YWCA-USA leader and 82nd attorney general of the US top MLK tributes
January 7, 2016
Dara Richardson-Heron, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of YWCA-USA, and Eric H. Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the United States and partner at Covington & Burling LLP, will keynote two premiere events during the 44th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, sponsored by the YWCA of Greater Charleston and the City of Charleston. The January 10-19 celebration is considered South Carolina’s largest MLK tribute attracting some 30,000 celebrants annually. The theme is “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” For more MLK Celebration details call the YWCA 843-722-1644 or visit www.ywca-charlestonsc.org.
Since 2012, Richardson-Heron has presided over the YWCA’s 226 local affiliates in 47 states and the District of Columbia, with net assets of nearly $1 Billion. From 2009 to 2015, Holder was the third longest serving Attorney General in U.S. history and the first African-American to hold that office.
Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., is honorary chairman of the 16th annual MLK Business and Professional Breakfast set to feature Richardson-Heron on Tuesday, January 19, 7:30 a.m., at the downtown Charleston Marriott Hotel. At the Breakfast, Elizabeth Colbert-Busch of Clemson University will present the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Vision Awards to Jerry and Anita Zucker of the Zucker Family Foundation, Inc., and to Katie Stagliano, 17-year Summerville student and founder of Katie’s Krops, a network of 80 youth-run gardens in 30 states that feed the hungry. Before Jerry Zucker passed away in 2008, the Zuckers established a continuing record of philanthropic support of numerous groups and institutions such as the Coastal Community Foundation, the Saul Alexander Foundation, the Jewish Endowment Fund, MUSC, College of Charleston, The Citadel, and more. Advance purchased corporate-sponsored tables and individual tickets are required for this event.
US Congressman James E. Clyburn will introduce Holder at the 44th annual MLK Tri-County Ecumenical Service, 3 p.m., Sunday, January 17, at Morris Street Baptist Church, 25 Morris Street, Charleston, and present the Harvey Gantt Triumph Awards to Holder and to Rev. Joseph A. Darby, Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District, AME Church. Clyburn will also lead a delegation of U.S. Congressional Black Caucus Institute members attending the event. Music will be rendered by the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church All-Male Intergenerational Choir and the Divine Strength Chamber Ensemble. Rev. Leonard O. Griffin, Pastor of Morris Street Baptist Church will preside at the service, open to the public.
WCBD TV 2 will televise the Monday, January 18, MLK Holiday Parade with Charleston’s new Mayor, John Tecklenburg, as parade grand marshal. Beginning at 11 a.m., the parade will proceed from Burke High School to Ashley Ave., to Sumter St., to King St., to Calhoun Street and end on Elizabeth Street. After the parade, a Youth Poetry Slam, 12:30 p.m., free to the public, will be held at the CofC Science Center, 202 Calhoun Street. Poetry contest top winners will receive $100, $50, $25 respectively.
Internationally known youth motivational speaker Reggie Dabbs will lead the MLK Youth Summit, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 13, streaming live on-line, at Seacoast Church, 750 Long Point Road, Mt, Pleasant. Dabbs is rated “#1 high school speaker in America” by the National Education Association. This high-tech, multi-cultural event, free to the public, will also feature a Youth Talent Showcase of poetry, dance and drama performances.
The celebration opens with seven MLK Area Worship Services, Sunday, January 10, at churches throughout the lowcountry.
For more information on the 44th annual MLK Celebration visit www.ywca-charlestonsc.org or call the YWCA 843-722-1644.
MLK Celebration 2016 Events, January 10 – 19
MLK Area Worship Services – Sunday, Jan. 10 – Free & open to public
3:00 pm Edisto Island – New First Missionary Baptist Church – 1644 Highway 174 – Edisto Island
Presiding, Rev. Albert C. Morrison, Pastor, New First Missionary Baptist Church. Music by MLK Youth Choir, New First Missionary Baptist Church Choir. Greetings by the Hon. Anna Johnson, Charleston County Council District 8, and the Hon. Robert Brown, SC House of Representatives.
