In addition to being know as a multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominated actress, Gloria Reuben is dedicated to advocating for several causes. Her focus is on AIDS/HIV, human rights, the environment, women’s issues and the arts. Gloria is successful on the speaking circuit touching on all of these issues and has become a fixture in DC where she has been lobbying for these causes. She is currently involved with several organizations to further her activism, has participated in numerous events, and received various honors as summarized below.
AIDS/HUMAN RIGHTS:
Gloria has been well known for AIDS Awareness since her days starring on ER as "Jeanie Boulet", a healthcare worker who was living with HIV. She is also outspoken in the Human Rights arena. Some organizations she is involved with include:
ELIZABETH GLAZER PEDIATRIC AIDS FOUNDATION - Gloria joined Pamela Barns (the President of the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation) last summer to travel to South Africa to witness vital work being done to combat HIV/AIDS at their prevention and treatment sites in Johannesburg, SA. The four-day journey also kicked off Reuben’s role as a Celebrity Spokesperson with the Foundation’s Speakers Bureau, which seeks to raise awareness about the continuing HIV/AIDS pandemic and the important work of the Foundation in combating this ongoing health crisis. She also recently participated in the Jewelers for Children event in Las Vegas on behalf of PEDAIDS to raise money for the cause.
SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER - During her trip to S. Africa last summer, Gloria participated in the launching of Kerry Kennedy’s "Speak Truth To Power" (a human rights play and photo exhibit (www.speaktruth.org). She participated in the performance of the play at the University of Cape Town, and at Witwatersrand (Wits) University in Johannesburg.
RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights - Gloria recently joined the leadership council for the Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (www.RFKCenter.org). In November, Gloria went to The White House to attend the presentation of the 2009 RFK Human Rights Award by President Barack Obama. She recently attended the RFK Ripple of Hope Awards honoring Wyclef Jean and Bono. The evening was emceed by actor Peter Gallagher and included monologues based on the play "Speak Truth to Power" performed by Gloria, Matthew Modine, Matt McCoy, and Joey Pantoliano. Gloria travels nationally and internationally in support of the Center, advocating for human rights and performing in the play.
UN - In 2009, Gloria participated in the Secretary-General’s Forum on Advancing Global Health in the Face of Crisis. The Secretary-General’s Forum was an opportunity to examine ways to strengthen efforts and push progress on global health. Their efforts helped raise the political attention to critical global health issues through an interactive moderated discussion between distinguished panelists, Member States, United Nations entities, civil society, the private sector and philanthropy.
THEATER OF WAR - Gloria recently participated in the "Theater of War" event at St. Vincent’s Hospital. This special performance was held on for dozens of service members, veterans, relatives and Pentagon officials. Other actors involved included The actors in the one-hour reading were Jeffrey Wright, David Strathairn and Adam Driver, a former Marine. The play was transcribed from a Greek play that deals with the trauma that servicemen (and women, and their loved ones) face when people have served in the military for many years. Of course, today this trauma is known as post traumatic stress disorder.
ASPEN CULTURAL DIPLOMACY FORUM - Last Fall, Gloria participated in the Aspen Cultural Diplomacy Forum in Paris. The theme of this forum was Culture in Conflict/Culture on the Move. While at this forum Gloria spoke on a panel entitled Drawing on Hollywood to discuss how Hollywood professionals are able to use their skills and resources to support critical causes.
ENVIRONMENTAL:
Gloria has become a strong advocate for the environment taking a leadership role with Waterkeeper Allliance and is involved with several organizations promoting climate control and clean energy:
WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE - Gloria is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for Bobby Kennedy Jrs Waterkeeper Alliance, a grass roots non-profit organization that preserves and protects the waterways of the world (www.waterkeeper.org).
Through the Alliance’s "The Dirty Lie" campaign, Gloria is leading the effort to dispel the notion that coal is somehow "clean." The coal industry is promoting "clean coal" as a present-day solution to America's energy problems, but the coal burned today to make electricity contributes mightily to smog, acid rain, mercury contamination and, of course, global warming.
In the summer of '09, Gloria spoke at an anti-coal rally in North Carolina on behalf of the alliance, protesting Jim Rogers, head of Duke energy, and his coal fired power plant that is being built there.
At the ‘08 Toronto Film Festival, Gloria hosted the Waterkeeper Alliance event.
In Winter ’08, Gloria attended a Supreme Court hearing for Waterkeeper Alliance.
