The 17th Annual
Beacon Award
About the Event
Thursday, November 5, 2026
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Studio B at Big Night Live
110 Causeway Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
For more than 16 years, the Beacon Awards have recognized groundbreaking leaders who have forged bold paths in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We look forward to honoring this year’s outstanding award recipient and celebrating the lasting impact of their leadership and commitment to advancing the profession.
Honoree
The Beacon Award recognizes exceptional leadership in creating a lasting impact and illuminating a new path towards a more diverse and inclusive legal profession in Greater Boston.
The Boston Bar Association is proud to announce that Payal Salsburg, partner at Smith Kane LLP, as the recipient of this year’s Voice of Change Award.
The Voice of Change Award recognizes a luminary leader in the legal community who has forged a new path and played an extensive role in advancing diversity and inclusion within the profession. Throughout her distinguished career, Payal has exemplified those qualities through her exceptional legal work, steadfast commitment to mentorship, and longstanding dedication to strengthening both the legal profession and the communities it serves.
“Payal’s career has always combined outstanding professional achievement with a dedication to investing in others. Our profession is so fortunate to benefit from Payal’s mentorship, service, and unwavering commitment to our legal community, all of which have made a lasting impact on the future of our profession. We are proud to recognize her with the Voice of Change Award.”
— Mark C. Fleming, President-Elect, Boston Bar Association
Past Honorees
2026
Voice of Change: Paige Scott Reed, Partner at Prince Lobel Tye LLP
2025
Voice of Change: Jacquelynne J. Bowman, Executive Director, Greater Boston Legal Services
Corporate Champion: MFS
Empowerment Award: Derrick Young Jr., MPH, and Jonathan Allen, JD, MTS , Co-Founders, Leadership Brainery
2024
Voice of Change: Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Boston University School of Law
Corporate Champion: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Empowerment Award: Beth Chandler, CEO & President, YW Boston
2023
Voice of Change: Mayor Michelle Wu
Corporate Champion: Fidelity Investments
Empowerment Award: Citizens for Juvenile Justice
2022
Voice of Change: Jennifer Levi – Western New England University Law School, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
Corporate Champion: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Empowerment Award: La Colaborativa
2020
Voice of Change: Ralph Martin
Corporate Champion: Boston Scientific
Empowerment Award: COVID-19 Relief Coalition
2019
Voice of Change Award: Yalonda Howze
Corporate Champion Award: Liberty Mutual
Empowerment Award: A Partnership between Greater Boston Legal Service’s Asian Outreach Project and the Asian American Resource Workshop
2018
Voice of Change Award: E. Macey Russell
Corporate Champion Award: Vertex
Empowerment Award: Yes on 3: Freedom for All Coalition
2017*
Voice of Change Award: Brent Henry
Corporate Champion Award: Biogen
Empowerment Award: Ivan Madrigal-Espinoza
2016
Paulette Brown
2015
Affinity Bars
2014
Governor Deval Patrick
2013
Paul Lee, Goodwin Procter LLP
2012
GLAD and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
2011
Northeastern University School of Law
2010
MassMutual
*Event format changed, three awards introduced
Sponsorships
For information about Beacon Awards sponsorship opportunities, please email [email protected].
Thank You to Our Steering Committee
 Co-Chair: Darshana Indira Ruberto, Israel & Weiner |  Co-Chair: Odette Martins Day Pitney | |||
Alvin B. Carter III Brown Rudnick Lesley Chuang DLA Piper Chervonne Colón Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Amy Crafts Sheehan Phinney Deepa K. Desai Fisher & Phillips | Benjamin B. Hamilton Melick & Porter Alexandra A. Mitropoulos Nixon Peabody Mona Patel Covington & Burling Anant K. Saraswat Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C. Sara Silva Silva Kettlewell & Pignatelli | Manleen Singh Robins Kaplan Natasha N. Varyani Sullivan & Worcester Michael L. Vetter Choate, Hall & Stewart Sarah E. Walters Ropes & Gray Mian R. Wang Greenberg Traurig |
