National Political Figure Speaks At ASU’s MLK Commemoration Donna Brazile, veteran political strategist and commentator and chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute (VRI), will speak during Appalachian State University’s MLK Commemoration Tuesday, Jan. 17 in ASU’s Farthing Auditorium at 7 p.m. By Mike Shands One of the biggest names in national politics will visit the High Country this month to celebrate the message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Veteran political strategist and commentator Donna Brazile, who is chair of the Democratic National Committee’s Voting Rights Institute (VRI), will speak during Appalachian State University’s MLK Commemoration Tuesday, Jan. 17 in ASU’s Farthing Auditorium at 7 p.m. The presentation is one of several I Have A Dream Week events scheduled locally for the week. The events are designed to celebrate King’s dream of racial and cultural diversity and harmony. Brazile served as the campaign manager for Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign, making her the first African-American woman to manage a U.S. presidential campaign. A weekly contributor and political commentator on CNN’s “Inside Politics” and “American Morning,” Brazile also appears regularly on MSNBC’s “Hardball” and Fox’s “Hannity and Colmes.” She is also a contributing writer for “Ms. Magazine” and has served as host/producer of “A View From the Hill” on Radio One News in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. Brazile is an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee and designed the Voter/Campaign Assessment Program for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. During the 2002 national mid-term election she ventured to at least 29 states and 53 congressional districts to train Democratic activists. At the conclusion of those elections Brazile served as a media consultant and grassroots organizer for Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Prior to joining the Gore campaign she served as chief of staff and press secretary to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, helping guide the District’s budget and local legislation on Capitol Hill. Brazile worked on several presidential campaigns for Democratic candidates, including Carter-Mondale in 1976 and 1980, the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s first bid for the presidency in 1984, Mondale-Ferraro in 1984, U.S. Representative Dick Gephardt in 1988, Dukakis-Bentsen in 1988 and Clinton-Gore in 1992 and 1996. She has also worked extensively to promote King’s message. In 1981, she served as national student coordinator for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Committee. Brazile was later appointed to serve as the national mobilization director for the 20th anniversary commemoration of the historic 1963 March on Washington. She served as regional director for Hands Across America in 1985 and was the national coordinator for Housing Now in 1989. Brazile also founded and served as executive director of the National Political Congress of Black Women. Realizing The Dream Those are just some of the reasons that Brazile was the perfect choice to speak at ASU’s 22nd annual MLK Commemoration, said Tracey Wright, ASU’s director of multicultural student development. “She seemed to be a vibrant person that would capture the attention of the audience while also educating on current issues and the Civil Rights movement,” Wright said. “Obviously she’s had a wonderful career. She’s done a lot. “She has been one of those people that has been involved in social justice.” Another reason ASU wanted Brazile to speak was that several ASU students got to hear her speak at last year’s National Black Student Leadership Conference. “Their reports on her as a speaker and her level of knowledge were outstanding,” Wright said. “It’s going to be a special treat to have her here.” Wright said the MLK Commemoration is by far the largest event that the multicultural student development program hosts each year. “This is a time to come together and reflect on Dr. King’s speech and incredible work that he was about,” she said. “One of the key reasons is to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, but also important to us is helping individuals understand that the Civil Rights movement is not over, and we can all still play a vital role in helping Dr. King’s dream be realized.” Wright said she uses the commemoration to pause for reflection on King’s work and message. “It’s a time to look within and see what all the things are that I’m involved in and engaged in that are truly making a difference,” she said. The commemoration will also feature performances by the ASU Gospel Choir during the program and a reception following it in the Farthing lobby. Awards, Honors Brazile has done much more than working on political campaigns, though. She has also been heavily involved in the world of academia. She has served as a senior lecturer and adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and as a fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. She is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and was named as Rutgers University Center for American Women in Politics’ 2005 Senator Winona Lipman Chair. Brazile has earned several awards and honors, including being named one of “Washingtonian” magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington, D.C. and one of “Essence” magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Women in America. She has also received the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Award for Political Achievement and the National Women’s Student Leadership Award and was named one of “Ebony” magazine’s Outstanding Young Achievers. She founded and is the managing director of Brazile and Associates, a political consulting and grassroots advocacy firm based in the District of Columbia. Brazile wrote “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics,” a memoir about her life in the political arena, and also co-authored “What We Do Now,” which was published in 2004. A native of New Orleans, Brazile earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University. For more information about the commemoration call (828) 262- 6252.