DuPage leaders to gather in Wheaton
Last year, the DuPage County celebration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday taught residents how familiarity can bridge gaps between cultures and races by creating true understanding of other people.
This year, the Rev. Martin Wiley from the Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Maywood will deliver another piece of knowledge geared toward making King's dreams for equality a reality.
State and county elected officials will join judges and religious leaders from throughout the community in delivering that message this year. More than 100 readers from various backgrounds will deliver the litany in affirmation of the relevance of King's goals.
"We've made significant progress since the origination of that dream, and yet there's still a very long way to go," said the Rev. Andre Allen of Wheaton's Second Baptist Church. Allen helped organize the event.
"There's still a very long way to go," Allen said. "I think that we can still see some great development in areas of employment and African-Americans and people of color in elected office."
DuPage County Circuit Judge Robert Anderson also helped organize the event, mainly because he finds it so personally uplifting.
"I'm hopeful that anyone who comes will find it to be inspirational," Anderson said. "In attending, I'm reminded of all the good things about our country and about people."
This year, as in the past, the event will help raise money for college scholarships for high school students who embody the virtues of King.
The event is free and open to the public.
Also in Wheaton on Monday, the People's Resource Center will host an open house featuring an award-winning photography display of King and the civil rights movement.
The event will include small group discussions at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. on how to respond to the issues of war, racism and poverty.
If you go
What: "DuPage County Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration"
When: 6:15 p.m., Monday
Where: Wheaton College's Edman Memorial Chapel, 401 Franklin St., Wheaton