Dream.Org to Host Inaugural “We, The Dream” Gala in Celebration of Justice and Environmental Champions
Among the honorees are trailblazing environmentalist Leah Thomas; Pulaski County, Arkansas’ first African American Sheriff, Eric S. Higgins; and distinguished prison reform advocate Jessica Jackson.
New York, NY - September 10, 2024 - Dream.Org has announced that the inaugural “We, The Dream” gala will take place on Wednesday, October 16, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. Environmentalist and author Leah Thomas, Sheriff Eric S. Higgins from the critically acclaimed Netflix documentary “Unlocked: A Jail Experiment,” and renowned prison reform advocate Jessica Jackson will be honored for their innovative leadership in climate and criminal justice reform.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, and our nation navigates through challenging times - marked by a divisive election - the gala looks to inspire attendees and the public to tell the full and honest story of America to find common ground and refound America for the next generation to inherit. Doors will open at 6:00PM ET with purple carpet arrivals and a cocktail reception, followed by a dinner with special performances.
“In this critical time for our democracy, Dream.Org is calling for America to reignite the spirit of “We, The People” and forge the unity necessary to drive meaningful progress,” said Nisha Anand, CEO of Dream.Org. “Our inaugural gala is an opportunity for artists and advocates, elected officials and executives, dreamers and doers, leaders and luminaries to break bread together and build a beloved community.”
Anand continued, “our goal is to bring people together – across our deepest divides – with a shared vision of improving this great country that we call home. We will celebrate the champions of progress, honor their contributions, and collaborate on the future of what America will be when we dare to dream."
Thank you to our gala sponsors—Truist Bank, National Football League, The Just Trust, Queens Guard, Climate Power, Liquid Death, and Tony's Chocolonely—for their support.
For information about purchasing tickets or sponsorship opportunities, please visit: https://dream.org/initiative/wethedream-gala/ or contact Pamela Spyrs at pamela.spyrs@dream.org. Media can RSVP by emailing dreamorg@ssmandl.com.
ABOUT OUR HONOREES
Dream Maker Honoree
Leah Thomas is a celebrated environmentalist who coined the term ‘eco-communicator’ to describe her style of environmental activism. In 2020, Leah founded the non-profit, Intersectional Environmentalist, a leading resource hub for diverse and accessible climate education. Through her Green Girl Productions project- Leah has designed innovative programs like London’s first Black EcoFeminist Summit, Earth Sessions community driven climate justice concerts and a grassroots book tour of over 70 stops. She has been recognized in Harper’s Bazaar, W Magazine, CNN, ABC News, and NBC, among others, and has been recognized in Forbes 30 under 30, EBONY Power 100, TIME100 Next, and INSIDER’s Climate Action 30.
Dream Future Honoree
Sheriff Eric S. Higgins is an esteemed 30-year law enforcement professional who was elected in 2019 as the first African American Sheriff to lead the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office in its 200-year history. Prior to, Sheriff Higgins led numerous impactful initiatives as Assistant Chief of Police including reinstating the Police/Youth Live-In Camp and establishing the Little Rock Chapter of O.K. "Our Kids" mentoring program for African American boys. His successful acquisition of over $5 million in grants facilitated the introduction of state-of-the-art technology and innovative programs that have improved relationships between law enforcement and the community.
Dream Legacy Honoree
Jessica Jackson is a leader in the bipartisan movement to end excessive incarceration. As a high-school dropout with a two-month-old daughter, her husband was sentenced to six years in prison. In that moment, she decided to turn her shock into a crusade to change the justice system and graduated college and law school as a single mother. Jessica’s specialty is bringing political rivals together to pass bills considered “impossible.” While leading Dream.Org’s national initiative #cut50, Jessica led the passage of the “First Step Act” in 2018, which has helped free more than thirty thousand people. The New York Times called the law “the most substantial justice reform in a generation.” She also helped ban the shackling of jailed pregnant women in 14 states through her “Dignity for Incarcerated Women” campaign that enlisted formerly incarcerated women and dozens of celebrities to focus on women’s issues. Jessica was also elected the youngest-ever Mayor of Mill Valley, California where she focused on affordable housing. Today, she leads advocacy efforts for REFORM Alliance, an organization working to end mass incarceration and mass supervision.
ABOUT DREAM.ORG
Dream.Org is the leading national nonprofit bringing people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom, dignity and opportunity for all. We use a common ground approach to find solutions for America’s toughest problems and make the American dream a reality for everyone. Learn more at dream.org.
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