You're Invited!

DRC is excited to present DRC’s National Leadership Award to Assistant Secretary Catherine Lhamon from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. She is receiving this honor because of her extraordinary leadership and impact in enforcing the civil rights of students with disabilities, especially students of color with disabilities who disproportionately experience discipline, seclusion, and restraint in our nation’s classrooms.

DRC is also delighted to present Assemblymember Ash Kalra with our California Leadership Award. He is being recognized for service to the disability community. We will celebrate his longstanding commitment to civil and human rights and disability justice, most recently demonstrated with his courageous opposition to the CARE Act (SB 1338), which threatens the rights of unhoused people with mental health disabilities and will disproportionately impact unhoused people of color.

DRC is excited to welcome Belfast-based poet, film-maker, performer and activist Alice McCullough to perform an original poem at our gala. McCullough’s unconventional poetry performances have captivated audiences ever since she made her start performing “Alice Fresco” on the streets of Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is a recent recipient of the Major Artist Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and wrote, directed, produced and starred in a one-woman theatrical show “Earth to Alice,” a candid collection of songs and poems, which has won numerous awards. Her art is informed and inspired by her lived experience with bipolar disorder.

DRC is delighted to host Marlene Sallo at the gala. In October, Sallo became the first woman, first Latina, and first person with a disability to be appointed as Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network. Previously, she was appointed by President Obama to serve as the staff director of the US Commission on Civil Rights; and she served as executive director of the Disability Law Center in Boston and worked as an attorney at Disability Rights Florida and the US Department of Justice.

We hope you join us in this historic gathering event!

FAQ’s

Health: We will be complying with Sacramento County guidelines for COVID safety. We will have an outdoor option and will take every precaution to have a COVID-safe event.

Dress Code: Business Attire. We encourage guests to dress up if they feel inspired.

Dining/Drinks: Hearty hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be provided.

Accommodations: We encourage participation from members of the disability community. This event is scent free in order to accommodate individuals who have environmental disabilities, and are adversely affected by scent and odors. We will have real time captioning and ASL interpreters for our program. Please note on the ticket page any reasonable accommodations you may need by February 1, 2023. If you have any questions regarding your accommodation details please email drcgala@disabilityrightsca.org

Parking: Hosted valet parking will be provided.

General Questions: Email drcgala@disabilityrightsca.org.