Meet Our Speakers
The Rotary Club of Washington, DC is strategically located to gather the most prestigious group of speakers our nation’s Capital can generate. From Ambassadors, Business Executives, and Tribal Chiefs to an endless array of Champions of Change. Our Club Members, and visitors to our weekly meetings, receive an impressive amount of intellectually-stimulating, heart-warming presentations each week. Further, on this page, is a sample of speakers whom have recently spoken at our Club…
Upcoming Speakers
In Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Watch Democracy Grow
Mary Henrietta Uwera is the current coordinator for Watch Democracy Grow
activities for the USA Chapter. Watch Democracy Grow is an organization whose
mission is to integrate democracy on the continent of Africa based on its history
and to promote social stability and peace. Prior to that, Mary worked as a social
worker in the field of resettlement as a medical and financial assistance specialist
with the Tennessee Office for Refugees in the State of Tennessee.
As a community organizer/developer in the field of resettlement in the US, Mary
worked with different immigrants, such as groups from Sudan, Somalia,
Afghanistan, Burma, Liberia, Burundi, Moldovia, and Iraq. In addition to this,
she worked in the field of finance and administration overseas prior to coming
to the USA.
Academically, Mary comes from a political science and a public health
background. Her advocacy and outreach activities concentrate on the integration
of democracy, conflict prevention, dialogues, human rights, public health, and
other social human development aspects as they pertain to communities.
In-person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Leading Within Author and Strategist
Sharon Parker is a native of Calvert County, Maryland. She is a mother, a grandmother
and wears many hats serving as the President of Remembering Our Ancestors
Synergistic Association (ROASA), Inc. She is a former Commissioner of the
Maryland Commission of African American History and Culture, appointed by the
Governor of Maryland (2013-2015). She is the former President of Robert C. Weaver - Blacks in Government Chapter.
Sharon is also the former President of the Maryland Association of American Mothers (MD-AMI) President (2016-2022).
Sharon is a long-time Federal government employee and has worked with the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) for over 35 years.
Sharon is the author of the book "True Synergy Works, Leading Within - Seven Defining
Principles of Knowing Self to Birth Greatness.” She uses all her leadership tools, skills
and technical background to help the next generation to connect with today's
professionals while learning about trailblazers of the past.
In-person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Please join club president, Lisa Cohen for a holiday luncheon event.
Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
No Meeting. Happy Holidays!
Missed the meeting? Watch the speaker’s presentation.
YouTube
Sampling of Our Past Speakers
The Rotary Club of Washington, DC would like to thank our past speakers for the engaging and motivational and informative presentations.

Bob Cusack
Editor in Chief, The Hill/TheHill.com
Reporting on politics and policy in the nation’s capital since 1995, Mr. Cusack joined The Hill as Business and Lobbying Editor in 2003 and is now the newspaper’s Managing Editor. Mr. Cusack regularly appears on ABC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC as a political analyst.
Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana
Ambassador of Rwanda to the United States
Prior to her appointment, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana was a tenured Professor of History at Cosumnes River College (CRC) in Sacramento, California from 1994 to 2013. She is also Co-Founder and President of Friends of Rwanda Association (F.O.R.A).

Manny Mandel
Holocaust Survivor
Emanuel “Manny” Mandel was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1936, the year in which his parents returned to their native Hungary. Manny’s father had been selected to become one of the Chief Cantors…

Juan Williams
Fox Political Analyst and Author
Juan Williams is one of America’s leading political writers and thinkers. Mr. Williams is a top political analyst for Fox Television, co-host of the daily talk show ‘The Five’ and a regular panelist for Fox News Sunday and Special Report.

James Chen
Institute for Global Engagement
James Chen is the Vice President of Global Operations at the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE). James first joined IGE in 2011, serving as both a Program Officer and the Executive Director…

Anne Midgette
Classical Music Critic, The Washington Post
Anne Midgette is a graduate of Yale University. She lived in Munich, Germany, reviewing opera, music, and art throughout Europe for The Wall Street Journal, Opera News, and other publications. In 2008, she took over as the chief classical music critic for The Washington Post.