PILLAR AWARDS

Richard Mauze Burr is an American businessman and politician who is the senior United States Senator from North Carolina, serving since 2005. A member of the Republican Party, Burr was previously a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is the dean of North Carolina's congressional delegation.

Melody Jo Samuelson, who worked as a psychologist at Napa State Hospital, filed suit against the Department of State Hospitals and three state-employed psychologists, claiming that she was retaliated against after disclosing that the hospital was not properly conducting competency assessments on criminal defendants who had been found incompetent to stand trial, and that the hospital's peer review discipline process was being used coercively and in violation of the hospital's own bylaws. Samuelson sued under two of California's "whistleblower" protection statutes: Labor Code section 1102.5, which prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee who has reasonable cause to believe she is disclosing a legal violation; and Government Code section 8547.8, which protects a state employee from retaliation for making a protected disclosure about improper governmental activity.

Michael Elliott is president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive & Train Men in Washington State. Elliott alleged that BNSF was slow to address the issue, and in January 2011, after receiving no response, Elliott bypassed the railroad and took his concerns to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The FRA conducted a six-week inspection in which it found more than 375 violations, including one that resulted in a $1,000 fine.

Alex Lawson is the Executive Director of Social Security Works, the convening member of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition— a coalition made up of over 340 national and state organizations representing over 50 million Americans. Lawson previously served as the Communications Director for the organization. In his current role, he coordinates the multifaceted education and advocacy operations to protect and improve the economic security of disadvantaged and at-risk populations while maintaining Social Security as a vehicle of social justice. Lawson is also the owner of We Act Radio and its video and livestream production arm NMG Live. We Act is a media corporation that combines broadcast and new media to deliver shows in the formats people use most.

As expected, diversity (or the lack thereof) was the hot-button topic at tonight’s BAFTA Awards. Joaquin Phoenix, picking up his Best Actor prize for Joker, made a particularly poignant speech on the topic.“I feel conflicted because so many of my fellow actors that are deserving don’t have that same privilege. I think that we send a very clear message to people of color that you’re not welcome here,” he said onstage at the Royal Albert Hall. “I think that’s the message that we’re sending to people that have contributed so much to our medium and our industry, and in ways that we benefit from.”

Gabriela Contreras was 31 years old. Shortly after ABC15 aired the videos in a series of investigative reports, Contreras decided to reveal herself and speak out further. The videos leaked by Contreras were indisputable proof of the chaos and dysfunction inside the prison. Multiple officers and inmates have been hurt and killed as a result of the broken locks. The evidence prompted the Governor’s Office to launch an outside investigation and led to unprecedented change. Her decision to leak the videos and publicly speak about the dangers will ultimately save lives.