Friday, March 28, 2025
6.00PM EST
RONALD REAGAN BUILDING AND
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER
1300 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20004
The Whitney M. Young Jr. Gala is Back -and It's All About You.
This isn’t just another event—it’s a defining moment for our community. A celebration of resilience, vision, and the power of coming together to create lasting change.
You’ve spoken loud and clear: this gala is more than tradition. It’s proof of what we can achieve when we unite for a brighter future.
The Heart of our WORK
This night isn’t just about the Greater Washington Urban League—it’s about you and the stories that drive us to push further.
It’s about the single mother, once on the brink of eviction, who now helps others secure stable housing.
It’s about the young entrepreneur who, with our guidance, turned a dream into a thriving business.
It’s about the elder who kept her family’s home, building a legacy of generational wealth.
These are the stories we celebrate—stories of overcoming the odds, thanks to your support and the power of our collective efforts.
A Night of Celebration
This year’s theme, “Building the Vision: The Power of We”, honors the collective strength of our community.
On this unforgettable evening, we’ll honor extraordinary people who have faced adversity and risen above it with courage.
We’ll announce this year’s honorees soon, but they will join a legacy of trailblazers we have honored previously including John Lewis, Ben Crump, and Virginia Ali (founder of Ben’s Chili Bowl).
This is Your Moment, Too
This night is more than a celebration—it’s a reminder of what we can accomplish when we stand united. With your support and the collective power of “we,” every family can thrive.
Reserve your spot now—limited seats available.
Because the power of we starts with you.
Our 2025 Honorees
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
U.S. Representative for California's 43rd Congressional District
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Congresswoman Maxine Waters is considered by many to be one of the most powerful women in American politics today. She has gained a reputation as a fearless and outspoken advocate for women, children, people of color and the poor.
Elected in November 2024 to her eighteenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives with more than 75 percent of the vote in the 43rd Congressional District of California, Congresswoman Waters represents a large part of South Los Angeles including the communities of Watts and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County comprised of Lennox, West Athens, Willowbrook, and El Camino Village. The 43rd District also includes the diverse cities of Gardena, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Lawndale, Compton and Torrance.
Congresswoman Waters made history as the first woman and first African American Chair of the House Financial Services Committee. She is the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease. She is also a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and member and past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Prior to her election to the House of Representatives in 1990, she spent 14 years in the California State Assembly, where she rose to the powerful position of Democratic Caucus Chair. She was responsible for some of the boldest legislation California has ever seen. She is a co-founder of Black Women’s Forum, a nonprofit organization of over 1,200 African American women in the Los Angeles area. In the mid-80s, she also founded Project Build, working with young people in Los Angeles housing developments on job training and placement.
As she confronts the issues such as poverty, economic development, equal justice under the law and other issues of concern to people of color, women, children, and poor people, Rep. Waters enjoys a broad cross section of support from diverse communities across the nation.
Throughout her career, Congresswoman Waters has been an advocate for international peace, justice, and human rights. Expanding access to health care services is another of Congresswoman Waters’ priorities. She spearheaded the development of the Minority AIDS Initiative in 1998 to address the alarming spread of HIV/AIDS among African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities. She is also the author of legislation to expand health services for patients with diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.
Long active in the women’s movement, Rep. Waters has given encouragement and financial support to women seeking public office. Many young people, including those in the hip-hop music community, praise her for her support and understanding of young people and their efforts at self-expression. One testament to her work is the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center, a multimillion dollar campus providing education and employment opportunities to residents of the Watts area.
When twice impeached former President Donald Trump was elected, Congresswoman Waters became the leader of the resistance. Many young people learned what most of us knew about her for over the past 40 years – that Maxine Waters will always speak truth to power, will always stand up and fight for what is right, for justice and equality! As a result, she has earned the title of “Auntie Maxine.”
