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
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.
