 Greetings to all of you HBCU students. On behalf of President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Tony Blinken, and our entire administration, it is my great honor to welcome you to the 12th Annual HBCU Foreign Policy Conference. This conference represents the faith we have in you, the investment we have in you, both as students of today and as leaders of tomorrow. As many of you know, I attended an HBCU, Howard University, which is not far from the White House where I now work. This conference wasn't around then, but I was on the debate team and joined a sorority and interned on the Hill, and I actually ran for my first political office at an HBCU at Howard. I ran for freshman class representative of the Liberal Arts Student Council. And so you see, I like you now that when we attend an HBCU, we learn not only that we have the capacity to be great, but that we have the responsibility to live up to that potential. And you have the responsibility to live up to that potential. And you will to cultivate your talents, to lead with purpose, to make a difference in our nation and in our world, which is why I am so excited to be with you here today. Our world faces incredible challenges, climate change, racial injustice, economic instability, and of course, a global pandemic. On these challenges, on all things, our foreign and domestic imperatives are intrinsically linked. Our strength at home depends on what we do abroad, restoring our alliances, leading with diplomacy, and supporting international institutions. And that's why we need the brightest minds to forge new partnerships, to advance new policies, and to help solve these challenges. In short, we need you. And you know, the first time Secretary Blinken and I met after we were both sworn in, we talked about you, the students of HBCUs. We talked about how you are the future of the United States State Department, how you are the future of foreign policy. As HBCU students, you have likely learned about the African diaspora. You have likely studied about W.E.B. Du Bois and the Pan-African Conference. You care about civil rights and human rights. You care about lifting people out of poverty. You care about empowering all people, including ethnic minorities, including women, including LGBTQ people. And that's why you are the leaders we need today. As you participate in this conference and continue this work, you will carry on the legacy of Ralph Bunch, a black diplomat who helped craft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Of Ambassador Andrew Young, who served as Executive Director to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference before he served as Ambassador to the United Nations, and of Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield, who will hopefully, by the time you see this, be confirmed as our administration's ambassador to the United Nations. We are counting on you to carry on their legacy, to shape the future with the ideals we all share, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. We are counting on you to lead. Your nation is counting on you to lead. So thank you for all you have done and all you will do. Enjoy the conference. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America. Hello, everyone. I'm Tony Blinken, your Secretary of State, and I'm delighted to join you for this year's HBCU Foreign Policy Conference. As you may know, this is the 12th year the State Department has held this conference. I wish we could be together in person, but today's virtual program is terrific. So whether you're joining us from your dorm room, living room, home office, kitchen table, welcome. Vice President Harris and I are thrilled that you're here because we believe deeply that the United States needs the strongest possible foreign policy and national security workforce. We need America's top minds and most committed public servants, and that means you. Historically, black colleges and universities have been raising up generations of American leaders for nearly two centuries. They do outstanding work, mobilizing change in their communities, across the country, and around the world. They're mission-driven institutions, and so are we. That's why we make a good team. For more than 200 years, the State Department has represented America to the world. It's a privilege and a huge responsibility, and it's been possible because of generations of foreign service and civil service employees, including many proud HBCU graduates, some of whom you'll hear from today, who've done the hard work of formulating policy, carrying it out, communicating with other countries, finding solutions to problems, and helping make the United States a more perfect union. At our best, the State Department has been a place where people of all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, religions, and nations of origin have been able to contribute and lead. Diversity makes any organization stronger, and for the State Department, it is literally mission critical. We are representing the United States. We need a workforce that reflects the diverse country that we are, and the challenges we face are significant. We need to make the most of everyone's talents, ideas, and experiences. If you're a student, you'll learn more today about whether a career and diplomacy is right for you. Our diplomats do everything from working with foreign governments on political and economic issues to helping Americans dealing with problems when they're traveling abroad to fostering cultural and educational exchanges with people around the world. Whatever you're passionate about, science, law, business, the environment, the arts, there's a good chance you can pursue that passion at State. And if you're here today as faculty, your institution may already have a partnership with the State Department. If not, we'd like to change that, and this conference can help us get started. No matter what brings you here, I hope you leave with an even deeper understanding of how foreign policy works and why it matters. Even if it may sometimes feel disconnected from your life, it is actually all about you and your future. Will this planet be safe and healthy for you and your kids? How will we handle the next potential pandemic? What will the global economy be like in 10 years? Will it be providing growth and jobs? How can we protect ourselves from countries or groups that would do us harm? These are just some of the questions foreign policy seeks to answer. The Biden administration has major challenges on our to-do list, bringing an end to COVID-19, addressing the climate crisis, creating a humane and effective immigration system. And we know this. Not a single one of these challenges can be met by any one country, even the United States, acting alone. We need to find ways to cooperate with other countries. And that's exactly where diplomacy, where diplomats, where the State Department comes in. That's our job. That's our responsibility. And we're committed to delivering results for you and your families. We'll lead with our values, because ultimately, foreign policy isn't just something we do. It reflects who we are and who we want to be. So thank you for your interest in diplomacy. It's a great field. I've dedicated my career to it. We need people like you on our team. So I hope you have a great experience today. And I hope to see some of you in the halls of the State Department in the not too distant future. Thank you.