National Council of Jewish Women 1707 L Street NW, Suite 950 Washington, DC 20036-4206 Contact: Debbi Dunn Solomon Director of Marketing & Communications Cell: 347-569-4364, dsolomon@ncjw.org Washington, DC, March 10, 2016 — Edie Windsor, whose case US v. Windsor marked the first Supreme Court victory for marriage equality, and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, will be honored at a Monday dinner at Washington Institute, the premier triennial public policy event of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). Windsor and Kaplan will receive NCJW’s Social Action Award.
National Council of Jewish Women
1707 L Street NW, Suite 950
Washington, DC 20036-4206
Contact: Debbi Dunn Solomon
Director of Marketing & Communications
Cell: 347-569-4364, dsolomon@ncjw.org
Washington, DC, March 10, 2016 — Edie Windsor, whose case US v. Windsor marked the first Supreme Court victory for marriage equality, and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, will be honored at a Monday dinner at Washington Institute, the premier triennial public policy event of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW). Windsor and Kaplan will receive NCJW’s Social Action Award. Susie Gelman, a leader in promoting religious pluralism through advancing freedom of choice of marriage in Israel, will be honored at a luncheon on Monday with NCJW’s Woman Who Dared Award.
The conference will kick off midday on Sunday, March 13, and end Tuesday afternoon, March 15, 2016. This year’s gathering will bring nearly 400 leaders from across the country to the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, culminating on Capitol Hill with over 150 meetings with congressional offices on Tuesday.
Distinguished speakers will include journalists Mara Liasson, Janell Ross, and Jackie Kucinich on what the 2016 elections mean for women, to be moderated by Jane Eisner, editor of the Daily Forward (Sunday afternoon). Wade Henderson, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the Leadership Conference Education Fund will speak Sunday night about voting rights and ensuring qualified federal judicial nominees receive timely votes. On Monday afternoon, Dahlia Lithwick and Susan Weiss will discuss the US and Israeli court systems.
The institute will include in-depth briefings by political leaders, advocates, and policy experts to prepare those in attendance to meet with their members of Congress. When participants head to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 15, for their legislative advocacy day, they will focus on legislation to advance reproductive justice, voting rights, and supports for trafficked youth, as well as highlight the urgent need to fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court.
Tuesday afternoon, March 15, the closing program on Capitol Hill will feature remarks from Representatives John Yarmouth (D-KY), Diane DeGette (D-CO), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
When the NCJW conference participants head to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 15, for their legislative advocacy day, they will focus specifically on:
-The Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would restore Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (struck down in Shelby v. Holder), and restore the ability of the federal government to review changes to voting laws before they are enacted to check for discriminatory practices.
-The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, which would reauthorize and strengthen critical anti-trafficking programs by collecting human trafficking data, adding a nondiscrimination clause protecting LGBTQ youth, and increasing the temporary length of stay for homeless youth.
-Urging their senators to fulfill their constitutional duties and move ahead in filling the current vacancy on the US Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, specifically by holding hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee and sending the nominee to the floor of the Senate for a vote.
The National Council of Jewish Women is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter @NCJW.
Who: NCJW members and supporters from across the country
When: Sunday, March 13 through Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Where: Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
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