Speaker Booking Agency Secures Distinguished Luminary for Arizona Community Event Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

Every event we help put together for our clients is an essential thread in the fabric of our core business, bringing together exceptional talent, celebrities, and subject-matter experts to connect with audiences around the globe. We give you the very best options to make an impact at your next event. Just recently, the Community Celebrating Diversity, a Scottsdale-based nonprofit focused on youth engagement and community leadership, tasked us with finding the perfect keynote speaker for their 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration.

We worked with local leaders and are proud to announce we’ve secured Civil Rights leader Dr. Mary Frances Berry to speak at their event.

A distinguished historian, lawyer, and civil rights activist, Berry overcame poverty to earn degrees from some of America’s most prestigious institutions, including Howard University (B.A., M.A.) and the University of Michigan (Ph.D., J.D.). A trailblazer, she became the first African American chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder (1976–1977) and served as Assistant Secretary for Education under President Carter (1977–1980). She chaired the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1980–2004), shaping policy across four administrations.

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“We are excited to welcome Dr. Berry to Scottsdale as the keynote presenter for the 32nd annual MLK Jr. Celebration,” said Dr. Scott Menzel, board president of Community Celebrating Diversity and superintendent of Scottsdale Unified School District. “Our theme this year is Shaping Our Future with Courage and Compassion. Dr. Berry brings a wealth of lived experiences navigating key civil rights issues over the past four decades. Her insights are sure to inspire as she calls us to action to shape the future for the next generation.”

Since 1987, Berry has been the Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and History at the University of Pennsylvania. Her acclaimed books, including “Black Resistance/White Law” (1995) and “And Justice for All” (2009), examine constitutional racism and reparations.

The event will take place on the evening of January 15, 2026, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Unlock your event’s potential by bringing in Dr. Mary Frances Berry as your keynote speaker! Don’t miss the opportunity to inspire your audience—Contact Speaker Booking Agency today for more information, or fill out our Online Booking Request Form. Let us leverage our 25 years of industry-leading experience to secure the perfect talent for your next event!