The Elgin Human Relations Commission and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Committee have set two celebrations honoring the life of Dr. King.
Residents and guests of all different faiths are invited to honor Dr. King on Saturday, Jan. 13, at an annual prayer breakfast at Elgin Community College’s University Business Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The 2007 theme is “Remember! Celebrate! Act! In the Spirit of Unity & Service.”
The breakfast will feature keynote speaker Reverend Valerie Parker, a youth pastor from St. John AME Church, Aurora, Ill., and a recognized youth leader in her community. Rev. Parker established “Real Talk,” a forum allowing youth to openly discuss real life issues relative to the teen experience along with a host of other youth programs. Mayor Ed Schock will also speak and recognize Humanitarian Award winners from throughout the community. Humanitarian Awards honor those who best represent Dr. King’s teaching of peace and tolerance in the categories of housing, civil rights advocacy, education, business and industry, religion and community relations. The program will also feature musical entertainment. Prayer breakfast tickets are $10 and can be purchased at City Hall, 150 Dexter Ct.
The celebration then continues at the Hemmens Cultural Arts Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin on Sunday, Jan. 14 at 4 p.m. Various entertainment groups from Elgin and other communities will honor Dr. King through song and dance with the program also including art and essay awards and scholarship presentations. The Dr. King celebration at the Hemmens is free.
For more information, contact Dorothy Brandon, the City’s Human Relations Commission liaison, at (847) 931-5618.