"As we gather this evening, with so much to rejoice in and so much to rededicate ourselves to, we can take pride that this is still the same civil and human rights coalition, but with new victories, new constituencies, new technologies, and a wider focus than ever before. And we can take even greater pride that, thanks to our work, this is not the same America because the land we love is moving closer to the ideals we share," said Wade Henderson, LCCR president and CEO, during his opening remarks.

Former Senator Bob Dole, R. Kan., and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman introduced this year's honorees, Sheila Bair and Van Jones, who both spoke about their commitments to civil rights.  Bair talked about how her background as a civil rights lawyer influences her work as the chairman of the FDIC and Jones spoke about how his commitment to finding jobs for low-income Americans in Oakland, Calif., led him to the "green jobs" movement.