Changemakers Ball

Our Annual Celebration of Brooklyn's Inspiring Changemakers and Nonprofits

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People seated and standing at a formal event with large text overlay: "Brooklyn.org Changemakers Ball." The venue is dimly lit with warm lighting. — Video by Eliot Kimball | eliotkimball.com | @grampabuns

Image of Harsha G. Marti with the title "Honoree" in a red box. The text "Brooklyn Changemakers Ball" is vertically aligned on the left in a red border.

Honoring Harsha G. Marti

The 2024 Brooklyn Org Changemakers Ball will honor Brooklyn Org Board Member Harsha G. Marti, Managing Director, General Counsel, and a member of the Executive Management Group at Warburg Pincus.

Harsha joined Brooklyn Org’s Board of Directors in January 2015 and served as Board Co-Chair from 2020 to 2024. As a long-time champion for racial justice and community-centered change, Harsha has had a critical impact through his leadership at Brooklyn Org during times of great uncertainty and unparalleled growth.

In early 2020, he helped launch the Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund, which raised and distributed nearly $3 million in just 16 weeks to the hardest-hit communities across Brooklyn. In 2023, Harsha co-led the development of Brooklyn Org’s groundbreaking strategic plan, which ignited our evolution from Brooklyn Community Foundation to Brooklyn Org, a new model aimed at democratizing local philanthropy.

Harsha is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Law Board of the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and was a board member of South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!) from 2005 to 2011. He received an SB in Materials Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a JD/MBA from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and the Kellogg School of Management. Born and raised in New York City, Harsha lives in Fort Greene with his wife Meera, and their four children.

The Brooklyn Org 25

This year’s Brooklyn Org Changemakers Ball includes the inaugural celebration of The Brooklyn Org 25, a group of extraordinary leaders driving transformative change at nonprofits across our borough, made possible with the support of The Stardust Fund. From emerging executive directors to community stalwarts, these 25 changemakers are not only shaping the future of Brooklyn but embodying the innovative, community-first approaches that define Brooklyn Org’s commitment to racial justice and social change.

See The List

Host & After Party MC DJ Stretch Armstrong

Adrian Bartos, known professionally as DJ Stretch Armstrong, is an iconic New Yorker known for his work as a DJ and broadcaster. He is the former DJ and co-host of the highly influential hip hop radio show “The Stretch and Bobbito Show,” alongside Bobbito Garcia. Bartos co-hosted NPR’s podcast “What’s Good with Stretch and Bobbito” which began in 2017, an interview based cultural podcast which featured Dave Chappelle, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Erykah Badu, Rakim, Mahershala Ali, Beastie Boys, and more. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced Adrian “Stretch Armstrong” Bartos and Bobbito García as the 2023 NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees for radio.

A group of dancers perform a synchronized routine on stage, each extending one leg high into the air, against a green lighted background. They're dressed in vibrant orange and green outfits.

Special Performance: Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet

We promise the evening will be one for the books — including a special performance from the amazing Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet dancers (pictured above).

Event poster listing names of event chairs and host committee members for the Brooklyn Changemakers Ball.

Sponsor list for the Brooklyn Changemakers Ball, with various levels like Impact, Champion, and Advocate Sponsors, including names like Cleary Gottlieb, Stardust, and others.