The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the United States, to Serve as Keynote Speaker at the 30th Annual MLK Holiday Breakfast
Event transitions from televised event to streaming online exclusively at mlkbreakfast.com.
MINNEAPOLIS, December 19, 2019 /3BL Media/ —The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the United States, will serve as keynote speaker at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday breakfast on Monday, January 20, 2020 at the Minneapolis Armory.
Organized in partnership by General Mills and United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the event’s theme is “Rise Up: Standing Together for Positive Change.”
“Dr. King believed that as individuals we do not start living until we rise beyond our own individualistic concerns and address the broader needs of humanity,” said Nicola Dixon, executive director of the General Mills Foundation. “This event, now in its 30th year, is an opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s vision and legacy while exploring how the causes he fought for continue to parallel the issues we face today.”
In remembrance of Dr. King, a 1948 graduate of Morehouse College, which is part of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) network, proceeds from the event benefit the MLK Scholarship Fund to provide college scholarships to deserving local students.
New Volunteer Opportunity
The MLK holiday breakfast continues to inspire change in the world and honor those individuals whose footprints uplift the community. Following the Breakfast, any member of the community can participate in a new volunteer opportunity at U.S. Bank Stadium (two blocks from the Armory) in partnership with the Minnesota Vikings to impact students and teachers in the Twin Cities. Volunteers can register at mlkbreakfast.com.
About Eric H. Holder, Jr.
President Barack Obama appointed Eric Holder as the nation’s first African American Attorney General in 2009. He has been instrumental in shaping the direction of the United States on several critical issues, including the defense of voting rights, marriage equality and reform of the federal criminal justice system. In 2014, TIME magazine named Holder to its list of “100 Most Influential People,” stating that he “worked tirelessly to ensure equal justice.” After his departure from the Department of Justice in 2015, Holder returned to the law firm of Covington & Burling. He currently focuses on complex litigation and international investigatory matters.
Entertainment
Musical entertainment will be provided by Jovonta Patton, a four-time #1 chart-topping Billboard recording artist, composer, producer, and entrepreneur born and raised in Minneapolis.
A performance will be made by Minneapolis-based SHAPESHIFT, a hip-hop/contemporary storytelling dance company that uses a fusion of dance styles to create powerful theatrical productions tackling issues of social justice, loss, love and human emotions.
Event History
The annual holiday breakfast began when UNCF and General Mills joined together in 1991 to host a community celebration to honor the legacy of Dr. King.
Past speakers have included former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, actor David Oyelowo, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Rev. Joseph Lowery, the late Yolanda King, U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Marian Wright Edelman, Donna Brazile, Vernon Jordan, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and news anchor Don Lemon.
This event is made possible by General Mills, UNCF and Best Buy. Additional support has been provided by Ecolab, Cargill, Medtronic, Target, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy.
Tickets
To purchase tickets or for more information about the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday breakfast, please visit: MLKBreakfast.com.
Live Stream
To enable more people to experience the MLK Breakfast, the event has transitioned from a televised event to streaming online exclusively at www.mlkbreakfast.com beginning at 8:00 a.m. CST.
About UNCF
UNCF (the United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 21 percent of \African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.
About General Mills
General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Häagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki, BLUE and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2019 net sales of U.S. $16.9 billion. In addition, General Mills’ share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion. For more information, visit GeneralMills.com and follow our A Taste of General Mills blog.
