PATHMAKER Awards Gala 2023

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

PRESENTED BY: JP MORGAN CHASE Los Angeles | 2023

EMPOWHER INSTITUTE

PRESENTED BY: JP MORGAN CHASE

WELCOME On behalf of the EmpowHer Institute Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and staff, it is with great pride that we welcome you to the 2023 PATHMAKER Awards Gala, presented by JP Morgan Chase!

This year is an extra special year because it marks our 20th Anniversary! We are exited to celebrate this amazing accomplishment with you. Over the past three years, I have been blessed to lead EmpowHer to a new level of success that would not have been possible without the original vision of our founder Betty LaMarr and all of the people who have helped us to get to this point. So, as we celebrate our current accomplishments and look forward to our bright future, we also salute and pay homage to our past.

This year’s gala theme: Honoring Disruptors of the Status Quo highlights women warriors who have committed the revolutionary act of boldly breaking systemic barriers and leading the charge for a more just society for everyone. We are thrilled to celebrate our four AMAZING 2023 Betty LaMarr PATHMAKER Award honorees.

We are excited to introduce a new award that will only be given out when a company or individual has served as a bold investor and partner of our work and a champion for our girls. No one exemplifies that better than JP Morgan Chase. Our relationship with JP Morgan Chase is a true example of what a community/corporate partnership looks like at its best. We cannot thank them enough for their support and we are honored to present them with our very first Champion of Girls Award!

Proceeds of tonight’s event will support our programs and services, which support 1000+ girls annually. The resilience of our girls is indisputable. Their strength and ingenuity—birthed from insurmountable hardship—will build a stronger, healthier, justice-centric world for future generations.

That is why your generosity at tonight’s gala is so crucial. EmpowHer cannot do what we do alone. We need you to give like never before tonight in order to ensure that EmpowHer Institute continues to nurture the next generation of leaders, changemakers, and disruptors!

There are so many people who made tonight’s event happen. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, sponsors, and special guests.

Dawn L. Brown President/CEO EmpowHer Institute

PRESENTED BY: JP MORGAN CHASE

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

PROGRAM OPENING PERFORMANCE | CIRQUE BERSERK WELCOME REMARKS | GALA HOST COMMITTEE DINNER SERVED EMCEE | VANESSA ESTELLE WILLIAMS FOUNDER WELCOME | BETTY LAMARR PRESIDENT / CEO WELCOME | DAWN L. BROWN EMPOWHER ANNIVERSARY VIDEO LIVE AUCTION | AMY ASHTON YOUTH TESTIMONIAL | JIANELLA BECERRIL FUND THE NEED | AMY ASHTON & VANESSA ESTELLE WILLIAMS CHAMPION OF GIRLS AWARD JP MORGAN CHASE BETTY LAMARR PATHMAKER AWARD HONOREE FIRESIDE CHAT KAMILIAH MOORE | SILVAS OLIVAS | LOUVENIA “KITTY” BLACK-PERKINS | AWKWAFINA MODERATOR | CLAUDIA BOTERO, MODERATOR MUSICAL PERFORMANCE | ERIC BENÉT CLOSING REMARKS | VANESSA ESTELLE WILLIAMS & DAWN L. BROWN SPEAKEASY AFTER PARTY Sponsored by Charles Woodson Whiskey

Today, we join you in Los Angeles, to acknowledge and to honor the original stewards of the land on which we gather that previously was known by its original inhabitants as Chumash, Tongva and Kich.

The land is a part of each of us. It carries sweat, tears, blood, and the remains of our Native ancestors as well as our African ancestors who built this country while enslaved- the land is us. It is with gratitude and hope that we may live in the spirit of community as the tribes. Please join us in a moment of silence in honor of the land on which we celebrate tonight.

20th Anniversary Champion Partners

Thank you to all of our CHAMPION PARTNERS for rising to the challenge and helping to fund our vision for expansion both statewide and nationally by 2027!

HOST COMMITTEE KAREN LOQUET Retired Asst. Auditor Controller, LA County | WIT|LA

CECE GUTIERREZ-SCOTT RN BSN, Entrepreneur, VH1 Reality TV Starr

GLORIA DOMINGUEZ Vice President, Branch Manager, City National Bank

DR. JOSEPH BRYANT, JR.

