Aurelien Collin

Defender at Orlando City SC in the MLS. Member of the French National Soccer Team

2014: MLS regular season: Scored two goals in 26 games played, 25 of them starts, and contributed to six shutouts. Was named to MLS Team of the Week (Week 2) after scoring his first goal of the season in a 1-1 draw vs. FC Dallas on March 15.Was named to MLS Team of the Week (Week 7) after scoring in a 4-0 win over Montreal on April 19.Was named an MLS All-Star for the third straight season on July 19. Started and played 45 minutes in the MLS All-Star Game on Aug. 6 as the MLS All-Stars defeated Bayern Munich 2-1 in Portland. MLS Playoffs: Played 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss at New York in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round (Oct. 30). CCL: Started three matches (270 minutes) in the 2014-15 group stage. Open Cup: Played 90 minutes in a 3-1 fifth round loss to Portland on June 24. Friendly: Played 45 minutes in a 4-1 Champions Shield defeat to Manchester City on July 23 at Sporting Park.

2013: Named a 2013 MLS All-Star and Sporting KC Humanitarian of the Year. Voted MVP of MLS Cup. MLS: Appeared in 29 games (all starts) with three goals and one assist. Collin notched his first goal and game-winning goal of the season with a header in a 1-0 win over New York (video). Scored game-winning goal against Houston at BBVA Compass Stadium that ended Dynamo's home unbeaten streak (video).Scored Sporting KC's lone goal in a 1-1 home draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps on July 3 (video). Playoffs: Started and played full time in all five MLS Cup Playoff matches. Scored three goals and tallied one assist during the playoffs. Scored the game-tying goal and converted the game-winning penalty kick in the MLS Cup Final vs. Real Salt Lake. Vote MVP of MLS Cup. CCL: Started three 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League group stage matches. Open Cup: Started Open Cup matches against the Des Moines Menace  (May 28) and Orlando City Lions (June 12).

2012: Collin played a total of 2,490 during the 2012 MLS regular season, starting 28 games and appearing in 29 total. Collin scored three goals and added one assist. Sporting Kansas City is undefeated when Collin scores a goal in 2012. Collin scored the game-tying goal against Dallas on March 25th (Video), the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on April 14 (Video) and the equalizer at Vancouver on April 18th (Video). Collin was named to the 2012 MLS All-Star GameDay roster. Collin started the match but was ultimately pulled in the 36th minute after suffering facial fractures earlier in the first half. Collin was a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year. Collin was also named to MLS Best XI. The Pitch named Collin as one of Sporting Kansas City's best players in 2012.

2011: Joined Sporting Kansas City as a guest trialist in March before completing signing on April 15. Earned his first start on April 23 at New England.Scored his first MLS goal, a match-winner, in 4-1 victory at Dallas.Added another game-winning goal in 2-1 win at Portland on July 2, and his third MLS goal scored again on July 16 in the 90th minute of a 1-1 draw at Houston.Opened the scoring with the first goal in the 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the second leg of the playoffs.

Camille Levin

Captain of US Women U-23 National Soccer Team

Professional Soccer Career and Highlights:
Drafted 4th overall in the 2012 WPS College Draft by Sky Blue FC (league folded)
Member of the Western Sydney Wanderers
Goteborg FC � professional team in premier division Swedish Damallsvenskan
UEFA Women�s Champions League Quarterfinalist
Swedish Cup Champion
Swedish Super Cup Champion
National Championship finalist with Pali Blue (W-League)

National Team and Achievements:
U.S. U23 Women�s National Team � Team captain
U23 Four Nations Tournament Champions 2012, 2013
U15 � U20 National Team member
Captain for U16, U17, and U18 teams

College Soccer Career and Highlights:
Stanford University record: 95-4-4
NCAA National Champion 2011
PAC-12 League Champion 2009, 2010, 2011
NCAA Tournament Finalist 2009, 2010
NCAA Tournament Semifinalist 2008
NSCAA First Team All-American
PAC-12 First Team 2011
PAC-12 Second Team 2008
2x Soccer America All Women�s College Soccer First Team
2x NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team
3x ESPN 360 National Performer of the Week
Recipient of the Bob Murphy Award
Soccer American MVPs first team
NSCAA All-Pacific Regional First Team

