Angela Rye, principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, lawyer, political strategist and former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, served as the keynote speaker at 91ֿ's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
Angela Rye, principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, joined the university in celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 23 at 3:30 p.m. in the Kent Student Center Ballroom.
Ms. Rye offers regular on-air commentary for several media outlets including BET, CNN, MSNBC and TV One. The depth of her dialogue ranges from political campaigns to complex legislation with long-term national and international implications. From 2011-2013, Ms. Rye served as the executive director and general counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus for the 112th Congress.
In Washington, D.C., Ms. Rye co-founded IMPACT Strategies, an organization that seeks to encourage young professionals in three core areas: economic empowerment, civic engagement and political involvement. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Ms. Rye learned the importance of advocacy through her family’s political and community activism.
A graduate of the University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law, Ms. Rye currently serves on the boards of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, the Seattle University School of Law Alumni and Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network. She serves as a senior advisor to the Government Technology and Services Coalition, and she is a member of The Links Inc., the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Washington Government Relations Group.
As part of the commemoration, the university announced the 2019 recipients of 91ֿ’s Diversity Trailblazer Award, which honors diversity pioneers associated with 91ֿ, and the Unity Award for Diversity, which recognizes the contributions of any 91ֿ unit that demonstrates significant contributions in the areas of diversity, equity and/or inclusion.
New this year was the Student Diversity Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates a respect for, and value of, differing backgrounds and points of view within 91ֿ or surrounding communities.
The annual MLK Day of Service event on Monday, Jan. 21 kicked off 91ֿ’s series of celebratory events. The Day of Service, is coordinated by the Office of Community Engaged Learning at 91ֿ, which offers university community members the opportunity to engage in service to area nonprofit organizations. The event opened with a performance of “Halim El-Daboots” by the 91ֿ African Ensemble.
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