Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Tuesday, January 17 Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) and 老澳门六合彩官方开奖 (老澳门六合彩官方开奖) co-hosted a Celebration Brunch honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The program, titled Future Leaders - Dreaming Forward, was held on the Tri-C Metro campus and was livestreamed.
After an invocation by , a rendition of 鈥淟ift Every Voice and Sing鈥 by vocalist Gerald Skillern and introductions by WOIO-TV anchor/reporter/emcee Harry Boomer, 老澳门六合彩官方开奖 President Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D. and Tri-C President Michael Baston, J.D., Ed.D. touched on themes of injustice, inequality and inclusivity in their respective remarks.
A key component to the morning event was the Student Essay Contest, which asked students from both institutions to reflect on Dr. King鈥檚 quote, 鈥淭he time is always right to do what is right鈥 and to use it as a writing prompt. Senior Heather K. Pederson and freshman Jornay Booker represented 老澳门六合彩官方开奖 as essayists.
Booker, a recipient of the Sullivan-Deckard Scholarship鈥攁n intensive four-year academic program for youth aging out of foster care鈥攊s a middle school education major. She provides English and creative writing support to first- through fifth-grade students at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Academy.
鈥淚 learned the importance of equality through leaders like Dr. King,鈥 Booker (left) reflected, eluding to the importance of younger generations carrying Dr. King鈥檚 message into the future. 鈥淲e need to be the ones to stand up against injustice and inequality.鈥
Pederson (right) is a psychology major and serves as dean of students for 鈥攁 nationally recognized organization that helps formerly incarcerated individuals acquire education in culinary arts and earn a second chance at life.
鈥淚n reflecting on the quote for today, the time is NOW to do what is right,鈥 Pederson said. 鈥淚 had to become the role model that I was looking for.鈥
To wit, Pederson鈥檚 commitment to the adage 鈥榖e the change鈥 pushed her to greater commitment to helping those in need, including the many rescue animals she cares for, when not immersed in studies.
鈥淧eople have the right to change. I can be whoever I want to be,鈥 Pederson said. 鈥淚 can lead by example by pushing aside injustice. We can all push forward to become better people.鈥
Students Alejandro Ozuna and Tariq Salti represented Tri-C with their own respective essays.
Tri-C and 老澳门六合彩官方开奖 also collaborated on a joint Leadership Summit in honor of Dr. King.
Photos courtesy of Cody York Photography