Good Trouble Gala Honors Legacy, Voting Rights, and the Charge to Carry On
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation gathered leaders, supporters, scholars, and advocates on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, for the Good Trouble Gala at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
The evening, held in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, honored the enduring legacy of Congressman John Lewis and Lillian Miles Lewis while lifting up the foundation’s continuing work in civic engagement, education, civil rights preservation, and community investment.
The program included the presentation of the John Lewis Carry On Award to Congressman James E. Clyburn, along with a tribute honoring Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and The Honorable Steny Hoyer. Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore was also recognized with the Lillian Miles Lewis Luminary Award.
Throughout the night, speakers reflected on Congressman Lewis’s life of service, his courage during the Civil Rights Movement, and his continuing call for Americans to make “good trouble” in the pursuit of justice. The foundation also highlighted its ongoing programs, including Good Troublemaker Scholarships, neighborhood grants, youth civic engagement efforts, and work to preserve the John Lewis archives for future generations.
Yet the closing conversation with Congressman Clyburn became one of the evening’s most defining moments.
Speaking with the clarity of a man who has spent decades in public service, Clyburn urged attendees not to treat history as distant memory, but as a warning, teacher, and call to action. He reminded the audience that the nation has faced difficult turning points before and that the outcomes of history have often been shaped by narrow margins.
Clyburn pointed to moments in American history when a single vote carried the power to redirect the nation’s course. His message was direct: history may repeat itself, but the results do not have to be the same if citizens learn from the past and participate fully in the present.
His remarks centered strongly on the importance of voting, especially in midterm elections. He warned that when voters stay home, the consequences can be long-lasting. In his appeal to younger generations and those entering public service, he echoed the spirit of John Lewis’s lifelong message: never give up, never give out, and never give in.
When asked what gives him hope during challenging times, Clyburn returned to the example of John Lewis at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. He reminded the audience that Lewis and others did not succeed on their first attempt. They were beaten, forced back, and still returned. For Clyburn, that lesson remains urgent today: setbacks are not the end of the struggle.
“We cannot quit,” his message made clear. “We cannot get discouraged.”
The evening closed not only as a gala of honor, but as a renewed charge. The legacy of John and Lillian Miles Lewis was presented not as something frozen in history, but as work still alive through students, organizers, public servants, and everyday people willing to stand for democracy, justice, and the beloved community.
For those gathered in Washington, D.C., the Good Trouble Gala was a reminder that memory carries responsibility. To honor John Lewis is not only to speak his name, but to continue the work he left behind.
Photographs from left to right: John & Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation Board Chair Michael Collins, Founding Board Member Mignon Willis, Communications Consultant Neil Parekh, and John-Miles Lewis, son of the late Congressman John Lewis and Lillian Miles Lewis.