Catherine Whitehill

United States Women National Soccer Team

Professional: In 2014, started and played all 24 games she appeared in, both tied her for first in the NWSL ... Only player on team to play all 24 games ... Also a career single-season high for games played ... Logged 2,101 minutes, most on the team and third most in the league, and the most she's registered in a single season of her professional career ... Registered one assist. It came on Aug. 10, 2014 in a 2-0 win at home over Portland Thorns FC ... When she took the field on May 3, 2014, at Sky Blue FC, it marked the 100th professional appearance of her career ... Her start on May 18, 2014 against Chicago at home marked the 100th start of her professional career ...  In 2013: One of only three Breakers to play in all 22 games ... Only player on team to start all 22 games ... Logged a team-high 1,978 minutes, which was also tied for fourth most in the league ... Tallied one goal and two assists ... Lone goal came against the Washington Spirit, a 5-2 win on July 27 ... Appointed player coach on Aug. 2 after the Breakers parted ways with coach Lisa Cole ... As player/interim coach, she guided the Breakers to a 2-1-1 record in the final four games of the regular season. In 2012: With the Breakers, anchored a back line that led the team to the WPSL Elite regular season championship ... Played 14 games, starting 13 ... Logged 1,190 minutes, ranked third highest on team ... In 2011, with the Atlanta Beat in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), played every minute in 17 out of 18 matches ... Second highest minutes for the Beat at 1,530 ... Took 10 shots, three on goal. Played two seasons with the Washington Freedom prior to joining the Atlanta Beat ... In 2010 with the Washington Freedom, started 23 matches ... Scored one goal and tallied two assists ... Played all 120 minutes of playoff match vs. the Philadelphia Independence ... In 2009, started in 19 games for the Freedom ... Scored three goals and added two assists ... Started 59 games in her three-year Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) career, logging 5,304 minutes ... In six professional seasons combined, has logged 10,573 minutes, made 120 appearances, and started 118 games.

International: Scored 11 goals in 134 for the USWNT ... Member of 2004 gold medal winning U.S. squad at Olympic Games in Athens, Greece ... Member of third place U.S. squads at the 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cup ... In 2007, led the U.S. in minutes played (2,116) and played every minute of all six Women’s World Cup matches, one of only two players to accomplish that feat ... Played in five games at the 2004 Olympics, starting three ... Only defender to score two goals in a World Cup game (2003 vs. North Korea) ... Most assists in a year by a defender (2007) ... U.S. Soccer Young Athlete of the Year in 2003 ... Made her first appearance with the U.S. on July 6, 2000, vs. Italy … Scored first goal on March 17, 2001, vs. Norway.

College: Member of 2000 and 2003 NCAA Champion Tar Heels squads ... M.A.C. Hermann Award winner in 2003 ... Honda Sports Award winner in 2004 ... Two-time NCAA Tournament Defensive MVP (2000, 2003) ... Four-time NSCAA All-American (2000-2003) ... Three-time ACC All-American ... Member of four ACC championship Tar Heels squads.

Scholastic/Club: Member of 2005 W-League Champion New Jersey Wildcats ... W-League Defender of the Year in 2005 ... Played four years at Briarwood Christian School ... Named a Parade All-America selection (1999, 2000) Four-time All-State selection ... Two-time Gatorade Soccer Player of the Year for the State of Alabama

Personal: Daughter of Formerly Cat Reddick, she married Robert Whitehill on Dec. 31, 2005 ... Did color commentary for ESPN at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

Hon. Floreta Faber

The Honorable Ambassador The Republic of Albania to the United States

Mrs.Floreta Faber is born in Shkoder, Albania, on March 19th, 1968. She is a graduate of Tirana University, Faculty of Economics, in the Sphere of Circulation in 1990. From 1993 to 1995 she has been studying the two-year Master of Science Program for International Marketing & Strategy at the Norwegian School of Management in Oslo, Norway, including a period of studying as exchange student at the Washington State University, in Washington State in the USA.

Her Masters Diploma in Marketing and Operational Management isawarded by MB University, in Albania. She has been following several executive programs and trainings, such as International Visitor Leadership Program of the Department of States and Harvard University, focusing on programs of leadership, international relations and diplomacy, management, negotiations, accountability in governance, state protocols, and business development.

Mrs. Floreta Faber has been working as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Albania since its opening in 2000. In this capacity Ms Faber has been working closely with the representatives of the Albanian and American government, international organizations and the EU, alike business organizations in United States, Europe and beyond. She has been instrumental to the organization itself and to the development of functions like the advocacy capacity of business community in Albania. The working experience led her in becoming well-known and an expert in several fields, such as: public and government relations; facilitating roundtables and negotiations; managing organizations towards success; advocacy to the highest levels of government, international organizations and diplomatic circles; playing a great role in bringing the American and other international experiences to the Albanian environment. She is distinguished for high integrity and well-known for her communication skills.

