Celebrating Resistance
DREDF’s 46th Anniversary Event
Action, Advocacy, and Community
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Doors Open: 5:00 pm PDT
Program: 6:00 pm – 7:45 pm PDT
This event will also be livestreamed via Zoom, and a link will be sent out by September 8th.
Come join us for an evening of fun, activism, and community! Our 46th Anniversary Event: Celebrating Resistance 2025 will feature disability activist, Emmy award winner and rabble-rouser Keith Jones. Keith is the President and CEO of SoulTouchin’ Experiences LLC, which promotes access, inclusion, and empowerment for people with and without disabilities. He will be joined by Jim LeBrecht as Emcee. Jim most recently directed the documentary Change Not Charity: The Americans with Disabilities Act for PBS’ American Experience program, which highlights DREDF’s role in the passage of the ADA. Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, U.S. Representative from California’s 12th District and the first member of Congress known to be congenitally blind, will provide video remarks.
Real-time captioning and ASL will be provided.
Masks are required when not eating or drinking, and KN95 masks will be available on-site.
DREDF will have a limited number of donated tickets available for people unable to pay for a ticket. Please email tickets@dredf.org to make a request for a donated ticket. Please understand that we cannot guarantee that all requests for donated tickets will be accommodated.
Event Program
6:00 PM — Opening by Jim LeBrecht, Emcee & Former DREDF Board Member
6:10 PM — Land Acknowledgement by Isabella Zizi, Northern Cheyenne, Arikara Mvskoke Creek | Idle No More SF Bay & Movement Rights
6:15 PM — Welcome by Steve Kaye, DREDF Board Chair
6:20 PM — Welcome by Michelle Uzeta, DREDF Interim Director
6:25 PM — Video Remarks by Lateefah Simon, U.S. Representative from California’s 12th District
6:30 PM — Claudia Center, DREDF Legal Director Introduces Awardees: Covington & Burling LLP and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
6:43 PM — Keynote, Spoken Word & Music by Keith Jones
6:58 PM — Video Segment of Change, Not Charity by Jim LeBrecht
7:07 PM — Family Story by Crystal Gardener with Introduction by Karma Quick-Panwala, DREDF’s Children & Family Advocacy Services Director
7:20 PM — Closing remarks
7:30 PM — End of Program
Thank you to Our Sponsors!
Presenter
Guy Wallace
Legacy Builder
Kathi Pugh
Visionary
David German
Shartsis Friese, LLP
Leader
Donna H. Odierna & Lisa R. Hirsch
Steve Kaye & Mitch LaPlante
Benefactor
Stanley Yarnell and Victor Rowley
Advocate
Dorene Giacopini
Knauf Associates and Mediations
Peter Korn & Anneli Meyer Korn
Ricki Blau & Bill Reeves
Activist
Claudia Center
Jeff and Meri Lane
Jinny Kim
Kim Swain & Michael Sugarman
Lainey Feingold
Linda & Bruce MacLeod
Michelle Uzeta
Miller Starr Regalia
Ralph G. Neas, former Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Silvia Yee & Alex Wang
Susan Freundlich
Wilmer Harris Law
Interested in being a sponsor of Celebrating Resistance? Learn more about sponsorship benefits and opportunities here. If you have questions, contact Susan Freundlich at sfreundlich@dredf.org
For general questions, accommodation, and language interpretation requests, please contact us at (510) 644-2555 or info@dredf.org by September 1.
Thank you for your interest in attending our 46th Anniversary Celebration, Celebrating Resistance. We have reached our maximum capacity. Please join us remotely by streaming the event over Zoom.