SCLC to host annual event to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference will host its 26th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, the weekend of Jan. 19-21.

The weekend will begin with a breakfast at Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ, 19190 Schaefer, from 9 a.m. to noon. Attendees will include Dr. Claud Young, president of the SCLC of Michigan; State Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom; Michigan Chronicle Senior Editor Bankole Thompson; Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano; and Karl Gregory. Karen Dumas will be the M.C.

On Sunday, Jan. 20, the SCLC will hold the Annual Ministers Awards Dinner at the Detroit Marriott-Renaissance Center at 4:00 p.m. The event’s theme is “Building A Healthy Community.” The Rev. E.L. Branch, pastor of Third New Hope Baptist Church will be the guest speaker.

The award recipients are Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans (Robert Millender Award); Rev. Dr. James Perkins (pastor of the year); Rev. Dr. Jimmy Womack (Septima Clark Award); Nancy Schlichting, president & CEO of Henry Ford Health Systems (Outstanding Achievements in Health Care); Sharon Appling (Gertrude Powe Award); Rhonda Walker (Outstanding Media Coverage Award); Roger Penske (Economic Achievement Award); and Councilwoman JoAnn Watson (Appreciation Award).

A Concert Celebration will be held Monday, Jan. 21, at 4 p.m. at Greater Grace Temple. The celebration is a tribute to the life and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this year featuring gospel recording artist and seven-time Stellar Awards nominee J. Moss and Darius Twyman.

Derrick Coleman is the general chair for the Concert Celebration.

Tickets can be purchased at the SCLC Office at 5050 Joy Road, (313) 834-1599; the Virginia Park Medical Center at 8500 14th Street, (313) 894-3950 or Triumph Church at 2550 S. Liddesdale, Detroit. Phone: (313) 386-8044.