Award-winning journalist Michele Norris will headline the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast in Minneapolis. This annual event, one of the largest in the nation, honors the civil rights icon’s legacy while raising funds for college scholarships. The breakfast will take place on January 20, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Minnesota’s Grammy-winning Sounds of Blackness and Threads Dance Project will entertain attendees. VocalEssence Singers of this Age will present a choral reading.
Michele Norris Brings Her Voice to the MLK Breakfast
Michele Norris, a Minnesota native, made history as the first Black female host of NPR’s flagship news program, All Things Considered. For almost a decade, she used her voice to explore crucial issues of race, culture, and identity in America.
She will deliver the keynote speech under the 2025 theme, “One People,” addressing the intersections of communication, race, and culture. Dr. Rachel Hardeman, a University of Minnesota professor and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024, will moderate the discussion.
A Platform for Supporting Higher Education
The MLK Breakfast is a partnership between General Mills and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). It provides critical financial support for students in the Twin Cities pursuing higher education, particularly at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“Events like this change lives by helping students reach their dreams,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President and CEO. Funds raised from the breakfast will fund scholarships, ensuring students have access to opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Michele Norris: Advocate for Diversity and Equity
Norris is more than a journalist. She is the founder of The Race Card Project, an initiative that won a 2014 Peabody Award for fostering open dialogue on diversity and lived experiences. This project has encouraged people from all walks of life to reflect deeply on racial issues.
Her career also includes time at The Washington Post, where she worked as a columnist. In 2019, she resigned in protest after the newspaper withheld an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, sparking national conversations about journalistic integrity.
A Legacy of Excellence in Journalism
As a trailblazer in her field, Norris exemplifies excellence and resilience. She stepped away from her NPR role in 2011 when her husband joined Barack Obama’s reelection campaign. Her husband, Broderick Johnson, later served as White House Cabinet Secretary after Obama’s second victory.
Norris’s work continues to inspire meaningful discussions about equity, justice, and community. Her keynote at the MLK Breakfast promises to be both thought-provoking and uplifting.
Honoring Dr. King’s Dream
The Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast celebrates Dr. King’s enduring impact. Observed on the third Monday of January, MLK Day marks his contributions to justice and equality. The event is a reminder of his dream for unity and hope.
Tickets for the event are available at MLKBreakfast.com.
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