Karine Jean-Pierre
Former White House Press Secretary, Special Advisor to the President Author, Activist, and Media Personality
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Karine Jean-Pierre, Former Press Secretary and Special Advisor to the President Author, Activist, and Media Personality Karine Jean-Pierre is the former Press Secretary and Special Advisor to President Joseph Biden, Jr. She is the first Black person and first openly queer person to serve as the White House Press Secretary is the longest serving female in this role. Karine is a long-time advisor to President Biden, having served in senior communications and political roles in the Biden Administration, the Biden campaign, and in the Obama Administration.
Prior to her role on the campaign, she served as Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org and an NBC and MSNBC Political Analyst. Jean-Pierre served as Regional Political Director for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the Obama-Biden administration and as Deputy Battleground States Director for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. She served as Southeast Regional Political Director for President Obama’s 2008 campaign, Deputy Campaign Manager for Martin O’Malley for President, Campaign Manager for theACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Initiative, and Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Legislative and Budget Affairs for two members in the New York City Council
Previously, Karine worked at the Center for Community and Corporate Ethics, pushing major companies to change their business practices, and is the author of her memoir titled Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America. Born in Martinique and raised in New York, Jean-Pierre is a graduate of Columbia University.
Will Dawkins
general manager of the Washington Wizards
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Will Dawkins enters his second season as general manager of the Washington Wizards. In his role, Dawkins oversees the day-to-day operations for both the Wizards and Capital City Go-Go.
After arriving in D.C. in June of 2023, Dawkins quickly ushered in a new era of Wizards basketball with a plethora of intentional roster moves aimed to reposition the franchise. Dawkins acquired future draft capital and young players, highlighted by drafting 18-year-old Bilal Coulibaly from France with the seventh overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, and the first selection of his tenure as general manager. Coulibaly’s impact in D.C. was felt immediately as he was voted a 2024 NBA Rising Star and become the youngest player in franchise history to start in a game.
Dawkins continued repositioning and injecting youth into the franchise by drafting Alex Sarr (2nd overall, 19 years old), Bub Carrington (14th overall, 18 years old), and Kyshawn George (24th overall, 20 years old) with the team’s three first round selections in the 2024 NBA Draft after a series of draft-night trades where he accumulated additional future draft capital. The Wizards’ three first-round selections were the most made by any NBA team on day one of the draft and the most by Washington since 2010. Washington enters the 2024-25 campaign with 12 players aged 25 years or younger – tied for the second-most in the league.
During the 2024-25 offseason, Dawkins promoted Brian Keefe as the 26th head coach in franchise history, establishing a coaching staff focused on player development and foundation building. Jonas Valanciunas and Saddiq Bey chose Washington in free agency, while Malcolm Brogdon was acquired via trade, giving Dawkins a trio of veterans to help mold the young players in Keefe’s first full season as head coach.
Dawkins spent the previous 15 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, rising from front office intern to hold a variety of positions with influence throughout the organization where he helped assemble teams that contributed to the second-best winning percentage in the NBA from 2010 to 2020, with a Finals appearance in 2012 and four appearances in the Western Conference Finals.
Dawkins last served as the Thunder’s vice president of basketball operations from 2020-23 where he was directly responsible for roster and staff development, data science & solutions, strategic planning and the handling of personnel matters, including player evaluation and acquisitions.
Prior to his role as vice president of basketball operations, Dawkins spent three seasons as the team’s vice president of identification & intelligence, where he was responsible for overseeing the professional and amateur evaluation departments (both domestically and internationally). He also served as assistant video coordinator, scouting coordinator and director of college player personnel, a position he held for five seasons.
Dawkins is a graduate of Emerson College, where he served as captain of the men’s basketball team and became a two-time Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar All-American. The Springfield, Massachusetts, native led the High School of Commerce to the 2004 Division I State Basketball Championship, while earning the honor of Western Massachusetts Player of the Year. He was inducted into the Springfield Massachusetts High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Dawkins and his wife, Tara, have three children, Trey, Journee and Rylee, and currently reside in Northern Virginia.
