WASHINGTON D.C. – With nearly 200 people in attendance, Advancement Project celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Rubell Museum in Washington D.C. on December 5. Advancement Project is a next generation, multi-racial civil rights organization that seeks to fulfill America’s promise of creating a caring, inclusive and multi-racial democracy.
For decades, the national racial justice organization has supported grassroots groups on the frontlines of major movements for education justice, climate justice, police reform, democracy, voting rights, redistricting and immigrant justice. They were a pioneering force in elevating the school-to-prison pipeline to the national discourse. Advancement Project also was on the ground in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, helping to ensure that the voices of survivors were heard during the reconstruction process.
Founded in 1999 by former NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund attorneys, Constance L. Rice, Penda Hair, Molly Munger, and Stephen R. English, Advancement Project has established a reputation as lawyers for the movement for racial justice. Executive director Judith Browne Dianis is a formidable force for change with a deep passion for community organizing.
“Despite the upheaval in the world, I take comfort in knowing that another world is indeed possible thanks to the work and advocacy of entities such as Advancement Project and their many partners,” said Jennifer R. Farmer, founder of Spotlight PR. Farmer previously worked as the managing director for communications for Advancement Project.
Advancement Project marked their anniversary with a gala reception at the Rubell Museum. It’s executive director Judith Browne Dianis remarked to those in attendance, “thank you for making incredible things happen every day.”
“As we direct our vision to the next 25 years, our unwavering belief is that another world is possible, especially for Black and brown communities,” said former educator, activist and Advancement Project Board Member Jesse Williams.
Advancement Project staff not only celebrated but they also paid homage to a host of grassroots organizations. They awarded the “Turning the Tide Awards” to Action St. Louis, a grassroots racial justice organization that seeks to build political power for Black communities in the St. Louis region. New Virginia Majority, which fuels multi-issue, multi-racial movements to transform Virginia, also earned the Turning the Tide Award.
Advancement Project also issued the “Just Democracy Award” to the Service Employees International Union, one of the largest labor unions in the country; and the “Harry Belafonte Lift Every Voice Award” to Aja Monet, a Grammy-nominated Surrealist Blues Poet whose work explores themes of resistance, love and joy.
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