Kimberly Marteau Emerson is a civic leader, lawyer, and human rights advocate.  Kimberly worked in the Clinton Administration as the Director of Public Liason for the US Information Agency, where she was the domestic spokesperson. She serves on the International Board of Human Rights Watch, and is a member of the  Council on Foreign Affairs, and the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Advisory Board of the USC Center on Public Diplomacy.  While in Germany from 2013-2017, she led embassy efforts on the refugee crisis and worked to grow the presence of Human Rights Watch there  She has dedicated many years to United Friends of the Children as a Board Member as well.  Over the past two decades she has avidly advised, staffed, and raised support for many organizations that support underserved populations.

Kimberly’s husband, Ambassador John Emerson, is the former United States Ambassador to Germany (2013- 2017).  He worked in the Clinton White House as a Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and before that was Los Angeles’ Chief Deputy City Attorney.  John is currently the Vice Chairman of Capital Group International, where prior to his Ambassadorship he served for 16 years as the President of Capital Group’s Private Client Services Division. Kimberly and John’s impact on foster youth, Los Angeles, the United States, and the international community is unmeasured.  They have worked together in both their professional and personal lives to change outcomes for underserved populations on both a macro and a micro scale.  They are both attorneys by training and have used this to work for justice on all fronts.  We are both excited and humbled to be able to present them with this incredible award.