Washington, D.C. – Events DC hosted its annual Embassy Breakfast at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Friday, February 21, 2025. The event drew more than 100 participants, including Ambassadors from Tunisia, Togo, and Mali alongside representatives from 70 embassies, professionals, and members of the media.
Among the distinguished guests were Her Excellency Hanène Tajouri Bessassi, Ambassador of Tunisia to the United States; His Excellency Frédéric Edem Hegbe, Ambassador of Togo to the United States; His Excellency Sekou Berthe Ambassador of Mali to the United States; Pavel Shidlovsky, Charge d’affaires, a.i. of Embassy of Belarus; Berhane G. Solomon, Charge` d’Affaires of the Embassy of Eritrea; Mrs. Hala Zahran, wife of the Egyptian Ambassador to the United States; Anthony Andrews, Director of International Affairs and Protocol Officer from the Mayor of D.C.s Office; representatives of Giant Foods and University of District of Columbia (UDC) -one of the sites for Around the World Embassy Tour (AWET) . Brunei also joined the event for the first time.
Guests enjoyed a delicious international breakfast surrounded by flowers, flags, and elegantly decorated tables, while Rafael Javadov, an international violinist, provided live music. The event opened with a welcome video from Angie M. Gates, President and CEO of Events DC, who was unable to attend in person. Israel Lozano, an international tenor, performed with Furia Flamenco dancers Estela Velez and Daniel De Paredes before Dania Jollye, Deputy Chief of Staff and Cultural Affairs at Events DC, delivered her opening remarks. She recognized performers, officials, and colleagues while welcoming embassy representatives.
Jesse Devlin-Whitworth, Director of Production and Creative Services at Events DC, provided an overview of upcoming programs for the International City Festival. He detailed plans for the Embassy Chef Challenge on July 11, 2025, at the National Building Museum, as well as initiatives like “At Home with Ambassadors,” which offers tours of embassy residences. He also announced the launch of a new series, “The Ambassador’s Table,” featuring China, Mexico, and Ukraine, set to debut in spring 2025. Devlin-Whitworth shared.
Lawrence Hamm, Senior Director of Business Development for Sports and Entertainment, presented upcoming events: the Clipper Round the World Youth Race with 19 participating nations, Sumo and Sushi showcasing Japanese culture, and the return of the international Spelling Bee competition. “D.C. also boasts a storied history of tennis featuring legends…we proudly host the world’s best players,” Hamm stated, emphasizing their commitment to “events that are diverse and welcoming to the world.”
A musical interlude followed, featuring a performance by the DC Jazz Festival trio: Elijah Jamal Balbed, Chris Hon, and Steve Arnold. Cheryl Crowell, Program Manager, Cultural Affairs of Events DC, outlined the month-long celebration of international culture in May, including events such as Savor the Flavors, Flower Mart (May 2-3), EU House Open Day (May 10), and Fiesta Asia (May 18). Crowell also introduced the Passport D.C. app, which offers exclusive content, augmented reality experiences, and interactive maps to enhance the visitor experience. “Our goal is to make D.C. a destination where the world comes together,” Crowell said. “Through Passport D.C., we invite everyone to explore the cultures and traditions that make our city so unique.” The 2024 Embassy Tour attracted 161,727 visitors and 184 volunteers with 60 embassies participating.
Jan Du Plain, President and CEO of Du Plain Global Enterprises, Inc. delivered a heartfelt address about Washington, D.C.’s role as a global cultural and political hub. She noted the city’s unique position as home to one of the largest diplomatic communities in the world. “D.C. may be the smallest area, but it wields the greatest global influence,” Du Plain said. “We are the cultural capital of the world, and events like this remind us of the power of unity and collaboration.”
She added, “How sweet it is when sisters and brothers dwell in unity. And this room is full of cultural Attachés, diplomats, and friends who make Washington D.C. the vibrant international city that it is.” Du Plain concluded by saying, “Passport D.C., I really believe, has transformed how D.C. residents and visitors connect with the diplomatic community. It is a people-to-people, face-to-face diplomacy.”
Eleven embassies shared their Passport DC experiences in a session moderated by Jan. They include Saudi Arabia, China, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Mexico, Kosovo, Cameroon, and Eritrea.
A roll call followed, recognizing 70 embassies from countries spanning six continents. The participating embassies included: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gambia, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and more.
The event concluded with a Q&A session, during which His Excellency Sekou Berthe, Ambassador of Mali to the United States, expressed his country’s commitment to participating in the Around the World Embassy Tour. “Last year, I observed this event with great interest,” he said. “This year, Mali is ready to join and share our culture with the people of Washington, D.C.”
Passport DC enters its 17th year with a dynamic lineup of global cultural events. The Around the World Embassy Tour (Saturday, May 3) and Shortcut to Europe (Saturday, May 10) offer exclusive embassy access. The Flower Mart (Friday and Saturday, May 3–4) and Fiesta Asia (Saturday, May 17) bring vibrant traditions to the city. A dozen embassies already pre-registered to participate in Passport DC.
The Embassy Chef Challenge (Friday, July 11) showcases international cuisine, with tickets available at the National Building Museum. Kicking off the season, the Cherry Blossom Festival Preview Day (Monday, March 31) at the Tidal Basin features performances from eight countries, with ten participating in the full festival. Passport DC continues to connect cultures and celebrate global diversity in Washington, D.C.
A group photo of all present captured the spirit of the morning as the event seamlessly transitioned into a vibrant networking session. Guests continued to engage in conversations, exchange business cards, and build new connections.
