Canton To Celebrate MLK's Legacy With Unity Breakfast

Canton and Cherokee County residents on Saturday will come together to celebrate the legacy of one of the nation’s most respected civil rights leaders.

The 17th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton.

This year’s master of ceremonies will be Chesley McNeil, a meteorologist with 11Alive News. Isaac Newton Farris, Jr., nephew of Dr. King, former Southern Christian Leadership Conference president and former COO of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, will serve as this year’s guest speaker.

The Unity Breakfast recognizes the legacy of one of America’s greatest civil rights icons and draws approximately 500 residents from all racial, political, social and religious backgrounds to promote unity among the citizens of the county.

Cherokee County school leaders, community groups and businesses representatives will participate and Cherokee County officials and community leaders will also be in attendance.

Guests enjoy a complimentary full breakfast as well as dynamic speakers, musical groups and other performances. The event is capped by highlighting the MLK Scholarship fundraiser and the presentation of the Unity Award.

The award, established in 1999 by Woodstock-based Allen Temple AME Church Pastor Carl A. Moore, Sr., recognizes the “contributions of an individual who has made a positive impact on the community by fostering harmonious racial and cultural relations,” the church said in a press release.

Photo credit: National Parks Service