Celebrating MLK Day, Aurora held a 41st annual MLK ceremony Monday, Jan. 19, at East Aurora High School auditorium. “Beyond the Dream” was the theme.
Keynote speaker was Stacy Davis Gates, president of both Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers. The leading national voice in the fight for educational equity, labor rights, and racial justice said, “We get a say to the America we live in. There’s a war on poor people. We need to leverage our labor for survival.”
Gates uses her background as a former high school history teacher to build a movement connecting labor organizing to a broader fight for community well-being and structural change.
Aurora mayor John Laesch presented awards to local youth and adults. Donna J. Williams MLK Service Awards went to residents who exemplify a radical service ethic. Recipients were Talaat McNeely, leader, Purpose City Church, Faith in Action award; India Willliams, researcher, Human Rights Award; Avalon Betts-Gaston, Structural Justice Award; and Vincent Gaddis, Ph.D., Community Well-Being Award.
Laesch also presented MLK Youth Liberation Awards to students for advocacy and leadership initiatives. Recipients were Viraj Vyas, No Vape Possible founder, Strengthens Neighborhood Award; Aanya Chava, 14, eighth grader at Still Middle School, Service and Compassion Award; and East High’s Cats Club, students dedicated to celebrating cultures, traditions and experiences of East High community, Courageous Love and Dignity Award.
Nicholas Richard-Thompson, Aurora deputy chief of staff, gave a call to action and closing remarks. He stressed advocating for people-centered human rights, participatory democracy in Aurora and building local systems that prioritize care and collective power of community.
Videos shown during the ceremony were “Letters from a Birmingham Jail,” “The Three Evils of Society” and “Where Do We Go from Here.” Educational workshops on Dr. King’s legacy and philosophy were held before the ceremony.
—Al Benson