Wednesday, October 23, 2024

The 28th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast of the Lakeshore on Friday, January 17, 2025, will take place at the VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center from 7:30AM – 11AM, in downtown Muskegon. MCC is honored to announce this year’s keynote speaker, NBC News Washington Correspondent and PBS Washington Week Anchor Yamiche Alcindor, who has become one of the most trusted journalistic voices and political analysts in recent years.

 In addition, the event will feature a panel discussion of local equity leaders following the keynote who will discuss the hard task of establishing unity in our community after this current election season.

Keynote Speaker: Yamiche Alcindor:

Since early 2022, she has been the Washington correspondent for NBC News covering the Biden administration, the impact of federal policies on communities and issues at the intersection of race, culture and politics. She is also anchor and moderator of PBS’ Washington Week, where she methodically unravels the steady stream of breaking news to help her listeners—and your audience—make sense of it all. 

Prior to joining the NBC News team, she was public broadcasting’s White House correspondent for the national news flagship PBS NewsHour. As a MSNBC contributor, Alcindor often appears on shows like Morning Joe, Meet the Press, and Andrea Mitchell Reports. Earlier in her career, she was a national reporter for The New York Times, writing about politics and social issues, and a journalist with USA Today, writing about criminal justice and fast-breaking stories.

Alcindor’s knack for following the story has taken her to places like Belgium for the 2018 North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting and to Helsinki, Finland, for President Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. She has also traveled to McAllen, Texas, to chronicle life on the US/Mexican border and to gauge the impact of President Trump’s family separation policy as well as to Jackson, Mississippi to write about the impact of racial inequalities and poverty in America. In 2019 she served as a moderator for the sixth Democratic primary debate.

The daughter of Haitian immigrants who met while attending Boston College, Alcindor has written extensively on the intersection of race and politics. She has covered the impact of President Trump’s policies on the working-class, immigration, and breaking news coming out of Africa, the Middle East and Asia. She has also reported on the presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders, the legacy of President Obama as well as how police killings affect communities and children. 

The recipient of the White House Correspondents’ Association Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage as well as the 2020 NABJ Journalist of the Year Award, Alcindor has become a steady voice in journalism. She earned a master’s degree in broadcast news and documentary filmmaking from New York University and a bachelor’s in English, Government, and African American studies from Georgetown University.  

Panelists:

Jon Covington, Moderator: Jon Wesley Covington is a Muskegon, Michigan, native  with a remarkable track record in shaping public discourse and media. Jon has not only produced and moderated numerous high-stakes political debates but has also masterminded and driven a dazzling array of multimedia campaigns. His portfolio includes collaborations with major names like BET, Gatorade, and the iParticipate campaign led by former First Lady Michelle Obama. Jon’s extensive experience ranges from interviewing former U.S. Presidents to engaging with some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry. 

He is also the founder of M.O.C.I.T.I. Men of Color In The Industry. A networking , community service organization based in Los Angeles. And Men of Color Read (MOCR), a literacy initiative he created to help eradicate functional illiteracy in the urban core in West Michigan. Jon is also a Senior Business Development consultant for the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). 

Jon’s documentary, BLACK MAN , a collaboration with the Muskegon Museum of Art featuring men from Muskegon County is currently on its third cycle of screenings across the country. 

Angelita Valdez, Panelist: Angelita Valdez  is a Behavioral Health Therapist and the Chief Executive Officer and proud Owner of Services de Esperanza, LLC providing bilingual therapy, substance abuse counseling and play therapy to families and children. A Michigan State University graduate, Angelita  received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a Chicano/Latino Studies Specialization in 2005 and a Master’s Degree of Social Work in 2006 from the MSU College of Social Science.

Angelita is involved with numerous community and professional affiliations and serves as the Board President for Latinos Working for the Future, is a Trustee for the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, and an Advisory Member of the Public Health Advisory Committee.  Angelita is also a proud member and founder of the Alpha Kappa chapter of Hermandad de Sigma lota Alpha, Incorporada and was appointed as a Commissioner to the Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in March 2022. 

Jocelyn Hines, Panelist: Determined to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Jocelyn consistently lends her voice and expertise to committees and boards dedicated to these principles. She has emerged as a champion for young Black professionals, ensuring their perspectives are acknowledged and embraced.

In 2022, Jocelyn completed her master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University. She currently works as a Development Analyst with the City of Muskegon, where she continues to contribute her skills and passion to drive positive change.

In a world where genuine leadership is invaluable, Jocelyn Hines stands out as a beacon of dedication, advocacy, and empowerment. With a strong foundation in  her hometown, she remains steadfast in her mission to create lasting, diverse, and equitable communities where every voice is heard and valued.

Eric Hood, Panelist: Eric Hood has served on the Muskegon City Commission for over a decade. He received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Colorado Technical University and is a retired Muskegon police officer. He is a U.S. Army veteran and is the current Muskegon County NAACP president, is married and has four children.

SHAPE CORP: TBA

Details:

WHAT: 28^th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast of the Lakeshore

WHERE: VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center, 460 West Western Avenue. Muskegon, MI 49440

WHEN: January 17, 2025, 7:30 AM to 11AM

TICKETS GO ON SALE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2024. LINK WILL BE POSTED HERE.

CONTACT: Kenneth James., Chief Diversity Officer. kenneth.James@muskegoncc.edu.