Annual MLK Unity Breakfast Seeks To Erase Divisions

WOODSTOCK, GA -- Organizers are working overtime to make sure the 19th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast goes off without a hitch.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton.

The keynote speaker will be former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, who was first elected in 2002 as the first black female mayor of a major southern city.

She currently serves as chairman of the board and CEO of Purpose Built Communities and the Barbara Jordan Visiting Professor in Ethics and Political Values at the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Franklin is president of Clarke-Franklin and Associates, Inc., co-chair of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta’s Regional Commission on Homelessness and chair of the National Center of Civil and Human Rights.

She also served on the board of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 2013 Commission to Build a Healthier America, the Board of Directors of Mueller Water Products, Delta Air Lines and The Volcker Alliance.

Aside from her role as a public official, her community service spans nearly 40 years in Atlanta and includes her active participation in the arts, homelessness and higher education.

This year's theme is "Inspiring Unity Amongst Division."

"When selecting this year’s theme, our committee considered many factors currently affecting our society including, racial and ethnic relations, the economy and our current political environment," organizers said.

This theme will also be introduced to high school senior applicants as the essay topic for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship, which is sponsored by Allen Temple AME Church in Woodstock.

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

Cherokee County schools, community groups and businesses will participate. 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, the presentation of the MLK Unity Award and the CommUNITY Service Project “Serve 2 for Cherokee County.”

The MLK UNITY Award was established in 1999 by the Rev. Carl A. Moore, Sr., pastor of Allen Temple AME Church, to recognize the contributions of an individual who has made a positive impact on the community by fostering harmonious racial and cultural relations.

The CommUNITY Service Project “Serve 2 for Cherokee County” provides year-long service opportunities which will positively impact the residents of Cherokee County. The family of Dr. King often reminds us that the MLK Holiday is “a day on, not a day off.” With this in mind, volunteers will be asked to serve a minimum of 2 hours at various agencies and non-profit organizations throughout Cherokee County.

Current partners in this effort include Forever Fed, The Salvation Army, MUST Ministries and others.

The conference center is located at 1130 Bluffs Parkway in Canton.

Image via National Parks Service