37th annual QCC Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast set for virtual ceremony
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WORCESTER — Quinsigamond Community College on Monday will host the 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast — a virtual event commemorating the life, spirit and message of the influential and inspirational American civil rights leader.
“Dr. King fought for equity, equality and a democracy where all can prosper,” QCC President Luis G. Pedraja said. “We must work with renewed vigor to ensure we continue his legacy that inspires us all to achieve a nation in which ‘people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,’ as Dr. King dreamed.”
Due to the city's current COVID-19 surge, the event will only be held virtually and the speakers and the performances will be at various locations. A virtual program was also held last year.
The public cannot attend the event but can watch a stream live at 7:45 a.m. Monday.
WATCH: Annual MLK Jr. event n Worcester
After the live presentation, a recording of the event will be posted at the same web address.
Jackson to deliver keynote address
Kellie Carter Jackson, an associate professor in Africana studies at Wellesley College and author of “Force & Freedom: Black Abolitionists and the Politics of Violence,” will be the keynote speaker.
Philip J. Niddrie, co-chair of the community breakfast and former special projects coordinator for the City Manager's Office, will serve as the event’s master of ceremonies.
Linda Cavaioli, former executive director of YWCA of Central Massachusetts, will be awarded the annual Eleanor Hawley Community Service Award. Winners of the MLK Scholarship and essay and art contest also will be announced.
More: What's open, what's closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Mayor Joseph M. Petty, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Pedraja are all slated to make remarks.
The New England Gospel Choir will perform musical selections during the program and the Rev. Dr. S. Smith of the Second Baptist Church will give the invocation and benediction.
As part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast, the United Way of Central Massachusetts, the Worcester Area Mission Society and United Congregational Church are collecting new books for second- and third-grade Worcester Public Schools students.
A list of suggested books can be found here.
Books can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday at the Worcester Area Mission Society, 6 Institute Road.
Tax-deductible cash donations can be made to WAMS at wamsworks.org/.
More: Vincent D. Rougeau: Dr. King's legacy inspires us to move Worcester, and country, forward
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast virtual again in Worcester
