LatinoJustice PRLDEF Annual Award Gala Raises $1M to help Activate Leadership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
November 14, 2024
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LatinoJustice PRLDEF Annual Award Gala Raises $1M to help Activate Leadership
Mobilizing Community, Partners and Allies for 2025
New York, NY – On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, LatinoJustice PRLDEF – a national nonprofit advancing equity and justice in Puerto Rican and Latino communities - held its annual gala and award ceremony, which for the third year in a row has raised over $1 million to help fostering the next generation of Latino leaders in the legal field and in the community and to advocate for and defend the rights of Latinos across the country.
Around 600 LatinoJustice supporters, sponsors, allies and friends attended the event themed “Activate Leadership” at Pier 60 in New York City to network, hear from honorees and celebrate LatinoJustice’s accomplishments throughout the year. The Annual Awards Gala is LatinoJustice’s premier fundraising event that also honors institutional and individual leaders who help to advance the organization’s mission.
“As we celebrate our powerful mission to create a more just society, we stand committed to leading our community in the fight ahead against any actions and policies that might undermine our progress,” said Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF.
The honorees included:
Ivelisse Clausell, Lucero Award
Ivelisse Clausell is the Vice President of Data Protection Legal at Johnson & Johnson, Ivie leads a team that provides unparalleled global privacy and cybersecurity legal support for the company’s operations worldwide.
Dechert LLP, Pro Bono Publico Award
Dechert LLP has a longstanding tradition of providing pro bono legal services to individuals and organizations who cannot otherwise afford legal counsel. Over the years, Dechert has worked with LatinoJustice PRLEDEF on multiple projects, including cases to protect the right to vote.
Joe Torres, Ronald J. Tabak Community Champion Award
Joe Torres is anchor and host of “Tiempo”, for WABC-TV. Joe Torres joined the Eyewitness News team as a general assignment reporter in 1996. Throughout the last two decades he has established himself as one of the premier street reporters in the nation’s #1 television market covering crime, politics, religion, education, transportation, business and more.
La Colmena, Community Justice Award
La Colmena is a nonprofit immigrant and worker rights center based in Staten Island, NY. Their mission is to empower immigrant workers through education, culture organizing and economic development.
After the awards ceremony the night topped off with food and drinks and the music of Lulada Club All-Women Salsa.
“This Gala is a call to action to all the leaders in our community, to stand arm-in-arm with LatinoJustice PRLDEF as we counter threats to our fundamental freedoms and to harm our community,” said Rosado. “We must remain united as a Latino community and firm in our belief that we can and must all rise and flourish together.”
LatinoJustice PRLDEF, founded in 1972 has challenged discriminatory policies and practices in the areas of criminal justice and immigrant rights by suing police departments, correctional institutions, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration & Customs Enforcement. During its more than fifty-year history, LatinoJustice has also brought impact litigation to address discrimination against Latinos in education, employment, fair housing, language rights, redistricting, and voting rights.
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About LatinoJustice
LatinoJustice PRLDEF works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice, by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. For over 50 years, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has acted as an advocate against injustices throughout the country. To learn more about LatinoJustice, visit www.LatinoJustice.org