YMCA of South Florida’s 22nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspirational Celebrations Set for January 15-19

The YMCA of South Florida’s annual inspirational celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting legacy, which include a series of events in Broward and Miami-Dade counties that bring together more than 1,400 community members, are set to take place January 15–19. The Signature sponsor of the Y’s MLK Jr. Inspirational Celebrations is Delta Air Lines.

The Inspirational Breakfast in Fort Lauderdale and the Inspirational Luncheon on Friday, January 16 in Miami will feature an inspiring keynote speaker, Dr. Joyce Ladner. Presented by JM Family Enterprises, the breakfast is at First Baptist Church, 301 E. Broward Boulevard, in Fort Lauderdale at 7:30 a.m. and the luncheon, presented by Amazon, is at 11:45 a.m. at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail in Miami.

This year’s keynote speaker for both the breakfast and luncheon is Dr. Joyce Ladner, civil rights activist and former professor of sociology, provost, and interim president at Howard University. Dr. Ladner was on the front lines of most of the major civil rights protests in the sixties, including Selma and Greenwood. She was also among the twelve-person staff that organized the 1963 “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” under the direction of Bayard Rustin and A. Phillip Randolph in Harlem, and present on the stage when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have A Dream” speech. A native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Dr. Ladner was appointed by President Bill Clinton to the District of Columbia Financial Control Board to balance the city’s budget after it became bankrupt and served as a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

The celebrations culminate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, with a Day of Service. Y team members and volunteers will organize community projects from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, 1409 NW 6th St. in Fort Lauderdale and at the Village of Allapattah YMCA, 2370 NW 17th Ave. in Miami.

“For the past two decades, the Y has been dedicated to transforming Dr. King’s dream into a reality in our local communities,” said YMCA of South Florida President & CEO Sheryl A. Woods. “We honor Dr. King’s memory as we celebrate community members and students who make a difference while encouraging them to do more for others.”

All proceeds from the Y’s Inspirational Celebrations support the “I Have a Dream” Youth Scholarship Fund which gives students the ability to achieve their dreams and aspirations. From preschool to college, the Y believes all youth deserve the ability to reach their full potential.

The YMCA will present the Dave W. Cash Youth Leadership Award to two students, one from Broward County and one from Miami-Dade County, during the breakfast and luncheon. Each year, the award is presented to students who have embodied the ideals of Dr. King in advocating for social change in the community and it includes a $2,000 college scholarship to support their continued education.

The Spirit of Community Award, which honors a community advocate in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties who exemplify the social activism, advocacy, nonviolence, civic engagement and diversity ideals of Dr. King, will also be presented at the breakfast and luncheon. Past winners include Eugene K. Pettis, Co-Founder and Senior Partner of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm; Florida Blue; Juliet Roulhac, Director of Corporate Philanthropy and Community Engagement at Florida Power & Light Company; Trail Blazers of Broward County; Children’s Trust; Derek T. Davis; Valencia Gunder; the Mizell Family; the Honorable Darrin P. Gayles; Dr. Robert B. Hayling; Willie E. Gary; Officer Lerue Sarvis; and Jason Taylor.

For sponsorships, tickets and additional information, visit ymcasouthflorida.org/standforsomething or contact Aimee Fretwell at Afretwell@YMCASouthFlorida.org or 954–334–9622 (ext. 1045).