Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival’s most notable milestones throughout the years

Beginning in May 2007, members from the Make it Safe Coalition (MISC) have arranged an assembly of whistleblowers in Washington, DC each year for an annual conference originally known as Washington Whistleblower’s Week. The original purpose and goals included:

• Highlight the special projects and accomplishments of the whistleblowers and NGOs in the Make It Safe Coalition.
• Come together to defeat the “isolation” experienced by whistleblowers and create a sense of community among individual whistleblowers and the NGOs that support us.
• Provide a meaningful “mutual support network” for whistleblowers and our advocates across the country and the globe.
• Provide lobby training for the whistleblower community to support the passage of important legislation related to transparency, whistleblowing and the First Amendment.
• Connect Whistleblowers and First Amendment advocates to the broader Civil Rights and global Human Rights movements.

Today, this annual conference is now known as the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival. Whistleblowing is important as it is one of the most effective ways to detect and prevent corruption and other malpractice. Whistleblowers’ disclosures have exposed wrongdoing and fraud, helped save millions in public funds, and avoided disasters for health and the environment. Whistleblowers have important roles in safeguarding the public good by uncovering scandals and other discreditable behaviors. 

We are honored to have celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the passage of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) and while embarking upon a national campaign to recognize July 30th as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.

To celebrate these incredible achievements, here is a timeline of the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival’s most notable milestones throughout the years. 

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2012 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first group to expand whistleblowing from Public Health and Safety concerns and include it in the global Civil & Human Rights Movement by founding the Whistleblower Summit for Civil & Human Rights. 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to anchor events on July 30 to promote and celebrate National Whistleblower Appreciation Day— previous whistleblower conferences were held in May. 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to convince a national media organization, the Pacifica Foundation (Pacifica Radio Network), to formally support whistleblowers by unanimous board vote. 

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2013 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to get a national media organization to support whistleblower legislation that was critical to its passage, i.e., Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA).

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to convince a national media organization to create a dedicated position (Whistleblower Liaison) to foster better and fairer relationships between whistleblowers and journalists. Thus, due to the Whistleblower Summit, the Pacifica Foundation became the first national media organization to formally support whistleblowers, whistleblower legislation, and the Whistleblower Summit for Civil & Human Rights. 

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2014 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to pursue cultural shifts to change societal attitudes towards whistleblowers and whistleblowing, e.g., Change.org Petition, Authors/Book Signings, and Film Screenings. 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to elevate unknown, lesser known, or forgotten whistleblowers and community activists by naming Pillar Awards in honor of Grace Lee Boggs, Shaw-Marvin, Martha Mitchell, Frank Wills, and Mary Pickford (“Gladys Louise Smith”).

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2016 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to take the message across the country and host a whistleblower conference at a Presidential Library, i.e., the Clinton Presidential Center and School of Public Service. 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to convince a state legislative assembly (Arkansas) to formally recognize July 30 as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to promote, organize and coordinate a whistleblower-dedicated TEDx Salon: Whistleblowers and the First Amendment. 

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2019 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to host a film festival to promote and celebrate Whistleblowing, Civil & Human Rights, and Social Justice on Capitol Hill, i.e., the Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival. 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to convince the District of Columbia to formally recognize the Whistleblower Summit and July 30 as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. As a result, the Whistleblower Summit received national recognition and acclaim as the “Best of Fests” for Innovation in Arts, Culture and Film by Fest Forums “Where power players in the festival industry meet.” (Forbes Magazine) 

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2023 

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The Whistleblower Summit was the first organization to celebrate July 30 as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day at the National Press Club with a Tribute to Daniel Ellsberg.

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We recognize that cinema is a powerful medium for highlighting civil and human rights violations across the globe. We seek to shine a light on stories of courage and perseverance in the face of injustice and to encourage individuals to stand together to achieve human rights for all. In our mission to spread awareness about whistleblowing, we have partnered with the American University School of Communications to connect the school community with whistleblowers. The Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival will always advocate and build a sense of community and solidarity for each and every whistleblower.

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