2024 Free Expression Awards

2024 Free Expression Awards

Celebrating Champions of Free Expression

June 13, 2024

The Anthem | 901 Wharf St. SW, Washington, D.C.

The Free Expression Awards is an annual event that honors the achievements of First Amendment heroes for their courageous acts of free expression.

This year, we honor:

  • A pastor who built a powerful movement against poverty, inequality and racism.
  • A country music superstar who uses his voice to spur dialogue, not division, on tough issues confronting America.
  • Sixteen Montana youth who sued their government over laws that contributed to the climate crisis – and won.
  • A global impact nonprofit that revolutionized television with its dedication to educating children through the groundbreaking program “Sesame Street.”

Join us to celebrate these champions of free expression and the First Amendment.

Amna Nawaz

Hosted by Amna Nawaz

Co-anchor, “PBS NewsHour”

Event Chairs: Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt

Honorees

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II

Founding president, Repairers of the Breach, and founding director, Center for Public Theology and Public Policy at Yale Divinity School

Eric Church

Eric Church

Singer-songwriter

Montana 16

Montana youth climate advocates

Sherrie Rollins Westin

Sesame Workshop

Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media

Accepted by Sherrie Rollins Westin, president and interim CEO

Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Cynthia and John Lee
Jan Neuharth and Joseph Keusch
Barbara and Christopher Wall

Knight Foundation

Silver Sponsors

James Abbott and Deborah Vander Woude
Mary Louise and Mike Coleman
Jack and Diane Kirschenbaum
Malcolm and Jane Kirschenbaum
Christopher and Sherry Minear
Ann and Peter Prichard
Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt

Goldman Sachs

Bronze Sponsor

CBS News
National Constitution Center

Dessert Sponsor

PolicyLink

Valet Sponsor

Baker Donelson

Additional support provided by McKee Wallwork

To support the Free Expression Awards, contact Emily Simcox at 703/980-9830, or [email protected].

Steering Committee

Kristina Arriaga
Manish Bapna
Robin L. Bronk
Marcia Bullard and Tom McNamara
Joie Chen
Connie Chung and Maury Povich
R. David and Joanne Ke Edelman
Meg Goldthwaite
Clark Hoyt and Linda Kauss
Alberto Ibargüen
Brent W. Jones
Cynthia and John Lee
Loren Mayor
Susan Page and Carl Leubsdorf
Orage Quarles III
Joe Reef and Peter Nguyen
Catherine Robb
Sharon Rockefeller
Liz Schrayer
Charles D. Tobin
Eric Treene
Maribel Pérez Wadsworth
Barbara and Christopher Wall

Amna Nawaz

Hosted by Amna Nawaz

Co-anchor, “PBS NewsHour”

Event Chairs: Judy Woodruff and
Al Hunt

Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Cynthia and John Lee
Jan Neuharth and Joseph Keusch
Barbara and Christopher Wall

Knight Foundation

Silver Sponsors

James Abbott and Deborah Vander Woude
Mary Louise and Mike Coleman
Jack and Diane Kirschenbaum
Malcolm and Jane Kirschenbaum
Christopher and Sherry Minear
Ann and Peter Prichard
Judy Woodruff and Al Hunt

Goldman Sachs

Bronze Sponsor

CBS News
National Constitution Center

Dessert Sponsor

PolicyLink

Valet Sponsor

Baker Donelson

Additional support provided by McKee Wallwork

To support the Free Expression Awards, contact Emily Simcox at 703/980-9830, or [email protected].

The Freedom Forum is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all.

Questions? Contact [email protected].