Secretary Kerry will provide welcoming remarks at the Presidential Summit of the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 28, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington.

The three-day conference, July 28-30, will bring together 500 of sub-Saharan Africa’s most promising young leaders to meet with U.S. entrepreneurs, government officials, and civil society representatives.

The event will feature plenary sessions with Members of Congress, leaders in international development, and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

The Presidential Summit follows six weeks of academic study at 20 institutions across the United States as part of the Washington Fellowship.

The Secretary will highlight the U.S. commitment to Africa and the recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.

For more information and to request credentials for open-press events, please visit http://www.irex.org/content/washington-fellowship-presidential-summit-media-credential-application and submit the online form.

The remarks will be streamed live on www.state.gov. Follow @StateDept, @StateDeptLive, and @JohnKerry for tweets from the event using the hashtag #YALI2014 and #USAfrica.

Media representatives may attend these events upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

For further information from the Department of State, please contact YALISummitMedia@state.gov.

Monday, July 28, 2014

9:00 - 9:10 a.m. Opening remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors This session will be streamed live at www.state.gov. Preset for video cameras: 3:00-4:00 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 8:30 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

9:15 – 10:30 a.m. Congressional Forum on Investing in the Next Generation of Africa, moderated by Cokie Roberts with remarks by U.S. Senator Christopher Coons (DE), U.S. Senator John Boozman (AR) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (CA) Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors This session will be streamed live at www.irex.org. Preset for video cameras: 3:00-4:00 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 8:30 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

11:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Young African Leaders Town Hall with President Obama Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors The town hall will be streamed live at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Preset for video cameras: 3:00-4:00 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 10:30 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

9:00 – 10:15 a.m. Plenary session on Entrepreneurial Approaches to Activism, moderated by Sonal Shah, Georgetown University, with remarks by Sipho Moyo, the ONE Campaign, Bill Carter, Ashoka, and Washington Fellow Alain Kaposo Chirwisa. Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors This session will be streamed live at www.irex.org. Final access time: 8:30 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

4:00 – 4:30 p.m. Private Sector and Civil Society Partnership Expo with remarks by Heather A. Higginbottom, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development. Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors This session will be streamed live at www.irex.org. Final access time: 3:30 p.m. in the Regency Ballroom of the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Plenary session on Enabling Inclusive Economic Development, with remarks by Steve Case, Revolution, LLC, Alexa von Tobel, LearnVest.com, and Washington Fellow Tchegoun Adebo Koba. Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors This session will be streamed live at www.irex.org. Press timing forthcoming.

11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors. Press timing forthcoming. This session will be streamed live at www.irex.org.

Closing Remarks by Ambassador Samantha Power with an introduction by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Open Press Coverage. Press Entrance: West Lobby Glass Doors Press details forthcoming.