COLUMBUS — Calling Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message “timeless,” Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor urged people to continue to speak out against racism and hatred.
Taylor was the keynote speaker Thursday during the 32nd annual Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration held at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus. The event was sponsored by the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission.
“Although much has changed during the past 50 years, Dr. King’s lessons are timeless,” Taylor said. “His unwavering commitment to nonviolence, justice and dignity for everyone is the legacy that Dr. King created and it is vital that we keep it alive. His legacy will always be a reminder that we must stand together and speak out against racism and hatred.”
Taylor and members of the Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission presented seven statewide award, three of which went to Lima residents or organizations.
• Phillip Morton, of Lima, won the Social Justice Award. It is presented to a person who made significant contributions to achieving justice for individuals or communities. Morton is the past chair of the Lima affiliate of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice. Under Morton’s leadership, the Lima affiliate raised money for college scholarships for students studying criminal justice and other related fields. Members also have adopted a school where they tutor and mentor students. The affiliate also has supported many community programs, including crime victim services, Salvation Army and Family Promise, an organization helping homeless and low-income families.
• The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Lima, received the Cultural Awareness Award. During the past 26 years, the Sigma Mu Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority hosts the largest MLK breakfast in Lima with 500 to 700 attendees, where they raise funds for programming and scholarships. Other projects include giving bags of food to youth for weekend meals and serving as reading buddies.
• Lima Schools Superintendent Jill Ackerman received the Educational Excellence Award for her strong dedication to helping students succeed inside and outside of the classroom. She was instrumental in bringing the Closing the Achievement Gap program to Lima, which helps at-risk students move in the right direction and toward graduation through various activities and adult mentors.
Other winners:
• Governor’s Humanitarian Award criteria: Mackenzie Lewis, 10, of Columbus. She spent hours planning and executing drives and a fundraiser to collect safe water and other supplies for the people of Flint, Michigan.
• Community Building Award criteria: Wayne McLaughlin, Chillicothe, who has dedicated his life to the service of others.
• Economic Opportunity Award criteria: JumpStart, Inc., Cleveland, for helping more than 1,150 early-stage entrepreneurs raise more than $2 billion in risk capital, generate more than $1.7 billion in revenue and create more than 10,000 jobs.
• Health Equity and Awareness Award criteria: To Katie Potter, Brook Park, who is the manager of the women’s house of the Ed Keating Center, which provides recovering alcoholic and drug-addicted men and women a chance for sober living.
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