corporate, philanthropic, and legal communities.
On November 12, 2022, we honored some of the most notable and consequential gender justice leaders of the last half century, and offered guests an unparalleled opportunity to hear from influencers and changemakers across sectors who are fighting to build a country that is truly gender-equal, equitable, and just.
The 2022 Gala was chaired by Priya Aiyar, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, American Airlines and hosted by NWLC Board of Directors. Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, we raised funds to support the Law Center’s work to advance gender justice in the courts, in the states, in the press, in our movement, and in Congress and our federal government. To view a list of our lead sponsors, please click here. To view the digital program, please click here.
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We celebrated some audacious innovators with our Trailblazer Award, presented by incredible changemakers in their own right—including Isabella Gomez, actress and activist, and Meena Harris, founder & CEO, Phenomenal.
And then, there are the awardees themselves. From her very first kickoff, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, two-time world cup champion and member of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, has been fighting for equal pay in the sporting world. We also honored Dolores Huerta, president and founder, Dolores Huerta Foundation, a workers’ rights activist who managed to convince 17 million people to stop buying grapes until grape farmers got paid more than 70 cents an hour. At 92, Huerta is a civil rights icon who defined her generation, and now, Mónica Ramírez, founder & president, Justice for Migrant Women, an ardent advocate for migrant women, is leading ours.
We also heard from Priya Aiyar, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, American Airlines, Xavier Becerra, Secretary, US Department of Health and Human Services, Douglas Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States, Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO, National Women’s Law Center, Tonya Robinson, Vice Chair & General Counsel, Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance, KPMG LLP, Jane Sherburne, Principal, Sherburne PLLC, and Elizabeth H. Shuler, President, AFL-CIO.
Watch the 2022 Gala program below!
2021 VIRTUAL GALA HIGHLIGHTS
On October 28, 2021, friends and supporters of the National Women’s Law Center came together to support our mission, celebrate our victories in the fight for gender justice, and leverage our collective power to achieve the future we deserve, the future we’re fighting for.
Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, we raised funds to support the Law Center’s work to advance gender justice in the courts, in the states, in the press, in our movement, and in Congress and our federal government. To view a list of our lead sponsors, please click here. To view the digital program, please click here.
Throughout the event, we heard from advocates and influencers who highlighted the courage and perseverance of all those working behind the headlines to achieve gender justice. Padma Lakshmi, television host/producer and New York Times best-selling author, joined us to talk about how the pandemic is affecting hospitality workers. Amber Stevens West, actor and mother of two, was in conversation with a child care provider on what’s next to rebuild that sector. June Diane Raphael, actor and author, was joined by an abortion rights activist to discuss what’s on the line and why abortion, actually, is central to our equality and freedom. Qian Julie Wang, New York Times best-selling author and civil rights litigator, interviewed a student about investments we’re making in young people today. And, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Charles Schumer provided remarks about how the Build Back Better agenda is urgently needed to transform the lives of women and families, as well as their visions for a more gender just future. The program also featured two musical performances by MILCK.
Watch the 2021 Virtual Gala program below!
2020 VIRTUAL GALA HIGHLIGHTS
On November 12, 2020, friends and supporters of the National Women’s Law Center came together to support our mission, celebrate our victories in the fight for gender justice, and leverage our collective power to achieve the future we deserve, the future we’re fighting for.
Thanks to generous sponsors and donors, we raised over $1.2 million to fund the Law Center’s work to advance gender justice in the courts, in the states, in the press, in our movement, and in Congress and our federal government. To view a list of our lead sponsors, please click here. To view the digital program, please click here.
Throughout the event, we heard from leaders in the gender justice movement like Senators Cory Booker and Mazie Hirono, whose words paid tribute to two social justice icons we lost in 2020, Congressman John Lewis and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and called our movement to uphold their legacies. We also heard from youth advocates like Q Garcia, a Brick by Brick fellow, and Angela Calderón, a co-author of We Are Not Invisible, whose passion to shine a light on the stories of LGBTQ+ and Latina students embodies the Law Center’s mission to fight for Justice for Her and Justice for All. We were uplifted by the words of actors & activists Tiya Sircar, Hilarie Burton, Melissa Barrera, Amber Stevens West, and Logan Browning and professional soccer player Allie Long, who reminded us that this fight belongs to all of us. And we danced along as the powerful music of the Resistance Revival Chorus brought our community together in song when we could not be together in person.