Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc. ("BWL"), Latina Lawyers Bar Association ("LLBA"), and the WLALA Foundation would like to invite you to honor  individuals who have served as role models to young women and have been a mentor.  The event net proceeds are used for mentor programs and scholarships. 

Past honorees of the Lanterns Awards Luncheon include Marian Wright Edelman, Lisa Fernandez, Christy Haubegger, Dr. Mae C. Jemison, Tyra Banks, Myrtle S. Potter, Rosalind Wiseman, Oral Lee Brown, Faye Washington, Dolores Robinson, Molly Barker and Erin Gruwell.  The Northrop Grumman Corporation and City Controller Laura Chick received our Galaxy Award in 2005 and 2007 respectively.  This year, we will honor Laila Ali and Girls for a Change Founder Whitney Smith.  I would like to briefly share with you some of the awe-inspiring accomplishments of Laila Ali and Whitney Smith.

This year’s Mistress of Ceremonies will again be Pat Prescott, the co-host of The All New Brian McKnight Morning Show on 94.7 FM, the Wave, Smooth Jazz.

Laila Ali is a perfect role model for young women.  She is an athlete, champion of health and fitness, author, and philanthropist.  Not to mention, she was also a smashing sensation on ABC's hit show, Dancing with the Stars.  She is currently the undefeated Super Middleweight Boxing Champion of the world with a 24-0 record with 21 knock-outs.  She authored Reach!, a motivational book designed to help young women find inspiration.  Ms. Ali sits on the Board of Trustees for the Women's Sports Foundation ("WSF").  The purpose of the WSF is to promote the involvement of women and girls in athletics.  Additionally, she is actively involved in the California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport, Feeding America, Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, Uncle Ben's Kids Cafe, and American Diabetes Association "Kiss Diabetes Goodbye" campaign.

In 2000, Whitney Smith founded Girls for a Change, a national organization that empowers thousands of teen girls to create and lead social change.  Girls for a Change provides professional female role models, leadership training, and the inspiration to work together in teams to solve persistent societal problems for the girls through Girl Action Teams.  The teams consist of 5-10 girls and two women coaches.  The teams meet twice a month from September-June to decide how they will make a lasting change in their neighborhood, city or school.  Eighty percent of all team participants indicate an increase in self empowerment, self-esteem and self value.  More than 3,000 community members were positively impacted by team projects in the 2007-2008 program cycle.  In 2002, she held the first annual girl summit which was attended by 1,100 girls and 500 women.  Over the last eight years, Ms. Smith has grown Girls for a Change into a organization with a $1 million budget, three national sites, and over 100 Girl Action Teams. 

The Lanterns Luncheon is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged young women by giving the net proceeds of the luncheon to nonprofit mentor programs, such as Motivating Our Students Through Experience ("M.O.S.T.E."), and for scholarships.  People, like Laila Ali and Whitney Smith, remind us that one person can make a difference in improving the quality of life for the less economically fortunate.  

If you need further information, please call me the WLALA Office at (213) 892-8982 or the Lanterns Committee Chairperson, Cindy Lopez at 213-897-7373.