Artists, athletes, musicians, and actors gathered at Cipriani 42nd Street for The Gordon Parks Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Awards Dinner and Auction, celebrating the legacy of Gordon Parks, the groundbreaking photographer, filmmaker, musician, and writer.
Among the notable names attending the New York gala were John Legend, Chance the Rapper, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, Your Friends & Neighbors actor Mark Tallman, and Khaliah Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali.
The annual gala brought together figures across entertainment, philanthropy, activism, and the arts to honor individuals working at the intersection of creativity and social justice. This year’s honorees included Chance the Rapper, John Legend, artist Henry Taylor, and Mellon Foundation president Elizabeth Alexander. Lonnie Ali also accepted an honor on behalf of the Muhammad Ali family.
Founded to preserve Gordon Parks’ legacy, the Foundation advances his commitment to art, education, and social justice. Parks, widely recognized as one of the most influential American photographers of the twentieth century, documented race, inequality, fashion, and everyday life through photography, film, music, and writing.
Despite the ninety-degree heat, guests arrived in sharply tailored suits and embellished eveningwear while photographers packed the red carpet. John Legend wore a crisp ivory dinner jacket paired with a black satin tie, while Chance the Rapper opted for a black suit and trucker cap that brought a more relaxed vibe to the formal evening.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and his wife Bry Burrows drew attention on the red carpet, while Your Friends & Neighbors actor Mark Tallman spoke with press about the upcoming third season of the Apple TV+ series. Jason Flom—a criminal justice reform advocate, founding board member of the Innocence Project, and host of the podcast Wrongful Conviction—also attended alongside his wife, Khaliah Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali.
Photo Courtesy: Bryan Bedder/ Getty
“We look for cases where there’s obvious evidence of innocence,” Flom said while discussing his advocacy work.
As the night continued, guests spoke about Parks’ influence across generations and artistic disciplines. “We know our history because of what Gordon Parks did,” Mellon Foundation president Elizabeth Alexander said.
