Sandy Springs Celebrates MLK Day with Diverse Lineup of Speakers

A number of faces representing a wide variety of faiths will be on hand to celebrate the legacy of one of the nation’s greatest civil rights leaders.

The city of Sandy Springs on Monday will hold its annual MLK Day Celebration event, which will start at 10 a.m. Jan. 19 in the Council Chmbers at City Hall.

Journalist M. Alexis Scott will provide the keynote address during the celebration. Scott has a 40-year career as a newspaper journalist, executive and visionary community leader. She was a part of the executive team, which opened the Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta in 2014.

Prior to working with the Center, Scott was publisher of the Atlanta Daily World, following a successful 22-year career with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Cox Enterprises, where she worked her way from reporter to vice president/community affairs for the newspaper to director of diversity for Cox.

In addition, the program includes remarks from:

• Pastor Henry Bush with Sharon Community Church: In February 2002, Pastor Henry Bush was appointed to lead the Sharon Community United Methodist Church, a congregation as diverse and multicultural as the community it serves. Today, Sharon’s once tiny, all-white congregation has more than 300 members representing more than 10 countries and nationalities.
• Rabbi Scott Colbert with Temple Emanuel-El: Now serving as Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel-El, Rabbi Colbert joined the staff in 1987. In addition to his role as the congregation’s religious leader, he is adjunct professor of Jewish religious thought at the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. He is a published author and writes for various professional journals.
• Reverend Michael Sullivan with Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church: The Reverend Sullivan joined the Holy Innocents community as rector in 2009. Prior to joining the priesthood, Rev. Sullivan practiced law. An author of two books and numerous articles, Rev. Sullivan feels especially called to interfaith understanding and dialogue.
• Oz Hill: Firestorm principal and chief executive officer of International Security Solutions Inc., a full-service security consulting, planning and program management corporation, Mr. Hill returns as master of ceremonies.

As part of the celebration, the 2015 Humanitarian Award will be presented to honor an individual who has shown outstanding commitment to community service in Sandy Springs.

Past Humanitarian Award recipients include: Hugo Mullins (2014), Felix Lora (2013), Tamara Carrera (2012), Melanie Noble-Couchman (2011), Carolyn Axt (2010), Lucy Hall-Gainer (2009), Randi Passoff (2008) and Nancy McCord (2007).

Students from North Springs Charter High School and the Spalding Charter Elementary School Choir will also participate.

The MLK Day Celebration is open to the public, and there is no charge to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

The Council Chambers are in Building 500 and Sandy Springs City Hall is at 7840 Roswell Road.

Photo credit: National Parks Service