Fox Valley events to honor MLK

“Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children,” the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said more than 47 years ago when he delivered his inspiring “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day set for Monday, Jan. 17, groups around the Fox Valley have organized events to celebrating his message and to continue to keep his dream — of justice and equal treatment for all — alive.

Elgin: “Diversity is our Strength! Unity is our Goal! Empowerment is our Destiny!” is the theme of Elgin's 26th annual celebration of the life, actions and dreams of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. The 2011 celebration will begin with a prayer breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, and will close with a public musical program at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16.The prayer breakfast will be held at the Business Conference Center at Elgin Community College. Doors open at 8 a.m. The Rev. Lasha Tennyson of Second Baptist Church of Elgin will be the keynote speaker. Officer Steve Jones of the Elgin Police Department will receive the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his service to Elgin's youth and family. #8220;(Jones) organized a coat and school uniform drive for area schools, and a trip for 35 underprivileged students to see the Underground Railroad in Cincinnati, Ohio,#8221; said Cherie Murphy, assistant to the city manager for community engagements.Tickets are $15 and can be obtained online at cityofelgin.org/mlk or by calling (847) 931-5667.The free public program begins at 4 p.m. at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin. Music will be provided by the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Choir and other performers. The winner of the 2011 Art and Essay contest will be announced, as well as the first and second place scholarship recipients. For details, call the city of Elgin at (847) 931-5667.Aurora: #8220;Celebrating the Dream,#8221; a dinner program honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., will be held by the Aurora University Black Student Association on Saturday, Jan. 15.The event is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. in the University Banquet Hall in Alumni Hall at 1410 Marseillaise Place, Aurora.The program will feature readings by students, a praise dance by the group Divine Purpose and a speech titled #8220;Make a Dream a Reality#8221; by BSA President and AU senior Shammrie Brown, a senior social work major from Grand Rapids, Mich.Closing remarks will be offered by BSA members, and Keyemup Entertainment will provide music.The public is invited. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call (630) 844-5486.Crystal Lake: FaithBridge, a spiritual consortium of local congregations, is hosting its second annual interfaith prayer breakfast honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, Jan. 17. Columnist and author Dawn Turner Trice will speak on the topic, #8220;To Live Together as Neighbors or Perish Together as Fools.#8221;The breakfast will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at D'Andrea Banquets in Crystal Lake. Tickets are $20 for the vegetarian buffet and are available from FaithBridge supporting organizations.The group plans to honor Dr. King because his teachings were inclusive, said the group's treasurer, Gilbert Friend-Jones of the First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake.FaithBridge is a four-year-old organization promoting mutual understanding among diverse religious groups. Its supporting organizations are: The Hindu Mandir of Lake County, the First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake, the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple of Woodstock, the Ridgefield-Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, the McHenry County Jewish Congregation, St. Paul's UCC of Barrington, the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, the Center for Spiritual Evolution in Cary, the Community Church of Barrington, the American Muslim Community Organization and the Department of Mission and Spiritual Care of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.In addition to the breakfast and talk, a group of 12 graduates of the first Faith-to-Faith, Face-to-Face interfaith certification course for lay people will be recognized. During two year's of training the graduates studied diversity and communications while learning about five religious faiths with an active presence in McHenry County.#8220;The project will equip participants to build cooperative relationships between differing faith-based constituencies,#8221; Friend-Jones said. New classes are planned.For those looking to burn off calories or do some work in the community, volunteers are needed for a special habitat restoration service project from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday at Pleasant Valley Conservation Area, 13315 Pleasant Valley Road, Woodstock.The workday is featured with the breakfast by site steward Greg Rajsky as a hands-on example of how people in a community can work together.Rajsky and Conservation District staff will lead volunteers in clearing brush and invasive plants from an area known as White Oak Woods located in the northeast corner of the site. No experience is necessary.Volunteers should wear long pants and sturdy shoes or boots and dress for the weather. Tools and training are provided. Volunteers must be age 16 or accompanied by an adult. For details, call the McHenry County Conservation District at (815) 338-6223. 19141312Yasmine Butler of Elgin bows her head in prayer at the start of last year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast at Elgin Community College. LAURA STOECKER/Daily Herald 2010 26723696Dorothy Galindez of Elgin sings along to the song, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” at last year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. prayer breakfast at Elgin Community College.LAURA STOECKER/ Daily Herald 2010 168198The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks April 15, 1967, at a peace rally in New York City. Jan. 15 is the late civil rights leader’s birthday. AP Photo 640825Steve Jones of the Elgin Police Department