From 1995 until the year 2000, Ms. Faber worked with Deloitte &Touche, Tirana, Albania, including a secondment program with Deloitte &Touche, Prague, Czech Republic. She served in opening the Deloitte &Touche office in Tirana and moved to several position levels as the office was growing, carrying out the business development and participating and managing many different projects.

From 1990 until 1993, Ms. Faber started her working experience in Shkoder, Albania, with three years of experience in three different organizations, a local Chamber of Commerce, a Regional Business Agency and a public import-export company which gave her since than a strong background working with various Albanian government and emerging business environments.

Mrs. Floreta Faber is married to Dr. Edmond Faber, vascular surgeon; they have a daughter Kesli (born in 2000) and a son Klint (born in 2003).

Mrs. Haoua Diatta

Founder and CEO Microcredit in Africa

Diaspora World Cup Global Ambassador
Mrs. Haoua Diatta has been working in the international development field for more than 15 years. She founded and became the executive director of Micro Credit in Africa (MICA) as well as spearheading and expanding various other humanitarian projects in West Africa. She has worked on HIV-andmalaria-prevention, helped develop agribusiness and environmental efforts through micro-credit. Her support of young orphans has helped them develop skills�such as sewing and soap-making�they can use to support themselves.Mrs. Diatta�s work in rural communities across Sub-Saharan Africahas provento be not only successful but life-changing.

In the United States, Mrs. Diatta chaired the White House�s Africa Education Initiative from 2005 to 2009 and currently serves as a consultant with the Department of State Foreign Service Institute.
She is married to his Excellency Ambassador Joseph Diatta, the former Ambassador of Niger, in Washington, D.C., and published a book in 2004 about her experiences traveling the world during his assignments (Shadow of Africa: The Life of an African Ambassador�s Wife).
ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS
2008: Recipient of the Ann C. Michel International Women in Literacy Award at ProLiteracy's annual meeting 2004: Author of ''Shadow of Africa: The Life of an African Ambassador's Wife'', a highly recommended reading by the Montgomery County School System
2002-2005: President of the Ambassadors� Spouses of West African Nations Association (ECOWAS) 2002: Recipient of the Shirley Alexander Hart Humanitarian Award by the Association of Ministers� Wives and Ministers� Widows 1999: Awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the President of the Microcredit Summit Campaign, Sam Daley-Harris 1994-1999: Red Cross Volunteer, through the Randolph Lions Club Association in Maryland
1995: Member and President (2001-2003) of the African and American Women Association in Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Hoy

US Women U-23 National Soccer Team

International: Received her first call up to US U-23 National Camp in April, 2013. College: Attended Princeton from 2009 – 2012. In 2010, she led the Ivy League in game winning goals with four. In 2011 she earned Ivy League Player of the Week honors twice, and started in all 17 games. During her senior year, she scored the second-most goals in a season in program history, with 18 and was a three-time Ivy League Player of the Week. She also recorded three hat tricks on the season and scored two game winning goals.

High School: Attended Germantown Academy, finishing her high school career with 110 goals and 46 assists, scoring 36 goals in her senior year. She was voted three-time league MVP and was named by the Philadelphia Inquirer as Player of the Year. In addition to soccer, she was a successful track athlete, earning all-league and all-state honors.

Youth Club: With FC Bucks Vipers, she won state cups for six seasons and placed third nationally in 2008 … won the 2009 U-18 US Youth Soccer national title with the Vipers.

Personal: Academically in high school, she served as a student ambassador to Japan through her school and earned the school’s Triangle Award for her academic, athletics and community accomplishments. She is fluent in Spanish, and minoring in Spanish at Princeton. She was a gymnast for 8 years before choosing soccer as her primary sport.

Mr. John Gonzalez

ABC7 & NewsChannel 8 Anchor & Reporter

Diaspora World Cup Global Ambassador
Feature Speaker at the Diaspora World Cup Gala
John Gonzalez is a general assignment reporter with ABC7/WJLA-TV and NewsChannel 8. This native Washingtonian joined NewsChannel 8 in 2598 as a videotape editor and shortly made the jump to the role of photo-journalist. Now, John is reporting, spending much of his time covering D.C. politics. During his time here, John has also covered several high-profile stories including the funeral for President Ronald Reagan, the September 11th attack on the Pentagon and the return of Baseball in the District.
John is a proud graduate of Paint Branch High in Burtonsville, Md., and received a Broadcast Journalism degree from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. John says he is extremely honored and blessed to be doing what he loves in his hometown.
When John is not running around with a microphone in his hand, he loves to watch good movies, spend quality time with his family and play sports. He's actually a veteran on the stations' softball team (go 78'ers). John Married his High school sweet heart Jennifer and they now live in Maryland with the love of their lives "Nala"... their 8 year old doggy.

