Lisa Bradley speaks Monday during the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast Celebration at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — A full house came together Monday morning to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a breakfast and presentation from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center.
Dr. Lisa Bradley, special assistant to the president for diversity, equity and inclusion at Rhodes State College, gave the keynote address which focused on King’s legacy and how everyone can pass on their legacy.
“The theme of sustaining a legacy and that ‘it starts with me’ says it all,” Bradley said. “I’m hoping that the audience finds something that will ignite a spark within them to take it through the rest of the year and beyond. It starts with them.”
Lima resident Jannie Springer said that she came out to the breakfast to hear the speeches and meet others from around the city.
“I think it’s awesome,” she said. “It gave me energy to make Lima a better place for myself, as well as my children and grandchildren. It’s so community-driven and it makes Lima a better place.”
Bradley said that remembering King is the most important part of the day, but finding meaning for the individual is important.
“Remembering Dr. King is always the jump-start,” she said. “Because he did so much in our country. But second is trying to find a legacy, peace and space in yourselves to pass on.”
Lima resident John Doxie said that he has been coming to the annual breakfast for all 29 years it has been around and that he has been happy to honor King.
“(Alpha Kappa Alpha) really put on a nice performance and they also bring a lot of knowledge to the table regarding Dr. King,” he said. “If we can keep that dream alive, that’s what it’s all about.”
Everyone found their own meaning from the presentation.
“They can make the difference,” Springer said. “It’s within every citizen in Lima to take a stand and do their part to make it a better place for us and people who will be here when we’re gone.”
“Everybody has their own legacy,” Doxie said. “It’s a matter of what they do in their life to help somebody and as long as they keep putting that forward, the legacy will continue to grow.”
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