Award winners
Lorella Praeli, 2023
About the award
The John D. Podesta Progressive Champion Award will be given annually to a rising change-maker in the progressive movement. Through creative, collaborative, and resolute work, these leaders are paving the way and writing the rules for progressive policymakers and advocates. The recipient is a trusted voice, powerful commentator, and leading visionary for building a stronger, safer, more inclusive, and healthier America.
About John Podesta
White House Senior Adviser John Podesta during the White House commissioned officer portrait session in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House, April 29, 2014. (Official White House photo by Lawrence Jackson)
John Podesta, a trailblazer in the world of American politics, established the Center for American Progress in October 2003. After serving as White House chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, John stepped into the role of co-chair for President Barack Obama’s transition team. He then served as counselor to President Obama, orchestrating the administration’s ambitious climate policy and other groundbreaking initiatives. John was later selected as a distinguished member of the U.N. Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, a testament to his global vision and leadership. In 2016, he chaired Hillary Clinton’s historic campaign for president. Today, John is a senior adviser to President Joe Biden, serving as a leader of the nation’s clean energy innovation and implementation. An unyielding advocate for change, John Podesta continues to shape progressive policy and America’s future.