THE JOHN AND LILLIAN MILES LEWIS FOUNDATION TO HONOR GOOD TROUBLEMAKERS AT THE GOOD TROUBLE GALA ON JUNE 2ND IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Annual Gala Returns to Our Nation’s Capital, Honoring Congressman James E. Clyburn and Maryland’s First Lady Dawn Moore, with Tributes to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Steny Hoyer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (May 18, 2026) – The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation will host its 2026 Good Trouble Gala on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. Hosted by María Teresa Kumar, Co-founder and President of Voto Latino Foundation, the evening will bring together leaders, changemakers, and advocates to honor the legacy and work of Congressman John Lewis and the enduring values he championed: justice, equity, and the power of Good Trouble.
The honorees and speakers of the 2026 Good Trouble Gala not only embody the legacy of both John and Lillian Miles Lewis, but the heart of Congressman Lewis’ lifelong commitment to civic engagement, education, and community empowerment.
The celebration will highlight the ways in which the Foundation is working to keep the legacy of John and Lillian Miles Lewis alive by building a long-term culture of informed civic engagement through its programs. All funds raised by the gala will support expanding the LAUNCH18 civic engagement program, fully funding the Good Troublemaker Neighborhood Grants and Scholarships, and continuing to grow the organization’s community impact.
“We are thrilled to return to D.C. to celebrate the enduring legacy of Congressman John Lewis and Mrs. Lillian Miles Lewis and bring together the changemakers that are dedicated to the pursuit of Good Trouble,” said Michael Collins, Board Chair and Interim President for the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. “Each honoree and speaker exemplifies what it means to be a Good Troublemaker and their work continues to keep Congressman Lewis’ legacy alive.”
The John Lewis Carry On Award will be presented to the Honorable James E. Clyburn in recognition of his civil rights activism, decades of principled congressional leadership, and work to direct federal resources to communities facing persistent poverty through his 10-20-30 funding formula.
The Lillian Miles Lewis Luminary Award will be presented to Dawn Moore, First Lady of the state of Maryland, in recognition of her dedication to economic empowerment, advocacy for military families and veterans, her work championing initiatives that create pathways to opportunity and ensuring no community is left behind.
The Foundation will also pay special tribute to the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, 52nd Speaker of the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, and the Honorable Steny Hoyer, the representative for Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District, in recognition of their years of dedicated public service.
The evening will include special remarks from Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff and keynote remarks from Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The Gala will also feature an exclusive, soul-stirring musical performance by acclaimed vocalist Lizz Wright and Grammy-winning jazz virtuoso Terri Lyne Carrington, who will celebrate the enduring legacy of John and Lillian Miles Lewis through the power of song.
Reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to education and community empowerment, the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation will recognize the 13 recipients of the Good Troublemaker Scholarshipsand the three recipients of the Good Troublemaker Neighborhood Grants. The scholarships will be awarded to college-bound high school seniors from the 5th Congressional District in Atlanta and from John R. Lewis High School in Springfield, VA. The neighborhood grants will be distributed to nonprofits that are based in and serve communities in Atlanta’s 5th Congressional District. Congressman Lewis represented that district in Congress for more than 30 years.
The Good Trouble Gala comes on the heels of its annual John Lewis Legacy Trail in March, where 35 Atlanta-area students participated in a multi-city trip to Montgomery, Selma, and Troy, Alabama, designed to broaden their understanding of the ongoing fight for civil rights, justice, and the importance of protecting voting rights.
The Foundation’s LAUNCH18 program helps high school seniors gain the knowledge and confidence they need to make their voices heard. The Foundation also sponsors three high-achieving students participating in the eight-week Frederick Douglass-Daniel O’Connell Global Internship program in Ireland. The goal of both programs is to empower the next generation to lead with knowledge, responsibility, and a focus on civic engagement.
Sponsorship packages and ticket information is available at jlmlf.org/gala or by emailing [email protected].
For more information about the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, please visit jlmlf.org.
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ABOUT THE JOHN LEWIS CARRY ON AWARD
The John Lewis Carry On Award was established in 2024 to honor individuals whose courage, compassion, and lifelong dedication to equity, justice, and human rights reflect the enduring principles that defined the life and work of Congressman John Lewis.
This award recognizes those who embody his unwavering commitment to confronting injustice, standing up for the marginalized, and advancing the cause of equality through action, advocacy, and leadership. Recipients are individuals who, like Congressman Lewis, have devoted their lives to the pursuit of justice, often making Good Trouble, and whose work continues to inspire new generations to carry the torch forward.
ABOUT THE LILLIAN MILES LEWIS LUMINARY AWARD
The Lillian Miles Lewis Luminary Award is an honor that recognizes individuals whose visionary leadership and lifelong commitment to education, the arts, and global understanding reflects the enduring legacy of Lillian Miles Lewis.
As an educator, librarian, and international advocate, Lillian Miles Lewis understood that knowledge is not merely a guiding light– it is power. She believed deeply in the transformative potential of education and the arts to foster understanding, break down barriers, and build a more compassionate and connected world.
Educators and librarians are the keepers of stories and guardians of truth. Throughout her life, Mrs. Lewis worked to ensure that all people had access to knowledge, culture, and opportunity. The Luminary Award carries forward her belief that education and creative expression are essential to an equitable and just society. Through this award, the Foundation honors those who illuminate pathways for others, empowering individuals and communities through scholarship, cultural exchange, and the arts.
ABOUT THE JOHN AND LILLIAN MILES LEWIS FOUNDATION
The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation (JLMLF) was conceived by Congressman Lewis to carry on his and his wife’s passion for purposeful living, civic engagement, and building the Beloved Community, and to inspire and support Good Trouble. The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation Board includes Michael E. Collins (Chair), Stephen L. McDaniel (Secretary), J. Veronica Biggins, Tharon Johnson, and Rodney E. Slater.
Instagram: @johnlewisfoundation | Twitter: @johnlewisorgs | Facebook: John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation | LinkedIn: John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation
Gala Press Contact:
Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis
[email protected]
General Press Contact:
Neil Parekh, John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation
[email protected]
As a nation, if we care for the Beloved Community, we must move our feet, our hands, our hearts, our resources to build and not tear down, to reconcile and not to divide, to love and not to hate.