Hon. Jose L. Rocha

The Most Honorable Ambassador

The Most Honorable Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary
The Republic of Cabo Verde to the United States
Diaspora World Cup Global Ambassador
Jos� Luis Fialho Rocha, a longtime member of his country�s foreign ministry, took over as Cabo Verde�s ambassador to the United States on May 12, 2014. Cabo Verde, also known as Cape Verde, is located off the coast of West Africa and has a population 0f about 512,000. More than 100,000 Americans are of Cape Verdean ancestry or were born in Cabo Verde.
Rocha was born August 6, 1956, on the island of San Vicente in Cabo Verde. He finished secondary school in 1974 and went to the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, earning a bachelor�s degree in political science and international relations in 1981. Rocha�s first ambassadorial post came in 1995, when he returned to Belgium as Cabo Verde�s representative to that country and to Luxembourg. He was also the envoy to the European Union and to the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States. In 1999, he was made ambassador to Organization Internationale de la Francophonie in Brussels.
He returned home in 2007 as director general of Foreign Policy for his government. In 2010, Rocha was made director of National Political Affairs and Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He became Secretary of State, the number two job in the ministry, in 2011. While in that post, he negotiated deals with China for that country to build infrastructure projects in the islands. As ambassador to the United States, one of Rocha�s jobs is to look out for the interests of the Cabo Verdean diaspora in this country, many of whom live in the Boston area.
Rocha and his wife, Yamile, an anesthesiologist, have two sons and a daughter. He speaks Cabo Verdean, Portuguese, French, English and Spanish.

Mr. Mamadou Samba

Director of Mayor�s Office of African Affairs

Diaspora World Cup Global Ambassador
Mamadou Samba was appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in January 2015 to serve as the Director of the Mayor�s Office of African Affairs (OAA). Originally from Dakar, Senegal, Mamadou was a former Commissioner of the DC Commission on African Affairs, a role in which he served as a strong advocate for diverse African diaspora communities. Mamadou has extensive experience in addressing challenges faced by African immigrants in the District and nationwide. He played a significant role in securing grants for African nonprofit organizations,

highlighting issues impacting African-born residents in the United States. He also partnered with community groups to develop capacity building, provide cultural sensitivity training, and facilitate education outreach programs to illuminate complex issues, including the negative impact of stereotypes and social stigma.

Mamadou earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Kennesaw State University, and a Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina Aiken, where he was awarded an NCAA athletic scholarship. He is fluent in French and Wolof.

Tiffany McCarty

Selected by the Houston Dash in the 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft from the Washington Spirit

2014 NWSL: Has appeared in 13 games (9 starts, 4 goals)...Scored a goal in 2-1 win over Western New York Flash on 6/11 �Scored two goals in 3-0 win at Sky Blue FC on 6/8� Scored game-tying goal in 2-2 draw at FC Kansas City on 5/18.

2013 NWSL: Selected second overall by the Washington Spirit in 2013 NWSL College Draft � Appeared in 21 matches (12 starts), scored two goals � LOAN: Went on loan to Japan club Albirex Niigata Ladies at the conclusion of the 2013 NWSL season � Made eight appearances (eight starts) in the Nadeshiko League and Empress's Cup � Scored two goals in Empress's Cup Final (Albirex tied INAC Kobe Leonessa 2-2, lost 3-4 in penalties).

INTERNATIONAL: U.S. youth international at U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels � Won 2013 Four Nations Cup with U.S. U-23s, playing in all three games and scoring one goal.

COLLEGE: Made 98 appearances (95 starts) for Florida St., scoring 63 goals and providing 24 assists � All-time points and goals leader at FSU � 2008: Eleven goals and six assists in 23 games (20 starts) � ACC Freshman of the Year � All-ACC Freshman Team � 2009: Started all 25 games � Led ACC in goals (17) and second in points (41; 17 goals, 7 assists) � NSCAA First Team All-American � ACC Offensive Player of the Year � All-ACC First Team � MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist � ACC All-Academic Team � 2010: Redshirted due to injury � 2011: Started all 26 games en route to ACC championship and College Cup appearance � Scored 18 goals (T-8th nationally) with eight assists � NSCAA Second Team All-American � All-ACC First Team � MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist � 2012: Started all 24 games en route to second straight College Cup appearance � 17 goals, 5 assists � NSCAA Third Team All-American (first three-time All-American in school history) � All-ACC Second Team.

