Past Events
2026 Screening of The Last Battlefront
DC Appleseed’s Emerging Leaders Network hosted a screening of The Last Battlefront: Quest for the Vote in Washington, D.C., a documentary exploring the District’s centuries-long fight for representation and self-government. Through personal stories and pivotal moments in D.C. history, the film brought the ongoing pursuit of equal representation to life.
Following the screening, attendees heard from advocates and leaders of the D.C. statehood movement during a panel discussion about the District’s history and the challenges facing D.C. residents today. The evening also provided an opportunity to connect with DC Appleseed board members, partners, and friends committed to advancing D.C. autonomy.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our partners, the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia and Steptoe LLP, for helping make this event possible.
Orchard Fest 2026
DC Appleseed was delighted to bring our community together for Orchard Fest 2026, an autumn-inspired evening of connection, celebration, and shared purpose at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital. Featuring live music by Brent & Co., refreshments, and opportunities to reconnect with friends and colleagues, the gathering celebrated the people and partnerships that make our work possible.
We were especially proud to honor the leadership of our Senior Fellow, Tommy Wells, former Ward 6 Councilmember and former Director of the DC Department of Energy and the Environment. His longstanding commitment to public service and the District reflected the spirit of the evening and DC Appleseed’s continued work toward a stronger and more equitable city.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, as well as everyone who attended and supported Orchard Fest in helping make this a memorable celebration of our DC community.
2026 DC Appleseed Center Gershon Ratner Reception
Thank you to everyone who joined DC Appleseed for the 2026 Gershon Ratner Reception at District Winery on April 27. It was a memorable evening that brought together friends, partners, and supporters to celebrate the meaningful impact we are making through our shared commitment to improving the District of Columbia.
We are delighted to share that this year's reception exceeded its fundraising goal. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors, donors, and partners, the campaign surpassed its target, marking an important milestone for DC Appleseed. This achievement is a testament to the strength of our community and the collective dedication of those who believe in our mission. We are deeply grateful to everyone whose support made this year's reception such a resounding success.
We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to all who joined us in honoring an exceptional group of leaders whose service and dedication have made a lasting impact. We were proud to recognize our Lifetime Achievement Honorees: Lois Schiffer, former General Counsel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and former Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice; William Stein, Vice Chair of DC Appleseed and Senior Counsel at Hughes Hubbard & Reed; and Russell V. Randle, Senior Counsel at Miles & Stockbridge. We were also honored to present the Golden Apple Award to Prince Charitable Trusts in recognition of its outstanding commitment to strengthening communities and advancing the public good.
To everyone who attended, supported, sponsored, and celebrated with us—thank you. Your generosity and partnership make our work possible, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.
Host Committee
Elizabeth "Beth" Halpern, Board Chair | Senior Counsel, Hogan Lovells
William “Bill” Stein, Vice Chair | Senior Counsel, Hughes Hubbard & Reed
Kenneth Kratovil, Treasurer | Partner, HKA
Vanessa Batters-Thompson, Executive Director
Victor Bonett, Co-Chair, Development Committee | Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon, Inc.
Peter Denton, Co-Chair, Development Committee | Partner, Steptoe
William Buffaloe, Board Member | Counsel, O’Melveny & Myers
Jeffrey Handwerker, Board Member | Partner, Arnold & Porter
Mary Morningstar, Board Member | Retired, Lockheed Martin
Austin A.B. Ownbey, Board Member | Partner, Akerman
Dr. Caroline Popper, Board Member | President, Popper and Company
Gershon “Gary” Ratner, Co-Founder, Board Member | Lawyers Defending American Democracy
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2025 DC Appleseed Center Gershon Ratner Reception
DC Appleseed was honored to host our inaugural Gershon Ratner Reception on April 2, 2025, at Washington Gas. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our community for coming together to celebrate the remarkable Lifetime Achievement Honorees: Alan Morrison, David Grosso, and Gary Ratner, as well as our Emerging Leaders Honoree, Camillo Morales, and the recipient of the Golden Apple Award, the Agua Fund. A special recognition goes to our Champions of Democracy awardees, whose invaluable pro bono research and legal expertise contributed to our Voter Representation in DC's Elections report. This critical work highlights the power of collaborative advocacy in enhancing representation and fostering a more inclusive democracy.
