SARASOTA MLK CELEBRATIONS HELD

Left to right: Jetson Grimes, Jakobie Green, Arlene Sweeting, Deanie Bergbeiter, Dr. LaShawn Frost, Betty Jean Johnson, Helen James, Lemuel Andrews and Ron Turner.

Cynthia S. Howard

The Sarasota MLK Celebration Committee hosted the 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Monday, January 20th with a capacity crowd in attendance. This years theme was MLK 2020: Renewing a Spirit of Empowerment. This years honorees were Jakobie Green, Lemuel Andrews, Dr. LaShawn Frost and Betty Jean Johnson. Community service awards were presented to Ron Turner, Suncoast Women of Action and Progressive Sarasota. A posthumous award was presented to Dr. Edward E. James, II.

Green received the Youth Emerging Award for his or her academic performance and his pursuit of excellence. He is a junior at Booker High School. The Champion of Youth Award went to Lemuel Andrews, an educator and college and career advisor at Booker High School. Andrews has achieved success guiding students towards their educational goals.
Dr. Frost received the Education Award for her commitment to student learning and raising the standard of excellence. She is the principal of Booker Middle School. The MLK Legacy Award went to Johnson for her commitment to youth literacy and working to bring a library to the Newtown community.
Turner has served as Supervisor of Elections in Sarasota County since 2016 and has been accessible to the Sarasota community. Progressive Sarasota has worked to build a political power in this community and continues to hold voter registration drives on an ongoing basis. Suncoast Women of Action was organized five years ago to educate voters and increase civic engagement in the political process.
The Liberty and Justice Award was presented posthumously to the late Dr. Edward E. James, II, for his wisdom and guidance, his revolutionary work and his dedicated service to all citizens in this community.
Keynote speaker at the breakfast was Dr. Rachel Shelley, principal of Booker High School. Dr. King lived and died addressing equality, Dr. Shelley said. In 1963, he statedEquality means dignity. And dignity demands a job and a paycheck that lasts through the week. Dr. King has passed the baton to us. Now, we must pick up where he left off with equality. I believe we must continue with equality and start addressing equity. Equality is treating everyone the same. Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. While weve made tremendous strides in equality, we must start focusing on inequity in education as it relates to access.”
A march from the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex to the MLK Park was held immediately after the breakfast with the participation of bands and groups from the community. Activities in the park followed with music, dance and prose, plenty of food. Special activities were available for the kids including face painting, coloring and a bounce house.
Jetson Grimes is chairperson of the MLK Celebration and Phyllis Battie is chairperson of the MLK Memorial Breakfast.