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Chasing the Dream: USDA celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s 80 th Birthday with Tom Houck, Dr. King’s driver and personal assistant    

USDA held its 2009 Martin Luther King Observance on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, in the Jefferson Auditorium at 10 a.m. This year's theme is "Remember, Celebrate, Act - A Day On, Not a Day Off.” All USDA employees were invited to attend.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s driver and personal assistant, Tom Houck.  Houck shared his remarkable story of how he became an honorary member of the King family, chauffeuring Dr. King, his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King and their young children. Houck offered a unique and intimate perspective on this extraordinary Civil Rights Leader. Houck is the owner of the Atlanta- based public affairs & media company, TOMHOUCK.COM.

USDA strives to create a diverse workforce where all employees value and demonstrate their respect for each other's unique attributes so that the workplace is free from harassment, discrimination, and intolerance. To achieve these goals and to enhance diversity and inclusion within USDA, the Office of Workplace Diversity & Inclusion in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights sponsors a variety of activities, including diversity awareness training. This observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 80 th Birthday was one such activity.

To learn more about the diversity and inclusion activities sponsored by ASCR contact:
Office of Workplace Diversity & Inclusion
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250, Mail Stop 9473
Telephone: (202) 720-6350
E-mail: diversity@usda.gov