Dreams to Action: MLK Day Breakfast with Guest Speaker

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. RSVP THROUGH THE EVENT REGISTRATION LINK. SPACES ARE LIMITED. The Village of Wellington invites you to attend a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day remembrance event honoring the remarkable legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and commemorating his life and accomplishments. The morning will begin with a light breakfast and fellowship, followed by a welcome message, reflections from Wellington Councilmembers, student presentations, and a special keynote address from Clarence E. Anthony. At the conclusion of the program, a community service project will take place, providing attendees with an opportunity to actively engage and make a meaningful difference within the community. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Wellington Community Center, located at 12150 Forest Hill Boulevard. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: CLARENCE E. ANTHONY Clarence E. Anthony serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the National League of Cities (NLC), the nation’s largest and oldest organization representing America’s cities, towns, villages, and their leaders. Under his leadership, NLC delivered billions of dollars in direct, flexible federal relief through the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act to support local governments’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NLC also played a key role in advancing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, bringing significant investments in transportation, broadband, and water infrastructure to communities nationwide. Mr. Anthony currently serves on the Council on Underserved Communities, appointed by U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, where he works alongside fellow members to develop policy recommendations supporting underserved small business owners. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Illinois Chicago Urban Forum and is a member of the Board of Destination DC. In 2020, he received the National Forum for Black Public Administrators Marks of Excellence Award. In recent years, Mr. Anthony has focused on addressing rising partisanship at the local level. He authored the 2021 report “On the Frontlines of Today’s Cities: Trauma, Challenges, and Solutions,” examining the decline of civility and democratic institutions in local governance. Mr. Anthony began his public service career as Mayor of South Bay, Florida, a role he held for 24 years. He is widely recognized for his expertise in citizen engagement and community-building strategies. His leadership experience includes serving as President of the Florida League of Cities and later as President of the National League of Cities. Internationally, Mr. Anthony served as First Vice President of the International Union of Local Authorities and as Founding Treasurer of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), where he later also served as Interim Manager. Prior to his role at NLC, Mr. Anthony was President of Anthony Government Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in strategic visioning, policy development, and organizational management for government and private-sector entities. He holds a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in City Growth Management Policy from Florida Atlantic University. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For questions or additional information, contact Ian Williams at iwilliams@wellingtonfl.gov, or 561-868-8624.