2020 ‘Free Speech America’ Gala
Join Us As We Celebrate
‘A VOICE FOR EVERYONE’
A Virtual Event Wednesday, October 14, 2020
This year’s “Free Speech America” Gala is going virtual! Relax in the comfort of your own home and enjoy an entertaining one-hour program including award presentations starting at 8 p.m. on October 14, 2020. Sponsors will feast on a gourmet three-course dinner delivered to their home, complete with wine and a floral arrangement.
Our theme for the evening is “A Voice for Everyone.” Free speech in America isn’t a privilege reserved for the elite. It’s a basic right that belongs to everyone. Our 2020 awardees reflect this egalitarian spirit in the ways they have championed free speech for American citizens in all their diversity. Urban or rural, rich or poor, everyone has a voice – and our awardees have worked tirelessly from their vantage points in industry and government to connect these voices and the wealth of cultures, origins, customs, and viewpoints they represent.
AWARDEES AND GUEST SPEAKER
American Horizon Award Recipient David L. Cohen is Senior Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation, where he served as Chief Diversity Officer. In addition to making the Comcast workforce a welcoming place for workers of all backgrounds, David spearheaded Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has connected more than 8 million low-income Americans to the Internet at home since 2011.
Freedom of Speech Award Recipient Mignon Clyburn served as a Commissioner and Acting Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission. She was known at the FCC as a strong consumer advocate who pushed for broadband and technology access for everyone, and was a proponent of viewpoint diversity among broadcasters. Like David, she has been a long-time supporter of closing the “digital divide.”
The evening’s Featured Speaker will be FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. He is leading the FCC’s work to modernize the infrastructure rules governing the buildout of 5G and other next-gen networks. His reforms have already helped to bring more broadband to more Americans. Commissioner Carr has worked to ensure that rural America has a fair shot at next-generation connectivity.
Returning as Master of Ceremonies will be our own Dick Wiley, former FCC chairman and The Media Institute’s Chairman of the Board. This year’s virtual Gala promises to be a fast-paced and entertaining celebration of “A Voice for Everyone.” Plan to join us!