advertisement

Deadline nears for Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest

The 2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will be held at 7:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at D'Andrea's Banquet Hall in Crystal Lake. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Zina Jacque of the Village Church of Barrington.

Tickets are $20 or $10 for students. Buy your tickets for the breakfast at www.faithbridgeinterfaith.org.

Held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day every January, this event brings together people of all faiths to commemorate the achievements of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and to celebrate our belief in the unity of the human race and the sacredness of creation.

A vegetarian buffet is shared at the D'Andrea's Banquet Center, 4419 Northwest Hwy., Crystal Lake. The program includes prayers, readings and music, from a variety of traditions. The keynote speaker is selected by the board to bring a message that helps us understand our part in creating justice and peace in the world.

Past speakers have included: Imam Plemon El-Amin, imam emeritus of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam; Rev. Calvin Morris, first executive director of the King Center in Atlanta; Dawn Turner Trice, author and a former columnist for the Chicago Tribune; Ernest Brooks III, assistant dean of the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta; and Dr. Ronald Beauchamp, director of the Niebuhr Center at Elmhurst College.

FaithBridge has held an annual essay contest for middle school students. In 2014, the topic was "My Dream for the World," followed by "How Do You Bring Peace in the Midst of Challenge and Controversy?" in 2015, "Awake: How Do You Wish to See the World in 20 Years? Remember You Are An Active Participant In These Changes" in 2016, and "Honestly Confronting Racism" in 2017.

The contest is open to all sixth- to eighth-graders in McHenry and Lake counties.

The winner will be awarded $50 and two tickets to the FaithBridge breakfast. The winner also will read their essay as part of the breakfast program. Submit essays to faithbridgeessay@gmail.com by Friday, Dec. 15. The essays must be 300 to 350 words.

For 2018, the essay theme will be "Conditoions for Hope," answering one of the following questions: how can I be brave in the cause of justice; what happens when good people are silent about injustice and how can I respond to injustice with hope; and why is it so hard to speak out about racision.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.