The ADL Mountain States Region is pleased to present its 2022 Civil Rights Awards to Julie Reiskin/Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition and Colorado State Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet. The two civil rights champions will be honored at a reception from 5:30-7 p.m. Wed., Aug. 24 at the Cable Center in Denver. Please join us to celebrate. For tickets, sponsorship and tribute opportunities, and more details click here.

 

Meet the Honorees

Julie Reiskin is the executive director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC). She is a passionate leader who advocates for the rights of persons with disabilities. Reiskin assists organizations seeking to improve, expand, or enhance their ability to effectively practice real and meaningful client/constituent engagement at all levels of the organization. She also helps organizations develop disability cultural competence. Among other things, she is a renowned expert on publicly funded long-term community based-service, disability rights law, public benefits, and the intersectionality of systemic and individual advocacy.

Reiskin was appointed by President Obama to serve on the board of directors of the Legal Services Corporation as the client representative. She has taught extensively in the areas of disability rights, disability culture, and disability policy, along with other areas related to diversity in human services.

 

Dafna Michaelson Jenet represents House District 30, which encompasses parts of Aurora, Commerce City and Thornton. Rep. Michaelson Jenet has been a tremendous advocate for the civil rights of all. Among her many legislative accomplishments, she co-sponsored the Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Public Schools Act, Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant Program Act and a bill to prohibit conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors. She has also introduced bills to enhance youth mental health and reduce teen suicide.

She is a graduate of Leadership Commerce City, an alumna of Leadership Denver, and a graduate of ADL’s Sturm Fellows Leadership Program. Michaelson Jenet is a past director of the Holocaust Awareness Institute at the University of Denver. Along with her husband, Michael Jenet, she cofounded and operates the Journey Institute. They also host the TEDxCrestmoorPark. She published the book, “It Takes a Little Crazy to Make a Difference,” which won an International Book Award in the social change category.

 

The event co-chairs are ADL Mountain States regional board members  Ben Figa, Laura Perlov, Hank Saipe and David Seserman.

 

The deadline to register for the event is Aug. 15. Tickets are $75, which includes parking. More information at www.adl.org/2022civilrights. You may also email mountainstates@adl.org or call 720-799-9670.

 

We thank our lead sponsors (as of 7/15):

Gay & Barry Curtiss-Lusher

Rebecca & Ken Gart

Sherman & Howard

The Staenberg Group

Arc Thrift Stores

Elisa Moran & Gary Kleiman

GSR FUND, Inc. by Rosenblum Family

Ibex Investors

Iris & Michael Smith

Spencer Fane

Epstein Patierno LLP

Feldman Mortuary