The spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s perseverance and dedication to dreaming lives on in communities throughout the nation. It lives within the individuals who proceed to acknowledge the reverend’s work for unity as integral to the strides made in integration and equal alternative for all.
The individuals of Newton County are on the forefront of this legacy, as was demonstrated on the forty first Annual Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Vacation Observance on Sunday.
Dozens gathered within the auditorium of Newton Excessive Faculty on Jan. 18 for a celebration of King’s life, his desires and his lasting legacy. In a program that included area for music, reverence, a keynote message and presentation of awards, the lasting influence of King’s work was not simply spoken of—it was demonstrated.
Certainly one of a number of native public figures who delivered remarks on Sunday was Ezell Brown, the Newton County sheriff. Brown shared a number of the methods the Newton County Sheriff’s Workplace excels, however reminded the viewers of how King paved the best way for a pacesetter reminiscent of himself to be elected.
– picture by Michael Bandoo
“I’m pleased with our group, however this factor I do know: Had it not been for Dr. King and lots of others like Dr. King, I might not be right here right this moment,” Brown stated. “I might not be representing you because the sheriff of this nice group.”
Others who delivered remarks included Newton County Commissioner Demond Mason, Covington Councilwoman Charika Davis, Oxford School of Emory College Senior Affiliate Dean Dr. Darleny Cepin and Newton County Colleges Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley, III.
Bradley, in his remarks, took time to highlight how King had mentors who molded him into the chief he ultimately turned. He in contrast King’s mentors, reminiscent of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, to modern-day educators and their function in serving to youth discover their method.
“What had at all times fascinated me is that earlier than the speeches got, earlier than the marches had been organized, earlier than the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded, there was a trainer,” Bradley stated. “There was a mentor, there was a caring grownup who took the time to put money into a teenager, to assist them perceive that they’ve objective. Isn’t that the true definition of schooling?”
Additional into this system, the keynote speaker, Dr. Emorja Roberson, an assistant professor at Emory College, took the stage to ship his deal with.
A musician, Roberson has plenty of accomplishments, a few of which embody turning into the primary African American to acquire a Grasp of Sacred Music in Vocal Efficiency on the College of Notre Dame in 2017 and turning into the primary African American to obtain a Physician of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the College of Notre Dame in 2022.
– picture by Michael Bandoo
Roberson’s speech shared perception into his personal life and profession earlier than tying into a bigger theme about King’s work and legacy. In the end, Roberson defined that he’s uninterested in simply dreaming.
“Once I say I’m uninterested in dreaming—hear me clearly—I’m uninterested in desires that reside within the clouds however by no means develop toes on Earth,” Roberson stated. “I’m over these hopes that stay within the hashtags however die within the hallways. I’m so exhausted with the saints of the church who shout on Sunday however do nothing on Monday. I’m drained sufficient to construct. I’m drained sufficient to…manage. Drained sufficient to mentor, to vote, to hear and to show. I’m drained sufficient to face in uncomfortable areas and share the uncomfortable truths which may step on the toes of my buddies and trigger them to verify their biases whereas they’re checking mine.”
Roberson famous that dreaming in the best way that King supposed will not be meant to depart one feeling comfy. He inspired the viewers to proceed pushing and persevering every day.
“Moses noticed the land and King noticed the promise, however it could require individuals who would stroll it,” Roberson stated. “So, I’m not going to simply sit and dream, however I’m obligated to hold the dream. You might be additionally obligated to hold the dream into the locations the place you go.”
Past the audio system and displays, time was devoted to lifting voices and celebrating by music. With performances from the Washington Avenue Kids’s Choir and The MLK Interdenominational Choir, the room heard and sang a number of songs.
Along with the performances, this system included a Litany of Commemoration of “Let My Individuals Go” and the singing of “Raise Each Voice And Sing.”
The significance of the room’s musicians was additional acknowledged as soon as members of the MLK Celebration Committee started presenting awards. The primary award—the “I Have a Dream” award—was offered to Leila Elkins, who led the Washington Avenue Kids’s Choir of their efficiency that night.
– picture by Michael Bandoo
Elkins is a retired educator who stays lively with the Washington Avenue Kids’s Choir and the Voices of Knowledge Choir on the Turner Lake Senior Middle. She can be a musician at Grace United Methodist Church in Covington, in addition to at Grace Chapel AME Church in Social Circle.
“Mrs. Elkins has been described as a mentor who makes use of music to encourage college students to seek out their very own voice,” stated Dee Sneed, who offered the award.
The subsequent award was the “Trailblazer” award, and it went to Dr. Tiffany Richardson. Richardson is the principal of Reside Oak Elementary Faculty and was acknowledged for her progressive actions that embody establishing a faculty meals pantry.
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“She doesn’t merely acknowledge wants inside her group—she takes motion,” stated Christie Davis, who offered the award. “Via imaginative and prescient, collaboration and follow-through, she created options that make an actual and lasting distinction for college kids, households and folks in our group.”
This 12 months, there have been two younger individuals honored with the “Younger Dreamer” Award. The primary was eight-year-old Madison Harris, a scholar at Newton County STEAM Academy.
– picture by Michael Bandoo
Harris, a member of the 2025 Generations of Newton part revealed by The Covington Information, was nominated for her selfless acts over the past two years, as she has twice organized coat drives to assist different kids in her group. Partly by utilizing her birthday cash, Harris donated 46 coats to Reside Oak Elementary Faculty in 2023 and 84 coats to West Newton Elementary Faculty in 2025.
The second “Younger Dreamer” recipient was Asia Lanham, a senior within the Academy of Liberal Arts at Newton Excessive Faculty (ALANHS).
– picture by Michael Bandoo
In accordance with presenter Margaret Wimberly, Lanham was one in every of 9 college students chosen from a statewide pool of candidates to serve on the Georgia Faculty Board Affiliation Youth Advisory Council. She additionally participated in softball and ROTC.
James Wilson offered a remaining award: the “Collegiate Dreamer” award. This award was established to acknowledge a school scholar pursuing greater schooling at both Oxford School at Emory College, Georgia State College’s Newton Campus or Georgia Piedmont Technical School.
This 12 months’s “Collegiate Dreamer” award was offered to Fiona Kuo, a scholar at Oxford School of Emory College. Kuo is the co-president of Music for Change, a membership that drives social change by the ability of music.
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“This 12 months, she [Kuo] targeted her efforts on the Washington Avenue Group Middle, studying its historical past from longstanding Oxford group members and uplifting the story of how the middle and its packages confronted inequitable funding,” Wilson stated. “She then helped construct and direct a partnership with the middle, and he or she organized an occasion, OxFest. She created an area for Washington Avenue college students to carry out…Her initiative raised over $600 for the Washington Avenue Group Middle.”
Total, the multifaceted Sunday program confirmed how King’s legacy has lived on within the Newton County group.
Certainly one of King’s strongest quotes was repeatedly invoked all through the observance, inspiring attendees to hold King’s spirit each day transferring ahead:
“All people will be nice, as a result of anyone can serve.”
– picture by Michael Bandoo
