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Archives for November 2022

Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery Honors 7 at 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala

November 14, 2022 By WHC Insider

José Andrés, Clive Davis, Ava DuVernay, Marian Wright Edelman, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams honored with portraits at 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Baratunde Thurston, David Rubenstein, Anthony Fauci, Ava DuVernay, Isabel Wilkerson, Clive Davis, Alicia Keys, Hilary Rodham Clinton, Marian Wright Edelman, Kim Sajet, Sonya Haffey, Venus Williams, Isha Price, Lonnie G. Bunch, Mellody Hobson, Serena Williams, Laurene Powell Jobs and José Andrés attend the 2022 Portrait Of A Nation Gala on November 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for National Portrait Gallery)

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery held its 2022 ‘Portrait of a Nation’ Gala on Saturday, November 12 in Washington, D.C., where this year’s seven honorees were feted for their transformative contributions to the country.  The 2022 honorees are:

  • José Andrés, internationally recognized humanitarian, culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator and founder of World Central Kitchen
  • Clive Davis, Grammy Award-winning music industry executive and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
  • Ava DuVernay, Academy Award nominee, Emmy, BAFTA and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, and founder of ARRAY
  • Marian Wright Edelman, activist for children’s rights and founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund
  • Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health and chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation, chief medical advisor to the President, and advisor on global AIDS issues and COVID-19 
  • Serena Williams, tennis champion, winner of 23 Grand Slam titles and entrepreneur
  • Venus Williams, tennis champion, winner of seven Grand Slam titles, entrepreneur and outspoken advocate on equal pay, mental health and physical wellness

The honorees, presenters, and over 750 VIP guests enjoyed cocktails during a private viewing of the Portrait Gallery’s “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition, followed by a seated dinner in the museum’s spectacular Kogod courtyard featuring the award presentations and a special surprise performance by Wynton Marsalis. The evening was hosted by writer, producer, and TV host Baratunde Thurston. The dinner program began with remarks from Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery, and Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch.

Established in 2015 by the National Portrait Gallery, the Portrait of a Nation Award recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people across numerous fields of endeavor, ranging from the arts and sciences to sports and humanitarianism. 

Each honoree received the Portrait of a Nation Award based on their contributions to their respective fields, and whose portraits are either in the Portrait Gallery’s collection or are in the process of being acquired. The museum also looks to acknowledge individuals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. 

Each honoree nominated his or her own presenter, someone with whom they have a close relationship or has affected their careers.  The 2022 presenters were:

  • Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, presented to José Andrés
  • Alicia Keys, 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, musician, producer and entrepreneur, presented to Clive Davis
  • Isabel Wilkerson, Pulitzer Prize winner, National Humanities Medal awardee and New York Times bestselling author, presented to Ava DuVernay
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator (New York), First Lady of the United States, lawyer and activist, presented to Marian Wright Edelman
  • David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group and philanthropist, presented to Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.
  • Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, presented to Serena Williams
  • Sonya Haffey, interior designer and principal of V Starr, and Isha Price, entrepreneur, film producer, philanthropist and CEO of Price Consulting Group LLC, presented to Venus Williams

The 2022 Gala was supported by host committee members Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, Robert and Arlene Kogod, David Rubenstein accompanied by Caryn Zucker, and Patty Stonesifer and Michael Kinsley; national co-chairs Eduardo J. Ardiles and Joseph P. Ujobai, Lyndon J. Barrois and Janine Sherman Barrois, and Catherine and Michael Podell; and Washington, D.C., co-chairs Kristin and John Cecchi and Susanna and Jack Quinn. The Gala’s founding chairs are Wayne and Catherine Reynolds.  

Notable guests in attendance included Speaker Nancy Pelosi, HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud (Saudi Arabia), Sec. of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie G. Bunch, III and Maria Marable-Bunch, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Chris Coons, opera singer Denyce Graves, singer-songwriter Jewel, Calvin Ripken, Jr., film director Ron Howard, Martin Luther King, III, Capitol Hill police officer Caroline Edwards, Secretary Elaine Chao, Rep. Maxine Waters, and Amb. Stuart and Gwen Holliday.

Media stars included Don Lemon and Tim Malone, Bret and Amy Baier, Dana Bash, Philip Rucker, Jeffrey Goldberg, and Symone Sanders.

Honoree portraits from the Portrait Gallery’s collection are on view in the “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition on the museum’s first floor from Nov. 10, 2022, through Oct. 22, 2023. All of the portraits this year will be on view for the first time, including six new commissions and one never-before-shown photograph. 

The 2022 portrait artists are: Ruven Afanador (Edelman), Hugo Crosthwaite (Fauci), Kenturah Davis (DuVernay), David Hockney (Davis), Kadir Nelson (Andrés), Toyin Ojih Odutola (S. Williams), and Robert Pruitt (V. Williams). 

The “Portrait of a Nation: 2022 Honorees” exhibition was curated by Rhea L. Combs, NPG’s director of curatorial affairs, in collaboration with Taína Caragol, curator of painting, sculpture and Latinx art and history, and Leslie Ureña, curator of photographs.

