On Saturday, February 4th, President English and the Civil, Human & Women’s Rights Committee hosted the 13th Annual MLK Breakfast at Martin’s West in Baltimore, MD. Every year, the Committee honors community members who exemplify the courage and fortitude of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year program was no different as the 2017 honorees have a proven record of engaging Baltimore City youth and helping to develop them into a generation of leaders.
The 13th Annual MLK Breakfast, hosted by Committee member Sandra Davis, began with a welcome from Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby before those in attendance were wowed by Lyric Brumfield, Baltimore City Public School student and Fearless Dance Empire member, who performed an interpretive dance to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”.
Violet M. Apple was the recipient of the BTU Women’s Rights Award. As the Central Maryland Girl Scouts CEO, Apple has dedicated her career to working with underserved populations of girls, creating programming specifically focused on girls with disabilities, girls affected by HIV/AIDS, on probation and in residential treatment homes, and girls in juvenile facilities. It has been her goalto instill courage, confidence, and character in all of the girls she encounters through the Girls Scouts.
Dr. Hollie Hood-Mincey received the Barbara Van Blake Civil & Human Rights Award. The founder of the Singing Sensations Youth Choir (SSYC), Dr. Hood-Mincey created a safe haven for youth to expose them to the world through the diverse and multifaceted aspects of the performing arts. Dr. Hood-Mincey believes it is our duty to support the arts to help to develop the gifts and talents our young people possess that will catapult them toward their dreams.
The annual Breakfast also included inspiring words from keynote speaker Rev. Marvin Tiller, Jr., Associate Pastor at St. Mark Institutional Baptist Church, who also happens to be a Baltimore City Public School teacher and a former student of Civil, Human & Women’s Rights Chair Carla McCoy, and music by Mr. Charles Arnette, also a Baltimore City Public School teacher.
We would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby for offering welcoming words of support, and to President English, the Civil, Human & Women’s Rights Committee, Fearless Dance Empire, Rev. Marvin Tiller, Jr., Mr. Charles Arnette, BTU staff, and our supporters and friendswho helped to make the 13th Annual MLK Breakfast a success.
Visit our Facebook page to see more photographs from the 13th Annual MLK Breakfast.