Celebrating Janice Mirikitani

Celebrating Janice Mirikitani: community activist and leader, poet, visionary and founding president of Glide Foundation, Janice Mirikitani was celebrated with poetry, songs, stories of unconditional love and a romantic tribute from the Reverend Cecil Williams. Some 200 guests gathered to recognize Mirikitani’s birthday and life on February 10, 2015, at Le Colonial Restaurant in San Francisco. First Voice: Brenda Wong Aoki, Mark Izu and KK Izu, slam poets Caitlyn Clark and Tizzy Haroun of Youth Speaks and the GLIDE Ensemble and Change Band with Tom Johnston performed at the event. The sweetest tribute was from Mirikitani’s partner in work and love for 50 years, Cecil Williams:

“Janice Mirikitani is a woman who is different. She can perform profound poetry and look great in high heels. She walks the line of our meals program greeting and smiling at everyone in her jeans and boots. She can organize a Gala Event and look cool and glamorous. She’s the love of my life because of many things…her passion for justice, her creativity and her unique ability to transform people’s lives. I rejoice in her Birthday Celebration because she’s brought beauty in my life for our 50 years of work and marriage together.”