| This January, the greater Madison community will come together to celebrate the long-standing legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. From Jan. 12 to 15, a number of events will be held in Madison to honor King and revive his messages of peace, justice, racial equality and volunteerism. Madison and Dane County have long led the way in offering a variety of holiday observances in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It is the King Coalition, a handful of community activists, who are charged with planning these events. The King Coalition's history is one of small beginnings but of big hearts. In 1983, Congress passed legislation to formerly create Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Madison activists took that as their cue. In 1984, Madison community activist Betty Franklin approached then EOC education outreach coordinator Shirley Price-Marcus about planning a celebration in honor of Dr. King. The King Coalition was formed and by 1985, an annual celebration was underway. Through the years, the celebration continued to grow from one, small event to a number of events that draw large and diverse crowds. Today, the King Coalition is chaired by two energetic community activists: Mona Winston Adams and Edward Lee. Together, they head up a group of civic-minded volunteers who plan the Martin Luther King, Jr. City-County Observance, the annual Free Community Dinner, and the annual Youth Service Day. Winston Adams, a public relations representative for Second Harvest Foodbank, has long led the way in improving race relations within the Madison community. She is the co-coordinator for Respectful Dialogue with a Purpose (an offshoot of Madison's Study Circles on Race in which she was also involved), a committee member of Dane Dances, and leader at Kujichagulia-Madison Center for Self Determination, which plans the annual Juneteenth celebration in Madison. Edward Lee has been an employee with the Urban League of Greater Madison since 1995 and is currently the organization's Vice President of Programs and Operations. The Urban League, a non-profit human services organization, has long been involved in the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and will host its 23rd Annual Urban League Guild Youth Recognition Breakfast on Jan. 14 at Edgewood High School. King coalition members agree that the events honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. are a wonderful way to bring the community together and remind people that King's messages are still relevant and necessary in today';s world. This year's theme, "The Time is Always Right to do What is Right," echoes that sentiment. "It seems like people are always waiting for the 'right time,'" Winston Adams said. "They say, 'Oh, I'll do it when I'm not so busy or when the kids are grown' or they think 'nothing I can do can really make a difference.' To me, it's always the right time. We need to teach our children that they can make a difference." Winston Adams was 17 when Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. She remembers his messages clearly and the effect that his death had on the nation. She strongly believes that his teachings are needed as much today as they were during the Civil Rights movement. "I think it is still very important that people understand what he lived for and died for," Winston Adams said. "I really believe in the work that Dr. King did over the years." King Coalition sponsored events will begin on Friday, Jan. 12 with the annual Free Community Dinner at Gordon Commons. The dinner kicks off a number of events meant to bring together a diverse cross-section of the Madison community. "At the community dinner, you may be sitting next to a homeless person on one side and the mayor on the other and everybody is just talking," Winston Adams said. "It's about getting people together. It was important to Dr. King for everyone to be able to come together." On Jan. 15, youth will come together in the morning for the 9th Annual Youth Service Day at the Monona Terrace. The event will feature youth-led educational forums, community volunteer projects and the President's Student Service Awards. For the first time ever, this event will also feature a Youth March on the Capitol Square. The evening of Jan. 15 will mark the 22nd Annual City-County Observance at the Overture Center Capitol Theater. The event will feature keynote speaker Jack Holliday, a former deputy superintendent from Albany, Georgia who has been recognized for his work to eliminate gang violence. Other highlights of the evening include the annual City and County Dr. King Awards, the Community Choir, and "A Call to Action." Other Martin Luther King, Jr. events include the "I Have a Dream Ball" on Jan. 13 at the Monona Terrace, sponsored by Women in Focus, and the aforementioned 23rd Annual Urban League Guild Youth Recognition Breakfast. Winston Adams encourages everyone to come out and enjoy some or all of the events that celebrate the visionary Dr. King. "We want everyone to feel that they are part of Dr. King's legacy," she said. Perhaps she summed it up best when she said, "It's a beautiful weekend." |
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| King Coalition Keeping MLK message of peace and equality alive by Laura Salinger |
| (Left) King Coalition co-chairs (seated) Mona Adams Winston (l) and Edward Lee with Coalition members (standing l-r) Mercile Lee, Gloria Hawkins, Annie Weatherby, Ruth Gundlach, and Maria Parker. (Not in photo: Rep. Mark Cliner and Don Miner) |
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