Common Cause Illinois Gala Unites, Celebrates “Champions of Democracy”

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Business

On February 11, Common Cause Illinois and 250 supporters gathered at City Winery in the West Loop for music, food, drinks, a silent auction, and the annual Champions of Democracy Awards ceremony honoring leading advocates for returning power to the people.

Attorney General Madigan kicked off the honors by presenting an award to Amalia Rioja, Esq., who helped expand voting rights in Illinois. Specifically, Rioja helped in the process of creating Online Voter Registration and Election Day Voter registration when she served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Pat Quinn. Clerk Orr then awarded Chicago Alderman Joe Moore for his leadership on numerous democracy issues with Common Cause in City Council, including sponsoring the Fair Elections Illinois referendum (FairElectionsIllinois.com) on the upcoming February 24 ballot.

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Business

Ariel Investments President Mellody Hobson closed the honors by presenting an award to Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig for his work creating Mayday PAC, which supports reformers in Congress. The event raised $175,000 for the Common Cause Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest, and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard in the political process.

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Cook County Clerk David Orr; Joe Moore, Alderman of the 49th Ward and Rey Lopez-Calderon, Executive Director of Common Cause Illinois.

Lawndale News Chicago's Bilingual Newspaper - Business

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Rey Lopez-Calderon, Executive Director of Common Cause Illinois, Mellody Hobson Lucas, Ariel Investments; Lawrence Lessig, MayDay PAC founder and Harvard Law professor.

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Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan also was a Speaker at the Common Cause Gala.

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