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Northeast and City of Norfolk to celebrate MLK Day; Essay winner announced

Northeast and City of Norfolk to celebrate MLK Day; Essay winner announced

NORFOLK, NE - Northeast Community College and the City of Norfolk will host an event this month to celebrate the legacy and activism of the late civil rights leader, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hawks United, Northeast's diversity and inclusion student group, is partnering with Norfolk Mayor Josh Moenning's Diversity Council to present the inaugural “MLK Day Breakfast." The event, which is open to the public, will be held on Monday, January 21, at 7 a.m., in the Lifelong Learning Center on the Northeast campus in Norfolk. Doors will open at 6:30 a.m., with breakfast served beginning at 7 a.m. Seating is limited and RSVP’s are required.

Pastor Raponzil Drake, of First United Methodist Church in Norfolk, will be the keynote speaker.

Hawks United Co-Chairs Donna Neeman, director of Northeast’s TRIO program, and Billy Coby, residence life coordinator at Northeast, urge everyone to attend the breakfast.

Neeman said the theme of this year’s breakfast is “Intentionally Inclusive.”

“I think this ties perfectly into Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message of having a sense of ownership in the way you treat others, and ultimately creating an inclusive environment from which everyone can benefit. Having the breakfast to honor him at Northeast is a great way to get the students directly involved with being intentionally inclusive.”

Meanwhile, the winner of an essay contest based on one of Dr. King’s famous quotes has been announced. Hawks United partnered with the Northeast Foundation Office to provide all high school seniors in Madison, Pierce and Stanton counties an opportunity to write and submit an essay on the meaning of the quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

The winner of the contest is Damien Knight of Elkhorn Valley Schools in Tilden.

Knight has received a $500 scholarship to Northeast. He said he plans to attend the College next fall, where he will major in welding. He will be recognized at the MLK breakfast.

RSVP’s may be sent to Candace Schmidt at the City of Norfolk at cschmidt@ci.norfolk.ne.us or (402) 844-2264. For additional information on the event, contact Neeman at (402) 844-7736 or Coby at (402) 844-7146.

 

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PHOTO ID: Raponzil Drake. (Courtesy City of Norfolk)