During the 36th Annual MLK Ceremony on the city government of Aurora’s Facebook Live presentation, four community advocates received the Donna J. Williams MLK Day Service Award. Traditionally presented at the MLK Ceremony to those who participated in the annual Aurora Day of Service. The award was presented this year to grassroots community leaders who have progressed, pivoted, and paved the way during the pandemic. This recognition is named in honor of one of the founding members of the Aurora MLK Committee and a first-class educator, Donna J. Williams. Born and raised in Aurora, Donna was graduated from East Aurora High School and taught for more than three decades in West Aurora School District 129. She lived a full life of selfless service. Donna Williams was a founding member of the Aurora Actionaires, a board member of the Aurora Civic Center Authority, the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, the Aurora Historical Society and the YWCA Aurora. She was one of the senior leaders of Main Baptist Church and a charter member of the Delta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Even after retirement, Donna continued to devote countless hours to the Aurora community until her passing in 2014. This year’s recipients of the Donna J. William MLK Day Service Award are: Brisa Barraza, Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry; Natalie Bonner, Talented Tenth Social Services, Inc.; Mary Fultz, Community Advocacy Awareness Network CAAN; and David Smith, At Risk Mentoring. City government of Aurora Facebook screenshot
