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Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast 2026

January 19 @ 7:30 am - 9:00 am
$27
An annual event to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations will be the keynote speaker for the 24th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast hosted by the Centerville Washington Diversity Council. Her topic on January 19, 2026, will be “Why foreign policy matters for all Americans.”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the U.S. Representative in the UN Security Council from 2021-2025. During her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Thomas-Greenfield was a member of President Biden’s Cabinet, and sat on the National Security Council. Prior to this, she headed the State Department’s transition team for the Biden Administration.

As a career diplomat, Thomas-Greenfield has had a wide range of assignments. From 2013 to 2017, she served as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, where she led U.S. policy development for sub-Saharan Africa. She previously served as Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, overseeing the State Department’s workforce. Her notable Foreign Service roles include Ambassador to Liberia (2008-2012) and postings in Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. In Washington, she served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs and as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

After retiring in 2017, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield led the Africa Practice at Albright Stonebridge Group and was a Distinguished Resident Fellow in African Studies at Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s from the University of Wisconsin, where she also pursued doctoral studies. Her honors include a Presidential Rank Award, Secretary Distinguished Service Award plus numerous other awards. She has honorary doctorates from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Liberia.

Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast and the program beginning at 7:30 a.m. We encourage you to purchase a ticket ahead of time as space is limited and this event typically sells out.

Thanks to the many sponsors and especially to our Presenting Sponsor VS & Co. and Platinum Sponsor Premier Health.

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