About the Gala

The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation Good Trouble Gala celebration serves as a collective moment of reflection on the life and legacy of John Lewis and also celebrates his and Lillian Miles Lewis’ shared vision and values. The event raises critical funds necessary to underwrite initiatives that advance the values John and Lillian Miles lived.

On behalf of the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, our esteemed Honorary Chairs Mayor André Dickens, Shirley Franklin, Xernona Clayton, Ambassador Andrew Young, and Jason Carter; and alongside our Gala Chairs—Tharon Johnson, John-Miles Lewis, and Chris Womack—it is our distinct honor to invite you to the 2025 Good Trouble Gala, taking place on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Flourish in Atlanta, Georgia.

This special evening will bring together leaders, changemakers, and advocates to celebrate the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis and the enduring values he championed: justice, equity, and the power of Good Trouble. This year’s Gala holds particular significance as we gather in Atlanta for the first time, a city that was not only Congressman Lewis’s home, but the heart of his lifelong work for civil rights and human dignity.

We are also thrilled to announce this year’s honorees. The John Lewis Carry On Award will be presented to Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. The Lillian Miles Lewis Luminary Award will be presented to Mrs. Billye Suber Aaron, pioneering television host, philanthropist, civic leader, and co-founder of the Chasing the Dream Foundation.