Houston Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg and ADL National Civil Rights Director Deborah Lauter have a lot in common.  Both of them have dedicated their lives and livelihood to righting wrongs, particularly where equality and fairness are concerned.   Both are brilliant, strong, persuasive, and knowledgeable.

Both are excellent writers and conveyers of ideas.  And both will be talking about topics that matter to Houstonians, such as the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), Syrian Refugees, Texas’ grand jury system and education equity at the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL’s) Women’s Initiative Luncheon at noon, March 2 at the JW Marriott Downtown Houston, 806 Main St, Houston, TX 77002.

Falkenberg arrived at the Chronicle in 2005 and became a metro columnist in 2007.  For eight years, her columns on topics ranging from politics, to education, to equality, to the death penalty have appeared twice weekly in the newspaper.  In 2015, Falkenberg won a Pulitzer Prize for a series of columns on the grand jury system.

As ADL’s National Director of Civil Rights, Lauter oversees domestic policy, programs and staff in four key ADL Departments:  Legal Affairs, the Center on Extremism, the Research Center, and its Library and Archives.  She works with national staff and staffers across the country on numerous civil rights issues, including discrimination, religious freedom, hate crimes, fighting extremism and terrorism, and providing training and support to law enforcement in the fight against hate.

The March 2 luncheon will present a conversation between Lauter and Falkenberg, which should enlighten attendees on how Falkenberg researches and writes her column, and how ADL approaches some of the issues about which Falkenberg writes.

The ADL Women’s Initiative unites diverse women professionals in ADL’s efforts to promote respect and challenge bigotry through dialogue and action.  ADL has long championed justice and fair treatment for all, including equality for women.

The ADL Women’s Initiative Leadership Council includes Kelli Cohen Fein, Judith Finkel, Nicole Nathan Gibson, Susi Knight, Sherry Levy, and Vicki Merwin.

This Women’s Initiative luncheon is generously underwritten by Sherry Levy.  Individual tickets are available through Eventbrite, and tables can be purchased through ADL Events Manager Mari Welch at mwelch@adl.org.