Star Jones To Speak At Aurora's 38th Annual MLK Ceremony

AURORA, IL — Star Jones, a lawyer and television personality, is visiting Aurora on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to speak at the city's 38th annual ceremony honoring the legacy of the reverend.

The event, titled "Be a Drum Major for Justice, Equity and Mentorship," will begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 16 at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane.

A few of Jones' notable accomplishments include being a former New York City homicide prosecutor, a best-selling author, an Emmy-nominated "Outstanding Talk Show Host" on "The View" and the first Black woman to have a court television show.

"Star Jones has been on our TV screens for three decades, offering a fresh perspective to the day’s most talked-about crime, justice, political, and sociological issues," Aurora officials said in a news release Tuesday.

In addition to "insightful remarks" from Jones, the event will include performances, awards and community announcements. Guests should expect an evening of "empowerment and action," city officials said.

The ceremony — with youth as a focal point, officials said — will begin with the 2023 MLK Service Above Self Leadership Award for college and elementary, middle and high school students. The honor is given to students who demonstrate King's commitment to service.

Nominations for the award are still open and can be submitted via the city's website. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 9.