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California Humanities Honors Valdez and Burroughs for Courageous Leadership

CULTURE 07.11.2026

California Humanities Honors Valdez and Burroughs for Courageous Leadership

California Humanities will honor playwright Luis Valdez and JANM President Ann Burroughs with Spirit of the Humanities Awards during its 'Everyday Courage' event on November 10 in Los Angeles. The evening recognizes their contributions to cultural leadership, public service, and community building through verified accounts of their work.

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California Humanities will present the Spirit of the Humanities Awards to playwright Luis Valdez and Ann Burroughs, president of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), during a program titled "Everyday Courage" on November 10 in Los Angeles.

The event, scheduled from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Mark Taper Auditorium within the Central Library, focuses on the role of courage in daily life and community building. Rick Noguchi, president and CEO of California Humanities, stated that the organization aims to frame courage not merely as a heroic act but as a practice sustained through daily choices, preserved stories, and civic engagement.

"Luis Valdez, Ann Burroughs, and Sen. Ben Allen have each demonstrated that kind of courage in different ways," Noguchi said. "Their work shows us how the humanities can connect our histories to the choices we make about California’s future."

Burroughs will receive the award for Courageous Leadership. An internationally recognized human rights leader, her commitment to justice was shaped by her experience as a young activist in South Africa, where she was imprisoned for opposing apartheid. For more than 25 years, Burroughs has worked with leaders and organizations in the United States and abroad to advance racial justice and human rights. In recent years, she has led institutions that serve moral clarity, protect civic space, nurture public trust, and preserve truth and history.

Valdez will headline the program as a legendary filmmaker and playwright. As artistic director of El Teatro Campesino, his work has brought Chicano stories, history, and experiences to American stages and screens for more than six decades. The evening will include a screening of the trailer for "American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez," a California Humanities-supported documentary exploring his life and influence on American theater and film.

State Senator Ben Allen will receive the award for Legislative Champion. Representing California’s 24th Senate District, Allen chairs the Legislature’s Joint Committee on the Arts. His legislative work related to arts and culture has included measures concerning California’s film and television industry, theatre and dance teaching credentials, and access to arts education.

According to California Humanities, Valdez, Burroughs, and Allen reflect the many forms courage can take, from telling stories and advancing cultural memory to public leadership and expanding opportunities for people to participate in the cultural and civic life of their communities.

The documentary "American Pachuco" traces Valdez’s journey from California’s farmworker movement to the creation of landmark works such as "Zoot Suit" and "La Bamba." It is scheduled to air on PBS by the time of the event.

Tickets for the "Everyday Courage" event are available through Eventbrite.

F.Tremblay--SMC

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