Members of the Champaign community gathered Friday to celebrate the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential civil rights leaders. The 10th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration featured the remarks of local religious, political and athletic leaders who delivered the message “Move on the dream” to the audience filling the Hilton Conference Center, 1501 South Neil St., in Champaign.
“This 10th annual county-wide celebration is a collaborative effort to commemorate the life and teaching of Dr. King that aids in promoting intergovernmental cooperation in Champaign County,” said Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing, who read aloud the proclamation prepared by an intergovernmental panel with representatives from Champaign, Urbana and the University.
“It’s a long standing event that involves all the government bodies here,” said Alan Nudo, who served on the planning committee. “It’s a great tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Keynote speaker Bob Love, basketball legend of the Chicago Bulls, spoke to the audience about his struggle with a speech impediment and encouraged “young people” to follow their dreams and take advantage of the opportunities that come their way.
“If Dr. King let that opportunity go by, we would not be here today celebrating his birthday,” Love said about King’s initiative in promoting civil rights. “Once it passes, that one great opportunity is gone forever.”
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
The event also recognized individuals who embody King’s ideals as demonstrated through their selfless works to better the Champaign County community.
Joy George, founder of the Prairie Land Conflict Mediation Center, received the James R. Burgess, Sr. — Susan Freiburg Award to honor her for her humanitarian efforts in the community. Since 2008, George has provided mediation and resolution services for over 400 low-income individuals around Champaign and has assisted training students in local public schools and youth groups to resolve issues nonviolently through the “Peer Mediation Program.”
The Doris Hoskins Prestigious Community Service Award was presented to Crisis Nursery for its community service work. Crisis Nursery and its staff of over 150 volunteers offers a temporary “Island of Safety” to children whose families are experiencing a crisis.
Waleed Jassim, Champaign resident, was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award. Jassim was honored for his various volunteer projects, including the “Help Jack” fundraising project, which assisted a handicapped individual pay for medical bills and acquire an electric wheelchair.
The event was preceded by Nathaniel Banks’ “Mo’ Betta Music Program,” a youth music group that supplements young students’ music instruction with an emphasis on pop and jazz music.