CLUB/HIGH SCHOOL:Played for Washington Freedom and Pali Blues (W-League) during college summers � Played youth club soccer with Freestate Shooters, winning U.S. Club Soccer national championship in 2007 as captain � Attended high school at St. John's College HS � All-time leader in goals (191) and assists (74) � 191 goals broke the Washington Metro scoring record (previous: 188) � Three-time NSCAA/adidas High School All-American and District of Columbia Gatorade Player of the Year and State Player of the Year (2005-07) � 2008 PARADE All-American � Was also a standout track and field athlete in high school.

PERSONAL:: Has three brothers � Vincent, Britten and Ian; Ian played soccer at Hofstra � Bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in child development, Master's degree in sport management.

Hon. Victor Shiblie

Founder and Publisher The Washington Diplomat

Diaspora World Cup Global Ambassador
The Washington Diplomat is an independent monthly newspaper with a readership of more than 120,000 that for more than 18 years has served as the flagship publication of the diplomatic community in Washington. It is distributed to all foreign embassies in the nation�s capital, the United Nations in New York, the World Bank, IMF, IDB, Capitol Hill, White House, Pentagon, Fortune 500 companies, federalagencies and more than 600 locations in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland and New York.

With a richly diverse, insightful and expertise-laden editorial staff, The Washington Diplomat is a prestigious �must-read� professional journal covering international affairs from a diplomatic perspective. Each issue highlights various nations with in-depth ambassador profiles and interviews with other top-level officials. In addition, The Diplomat offers timely analyses focusing on international relations, politics, trade and investment, multilateral institutions, humanitarian initiatives, economic issues and diplomatic matters. Other regular features include monthly �People of World Influence� and medical columns.

The Washington Diplomat also features in-depth industry-centered sections throughout the year, including education, hotels and travel, luxury living, medical, automotive and defense.The Washington Diplomat popular Culture Section highlights various international events, with reviews on museum exhibits, art, theater, opera, galas and a wide range of other cultural offerings, as well as monthly dining and film reviews � including the largest directory of foreign films and internationally geared cultural events in the city.

Valeisha Butterfield Jones

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN)

Mistress of Ceremonies at the Diaspora World Cup Gala

Valeisha Butterfield Jones is an award-winning author, youth and women�s activist and nationally recognized expert on entertainment and politics. Butterfield Jones is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) and the author of the highly acclaimed book, The Girlprint.
As a college student, Butterfield Jones began working full-time for music legends Wu Tang Clan and for former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. After graduation, Butterfield Jones was recruited byHBO Boxing and served as the Executive Assistant to the President of HBO Sports.
Butterfield Jones returned to her North Carolina roots and served as the Field Director for Chief Justice Henry Frye of the N.C. Supreme Court.After a devastating loss on election night, Butterfield Jones moved to New York City to further pursue her entertainment dreams and landed an unpaid internship with music mogul Russell Simmons.
Butterfield Jones was a professional standout and turned her entertainment aspirations into action by becoming one of the youngest Executive Director�s of a national organization at the time. Butterfield Jones served as the Program Manager, Director of Sponsorship and Events, Vice President and eventually the National Executive Director of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network over a seven-year period.
During this time, she was introduced to then Senator Barack Obama and began serving as a volunteer for his 2008 Presidential campaign. Butterfield Jones recruited celebrity surrogates to endorse and support Senator Obama and received a call soon after election night to serve in the Obama Administration.
Butterfield Jones served by Presidential appointment in the Administration of U.S. President Barack Obama as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs for the International Trade Administration and as the National Youth Vote Director for the 2012 Obama for America campaign.
Butterfield Jones has been widely credited for her magnetic relationship with youth culture and her role turning out youngAmericans during the 2004, 2008, 2012 Presidential elections. Butterfield Jones also served as the National Ambassador for the United Negro College Fund�s Empower Me Tour in 2014 and 2015.
Butterfield Jones has been recognized by Glamour, Marie Claire, Elle, Essence Top 40 under 40, Ebony Top 100, Jet, Black Enterprise and Sister 2 Sister Magazines as a leading young executive in the United States with her finger on the pulse of all things related to youth culture, entertainment and politics. Butterfield Jones has also appeared on OWN TV�s Light Girls, Aspire TV�s Exhale, Centric TV�s Morning Cup, BET�s 106 and Park and others.
Butterfield Jones was born in Wilson, NC and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Clark Atlanta University.
ButterfieldJones is married to NBA veteran Dahntay Jones and gave birth to her first child in 2012. She is the daughter of U.S. Congressman G. K Butterfield and N.C. State Legislator Jean Farmer Butterfield.