In Fall ‘08, she attended the Maine Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival on behalf of the Waterkeeper Alliance and introduced Grand Canyon Adventure, a film that features the Waterkeeper Board Chair, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION – participated in a national PSA entitled "Repower America" along with Frances Beinecke, Head of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sheryl Crowe, Ted Turner, General Wesley Clark, Melissa Etheridge and Michael Bloomberg.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION – participated in a Fair Climate national PSA for NWF in conjunction with NAACP as part of their joint resolution against how climate change disproportionately impacts the communities of color and the side effects such as disease and agricultural impact on Africa and poorer countries. Gloria is on the President's Advisory Council for the NWF.
MADE IN AMERICA CLEAN ENERGY RALLY – Fall ’09 attended rally in Pittsburgh for our Made in America Clean Energy Jobs rally sponsored by the Alliance for Climate Protection.
ASPEN CULTURAL DIPLOMACY FORUM - Last Fall, Gloria participated in the Aspen Cultural Diplomacy Forum in Paris. The theme of this forum was Culture in Conflict/Culture on the Move. While at this forum Gloria spoke on a panel entitled Drawing on Hollywood to discuss how Hollywood professionals are able to use their skills and resources to support critical causes.
HONORS & AWARDS:
Gloria is often recognized for her efforts with awards for her social activism. Recent awards include:
BLACK AIDS INSTITUTE - Gloria was honored with the "Communicator Award" by the Black AIDS Institute in February at the 8th Annual Heroes in the Struggle Gala Reception and Awards Presentation. This award was given to Gloria in commemoration of National Black AIDS Awareness Month, and her work with AIDS in the black community.
Planned Parenthood Champions of Choice Gloria was named a "Champion of Choice" at their event in Washington DC for Planned Parenthood in October 2009.
The Daily Green's Heart Of Green Awards - Gloria was given a HEART OF GREEN "Truth Teller" Award. The Daily Green's Heart Of Green Awards honored Gloria on behalf of her efforts with the Waterkeeper Alliance's "The Dirty Lie" campaign. Other honorees included Frances Beinecke - Head of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Alicia Silverstone and Laura Michalchyshyn- President of Planet Green.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:
Gloria travels across the world for speaking engagements on a variety of topics including:
MINNESOTA AIDS PROJECT – Last Summer, Gloria was a guest at an event for the Minnesota AIDS project where she spoke on preventing AIDS as well as reducing the stigma associated with it. During that same month Gloria was also a guest of Minority Health Care Communications where she spoke on the topic of raising awareness of HIV through the arts.
The Global Fund - Gloria was also the Emcee at a major event in DC for The Global Fund which was working on their major multimedia project with Magnum Photos called "Access to Life" for which eight Magnum photographers followed around 20 people to illustrate the amazing changes taking place when people who are near death from AIDS get access to antiretroviral drugs
Last Winter, Gloria traveled to Illinois to speak at the University of Illinois-Carbondale on the Changing Face of AIDS to a group of college students.
In September 2008 she spoke in Ohio at the Third Annual Enlightened Kaleidoscope Award Luncheon where she discussed AIDS and HIV support services and treatment in the context of understanding the individuals’ culture when dealing with health, behavioral health and having culturally appropriate services to engage and conduct outreach to communities.
In September 2008 she was a speaker at the U.S. Conference on AIDS in Miami.
Gloria gave a commencement speech at Lane College in Tennessee on the topic "The Immorality of Influence".
Gloria spoke at the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis luncheon in April 2008 concerning Women’s leadership and ensuring that women’s voices are heard. At the luncheon she encouraged young women to achieve their full potential.
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN INVOLVMENT:
Gloria has been a huge supporter of Obama and even campaigned door to door in Pennsylvania to educate voters.
Democratic / Republican National Conventions- Gloria attended the Presidential Conventions in August 2008 with The Creative Coalition on behalf of the entertainment community and to advocate for funds for AIDS research.
Obama Inauguration - She attended the presidential inauguration with The Creative Coalition in January 2009.
TCC Documentary Film - Gloria also appears in The Creative Coalition produced documentary, Poliwood directed by Barry Levinson. An in-depth look at the Democratic and Republican national conventions held during the 2008 U.S. Presidential election year that takes a look at the convergence of celebrity and politics in which Gloria appears along with Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, Anne Hathaway and Ellen Burstyn.
PAST ADVOCACY:
Past advocacy includes: introducing Kofi Annan at theUN AIDS Day ceremony, speaking at the Planned Parenthood introduction to their collaboration with the Rights Have No Borders project, and being the keynote speaker at the first Black Women's Conference on HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day in 2005. Reuben has also been an avid supporter for Planned Parenthood and ANSA (Artists for a new South Africa).
Her efforts are endless. You can go to her website (www.gloriareuben.com) to read more about what she has been working on.
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