The YMCA of South Florida will hold a virtual 17th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspirational Breakfast January 15, 2021 at 8 a.m. with a preshow at 7:45 a.m. This year’s tribute to Dr. King’s legacy will feature keynote speaker Rev. James Lawson, American civil rights activist, retired university professor, and pastor.
Rev. Lawson believes in and teaches non-violent activism. While in college, he was exposed to the nonviolent teachings of Gandhi and fellow black minister Howard Thurman. After teaching in India for several years, he returned to the United States to be a part of the emerging nonviolent resistance movement. He held seminars to train volunteers in Gandhian tactics of nonviolent direct action. Rev. Lawson helped coordinate the Freedom Rides of 1961 and the Meredith March in 1966, and played a major role in the sanitation workers strike of 1968. On the eve of his assassination, Martin Luther King called Lawson “the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world.”
“Historically, our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspirational Breakfast would be an in-person event; however, due to COVID, we have put together a virtual event that will still showcase the long, rich history the YMCA has with Dr. King and the civil rights movement,” said Sheryl A. Woods, CEO & President of the YMCA of South Florida. “Dr. King grew up at the Butler Street YMCA in Atlanta which was one of the few places blacks and whites could meet at that time. Many civil rights meetings were held at that Y in support of unity and equality. It is an honor to have Rev. James Lawson, whose non-violent teachings influenced civil rights icons like Dr. King and John Lewis.”
This year, the YMCA’s Spirit of Community Award is going to our local heroes – Healthcare Professionals and First Responders to honor their courage and commitment to serving our community by keeping us safe and healthy. And the Youth Leadership Award is honoring our Teachers and Students who have persevered during these unusual times, continuing to move forward. To all of them, the YMCA of South Florida says THANK YOU!
As our gift to the community, the YMCA of South Florida will be opening up free viewing of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Inspirational Breakfast (a $100 value). The program can be accessed at https://ymcasouthflorida.org/mlk2021-live beginning at 7:45 a.m. Friday, January 15. It will also be available on our YMCA of South Florida YouTube Channel or Facebook Page.
The YMCA of South Florida 17th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspirational Breakfast is supported by Presenting Sponsors JM Family Enterprises and the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund, along with others.
For sponsorship information, please contact Aimee Fretwell at afretwell@ymcasouthflorida.org or 954.357.0289. Proceeds benefit the YMCA I Have a Dream Fund which supports teen programs.
For more information contact the YMCA of South Florida.
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About the YMCA of South Florida
The Y is a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Every day, the Y works hard to build healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities through over 200 afterschool, preschool, special needs, sports, camp and youth programs, family centers, and senior health outreach sites. To learn more, visit www.ymcasouthflorida.org, connect on Facebook or Twitter, or call a Y near you