ANGEL JAMES HORACEK

Executive Director, Rainbow PUSH/West Coast, Founder/CEO PROSPEAK

Employment & Civil Rights Attorney, EmpowHer Board of Directors

Dear Friends, We are proud to serve as the Host Committee for the 2023 PATHMAKER Awards Gala, presented by JP Morgan Chase. Thank you for joining us for such an important event and we extend to you a very warm welcome.

Can you believe it has been 20 years since EmpowHer began? We are so proud to see the multitude of accomplishments and the impact EmpowHer has had on the lives of thousands of girls. Our girls are the reasons that we are all here tonight. With your support, EmpowHer will be able to sustain and deepen that impact. So tonight, let's all bid BIG and donate BIG so we can continue to come together and celebrate the work of EmpowHer for the next 20 years and beyond!

Thank you to our sponsors, whose continued support makes the work possible. We are proud to have JP Morgan Chase as our title sponsor and we are so grateful to recognize all of our 20 for 20 Sponsors: Edison International, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, NFL Foundation. Each of these companies made bold investments of $20K+ in honor of the 20th Anniversary. Also, thank you to every sponsors--at every donor level, because your support makes a true difference. There is no way to measure our gratitude.

We hope you enjoy your evening!

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

We Salute Our Founding Board Members

E. Dali Pollard

E. Jean Gary

Patricia Bush and Betty LaMarr

Phyllis Jackson

Lorraine Loder (1953-2013)

Celebrating 20 YEARS!

The Betty LaMarr PATHMAKER Award recognizes and honors three phenomenal women for their achievements, leadership, courage, and significant contribution to the lives of girls and women everywhere.

HONOREE

KAMILAH

MOORE, ESQ.

Chair, California Reparations Task Force

Kamilah Moore is a reparatory justice scholar and an attorney with a specialization in entertainment and intellectual property law. As a law student, Moore contributed to human rights reports related to domestic and international human rights issues, including, but not limited to racial inequality in Brazil, the human right to sanitation in Lowndes County, Alabama; and the human right to remedy for indigenous Black women affected by racialized gender violence in Papua New Guinea.

While studying abroad at the University of Amsterdam, Moore wrote a master thesis exploring the intersections between international law and reparatory justice for the trans-Atlantic slave trade, chattel slavery, and their legacies. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School in New York City, a Master of Laws degree in International Criminal Law from the University of Amsterdam, and a Bachelor’s degree from the UCLA. Kamilah was appointed to Chair the California Reparations Task Force in 2021 and has since petitioned tirelessly for reparations due to the descendants of former slaves held captive here in the United States.

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

HONOREE

SILVIA OLIVAS

Award-Winning Writer

Silvia Olivas is an incredibly versatile ANNIE, HUMANITAS nominated, and two-time Emmy® Award Winning Writer. She’s the first Latina ever to win an Emmy for scripted writing. Silvia has worked on multi-camera and single-camera sitcoms, live-action, animation, and feature films. Her passion for dialogue and her strong story sensibility have been the driving forces in her writing. As Executive Producer and Head Writer on ELENA OF AVALOR, a series featuring Disney’s first princess inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore, she was chosen as VARIETY MAGAZINE’S TEN SCRIBES TO WATCH. Currently, Silvia is under a term deal, writing and producing an animated project for a major animation studio.

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

HONOREE

AWKWAFINA Award-Winning Actress, Writer, Producer

AWKWAFINA is an award-winning actress, writer, and producer from Queens, New York. She grew up with her given name, Nora Lum, and has since used her trademark comedic style and signature flair to become a breakout talent in the entertainment industry.

Lum can be seen on a Hulu film “Quiz Lady” in which she produced and stars alongside Sandra Oh. Most recently, Lum can be heard as the voice of Scuttle in the live action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and seen in the two seasons of her Comedy Central Show, "Awkwafina is Nora From Queens,. hit films such as, Disney's "Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings", Universal's "The Bad Guys, Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon”, "Jumanji: The Next Level," and MGM’s “Breaking News in Yuba County”.

