From a Single Ripple, A Tide of Change
Gala 2024
November 15 • Portland Art Museum
From a Single Ripple, A Tide of Change
Gala 2024
November 15
Portland Art Museum
HONOREES
The efforts of our three honorees, born of decades of commitment to expanding their potential and making a difference each makes a ripple, a wave, and a tide of change for the equity and justice movement. They were selected through a public nominations process that yielded more than 80 inspiring leaders making change for our community.
INSPIRE
Adelante Mujeres
Producers: Eden Dawn, Emma McIlroy, Poison Waters
Honors a person or business / organization whose bold and joyful equity work inspires others.
Staged in Portland at the drag venue Darcelle XV Showplace on July 10–12, 2023, Dragathon set a Guinness World Record for the longest drag stage show. It was conceived and produced by Emma Mcilroy, co-founder of Wildfang, with Poison Waters and Eden Dawn, in response to the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act and similar anti-drag legislation across the United States. Dragathon was also a fundraiser, yielding more than $300,000 for the LGBTQ+ youth support service, The Trevor Project.
Participants included locally and nationally recognized drag performers and celebrities as emcees. The event featured 600 songs and 700 set changes, an around-the-clock audience and set a new record of 48 hours, 11 minutes, and 30 seconds for a drag show.
Producers are now filming “Dragathon: Meeting Hate with Joy,” a feature-length documentary exploring the record-breaking event with intercuts of the personal stories from the performers and emcees involved.
INNOVATION
LOIS CHO
Chief Executive Officer/Co-founder of CHO Wines
Founder of Oregon AAPI Food and Wine Fest
Honors a person or business / organization whose equity work is newly at the forefront and driving new changes.
After working as a family nurse practitioner for a decade, Lois and her husband launched CHO Wines, the first Korean-American winery in Oregon, and she transitioned to a full time role as its CEO.
In 2023, Lois founded and launched the Oregon AAPI Food and Wine Fest and nonprofit to shine a light on Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in the food and beverage industry. They celebrate the diverse and delicious contributions of local AAPI chefs and winemakers through a dinner series. She is also the author of “Making of a Winemaker” blog and the subject of Jonathan Lue’s short film, “Harvest Widow,” a heartwarming and inspiring story about self-discovery, love, family, and wine.
For this reason, the Chos have been named a 2023 Future 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast and a 2023 Drinks Innovator by SevenFifty Daily.
IMPACT
VIRGINIA GARCIA MEMORIAL HEALTH CENTER
Honors a person or business / organization whose equity work has been underway for many years and whose commitment has long been embedded as a core purpose.
After working as a family nurse practitioner for a decade, Lois and her husband launched CHO Wines, the first Korean-American winery in Oregon, and she transitioned to a full time role as its CEO.
In 2023, Lois founded and launched the Oregon AAPI Food and Wine Fest and nonprofit to shine a light on Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in the food and beverage industry. They celebrate the diverse and delicious contributions of local AAPI chefs and winemakers through a dinner series. She is also the author of “Making of a Winemaker” blog and the subject of Jonathan Lue’s short film, “Harvest Widow,” a heartwarming and inspiring story about self-discovery, love, family, and wine.
For this reason, the Chos have been named a 2023 Future 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast and a 2023 Drinks Innovator by SevenFifty Daily.
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