On June 30, 2026 at the 12th Annual Awards Celebration as we recognized outstanding workers’ rights leaders, highlighted the Center’s achievements over the last year, and gathered with supporters of our mission.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Líder
Patrón
California Applicants’ Attorney Association
California Nurses Association
Marcus & Pulley, LLP
NorCal Advocates
Olivier & Schreiber, P.C.
Defensor
Beeson Tayer & Bodine
Gavrilov & Brooks
NorCal Resist
SEIU 2015
Shana Urban and Jonathan Fleck
Teamsters Joint Council 7
Terri Friedman and Mark Urban
Yoshihara Law & Policy
Seguidor
Sacramento Central Labor Council
Honrando
Premio al Liderazgo Legislativo: Jason Marcus
Jason Marcus has represented injured workers since earning his law degree from McGeorge School of Law in 2008. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jason has dedicated his career to protecting the rights of injured workers. He is a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law and a respected leader in the workers’ compensation community. Jason is a past President of the California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA) and currently serves as Chair of CAAA’s Legislative Committee. Through his advocacy, he has helped advance legislation to improve worker health and safety, including SB 1299 (2024), which sought to make it easier for farmworkers to obtain workers’ compensation benefits for heat-related illnesses. Jason is also a past President of the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Section and has regularly presented at the Center for Workers’ Rights Workers’ Rights Clinic since its launch in 2015.
Premio al Abogado Legal: Winifred Kao
Winnie Kao is Senior Counsel for impact litigation at the Asian Law Caucus (ALC). She previously served as ALC’s Litigation Director and led its Workers’ Rights Program for more than a decade. Before joining ALC, Winnie represented labor unions and served as a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
During her time at ALC, Winnie has led or supported impact litigation across a wide range of issue areas. Most recently, she has been part of the legal team challenging the executive order restricting birthright citizenship in Trump v. Barbara, now pending before the Supreme Court of the United States. She also served as co-counsel with the Center for Workers’ Rights in LAFLA v. EDD, helping secure a landmark settlement expanding language access for unemployment insurance claimants statewide.
Beyond litigation, Winnie has worked alongside worker centers to support organizing campaigns led by low-wage immigrant workers and played a founding role in developing the California Strategic Enforcement Partnership, a statewide model of co-enforcement with the California Labor Commissioner’s Bureau of Field Enforcement.
Premio Valentía del Trabajador: Maria Ballantyne
Maria Ballantyne is a dedicated caregiver with seven years of experience building deep, meaningful relationships with the individuals and families she serves. In 2024, she came to the Center for Workers’ Rights after experiencing wage theft and was referred by the Labor Commissioner’s Office. Determined to seek justice, she began filing her claim on her own but soon sought support of CWR due to the complexity of the process. Her curiosity, persistence, and commitment to learning quickly stood out. Maria joined the DWEOP Worker Leader Training, led a Know Your Rights presentation, and volunteered at multiple outreach events, becoming an active and trusted CWR member. Above all, she is a devoted mother to her two children, David and Isabelle, who inspire her daily.