Introducing the Newest Judges for The Anthem Awards
Who better to help recognize social impact work that moves the needle than leaders who are on the front lines of change? Get to know some of our new judges below.
Annually, we work with the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) to amplify the best examples of purpose and mission-driven work worldwide. To make the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards our best yet, and better honor social impact work’s many forms, we’re thrilled to welcome a new cohort of impact leaders who are driving change across climate justice, arts and culture, technology, human rights law and more.
Get to know some of our new judges below. To have your social impact projects amplified by these experts, enter the 3rd Annual Anthem Awards before the Extended Entry Deadline on October 13, 2023.
Photo credit: Ashley Batz
Mona Chalabi, Data Editor, The Guardian
As an award-winning writer and illustrator, Mona Chalabi uses words, color and sound to rehumanize data and help us understand our world and the way we live in it. Her work has earned her a Pulitzer Prize, a fellowship at the British Science Association, an Emmy nomination and recognition from the Royal Statistical Society. In recent years, her art has been exhibited at the Tate, the Brooklyn Museum, the Design Museum, and the House of Illustration. She studied international relations in Paris and Arabic in Jordan. Currently, Mona is writing a book about the ways we talk about money, and is also the executive producer and creative director of an upcoming animated TV show with Ramy Youssef, A24 and Amazon Studios. Her writing and illustrations have been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker and The Guardian where she is currently the data editor. Her video, audio, and production work has been featured on Netflix, NPR, the BBC, and National Geographic.
Abigail E. Disney, Founder, Peace is Loud
Abigail E. Disney advocates for real changes to the way capitalism operates in today’s world. A documentary filmmaker and 2022 Anthem Special Achievement recipient, she won an Emmy for “The Armor of Light.” Her latest film, “The American Dream and Other Fairy Tales,” examines systemic injustice that maintains economic inequality for many. She is also Chair and Co-Founder of Level Forward, an ecosystem of storytellers, entrepreneurs, and social change-makers dedicated to balancing artistic vision, social impact, and stakeholder return. She also created the nonprofit Peace is Loud, which uses storytelling to advance social movements and the Daphne Foundation, which supports organizations working for a more equitable, fair and peaceful New York City.
Kwame Rose, Social Activist, Artist and Writer
Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Kwame Rose was originally known for having boldly held mainstream media, particularly Geraldo Rivera of Fox News, accountable for its inaccurate representation of protests during the Baltimore Uprising. Kwame’s Story is told in the award winning HBO documentary “Baltimore Rising”. After attending university in Texas, deteriorating social conditions in his hometown of Baltimore prompted the permanent return of the young activist with a firm commitment to improve and serve his community. In 2013, Kwame helped form the organization Brothers In Action, Inc., a mentoring group for young Black males in Baltimore City. His writing has been featured in Mashable, USA Today, and Abernathy Magazine. After penning a critique of Presidential Candidate Senator Bernie Sander’s lack of engagement with young change agents, Senator Sanders reached out to Kwame about how to reach young people. Kwame then served as a surrogate for Senator Sanders’ campaign during the 2016 Election. During the COVID-19 Pandemic Kwame helped develop World Central Kitchen’s #ChefsForAmerica program.
Jean Oelwang, Founding CEO and President, Virgin Unite
Jean Oelwang is the founding CEO and President of Virgin Unite, an entrepreneurial foundation that builds leadership collectives, incubates ideas, and re-invents systems for a better world. For nearly 20 years, she has led the incubation of several global initiatives, including: The Elders to train ethical leaders, The B Team to educate business leaders on human-centered practices, The Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator to build social infrastructure that works toward a low carbon future, and more. She also played a key partner role in the incubation of many other initiatives such as The Audacious Project. As part of her work over the last three decades, Jean has helped corporations put the wellbeing of people and the planet at their core, including working with over 25 Virgin businesses across 15 industries to help embed purpose in all they do. Jean also served as a Partner in the Virgin Group leading their people strategy.
‘
Yaël Eisenstat, Vice President & Head of Center for Technology and Society, Anti-Defamation League
Yael Eisenstat is a Vice President at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), where she heads the Center for Technology and Society. She leads ADL’s effort to hold tech companies accountable for the proliferation of hate, harassment and extremism on their platforms. Previous to joining ADL, Yael served as an intelligence officer, diplomat, and White House advisor. She joined Facebook in 2018 as the head of global elections integrity for political ads, following several years as a vocal critic of the harms that social media has inflicted on democracy and societies worldwide. After leaving Facebook six months later, she spoke openly about the company’s inability to meet its responsibility to secure elections, and she has continued to push for changes in the tech industry. Yael also served as senior advisor at the Institute for Security and Technology, as a Future of Democracy Fellow at Berggruen Institute, a visiting fellow at Cornell Tech’s Digital Life Initiative, and an adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs. Yael holds an M.A. in International Affairs from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Kyle Lierman, Chief Executive Officer, Civic Nation
Kyle Lierman is the CEO of Civic Nation, the nonprofit home of initiatives building a more inclusive, equitable America. These include When We All Vote, Change Collective, End Rape on Campus, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, It’s On Us, United State of Women, and We The Action. Lierman plays a key role in Civic Nation’s work as a connector between grassroots-level volunteers, advocates, and voters and influencers, celebrities, and policymakers in order to affect real, lasting change. Kyle joined Civic Nation after helping found Michelle Obama’s voter registration initiative, When We All Vote, in 2018 and subsequently serving as its first CEO. Prior to this, he spent six years working in the Obama White House, during which time he launched and led the It’s On Us sexual assault prevention campaign that focuses on engaging men in education and prevention efforts.
Andraéa LaVant, Disability-focused Activist, LaVant Consulting, Inc.
Andraéa LaVant is a nationally and internationally sought-after disability inclusion expert. She is widely recognized for spearheading a global disability justice movement as impact producer for Netflix’s Oscar-nominated film, Crip Camp, executive produced by President Barack and Mrs. Michelle Obama. Andraéa is founder and president of LaVant Consulting, Inc. (LCI), a social impact communications firm that offers cutting-edge corporate development and content marketing for brands and nonprofits. LCI’s specialty is helping brands “speak disability with confidence.” Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC, Essence.com, the Root, Paper Magazine, and a host of other national media. As a black, disabled woman, Andraéa champions intersectionality and is committed to working toward a future where ALL people, particularly disabled people of color, are seen and valued in culture and society at-large.
The 3rd Annual Anthem Awards is officially open. Explore this year’s new honors, and see a few reasons to participate before the Extended Entry Deadline on October 13, 2023!
The Anthem Awards accepts work across five areas including Awareness & Media, Fundraising, Community Engagement, Product, Innovation & Service and Leadership & Team for seven causes: Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Education Art & Culture, Health, Human & Civil Rights, Humanitarian Action & Services, Responsible Technology, and Sustainability Climate & Environment.
