Congratulations from Anthem Managing Director Jessica Lauretti
Congratulations to all of the 2nd Annual Anthem Awards winners!
Since launching this platform in June of 2021, we have seen that social change has become a dominant force in mainstream culture. The sheer number, breadth and overall quality of the entries shared with us in the 2nd Annual Awards is a testament to the strength of this growing movement. Across our seven core causes, and ranging from local grassroots organizations to large-scale corporate endeavors, this year’s entries demonstrate an enduring commitment to purpose & mission-driven work from around the globe that is both humbling and inspiring to see.
This year’s Special Achievement winners represent the fight for freedom, justice and equality, whether it is the call for gender equity, LGBTQ and HIV+ rights, workers rights and income inequality, gun control, indigenous representation, climate justice, to end war, support refugees, preserve democracy, and for civic engagement, corporate activism, and socially responsible business. Our winners represent best in class impact programs from luminaries like His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the former First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah, Jon Stewart and so many others as well as work on some of the most important issues today such as inclusive design, intersectionality, trans rights and more.
It is a great honor for me to recognize the work of my peers and heroes and to build this community and platform of extraordinary humans everyday. When I reflect on my own professional experience, I recall so many late nights spent on the launch of advocacy campaigns and the endless care and thoughtfulness put into every single detail by teams of folks who were carrying the weight of solving some of the world’s most pressing problems on their shoulders. You can see this dedication and effort reflected in the work as well as the sincere and urgent knowledge that people’s lives may well be on the line as a result of it. It is a privilege to be able to share this work on a global stage and recognize the people behind the campaigns who do it everyday.
I also want to acknowledge that while today is meant to be a joyful day of celebration there is also still much more work to do. We stand with the people of Ukraine, the women of Iran, the survivors of gun violence, those fighting for access to healthcare, to end police brutality and mass incarceration and who are working for equality around the world. Our thoughts are with those recently affected by the devastating loss caused by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria as well as the decade long civil war that remains on the ground in the latter. The call for change and freedom not only perseveres but it is a growing global chorus and it is a commitment that lasts a lifetime.
Thank you to all of our community for the work you do every day. Congratulations to all!
– Jessica Lauretti
Managing Director
The Anthem Awards