Giant Food
Represented by president at Giant Food, Ira Kress
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Since its founding in 1936, Giant Food has been a trusted name in grocery retail, serving communities with quality products, exceptional service, and a deep commitment to customer satisfaction. What began as a small Washington, D.C., supermarket has grown into a leading regional chain, operating over 160 stores across Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.
With a strong focus on innovation and community engagement, Giant Food continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern shoppers. From fresh, locally sourced produce to cutting-edge digital conveniences like online ordering and delivery, Giant remains dedicated to making grocery shopping easy, accessible, and rewarding for all.
Beyond the aisles, Giant Food has a proud legacy of supporting local communities through initiatives in hunger relief, health and wellness, and sustainability. As a trusted neighborhood partner, Giant Food is committed to nourishing both individuals and the communities it serves—one meal at a time.
For more information, visit giantfood.com
LAURA COATES
CNN Chief Legal Analyst & Anchor
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Laura Coates is CNN’s chief legal analyst and anchor of Laura Coates Live, airing weeknights at 11pm ET. The show will showcase the day’s most interesting stories with smart, provocative, and thoughtful analysis, while leveraging Coates’ significant experience as a prosecutor and relentless pursuit of the facts. At the intersection between law, politics and pop culture, the high energy show will take the news viewers have already heard and help them to truly understand it.
Emmy nominated Coates joined CNN in 2016 and plays a central role in the network’s extensive legal programming, as well as having a prominent role in major news moments, including CNN’s coverage of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the January 6th hearings and the two impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump, hosting a special entitled White House in Crisis: The Impeachment Inquiry. She routinely covers high-profile criminal prosecutions, including the trial of Alex Murdaugh and former police officer Derek Chauvin.
Coates is also the host of the award-winning daily “The Laura Coates Show” on SiriusXM’s bipartisan P.O.T.U.S. channel where she interviews world leaders and politicians from both sides of the aisle and engages the audience with a lively discussion on the intersection of politics and the law.
Coates has authored two books, You Have the Right: A Constitutional Guide to Policing the Police and New York Times bestseller Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight For Fairness.
A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Coates graduated from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and the University of Minnesota Law School, where she serves on the Board of Advisors, before beginning her legal career in private practice. She practiced law in Minnesota and New York handling cases ranging from intellectual property litigation and First Amendment issues to defamation and media law. Called to public service, she transitioned from private practice to the United States Department of Justice, thriving as a federal prosecutor. She served as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice during the Bush and Obama administrations, specializing in the enforcement of voting rights throughout the country. She also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, prosecuting a myriad of violent felony offenses including drug trafficking, armed offenses, domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault.
She and her husband live in Washington, DC with their two young children. You can find her on social media at @thelauracoates.
Jonathan Slocumb
veteran comedian/actor
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Jonathan Slocumb is a veteran comedian/actor who is globally known for being a “Clean Comedian” and admired for his unique fashion style.
The proud Atlanta, Georgia native is also a sought after MC/Host of corporate and special events across the country and overseas. He still holds the record for being the longest Main Stage host of ESSENCE Festival for 7 years in a row.
He has been featured in EBONY, on CNN, BET, COMEDY CENTRAL, HLN, TVONE, Upscale Magazine, & The Tom Joyner Morning Show. He is also known for his roles on “The Steve Harvey Show”, Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Brown’s” (movie), Netflix’s: THE WONDER YEARS, and BET+’s: CHURCHY as well as numerous other films, TV shows, and stage plays.
A Look Back at What You Missed
Celebrate the legacy of Whitney M. Young Jr. and discover how the Greater Washington Urban League has been empowering communities for 85 years.
The Program Book offers a glimpse into a transformative evening of resilience, equity, and impactful change, honoring leaders and champions of justice.
Download it to be inspired and join the movement toward a brighter, inclusive future!
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