“The UnGala” Is Finally Here!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 5th, 2022

PRESS CONTACT:
Patrice Snow
[email protected]

Washington, DC – On Thursday, December 8th, DC Statehood advocacy group DC Vote will host their annual fundraising dinner at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC. Cheekily referring to it as “The UnGala” because the obligatory large tables, continuous program, and predictable run-of-show will be thrown out of the window, the group will honor Arena Stage and Black Voters Matter co-founders LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright with their “Champion of Democracy” award. Additional awardees and details will be announced later this week.

“The UnGala” marks the first time since 2019 that DC Vote has gathered in person to celebrate the year’s progress toward the ultimate DC Statehood goal. Since we now want all gatherings to be meaningful and safe, DC Vote is determined to crack the mold on the typical fundraising dinner event. With that theme in mind, “Champion of Democracy” awardees released the following statements:

“It is a true honor for Arena Stage to be named a ‘Champion of Democracy,’” said Edgar Dobie, executive producer and president of Arena Stage. “Since its founding, Arena Stage has been committed to doing just that; championing democracy through the art it produces and presents. This summer’s world premiere of ‘American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words’ was a great example of that, and the curated selection of handmade quilts from the League of Women Voters’ Quilts4DC project helped us provide a unique, multifaceted take on how art drives democracy. We are deeply grateful.”

Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown, co-founders of Black Voters Matter continued, “Black Voters Matter is honored to receive DC Vote‘s ‘Champion of Democracy’ award at their UnGala on December 8th. Our work is dedicated to building power in Black communities all across the country so enfranchising the 700,000 residents of the District of Columbia, the plurality of whom are Black, directly aligns with the goal of DC Statehood.”

Albright and Brown finished, “It is an incredible and defining time in American history, one where we have the opportunity to prove a multiracial, multiethnic democracy can not only survive but thrive. We are honored to work with partners like DC Vote in making this true democracy happen. Thanks again to Bo and the team at DC Vote and we look forward to continuing our friendship.”

###