Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presents the 2022 Donna J. Williams MLK Service Award to four individuals for their work in the community at Aurora’s 37th Annual MLK Commemoration, Monday, Jan. 17. From left, Jacqueline Gibson, principal of Cowherd Middle School, who is a vocal champion for youth; Ralph Jordan, executive director of the Aurora Housing Authority who has focused on a change in the environment and lives of AHA residents; Karina Suarez Darden, community health worker at VNA Health Care who has the voice for those in need of equity and access to health care; Joy Bowling, retired manager and educator who has been a voting rights and registration advocate. The late Donna J. Williams was an educator in West Aurora School District 129, a singer, and musician, at Main Baptist Church, and a founding member of the Aurora Actionaires, and mother of David Williams, a coach and educator Cathedral of Grace – St. John AME Church was host to the virtual ceremony which was livestreamed on the city of Aurora Facebook page. The theme was Be The Voice For Things That Matter and was underscored by a keynote presentation from one of the most familiar faces and voices in Chicago media, Hosea Sanders of ABC 7. Sanders shared information about Dr. King and challenged everyone to be and do better. City of Aurora government Facebook video screenshots Hosea Sanders and Richard Irvin present the Mayor’s Award of Excellence to saxophonist Theodore Fisher, a student at Millikin University and Alauren Lane a senior at Metea Valley High School for volunteering more than 175 service hours with the DuPage County NAACP as the founder and coordinator of its youth communications committee. She’s been an advocate to School District 204’s Student Equity Action Committee, executive producer of Metea Valley’s news show, and a member of the varsity girls basketball team. City of Aurora government Facebook video screenshots
