Vancouver Courier - California Humanities Honors Valdez and Burroughs at 'Everyday Courage' Event

California Humanities is convening a special gathering in Los Angeles to examine the role of courage in public life and community building. The "Everyday Courage" event, scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, will take place from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Mark Taper Auditorium within the Central Library.

The program centers on the presentation of Spirit of the Humanities Awards to three leaders whose work spans cultural preservation, social justice, and legislative advocacy. Headlining the evening is legendary playwright and filmmaker Luis Valdez, who will receive an award for his contributions to American theater and film.

Valdez’s career as artistic director of El Teatro Campesino has chronicled Chicano stories and experiences on stage and screen for more than six decades. The event will include a screening of the trailer for "American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez," a documentary supported by California Humanities that traces his journey from the farmworker movement to landmark works such as "Zoot Suit" and "La Bamba." The film is scheduled to air on PBS around the time of the gala.

Also receiving recognition is Ann Burroughs, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and its National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. Burroughs will be honored with the Spirit of the Humanities Award for Courageous Leadership. An internationally recognized human rights leader, her commitment to justice was influenced by her time as a young activist in South Africa, where she was imprisoned for opposing apartheid.

For over 25 years, Burroughs has collaborated with organizations and networks in the United States and abroad to advance racial justice. In recent years, she has led institutions focused on moral clarity, civic space, and the preservation of historical truth.

State Senator Ben Allen will receive the Spirit of the Humanities Award for Legislative Champion. Representing California’s 24th Senate District, Allen chairs the Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Arts. His legislative record includes measures addressing California’s film and television industry, theatre and dance teaching credentials, and access to arts education.

Rick Noguchi, president and CEO of California Humanities, stated that the event encourages attendees to view courage not merely as a heroic act but as a daily practice sustained through choices, preserved stories, and community engagement.

"Luis Valdez, Ann Burroughs, and Sen. Ben Allen have each demonstrated that kind of courage in different ways," Noguchi said. "Their work shows us how the humanities can connect our histories to the choices we make about California’s future."

According to the organization, the honorees reflect various forms of courage, from advancing cultural memory to expanding civic participation. Tickets for the event are available through Eventbrite under the search term "Everyday Courage."

W.Rodriguez--VC