While the Equal Justice Society and our partners spend most of the year contributing analysis and proposing remedies to structural racism as intellectuals and advocates, it is imperative that for at least one moment of the year, our hopes express themselves in the tactile and spiritual manner that only the arts can convey.

The awards section of the event also allowed EJS to share with our supporters recognition of key individuals who are helping birth a unique racial justice organization. We are eternally grateful to Joe Lucero, Vince Calcagno, Norman Lear, Dr. James Thrasher, and Simona Farrise for proclaiming their belief in the Equal Justice Society and for accepting our expression of kinship with them.

The overflow crowd was a broad mix of race, ethnicity, age and livelihood. Perhaps this is the kind of world Harriet Tubman imagined, and as such, the presence and liveliness of our guests also contributed to the Gala's beauty. The audience's diversity is in large part a tribute to the outreach efforts of our Gala Host Committee and sponsors, and we thank you!

To our guests, I hope we left you aching for more experiences like this!

To our friends who could not join us, I hope you're aching to join us in 2007!