The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Chicago held its annual fundraising dinner and auction the evening of Nov. 4 on at the Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr.
HRC Chicago's Community Leadership Award was presented to Jared Lewis, whom the organization said was "crucial to creating safe and sustainable spaces for Black queer people on the South Side of Chicago like Pride South Side. In addition to their work on the South Side of Chicago, Jared has supported equitable broadband adoption on both the federal and state level, Global Program Management in the tech sector and two tours of duty on Capitol Hill."
Additionally, the HRC Chicago Visibility Award to was awarded to Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis. Brady-Davis is the first openly Black trans woman appointed to public office in Cook County history as well as the first to serve on a water reclamation district in the US. "Commissioner Brady-Davis is a lifelong social justice advocate, communications professional, environmentalist, author of the memoir "I Have Always Been Me", and cares passionately about reaching the marginalized," said HRC in a statement.
Brady-Davis was appointed to her role by Gov. JB Pritzker this past July.