MLK breakfast to feature legendary local educator, public servant
Residents of the Northwest suburbs are invited to the first Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m. Jan. 18 at Lakeside Legacy Arts Park, 401 Country Club Road, in Crystal Lake.
Ernie Broadnax, a lifelong native of Elgin, will be the keynote speaker.
The breakfast is sponsored by FaithBridge, a regional consortium of faith communities embracing Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Bahai and New Thought traditions. Diverse traditions will be represented in the program that seeks to celebrate Dr. King's vision of a beloved community.
The deadline to purchase tickets is Jan. 13.
Broadnax, an educator, storyteller and historian, will speak on "People Progress." He was the first African American basketball player for Elgin Community College in 1953, as well as the first to be a member of the school's award-winning speech team. He graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in juvenile corrections.
Broadnax served 11 years in the U.S. Marines. He directed Elgin's African American United Way agency and is the originator and the principal narrator for Elgin's award-winning Trolley Tour that presents Elgin's African American history. Married and the father of four, his ancestors came north with the Underground Railroad and settled in Elgin after the Civil War.
Broadnax is an active volunteer in many Gail Borden Public Library programs, serves on the board of trustees of New Hope Baptist Church and on the Citizen's Advisory Committee for District U-46 public schools. He has received many awards for his public service.
Tickets for the breakfast are $18 and are available at: First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake; McHenry County Jewish Congregation; Algonquin Bahai Community; American Muslim Community Organization of McHenry County; the Spiritual Care Department of the Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital; Blue Lotus Temple in Woodstock; Presbyterian Church of Barrington; Center for Spiritual Evolution in Cary; the Hindu Mandir of Grayslake; St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Barrington and The Community Church of Barrington.