A full day of activities is planned in Oak Ridge on Monday, Jan. 15, to celebrate and remember the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Area residents can begin their day with a prayer breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Green McAdoo Cultural Center, 101 School St., Clinton. Then rush to the scholarship program, which will be held at 9:45 a.m. at the Y-12 New Hope Center Auditorium, 602 Scarborough Road in Oak Ridge. In the afternoon, head to the 1pm program at Oak Valley Baptist Church, 194 Hampton Road, Oak Ridge. Then, a little later, we drive to Robertsville Middle School for a basketball fundraiser starting at 4 p.m.
prayer breakfast
Join us for a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, pancakes, juice, and coffee in honor of the King. Our special musical guest, Brandon Whittaker, a musician and composer from Knoxville, gets us excited. Several local faith leaders will lead us in prayer as we continue to strive to realize King’s dream. Trevor King will reflect on King’s accomplishments, and Harriman’s Paris Ellis will perform a solo. This inaugural event is sponsored by the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and the Oak Ridge-Anderson County NAACP. This event is free, but please reserve your tickets on Eventbrite so the organizers can prepare as much food as you need. The link is https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-mlk-prayer-breakfast-tickets-769258291257?aff=erelexpmlt.
scholarship program
Immediately after breakfast, head straight to the scholarship program hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) at the Y-12 New Hope Auditorium, 602 Scarboro Road, Oak Ridge. It begins at 9:45 a.m. and includes performances by SECME students and scholarships to be given away. SECME students at Robertsville Middle School will also perform “We Were the First,” a play honoring the Scarborough 85, black students who attended previously segregated Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville in 1955. The keynote address will be given by the Rev. Erika Haigler, pastor of AME Zion Church Spurgeon Chapel. Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge will provide lunch and Church Women United will provide dessert. Adults and students alike are welcome to attend this free event.
“It Starts with Me: Creating a Beloved Community.”
Then, at 1 p.m., the public is invited to Oak Valley Baptist Church, 194 Hampton Road, Oak Ridge, to consider Dr. King’s goal of creating a “beloved community.” The program was organized by members of Oak Ridge Solutions of Race (ORSOR) and supported by the local chapter of the NAACP and Joyful Consilers. Valeria Roberson will once again serve as Master of Ceremonies for this moving, music-filled and spirit-filled event. Speakers include new City Manager Randy Heman and the Rev. Derrick Hammond, Oak Valley pastor and Oak Ridge City Councilman. Two choirs will perform uplifting music. Again, everyone is welcome. A reception will follow.
Basketball Advantage: Robertsville vs. Cherokee
The basketball benefit event begins at 4 p.m. at Robertsville Middle School, 245 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge, and will feature the home team taking on Cherokee Middle School in Kingston. Come support your home team. And know that the funds you receive support the Scarborough 85 Monument Project. Admission is $5.
Yes, it’s a whole day. But this federal holiday is “not a holiday, it’s a holiday.” See you soon!
The mission of the NAACP Education Committee is to encourage parents and educators to provide educational opportunities that are equally accessible to all children in Oak Ridge. Its overall vision is for all students and parents to be equipped with the tools to prepare for college, career, and any opportunity to succeed. For inquiries regarding her local NAACP activities and membership, the secretary can be reached by email at: vanesaspratling@gmail.com. The monthly general meeting is always held on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month and the public is always invited.
Green McAdoo Community Cultural Center, 101 School Street, Clinton (on the hill behind the high school) https://greenmcadooculturecenter.org. The Green-McAdoo Cultural Center celebrates and preserves the legacy of the Clinton 12, his 12 black students who desegregated Clinton High School. The organization strives to educate the public about Clinton’s role in the history of desegregation and civil rights, while striving to serve, empathize, and collaborate for the betterment of the greater community. The director can be contacted at avelt@clintontn.net or 865-643-6500.
Other sponsors include Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), Oak Ridge Solutions of Race (ORSOR), Joyful Reconcilers, and Scarboro 85 Monument Project.