Kamala Harris to give keynote address at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights award ceremony
Deven Parekh, Insight Partners’ Indian American managing director is among the five winners of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ 2021 Ripple of Hope Award.
Parekh joins poet Amanda Gorman, entrepreneur, and author, Stacey Abrams; co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, José E. Feliciano; and chairman and CEO of Verizon, Hans Vestberg, the New York based not-for-profit organization announced Thursday.
“Since joining Insight Partners in 2000, Parekh has been a vocal advocate for opportunity and inclusion, initiating efforts to promote women and minority leaders across Insight’s internal team, portfolio, and the wider software and investment ecosystems as a whole,” it noted.
Read: Trump taps Indian American Deven Parekh for key post (June 20, 2020)
Parekh is a member of the board of directors for several institutions, including the US Development Finance Corporation, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and NYU Langone.
He is also chairman emeritus of the board of Publicolor, a nonprofit organization focused on New York City public schools. In 2006, Parekh was named a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, which seeks to develop the next generation of community-spirited leaders.
“This year’s Ripple of Hope Award winners, united by their uncompromising integrity and resilience in striving for an inclusive America, have each championed the causes and concerns of the underrepresented and marginalized,” the announcement said.
“Their tireless efforts in service of the public good—from within global companies to the national political stage—reflect Robert Kennedy’s passion for equality, justice, and the power of individual action to establish meaningful reform.
All five laureates will be honored at a hybrid ceremony on, Dec. 9, featuring keynote speaker Vice President Kamala Harris, the announcement said.
“As the first woman and first woman of color to serve as vice president, Harris has broken barriers and served as a leading voice on the impact of race on health care, access to voting, and the criminal legal system,” it said.
“We’re honored that Vice President Harris and Amanda Gorman will join Stacey, Hans, José, and Deven in our Ripple of Hope Award ceremony for 2021,” said Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.
“Their leadership and poise have inspired countless people, especially young women of color, to rise up and make their voices heard and we are thrilled to recognize such extraordinary changemakers. We look forward to celebrating our five honorees and hearing the Vice President’s remarks.”
Since 1968, the Ripple of Hope Award has celebrated exemplary leaders across business, government, advocacy, and entertainment who have demonstrated a commitment to social progress and advancing human rights.
Previous winners of the Ripple of Hope Award include Barack Obama, Tim Cook, Dolores Huerta, Desmond Tutu, Colin Kaepernick, Hillary Clinton, John Lewis, Bono, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Nancy Pelosi, Robert F. Smith, Wyclef Jean, and Joe Biden.
The RFKHR organization has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy’s “dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968,” the announcement said.
Read: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Names Insight Partners Managing Director Deven Parekh a 2021 Ripple of Hope Award Laureate (July 22, 2021)
“In partnership with local activists, we advocate for key human rights issues—championing changemakers and pursuing strategic litigation at home and around the world,” it said.
“And to ensure change that lasts, we foster a social-good approach to business and investment and educate millions of students about human rights and social justice.”
