The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region honored two Colorado civil rights champions at a sold-out reception on February 8, 2017 at the Denver Art Museum. More than 275 dignitaries and guests attended the event that recognized Steven Chavez and Vicki Cowart and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains for their work to protect and promote the civil rights of all Coloradans.

Steven Chavez served as Director of the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD) for seven years, retiring in October 2014. During that time, he helped enforce Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations.

Vicki Cowart has been the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM) since 2003. During her tenure, the organization has empowered hundreds of activists through strategic advocacy that has included defeating three “personhood” ballot measures that would have put in law one religious view of when life begins. In addition to its advocacy work, PPRM provides health care to more than 125,000 women, men and teens through its 29 health centers in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and southern Nevada.

“Both Steve Chavez and Vick Cowart, along with the staff of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, have worked tirelessly to secure greater opportunity, equality and fair treatment for all Coloradans,” said ADL Regional Director Scott L. Levin. “It is an honor to acknowledge their commitment to protecting civil and human rights of all.”

This year, for the first time, ADL also recognized the outstanding work of participants in its Summer Associate Research Program. Participants are law students working as summer associates at area law firms providing critical research on civil rights issues of importance to ADL. This year’s winners were Erica Cook (University of Denver Sturm College of Law, class of 2018) and Conor Crawford (University of Virginia School of Law, class of 2017).  Cook was a 2016 summer associate at Baker Hostetler and Crawford was a summer associate at Ballard Spahr.

This year’s event co-chairs were:  John Chanin, Pamela Hirschman, Greg Karsh and Elisa Moran.

The 2017 Civil Rights Awards Reception was generously sponsored by:

 

ADL Advocate

The Curtiss-Lusher Family

Spencer Fane

 

ADL Patron

Holland & Hart LLP

Lazarus Israel Opportunities Fund

Lindquist

 

ADL Benefactor

Dentons US LLP

Sharon Faison-Cohen and Murray Cohen

Pamela Hirschman

Kaiser Permanente

Bar sponsorship generously provided by Feldman Mortuary

 

ADL Supporter

BakerHostetler

Iris Building Group, Inc.

Jason and Sara Cooper

JEWISHcolorado

Sacha Millstone

Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti PC

Shalom Park