New York, NY— Ana Oliveira, the President and CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation® was honored by The Drum Major Institute (DMI), during its annual gala. Fellow honorees were Melody Barnes, the Domestic Policy Advisor to the President of United States, and Rafael E. Cestero, the Commissioner of New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The award ceremony took place at the historic Angel Orensanz Foundation, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Oliveira was presented the Drum Major for Justice Award for her significant contributions in fostering economic justice for women and families in New York City. City Councilman and Public Advocate-Elect Bill de Blasio remarked that Oliveira is “a treasure in this city” and praised her commitment, integrity and for living out progressive values, ensuring that everyone has a voice and seat at the table.
“The New York Women’s Foundation shares fundamental values of community and democracy with The Drum Major Institute,” said Oliveira, “the value of who generates ideas, whose ideas are listened to and taken seriously. This inclusiveness distinguishes The Drum Major Institute and provides the foundation for their exceptional work.”
Barnes gave tribute to the late Senator Kennedy and President Obama, both of whom she considers true embodiments of Drum Majors for Justice. She exhorted guests to “specialize in the wholly impossible” in the continued fight for justice. Cestero stated how essential progressive thinking is for the city and the nation, stating that “this is why we need more institutions like DMI.” Executive Director of DMI, Andrea Batista Schlesinger noted, “It is not just the right thing to do, but in the best interests of everyone” to create progressive change.
Drum Major Institute for Public Policy is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank founded during the civil rights movement to put the best arguments and most effective tools into the hands of those advocating on the frontlines for progressive economic and social change. For more information, please visit their website: www.drummajorinstitute.org
