The Liberty County Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Association recently announced its theme for the 2010 celebration.
The event is slated for Jan. 15-18, and planning is under way.
This year’s theme is “Back to the Basics ... Doing the Right Things,” said association President Dr. Alvin L. Jackson. “This celebration embraces Dr. King’s timeless message for every community and every generation to hold to the basic truths of character, integrity, perseverance, compassion, hard work, personal and communal responsibility — all virtues that have made this nation great,” he said.
“We are seeing many negatives in our communities and across the nation that threaten to tear us apart,” the president said. “High school dropout and teen pregnancy rates are alarming. Escalating local crime threatens our sense of security and the jail houses are overflowing.”
According to Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the Division of Public Health, preventing teenage pregnancy is critical to helping people live safe, healthy and self-reliant lives.
“Teen pregnancy and out-of-wedlock parenting are linked to dropping out of school, poverty, welfare dependency and other risks,” Brown said.
Jackson said he hopes the impact his organization can make in partnering with schools, local churches and businesses will help the community. Each year, churches and businesses sponsor the MLK Jr. celebration, which enables the association to award scholarships to students.
“We have awarded more than $37,000 in the past five years,” said association Second Vice President Kenneth Howard.
The event is slated for Jan. 15-18, and planning is under way.
This year’s theme is “Back to the Basics ... Doing the Right Things,” said association President Dr. Alvin L. Jackson. “This celebration embraces Dr. King’s timeless message for every community and every generation to hold to the basic truths of character, integrity, perseverance, compassion, hard work, personal and communal responsibility — all virtues that have made this nation great,” he said.
“We are seeing many negatives in our communities and across the nation that threaten to tear us apart,” the president said. “High school dropout and teen pregnancy rates are alarming. Escalating local crime threatens our sense of security and the jail houses are overflowing.”
According to Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the Division of Public Health, preventing teenage pregnancy is critical to helping people live safe, healthy and self-reliant lives.
“Teen pregnancy and out-of-wedlock parenting are linked to dropping out of school, poverty, welfare dependency and other risks,” Brown said.
Jackson said he hopes the impact his organization can make in partnering with schools, local churches and businesses will help the community. Each year, churches and businesses sponsor the MLK Jr. celebration, which enables the association to award scholarships to students.
“We have awarded more than $37,000 in the past five years,” said association Second Vice President Kenneth Howard.