We deeply appreciate the support of our attendees; it is the strength of our community that lies at the heart of our mission.
A special shoutout to The Honorable Brian L. Schwalb, Attorney General for the District of Columbia, for serving as our keynote speaker.
2024 Securing DC Appleseed
Our premier event for 2024, “Securing DC Appleseed” was a celebration of our 30-year legacy of making the District a better place to live and work. The funds raised ensure DC Appleseed can continue this important work. Thank you to our many partners who have contributed to DC Appleseed’s success today and throughout our history:
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Expert attorneys, business leaders, and professionals who work on important Appleseed projects;
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Government leaders who seek and adopt DC Appleseed’s recommendations;
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Nonprofit partners who inform and expand DC Appleseed’s reform efforts;
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Donors and foundations who enable DC Appleseed’s work; and Many other DC Appleseed supporters.
With your support, we can keep building towards a better DC: a more equitable and democratic city in which all residents get a fair shot at health, stability, opportunity, and empowerment.
Congratulations to our honorees:
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The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, The Golden Apple Award Recipient
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Richard Herzog, Harkins Cunningham LLP
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Jon Bouker, ArentFox Schiff LLP
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Annemargaret Connolly, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP
HOST COMMITTEE
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Elizabeth Halpern, Board Chair
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Annemargaret Connolly, Immediate Past Board Chair
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Vanessa Batters-Thompson, Executive Director
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Neil Richardson, Deputy Director
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Peter Denton, Co-Chair, Development Committee
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Victor Bonett, Co-Chair, Development Committee
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Gary Ratner, Co-Founder
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Deborah Chollet
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Jeffrey Handwerker
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William Stein
Marquee Sponsors
QUESTIONS?
Please contact Sokhna Fall, at sfall@dcappleseed.org or (917) 705-9134
DC Appleseed 2021 Gala
A New D.C. - Better Than Ever
DC Appleseed 2022 Gala
Continuing Our Mighty Work
2023 Seeding Change Luncheon
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
12-2 pm
DC Water HQO
This year, DC Appleseed held its annual fundraiser at DC Water's HQO, located at 1385 Canal St. SE, Washington, DC 20003. Attendees enjoyed dazzling views of the Anacostia River and the DC skyline, while enjoying networking, lunch, and a live program with awards. All supporters of this event ensured DC Appleseed can continue its award-winning and mighty work.
Hosted by: Rev. Kendrick Curry, Victor Bonett, Steve Stanton, Apera Nwora, Peter Denton, Gary Ratner, Patricia Brannan, Marc Efron, Eleanor Smith, & Jeffrey Handwerker
DC Voter Representation Convening
To Learn More About our Voter Representation Project, Click HERE
To View the Recorded Live Stream, Click HERE
DC Appleseed aims to analyze DC’s crowded primaries and split elections. Our goal is to increase the number of local races resulting in a clear majority and democratic mandate for elected officials while reducing existing racial and economic disparities in voter turnout.
To ensure we examine the most viable options for DC and to begin building broad consensus and buy-in among stakeholders, DC Appleseed held a convening to determine the best three to five potential options for DC for further research and analysis.
Note: DC Appleseed is non-partisan and independent. We do not have a position nor do we endorse any currently pending legislations or initiatives related to DC elections.
Keynote Speaker:
Maya Wiley, President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Lisa Rice, Make All Votes Count DC
Professor Brian McCabe, Georgetown University Center for Social Justice
Charles Wilson, DC Democratic Party
Lee Drutman, New America Political Reform Program
Deb Otis, Fair Vote
Chris Raleigh, The Center for Election Science
Note: Additional speakers will be confirmed prior to the event.
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We invite local and national election advocacy groups, academics, and DC residents of all backgrounds to participate in this event.
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Prior to the convening, we will ask participants to submit an array of potential "solutions" for consideration.
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Through a series of panel discussions during the convening, we will narrow many possible solutions to just several.
Thank You to Our Partners
