“Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Let Freedom Ring: Through Social Justice, Economic Empowerment,
Love, Peace, And Unity” will be the focus of the Knoxville Commemorative Commission for the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. Many events are planned that will conclude on Monday, January 20th with a parade march and program.
Highlights of the 6 days of events include a full day on Thursday at Rothchilds Catering center in West Knoxville beginning at 8:30 to 11:30 am, with the Leadership Educational Symposium followed by a Leadership Awards Luncheon at noon.
The LEADERSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON, noon to 2 pm, Thursday, January 16, at Rothchild’s Catering Center in West Knoxville. The guest speaker is scheduled to be Retired Hennepin County Judge Pamela Alexander. Equal justice for all is her most central value as a judge and a person. Her interest in the legal profession began at the age of twelve when she witnessed the rape of her best friend and courageously testified in court.
Judge Alexander captured a number of “firsts” during her career. In 1983, she became the first black female judge to be appointed in Minnesota where she served for 25-years. In 2013 she was appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Court in Minneapolis. She retired in 2018. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Judge Alexander was the youngest of six children. However, she was the first in her immediate family to graduate from college, receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Augsburg College and was the first in her family to attend law school, receiving her Juris Doctorate Degree for the University of Minnesota School of Law.
The MLK Leadership Luncheon will also recognize the local 2020 awardees. They are:
- Chair’s Award: John Jackson, Minister of Music at Community Evangelistic Church
- Distinguished Service: Daniel Brown, Former City Mayor and Councilman
- Diversity Champion: Tyvi Small, UT Vice Chancellor for Diversity & Engagement
- Community Service: Tanisha Fitzgerald-Baker, teacher and advocate
- Advocacy: Terry Walker-Smith, Founder of Mother on Mission Survivor – MOMS
- Education: Dexter Murphy, Principal of Maynard Elem. School
- Business: Gillespie Financial & Tax Services
- Arts: Michael Rodgers, Knoxville Opera Company
Community Conversation – “Making It Right: Where Justice and Economics Meet” 6:30-8:30 pm, Friday, January 17, a pm at the Beck Cultural Center. Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance.
Youth Symposium, 8:30 am – 2 pm, Saturday at Austin-East High School.
Y.W.C.A. Race Against Racism, 1-2:30 pm, Saturday at Phyllis Wheatley Center on Cruze St.
A Night with the Arts Tribute, 6-8 pm, Sunday, Tennessee Theatre. A free concert featuring the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra & Knoxville’s own Carpetbag Theatre.
The MLK Memorial March Parade will reverse the route again this year. The parade will line-up at Chilhowee Park Midway on N. Beaman Street and proceed west to Overcoming Believers Church on Harriet Tubman Street near downtown Knoxville for the Memorial Tribute service.
Memorial Tribute Service noon-2 pm., Overcoming Believers Church, Rev. Dr. Harold Middlebrook will be the guest speaker.
For tickets and more information visit mlkknoxville.com; or email Admin@mlkknoxville.com; or visit BeckCenter.net