Cleveland Clinic employees and community members will observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, as part of Cleveland Clinic’s 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration.
The keynote speaker for the event will be Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a former U.S. ambassador. She has been a steadfast proponent of achieving excellence through diversity in organizations and breaking down barriers for women and minorities.
Open seating begins at 7:30 a.m. in the InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center, 9801 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland. In the spirit of unity, seating will be open and available to all registered guests. Attendees may choose a seat next to any neighbor.
The program begins at 8 a.m. and combines the interfaith service, breakfast and keynote address. Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic, will provide remarks and introduce the keynote speaker.
Abercrombie-Winstanley, a Cleveland native, has held many senior roles in world affairs throughout her 30-year career in international diplomacy. She was the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Malta. She also advised the commander of U.S. cyber forces on the country’s foreign policy priorities and expanded U.S. counterterrorism partners and programs as deputy coordinator for counterterrorism.
In another role as the Secretary of State’s special assistant for the Middle East and Africa, Abercrombie-Winstanley monitored the election in the Gaza strip and actively supported gender equality in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the first woman to lead a diplomatic mission there.
She also has held senior positions at the Defense Department and the National Security Council of the White House. Her work in diplomacy has garnered Abercrombie-Winstanley many notable accolades, including the Maltese Order of Merit and Department of State Meritorious and Superior Honor awards.