Celebrating the “Dream Builders”

The CA Dream Alliance hosted the 10th Annual Reception and Awards on April 8th. The Dream Builder Awards celebrate the leaders and advocates who turn bold, progressive ideas into real policy wins for Californians.

This year, the Dream Alliance honored Senate Pro Tem Monique Limón, Assemblymember Ash Kalra, and Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens as “Dream Builders” — lawmakers who authored bills on the Alliance’s 2025 priority agenda and shepherded them through to a signature of the Governor.

Senator Maria Elena Durazo paid tribute to an Alliance founder, Mary Gutierrez-Hunter of SEIU CA, who lost her brave and sudden battle with cancer this past autumn. In addition to founding the Alliance, Mary led the historic campaign to allow childcare workers in California to unionize. She is survived by her one-year-old daughter, husband, sister, parents, and the Dream Alliance and Union members who knew and loved her.

The vital work of the Alliance’s movement partners was also recognized. Courage California received Organization of the Year for their deep engagement and advocacy across the Alliance’s full slate of bills. We celebrated two Rising Stars — Yesenia Robancho from End Child Poverty and Lan Le Of Asian Americans Advancing Justice — whose energy and dedication represent the future of this movement. Finally, Joey Williams of the Coalition of California State Tribes was honored as the newly named Mary Gutierrez-Hunter Advocate of the Year for his outstanding leadership and commitment.

Together, these honorees reflect the strength, collaboration, and vision of the Dream Alliance’s 73 organizations in building a more just and progressive California.