3:30 pm Hollywood/Ravenel & Yonges Island – St. Matthew AME Church – 4345 Davison Road, Ravenel
Presiding, Rev. Dr. John E. Washington, Pastor, St. Matthew AME Church. Music by M.L. King Jr. Mass Choir, Warriors of Praise of Shiloh Baptist Church. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Walter Jenkins, Pastor, Shiloh Baptist Church.
4:00 pm Johns/Wadmalaw Islands – New Webster United Methodist Church – 4755 Bears Bluff Road – Wadmalaw
Host, Bill Burr, WCIV-TV 4 news anchor. Sermon by Rev. Leonard Huggins, Jr., Pastor, New First Webster United Methodist Church. Music by the church choir.
4:00 pm Goose Creek, Goose Creek High School, 1137 Redbank Road, Goose Creek
Host, Dr. Nathalina Rogers-Tolbert. Music and drama performances by students from Berkeley Center for the Arts and Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Brenda A. Nelson, Emanuel AME Church.
4:00 pm North Charleston – Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church – 7396 Rivers Avenue
Pre-Musical 3:15 Featuring Mt. Moriah Missionary Teen Choir. Host, Hon. Henry Darby, Charleston County Council, District 4. Music by North Charleston Area Mass Choir, Joshua Baptist Church Choir. Praise dance and mime performances by Royal Missionary Baptist Church and Bethel AME Church youths. Sermon by Rev. Robert L. Grove, Pastor Joshua Baptist Church.
5:00 pm James Island – St. James Presbyterian Church, USA- 1314 Secessionville Road
Mini Concert 4:00 PM Featuring Myra Chamble, Alison Champagne, area youth choirs. Presiding, Rev. Charlie L. Murray Jr. Pastor, First Baptist Church of James Island. Music by James Island Interfaith Youth Choir. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Alex White, Sr. Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church of James Island.
5:00 pm East Cooper – Olive Branch African Methodist Episcopal Church – 1734 Highway 17 North, Mt. Pleasant
Presiding, Rev. Richard C.K. Harkness, Pastor, Olive Branch AME Church. Music by East Cooper Interdenominational Mass Choir. Sermon by Rev. Iris J. Brown, Pastor, Ebenezer/Mt. Zion AME Church
MLK Youth Summit – Wednesday, Jan. 13 – Free & open to public
6:30 pm Seacoast Church – 750 Long Point Road – Mt. Pleasant
Featuring Reggie Dabbs, internationally known youth motivational speaker, rated “#1 high school speaker in America” by National Education Association. Youth Talent Showcase of poetry, dance, drama performances streaming live on line from Seacoast Church. High-tech, multi-cultural event, all are welcome. Seacoast Church is lead co-sponsor along with Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church and Royal Missionary Baptist Church.
MLK Tri-County Ecumenical Service – Sunday, Jan. 17 – Free to public
3:00 pm Morris Street Baptist Church – 25 Morris Street, Charleston
Featuring keynote address by Hon. Eric H. Holder, Jr., 82nd Attorney General of the United States. US Congressman James E. Clyburn leads a delegation of U.S. Congressional Black Caucus Institute members attending the event and presents the Harvey Gantt Triumph Award to Holder and to Rev. Joseph A. Darby, Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District, AME Church. Remarks by Hon. John Tecklenburg, Hon. Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Music by Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church All-Male Intergenerational Choir, and the Divine Strength Chamber Ensemble. A host of area civic, clergy and business leaders along with 1,000 persons are expected to attend.
MLK Holiday Parade & Youth Poetry Slam – Monday, Jan. 18 – Free to public
11:00 am Newly elected Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg is Parade Grand Marshal. Parade departs from Burke High School, 244 President Street, Charleston and proceeds east to Ashley Avenue, north to Sumter Street, east to King Street, east on Calhoun Street and ends on Elizabeth Street. Parade live broadcast by WCBD TV Parade pre-enrollment at www.ywca-charlestonsc.org or call YWCA 843-722-1644. The parade annually attracts 20,000 parade route and television home viewers.
12:30 pm Youth Poetry Slam at CofC Science Center, 202 Calhoun Street, Charleston. To pre-register in advance for poetry contest call 843-953-4902, or 843-722-1644. Top three contest winners will receive $100, $50, $25 respectively.
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