Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry will deliver remarks at the 2015 Global Diaspora Week Launch Event “Partnering for Global Impact” at 10:00 a.m. on October 9, 2015, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium of the Department of State.

The Secretary will be joined by speakers including Deputy Assistant Secretary for Outreach David Duckenfield, Deputy Special Representative for Global Partnerships Thomas Debass, Acting Science and Technology Advisor Frances Colon, and USAID Counselor Susan Reichle. Grammy winning singer and activist Angelique Kidjo will also speak.

The one-day conference, running from 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., will bring together leaders from the public, private, and civil society sectors to hear from diaspora leaders, build skills and organizational capacity, and network with similar organizations. The event will launch the weeklong Global Diaspora Week celebration, which features over 85 events organized throughout the United States and around the world by diaspora-focused organizations and individuals.

GDW is a week dedicated to diaspora communities and their contributions to global development. It is intended to create awareness, enable collaboration, and enhance learning among those working on behalf of and with diaspora communities. GDW 2015 builds on the success of GDW 2014 and the Global Diaspora Forum, held in Washington in 2011, 2012, and 2013.