Michael A. Blake to Speak on ‘Redefining Civil Rights' at King Hall

Michael A. Blake, Associate Director of African-American Outreach with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs & Public Engagement, will visit King Hall to speak on current challenges facing the African-American community and give an insider's perspective on the Obama administration's plans for addressing them.

Blake's lecture, entitled "Redefining Civil Rights Issues of the 21st Century," will begin at 5 pm on February 16 in the Kalmanovitz Appellate Courtroom.  The event is sponsored by the UC Davis School of Law Black Law Students Association and presented in honor of Black History Month.

Blake worked on the Obama for America campaign, first as Deputy Political Director and Constituency Outreach Director in Iowa and as Deputy Director and Political Director in Michigan.  Prior to that, Blake was the Director of External Affairs for the Michigan House of Representatives serving in Michigan Speaker of the House Andy Dillon's cabinet.  Before that appointment, Blake successfully co-organized three state house campaigns in the 2006 election cycle. Blake is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism from Northwestern University.  He is also an alumnus of the Yes We Can political training program in Washington, D.C.  He started his political career as an assistant for Illinois State Senator Jeff Schoenberg

Blake was profiled recently as one of The Griot's "100 History Makers in the Making." The article notes that President Obama has called the Office of Public Engagement the "front door" of the White House and stated that Blake "is charged with keeping it open.  He is described as "the first African-American White House Outreach Director for the first African-American President."