The Committee to Commemorate Martin Luther King announced its 30th Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Event.
The 2018 celebration will be Jan. 15 at the Manahan Orthopedic Capital Center on the Grace College campus. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the program is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The keynote speaker for this year’s event is Indiana Attorney General Curtis T. Hill Jr., the first African American male to be elected to this position in Indiana’s history, according to a news release from the committee.
Hill is a native of Elkhart and previously held the position of Elkhart County prosecutor. He was elected state attorney general on Nov. 8, 2016, with 1,643,689 votes, making him the top votegetter of any elected official in Indiana history.
Hill will be sharing about the influence King has had on his life and offer insight on what it is like to be the first male African American elected to his position, the release states.
“We are honored that AG Hill has decided to spend his MLK Day in Warsaw,” said John Bryan Lowe III, president of the CCMLK. “We strive to bring dynamic, relevant speakers to our community to honor Dr. King. We know that AG Hill will offer a unique perspective that will be inspirational to many in attendance.”
The event is free to attend and is intended for people of all ages in Kosciusko County. Children are encouraged to participate if they do not have school.
There will be free lunches provided for the first 300 people in attendance.
The Warsaw Community Schools choir will perform, and the ROTC will present the colors.
The CCMLK also will announce the winner of the 2018 scholarship award, which goes to a high school student in Kosciusko County who demonstrates extraordinary citizenship, exemplifies the principles taught by King and intends on pursuing a college degree.
Those interested in applying for the scholarship should contact their guidance counselor or visit the CCMLK Facebook page.
Founded in 1987 by Joe Banks, Lynn Pulliam and Durell Hoskins, the CCMLK of Warsaw exists to provide a forum in which King, a great black American, is appropriately commemorated in the county, the release states. The committee strives to provide challenges to people of all ages to study the principles of love, family, brotherhood and self-sacrifice as taught by the words, deeds and life of King.
The CCMLK has honored the efforts of students for many years through Academic Excellence Awards, which give students of minority backgrounds scholarships to continue their education to the post-secondary level.
The committee provides motivation to implement nonviolent social change through caring for others, strengthening the family, personal involvement in the suffering of others and civic participation, according to the release.