Proceeds from the gala, which takes place every two years, support the National Portrait Gallery’s endowment for exhibitions and the museum’s commitment to commissioning artworks for its collection by working with contemporary artists. 

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery was established by an Act of Congress in 1962 to recognize the individuals who have had a significant impact on the nation’s history and culture. It opened its doors to the public in 1968.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: DC, Media, National Portrait Gallery, News, Smithsonian, Smithsonian Institution, Washington

Cafe Milano 30th Anniversary Blowout, Tribute to Veterans

November 13, 2022 By WHC Insider

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Flickr: click to view gallery

When its doors first opened on November 3, 1992 – the day President Bill Clinton was elected to his first term – Cafe Milano set a new standard in fine Italian dining. Ever since, Cafe Milano has served as a bipartisan gathering spot for Washingtonians, presidents, governors, ambassadors, members of Congress, luminaries from across the country and travelers from around the globe, and as a place for friends and family to come together and break bread. All thanks to its founder’s vision, Italian-born restaurateur, entrepreneur, diplomat, philanthropist, and loving father, Franco Nuschese.

Under Franco’s careful direction, Cafe Milano is Washington’s go-to location for high-profile awards luncheons, dinners, receptions and celebrations. It’s where the Washington Capitals hockey team famously popped magnums of champagne after their Stanley Cup championship win and where singer Lionel Richie both celebrated his 65th birthday and was feted after being awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress.

At its blockbuster 30th anniversary celebration on Friday, November 11, Franco was celebrated by Washington’s Mayor Muriel Bowser, luminaries from government and media but Franco also gave back by announcing donations to support to three veterans’ organizations in honor of Veterans Day with uniformed military members in attendance:

Children of Fallen Patriots, which ensures that children of military members who were killed in the line of duty are able to go to college.

Dog Tag Bakery, a non-profit bakery, kitchen and classroom space supporting veterans through a business fellowship program right here in Georgetown.

Blue Star Families, which was founded by military spouses, and works to fight economic insecurity, foster spouse career development, and provides critical peer support for caregivers, whose numbers are only increasing.

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl emceed the program, which featured a special tribute by Mayor Muriel Bowser and a few surprises. Holly Petraeus presented Franco with a special flag. As a surprise, Tony Award-winning singer Paul Oakley Stovall sang “In the Room, Where it Happens” then Dougefresh rapped a song about Milano.

SPOTTED:  Sen. Roy and Abby Blunt, Sen. Joe Manchin, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Jim Costa, fmr. Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Bishop Mario Dorsonville, Maureen Dowd, Dionne Warwick, Bob Johnson, Chris Licht, Egyptian Amb Motaz Zahran, French Ambassador Philippe Étienne, British Ambassador Karen Pierce, Kellyanne Conway, Newt Gingrich, Kaitlan Collins, Teresa Carlson and Andre Piennar, Carol Melton, Tony Fauci and Christine Grady, Ted Olson, Bob Barnett, Raul Fernandez, Catherine and Wayne Reynolds, Kristin Cecchi, John Rogers, Robert Allegrini,  John Leggitino, Lauren Pratapus, Bret and Amy Baier, Hilary Rosen, Tripp and Amy Donnelly, Ryan Williams, Liz Johnson, Senay Bulbul, Steve Clemons, Adrienne Elrod, Marc Adelman, Olivia Nuzzi and Ryan Lizza, John McCarthy, Laurie McHugh, Liz Hart, Sheila Casey, Kathy Roth Douquet, Josh Dawsey, Vinoda Basnayake, Paxton Baker, Ed and Deborah Lerner Cohen, Robert and Elena Albritton, Mike and Kristi Rogers, and General Jim and Diane Jones.

Here’s the Politico Playbook report

WHC Insider salutes Franco Nuschese and Cafe Milano for 30 wonderful years of bringing Washington together – and here’s to the next 30 years and all the memories to come!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: DC, Washington

RSF launches new Iran Media Help Desk to support journalists and media at risk

November 8, 2022 By WHC Insider

Graphic courtesy of RSF

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched a new Iran Media Help Desk to support at-risk journalists covering the increasing protests across the country. 

According to RSF:  “In response to the rapid deterioration of press freedom since the start of the nationwide protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September,  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched a new Iran Media Help Desk, in collaboration with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr Shirin Ebadi. Immediate emphasis will be placed on providing digital security support to journalists and media facing risks for reporting on events in the country.”

RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire added: “Iranian journalists are courageously reporting on developments in an increasingly hostile and complex environment, despite the great risks to themselves. RSF is seeking to help circumvent those risks by providing journalists and media with the tools and support needed to do their jobs as safely as possible. Their ability to continue reporting is crucial to informing the Iranian and international public, and we hope this support helps offer them some protection and minimises disruption to their work.”

Iran is ranked 178th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2022 World Press Freedom Index.

RSF has partnered with GoFundMe to create a fundraiser to support these efforts with a goal of raising $200,000.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

We track the White House Correspondents’ weekend and all the activities around it, from journalists and media companies to the White House and politicos.

Tammy Haddad is Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of WHC Insider and CEO of Haddad Media.

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