Judy Harris and Norm Ornstein Honored by Washingtonian Magazine

We are humbled to have been chosen as 2025 Washingtonians of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine!

Each year since 1971, Washingtonian Magazine highlights local heroes who dedicate their lives to making a positive impact on the DC region. For the last 11 years, the Matthew Harris Ornstein Summer Debate Institute has provided the opportunity for hundreds of public school students from underserved communities to gain invaluable life and academic skills to which they might not otherwise have had access. Not only does the Institute teach students how to engage with critical issues, it also allows them to connect meaningfully with their peers and experience personal growth that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Joe Scarborough, co-host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, called the work of the Institute in Matthew's memory "deeply moving" (https://x.com/scarboroughnow/status/2007792608995852342?s=57).

We are proud to have worked alongside other honorees, most notably Ann Friedman, founder and CEO of Planet Word, and Jean-Michel Giraud, President and CEO of Friendship Place. This past September, Planet Word and Ann sponsored multiple screenings of our new debate documentary, Immutable, in the museum's beautiful auditorium, and in 2022, Ann closed the museum and graciously hosted our campers and their families for a fun-filled field trip. Also in 2022, we partnered with Friendship Place to host a viewing and panel discussion of our first documentary, The Definition of Insanity, at American University.

The January edition of the Washingtonian is available now. Thank you to the magazine and all our wonderful supporters for making this possible!