She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for “The Farewell”. Lum brings an impressive range of talent to everything she does, most famously to Warner Bros' smash hit "Crazy Rich Asians," opposite Constance Wu, Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, and Ken Jeong in which she starred as Peik Lin. Lum hosted "Saturday Night Live" that same year as part of the show's 44th season. She starred in another Warner Bros feature, "Ocean's 8,". She made her feature film debut in the comedy "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising," with Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne and was heard as the voice of Quail in the animated adventure "Storks." Her first book, Awkwafina's NYC, a travel guide to New York, was published by Penguin Random House in 2015.

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

HONOREE

LOUVENIA “KITTY”

BLACK-PERKINS Chief Designer of the First Black Barbie Louvenia "Kitty" Black Perkins, a visionary fashion designer, revolutionized the fashion doll industry by designing the first Black Barbie doll in 1980. Her groundbreaking work at Mattel paved the way for diversity and inclusivity in toys, inspiring young girls worldwide. Her remarkable journey from aspiring designer to industry icon exemplifies her determination, talent, and dedication.

Throughout her three-decade-long tenure as chief designer, Kitty created over 100 designs annually, from Diana Ross, the Astronaut Barbie, MC Hammer to the game-changing Brandy Barbie Dolls, as well as Mattel's First African American Princess Line. Today, Kitty's legacy lives on in the form of Black Barbie dolls, honoring real-life trailblazers like Olympic star Flo-Jo, Maya Angelou, Madam C.J. Walker, actress Yara Shahidi, and tennis phenom Naomi Osaka. Her creativity and fearlessness continue to inspire generations, making Kitty Perkins a true pioneer in the Barbie universe.

Louvenia "Kitty" Black Perkins is a true pioneer and inspiration. Her legacy transcends the boundaries of fashion, extending to the realm of cultural impact. Her dedication to diversity and inclusivity has transformed the toy industry, empowering young girls to dream big and embrace their unique identities. Her story is a testament to the power of creativity, resilience, and the unwavering belief in making a difference in the world.

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

MODERATOR

CLAUDIA BOTERO Anchor-Investigative Journalist

Claudia Botero is an Anchor-Investigative Journalist with over 26 years of experience. She is currently Press Secretary for the Speaker of the State Assembly, Anthony Rendón. During her journalistic career, she worked for Univision 34 KMEX-TV, the number one Spanish language television station in the nation.

A Peabody and ten-time Emmy Award winning journalist, Claudia was chosen in October 2013 by the White House to have a one-on-one with President Barack Obama regarding the federal government shutdown and where he exclusively outlined his plan for immigration reform. During her career, Claudia has had many exclusive interviews with local, state, and national leaders. She worked closely with now HHS Chief Xavier Becerra on special investigations on scams such as salary theft, Ponzi schemes, and most recently the mistreatment and lack of protection during Covid-19 for Amazon workers. She also worked with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla to inform the Latino community on their voting rights and the importance of participating in the 2020 Census.

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. CHANGEMAKERS. DISRUPTORS.

EMCEE VANESSA ESTELLE WILLIAMS Award-Winning Television & Film Actor

Vanessa Estelle Williams, a dynamic presence in Hollywood, is a multifaceted artist known for her acting, activism, singing, writing, and directing. Hailing from Brooklyn, she arrived in the '90s with unwavering determination. In 2021, she wowed audiences with her return as Anna Marie McCoy in the box office hit "Candyman," receiving acclaim. Vanessa also made waves in Showtime's "The L Word Generation Q" season 2 and starred in Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Stories" as Dr. Eleanor Berger.

Her impressive filmography includes iconic roles in "New Jack City," "Thriller," "Singleholic," and "Candyman," among others. Vanessa earned an Emmy nomination for "Our America" and won the 2003 NAACP Image Award for "Soul Food." Her work in "Raising Izzie" garnered acclaim and a NAACP Image Award nomination.

Beyond film and TV, Vanessa shines on Broadway and in theater productions. Her book "SHINE" inspired the solo show "FEET ON THE CEILING!" She's a former Vice Chair of The Black AIDS Institute's Board of Directors and a founding member of Artists and Activists for Health Equity.

