From left, Peter and Vicki Kyriakides andElaine Holderfrom the Atlantic Beach Club and Pavilion, Marilyn Warren, MLKCC Exec. Dir., Emlen andLiz Drayton, Liz and Bob Mastin and MLKCC Board President Whitney Slade
Community members lauded at
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center ‘s
Keepers of the Dream and Annual Meeting celebration
More than 100 community members gathered at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center’s for the Keeper of the Dream and Annual Meeting celebration Thursday evening, January 26th.
President of the Board of Trustees Whitney C. Slade welcomed guests to the start of the Center’s 90th year and commended outgoing president Suzi Conklin Nance for her dedicated service. Executive Director Marilyn Warren delivered the Annual Report, describing the Center’s many accomplishments over the past year. Board Treasurer John L. Burke spoke of the Center’s move to fiscal health and Gail Lowney Alofsin, Chair of the Governance Committee, welcomed new board members David Howe ofJamestown, Wendy Kagan ofNewport and Erin Jantz of Middletown.
Keith W. Stokes, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, delivered the evening’s keynote address. Stokes spoke of the state of RI’s economy with a focus on urban community development. He challenged the audience to support the work of organizations like the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center whose strong education and entrepreneurial programs strengthen the community.
Later in the evening, the Center honored Keepers of the Dream Emlen and Liz Drayton ; Corporate Keeper of the Dream the Atlantic Beach Club and Pavilion; and Volunteers of the Year Bob and Liz Mastin, as those who best exemplify the ideals of Dr. King and the mission of the Center. The honorees were lauded for their passion for equality and justice, promotion of the Center and its work in the community, and a commitment to creating opportunities for those needing advocates.
Each honoree received special recognition from United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. Honorees were presented with personalized lighthouse awards, custom-designed and created by Michael Richardson of Anchor Bend Glassworks.
Your donations of toys made this holiday season extra special for the children in our educational programs.
Thank you, all you Elves!
The MLK Community Center named a recipient charity of the inaugural Citizens Bank Newport Pell Bridge Run on Sunday, November 13, 2011….
On November 13, almost 2600 runners had the opportunity to do something no one has ever done before – run over the Newport Pell Bridge. Eident Sports Marketing, in partnership with Citizens Bank and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, sponsored a unique race that allowed runners to cross the Newport Pell Bridge for the first time ever. The 4 mile race began in Jamestown and ended at the Washington Square branch of Citizens Bank.
The MLK Community Center was honored to be named a recipient charity.
USS Bulkeley Sailors Volunteer at MLK Center
A team of 13 sailors from the USS Bulkeley sorted boxes of donated groceries and assembled 140 Thanksgiving food baskets at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Centeron Nov. 1 and Nov. 3. The baskets will be distributed to local families in need during the upcoming holiday season. In addition to helping with the Holiday Gift baskets, Bulkeley volunteers also painted the Center’s computer room that serves 65 elementary school students during the Lighthouse Academy after school program.
“I’m fortunate to do what I do in the Navy, but giving back to the community is an opportunity to change someone’s life,” said Quartermaster 3rd Class Derrell Gilbert of Cuthbert, Ga.
“We’re so grateful to the crew of the USS Bulkeley for their help. What they did in four hours normally takes us four days!” said Bea Brush, Food Pantry Coordinator.
Each year during the Thanksgiving and holiday seasons, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center provides Holiday Baskets to neighbors in need. Each basket contains the traditional holiday meal, plus enough food to feed the family during the holiday break. The Center also provides toy baskets to local children.
“I like being able to help out an organization like this one that does a lot of good for a lot of people,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Spencer Forward of Cerritos, Calif.
