Olisa, Miller, Birl-Torres, Duchin for honor at New Yorkers for New York Campaign and Gala, Monday

This year’s New Yorkers for New York Campaign and Gala will hold on Monday, June 5, 2023, at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Pier 61 on the West Side Highway at 21st Street, New York, United States of America (USA).

The Citizens Committee for New York City are kicking off the summer with this gathering of the Who-is-Who in the City and will be using the opportunity to recognize “the community, business, political, and philanthropic leaders who are committed to investing in and elevating New Yorkers at the forefront of change in their neighborhoods.”

The contributions of the honorees will be spotlighted, and the inspiring work of grassroots leaders, community-based groups, and neighborhood businesses will be supported, the group said.

The CitizensNYC’s mission is “To help New Yorkers – especially those in low-income areas – come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.” The mission is accomplished, among others, through grantmaking aimed at improving the quality in New York City.

Michelle Miller, Tanya Birl-Torres, Bobby Digi Olisa, and Peter Duchin will be specially honored at the evening that will feature live performances by CitizensNYC grantee partner, Lyndon Achee and Tony Award nominee, Colton Ryan from the Broadway musical “New York, New York.” There will also be dinner, auction, music and dancing.

ABOUT THE HONOREES

Peter Duchin exemplifies the spirit of bringing NYC communities together. He formed his first professional band, which played the St. Regis Hotel in New York City, in 1962 and has contributed to the city’s art, music, and culture ever since. He has played well over 6,000 events around the world.

In addition to his long-time service on the CitizensNYC Board, he has played a leadership role in supporting NYC communities through involvement in organizations such as American Ballet Theatre, Carnegie Hall, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and others. He is the co-author of two books, Ghost of a Chance and Face the Music.

Michelle Miller is a co-host of “CBS Saturday Morning.” Her work regularly appears on “CBS Mornings,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” the “CBS Evening News,” and “48 Hours.”

From presidential elections to the climate crisis, her area of coverage is wide-ranging, but her reporting on social justice has been particularly groundbreaking. From her coverage of the killings of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown, the Emanuel 9 Massacre in Charleston, to sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby, Russell Simmons, and Harvey Weinstein, Miller has been at the forefront of these issues. She was the first CBS News correspondent on the ground at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Miller’s reporting has earned her several prestigious journalism awards including an Emmy for her series of reports on the National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy, a Gracie award for “48 Hours” and a Murrow Award for her coverage of a daycare center stand-off in New Orleans.

Bobby Digi Olisa, a social entrepreneur, founder, community organizer, educator, and lecturer, has devoted his life to strengthening and building community on a local and global scale. Bobby founded Canvas Institute and Island Voice to service and advocate for immigrant and underserved communities on the North Shore of Staten Island.

Born in Brooklyn, New York to parents of Nigerian descent and raised in the multi-ethnic Clifton section of Park Hill/Stapleton Staten Island, Bobby has always been inspired by the desire to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to discover solutions to the most challenging issues of our time. Bobby leads by example and utilizes his educational and professional opportunities to give back to the community and to inspire the next generation of leaders.

Tanya Birl-Torres uses the arts to help people create change within themselves and contribute to the collective spirit of the community in which they belong. She is the founder of SoHumanity, which combines her 15 years of experience as a Broadway performer, choreographer, and movement director with her social justice activism.

Tanya is also the Artistic Director of the Washington Heights Womanist Arts Festival, which she founded in 2022 along with Julissa Nuñez and Sarah Grosman. With CitizensNYC support, the Festival is expanding its community building in 2023 through two Equinox community dinners in the spring and fall, the Festival in the summer, and a retreat in the winter.

Tanya is also a 2023/24 Map Fund Grantee and NoMAA micro-grant recipient for her development of A Play in 3 Movements, and is currently an artist in residence with the Hi-ARTS Critical Breaks program.

New Yorkers for New York Campaign Co-Chairs are Jason Duchin, Rodney Hawkins, Sharon King Hoge, Thomas C. Isreal and Joel Press.