An internationally recognized star, Vanessa's appeal is authentic and relatable, blending passion with timeless charm. As an artist, activist, and mother, she deeply connects with audiences and is a talent admired and trusted worldwide. Vanessa Estelle Williams is a true icon.

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

FEATURED PERFORMER

ERIC BENÉT Award-Winning R&B Singer, Producer and Actor

Eric Benét, the acclaimed R&B sensation, was born on October 15, 1966, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where his musical journey began to take shape. He honed his craft at Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School, setting the stage for a career marked by soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics.

In 1990, Eric, alongside his sister Lisa Jordan, co-founded the musical group Benét. In 1994 that he truly made his mark, signing a record deal with Warner Bros. Records and introduced his debut studio album, True to Myself.

One of his career-defining moments came in 1999 with the release of A Day in the Life, featuring the unforgettable duet Spend My Life with You, performed alongside Canadian artist Tamia. Eric's talents extended beyond music, as he ventured into acting, gracing both television and film screens.

Throughout his career, Eric Benét consistently delivered soul-stirring music, earning him Grammy Award nominations and the prestigious NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song in 2000. Additionally, his role in "Trinity Goodheart" garnered a nomination for the Black Reel Award for Best Actor in a TV movie/cable. Beyond his artistic endeavors, Eric is a passionate advocate, cofounding Mission Save Her, a non-profit dedicated to combat human trafficking and promoting women's rights worldwide.

With his signature blend of R&B artistry and a commitment to social causes, Eric Benét continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

PRESENTED BY: JP MORGAN CHASE

ENTERTAINMENT

AMY ASHTON Live Auctioneer

DJ SAMMI G

HONORING DISRUPTORS OF THE STATUS QUO

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! EmpowHer Institute Proud supporter of PATHMAKER AWARDS GALA Congratulations to the Honorees!

Thank you for your continued commitment in helping young women thrive!

"Transforming more than just hair - Lanza Hair Care proudly supports EmpowHer Institute, because empowerment starts with confidence and selfexpression. Together, we're helping young girls bloom into tomorrow's leaders.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Congratulations!

We proudly support EmpowHer Institute and salute the 2023 BETTY LAMARR PATHMAKER AWARD HONOREES Kamaliah Moore Silvia Olivas Louvenia “Kitty” Black-Perkins Awkwafina CHAMPION OF GIRLS AWARD

JP Morgan Chase

At PROSPEAK, we're proud to stand with EmpowHer Institute as they pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive world.

EmpowHer Institute expresses our deepest gratitude to our volunteer leadership and staff who tirelessly support our mission Board of Directors

Advisory Board Members

Staff

DAWN L. BROWN President / CEO

ROSA CARRILLO

ALEJANDRA VIDES-AUSTIN

MARTHA DANIEL

DAWN L. BROWN

NIKKOLE DENSON-RANDOLPH

KENDRA BURKS

JULIA EVANS

SHAWNIQUA BUSH

LORI HEFFELFINGER

DR. DIJANNA FIGUEROA

INAMARIE JOHNSON

JESSICA GUILLAME

CECILIA OWENS Chair

JOSLYN OSBORN Interim Treasurer Emeritus Board Chair

CLAUDIA ALLEYNE, MD Secretary

RUTH SIMEON Emeritus Board Chair TONY BAYLIS Director GLORIA DOMINQUEZ Director ANGEL JAMES HORACEK Director DIEDRA PORCHE’ Director

TENIEL JONES HELEN NORRIS RENE’ NOURSE JASON PARK MARY SADEGHI, MD

MEGAN HOBZA STACI JANISSE KEYONNA KEITH HODA MARCUS ANGIE NGO JAZMIN ROMERO MAYA STEHLE

TITLE SPONSOR

MARQUIS SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR

IN-KIND SPONSOR

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR! Thursday, October 10, 2024 OUR MISSION Empower girls and young women in marginalized communities by helping them gain the skills necessary through education, training and mentorship to become confident, college and career ready.

OUR VISION We envision a world where every girl is provided the opportunities and resources she uniquely needs to: embrace the power of her voice; make informed decision about her body and future; break generational cycles of poverty; contribute to the creation of an equitable society.

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