She's Bringing Unity to Cherokee

When she told her pastor she'd take on this year's , Sherri Monger never anticipated the response she'd get.

It's the 14th year for the breakfast, and several changes were made this year. It took on the county as a partner and moved from in Woodstock to the larger in Canton.

And now, Monger is expecting about 500 people for breakfast on Saturday.

"We didn't get turned down from any group," Monger said this week while on her lunch break. "Anybody can just show up Saturday."

Monger, 39, laughs when asked how many hours she's put into the event.

"Wow, oh wow. I'm always working on it."

For three months, Monger and her 11-member committee have been busy finding entertainment, lining up a caterer and getting out invitations to various people and groups in Cherokee County.

Ebony Steele, the co-host of the nationally syndicated Rickey Smiley Morning Show, will play MC for the breakfast. Don Perry, vice president of public relations for Chick-Fil-A, will be one keynote speaker. Various other musical and improv groups will also perform.

Monger said she thinks Martin Luther King Jr. would be happy with the progress society has made. But as much as we would like to think we are all on the same playing field, Monger said, we're not.

Just look at how segregated church services on Sundays are, Monger said. The unity breakfast is a big step, especially in a county where African-Americans make up a small section of the population.

Monger, who lives with her husband and two children in Canton, was a natural for the chairman job. She's planned various functions including her 20th high school reunion.

"I don't think anybody would call me shy," she said.

Allen Temple AME said Monger likes to bring people together. In the short time she's been at the church she has revolutionalized the nursey, Moore said laughing.

The breakfast "brings together people from all walks of life," Moore said. "Sherri loves people and a sense of unity."

Monger grew up in Newport News, VA, and met her husband, Chris, there. They moved to the area in 2005. Monger, who studied at Virginia Commonwealth University, works as a program specialist with the Cobb Virtual Acadamy where students take classes online.

Monger hopes her guests Saturday will reflect on King's messages and ."

FAST FACTS

The Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast is from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Pkwy., Canton. Admission is free.

For the program lineup and other information, click here to go to the MLK Unity Breakfast website.