Empower Gala 2026

Empower is not just an event, it’s a movement we are building together celebrating resilience, student voice, and community empowerment.

Presented by

Be the Change. Reimagine Our Schools.

Thank you for joining us at Empower 2026 and for being an essential part of our community. Your presence, generosity, and belief in our mission are what make real change possible.

Together, we are creating schools and communities where every student belongs, every voice is heard, and every story matters.

If you haven’t already and would like to support our ongoing work, please consider making a donation. Stay tuned for the official event photo album, videos, and more updates coming soon!

Donate Now

Date
Thursday, October 1, 2026

Time
6 p.m. PDT

Location
Jonathan Club
545 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Our Honorees

Dorothy W. Nelson Peacemakers Award

Alan Ramirez

Youth Leader, Azusa Unified School District

Lois D. Thompson

Partner, Proskauer Rose (Ret.)

Patricia L. Glaser

Partner and Litigation Department Chair, Glaser Weil

Special Performance By

Las Colibrí

LAS COLIBRÍ or “The Hummingbirds,” are flying into new territory as one of the most unique ensembles of its genre by returning to the all-stringed instrumentation of the early 20th century mariachi tradition.

Celebrating Seven Years of Transformative Partnership in Azusa Unified

2026 E-Tribute Journal

Thank you all for your continued support and commitment to WJC’s mission and work.

Our Sponsors

Thank you for helping us build more just and peaceful communities, one young leader at a time.

Presenting

Emerald

Michael & Laura Wallace
Munger, Tolles & Olson
O’Melveny & Myers
Quinn Emanuel
Richard Chernick and JAMS

Diamond

Gibson Dunn
HKA Global
Latham & Watkins
Signature Resolution

Platinum

Allen Matkins
AltaMed
Groom Law Group
Kendall Brill & Kelly

Gold

Amazon
Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Creative Artists Agency
Greenberg Traurig
Greines, Martin, Stein & Richland
Hueston Hennigan
Liang Ly
Mattel, Inc.
Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno
Proskauer Rose
Sullivan & Cromwell
The Walt Disney Company
Waymaker

Silver

Analysis Group
Barbara & David Voron
Berkeley Research Group
Brad & Claire Brian
Elisabeth & Tony Freinberg
FBT Gibbons
Freeman & Mills
Hahn & Hahn
Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox
Kaiser Permanente
Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir
Loeb & Loeb
Michael and Nancy Sitrick Charitable Foundation
Pasadena City College Foundation
Sergio Franchi Music Foundation
Seyfarth Shaw
Sitrick and Company
SOMOS Group
Westmount

Bronze

Alternative Resolution Centers
Amy Fisch Solomon
Aon
Bird Marella
Buchalter
Coher ADR
Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae
Goodwin Proctor
Jenner & Block
Jeremy E. Shulman Mediation
Judicate West
Kepner Mediation
King & Spalding
Magna Legal Services
Robert A. Meyer
SoCalGas
StoneTapert Insurance Services
Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath