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Steve Schnur; Robert Redford,* Michelle Satter, Cara Mertes and the Leadership of the Sundance Institute; and María Elena Durazo to Be Honored at ACLU/SC’s 2009 Bill of Rights Awards

Monday, December 7, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing Electronic Arts/President, Artwerk Music Group; Robert Redford, Michelle Satter, Cara Mertes and the leadership of the Sundance Institute; and María Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, will be honored at the ACLU of Southern California’s star-studded Bill of Rights Dinner tonight. (*Mr. Redford will not be able to attend the event, but is very honored to be receiving this award.)

Two-time Academy Award-winning Best Actress Sally Field (currently starring in ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters”), television and film director Rodrigo Garcia (“In Treatment,” Nine Lives), Grammy Award-winning producer and “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson, Emmy Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard (currently starring in the CBS medical drama “Three Rivers”), and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will present awards to the honorees. Television and film actress <b>Olivia Wilde</b> (“House,” “The O.C.”) will emcee the event, to be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills.

The annual Bill of Rights Dinner recognizes exceptional people who have promoted civil liberties and civil rights through distinguished work. Past honorees have included Barbra Streisand, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Dustin Hoffman and Martin Scorsese.

“This year’s honorees stand out for their innovation as well as their dedication to furthering the cause of civil liberties and civil rights,” said Ramona Ripston, executive director of the ACLU/SC. “We’re grateful for the ground-breaking work that they’ve done, and we’re delighted to celebrate them at this very special event.”

About this year’s honorees:

Steve Schnur (Bill of Rights Award): As Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing for Electronic Arts/President Artwerk Music Group, Steve Schnur has been a visionary pioneer in the new digital era, where MP3 platforms and gaming have become vital to the music industry. His innovative talents led the Washington Post to call him “The Clive Davis of the videogame industry.” From his early days as part of the original programming team during MTV’s formative years, through his time at various music companies, he has consistently pushed creative boundaries, and has become one of the most vital individuals in the entertainment industry. As the chairman of the Grammy Foundation, Schnur has promoted creative expression, artists’ rights, and the mentoring, empowerment and education of children – all important issues to the ACLU. A broad array of programs through the Grammy Foundation has contributed to this effort, including the Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning’s comprehensive school reform model. We also recognize the Grammy Worksite Music Mentoring’s national effort to address the urgent need to help young people achieve personal life goals.

Robert Redford, Michelle Satter, Cara Mertes and the Leadership of the Sundance Institute (Bill of Rights Award): Creativity flourishes when nurtured, and the Sundance Institute has created fertile ground for artists. Robert Redford, Michelle Satter and Cara Mertes have, with their committed staff, encouraged exploration, expanded creative horizons and enabled artists to thrive. Throughout all the work of the Sundance Institute -- in film, theatre and film music -- the crucial support of the exchange of ideas also has raised public consciousness and shed light on the restriction of civil liberties. So many of Robert Redford’s films explore social justice themes, and his documentaries take up the causes of native rights and the public’s right to a healthy environment. With his consistent commitment to freedom of expression and independent voices, it comes as no surprise he has created a place where ideas can be freely explored.

The Sundance Film Festival is the world’s most important venue for independent feature and documentary film. As founding director of the Feature Film Program, Michelle Satter has been one of the chief architects of the Institute’s programs and has supported many of the leading independent filmmakers of the past 25 years. Michelle’s influence extends throughout many of the Sundance Institute’s programs, including its international initiatives supporting next-generation filmmakers and cultural exchange throughout the world.

Cara Mertes, an award-winning filmmaker and executive producer, leads the Sundance Documentary Program and Fund, with a mandate that springs from the twin pillars of artistic excellence and freedom of expression. It is unique in its support of nonfiction films about human rights, social justice, civil liberties and other critical issues.

María Elena Durazo (Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award): As the daughter of Mexican farm workers, Durazo has a deep understanding of the trials faced by immigrants in the work force, and is an essential advocate for their needs. Early in her career, she turned UNITE-HERE, Local 11 into one of the most active unions in Los Angeles County. Durazo broke a significant glass ceiling within the labor movement when she became the first Latina elected to the executive board of HERE International Union. When she became the general vice president, she took on the responsibility of representing 250,000 workers in the hospitality industry from the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. Now, as the executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Durazo is a tireless advocate for more than 350 local unions and 800,000 workers. She is an important leader of an ethnically diverse membership comprised of workers in every key industry.

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