Our Honorees

UNITE HERE

D. Taylor
International President

Last year, nearly 8,000 hospitality workers—the majority of them black and brown workers—won the largest hotel strike in U.S. history, walking out of Marriott hotels around the country. Through their union, UNITE HERE, workers set a new standard for the hotel industry, winning substantial raises, pensions, improved health care, fair workloads, and protections against sexual harassment and assault. Demos honors UNITE HERE workers and union leader D. Taylor. We were proud to work with UNITE HERE Local 274 to expose how predatory lending and predatory-employment practices are squeezing workers of color at Marriott.

Texas Organizing Project

Michelle Tremillo
Executive Director

Brianna Brown
Deputy Director

When leaders make a commitment to build Black and Brown political power together – powerful things happen. In 2018 the Texas Organizing Project’s get-out-the-vote program delivered 465,405 voters to the polls of which 270,474 were unlikely midterm voters, resulting in the largest progressive turnout in Texas history. Demos honors Texas Organizing Project Executive Director Michelle Tremillo and Deputy Director Brianna Brown for their work to improve the lives of low-income and working-class Texas families through community organizing, grassroots lobbying and electoral organizing and for their commitment to build a political power that will change the political infrastructure in Texas and thus the United States. We are proud to work with TOP, an Inclusive Democracy Project partner.

New York Renews

Coalition

As the window for meaningful action on climate change narrows and the climate impacts become more clear and present, the need for a just transition to a 100 percent renewable energy economy that invests in communities becomes more and more urgent. For people at the frontlines of the climate crisis, and for the country as a whole, the NY Renews coalition is a leading example of how grassroots power and leadership can effectively mobilize for just and equitable climate action. Demos honors NY Renews and its compelling vision, as embodied in the Climate and Community Protection Act -- the country's boldest legislation for a transition away from fossil fuels to a renewable economy centered on racial equity and worker justice, now moving through the New York State Legislature. We celebrate NY Renews for its groundbreaking contributions to climate justice in a pivotal time for our society and our very survival.