MLK Jr. Remembrance Breakfast returns

Jan. 15—BROOKFIELD, Ohio — When Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equal rights, he was a dreamer.

That dream of equal rights for all people, social justice, better housing, and other goals, did not end when King was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39, Pastor Tyrone Steals said.

"Dreams cannot be destroyed by flesh and blood or human ingenuity," said Steals.

Steals, senior pastor of Greater Mount Zion Church of God in Christ in Farrell, served as the keynote speaker for the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Remembrance Breakfast Monday morning in Tiffany's Banquet Center in Brookfield, Ohio.

During King's life, he was arrested 30 times for "doing something right."

And although realizing the dream has had its obstacles, its struggles and its fights, King never lost the urgency to pursue that dream during his lifetime, even if he didn't live to see it become a reality, Steals said.

Those who have come after King must continue to pursue that dream and seek improvements with that same passion, Steals said.

"Where is our urgency?" Steals asked those in attendance.

The event, organized by the Shenango Valley Urban League as a breakfast since 2016, honors the life and accomplishments of King, while also recognizing members of the community who have continued King's legacy.

The event also featured an annual entrepreneur spotlight, with this year's recognition going to Janice Stewart, the founder of Christian Kollege 4 Kidz in Farrell and known to many of the breakfast's attendants as "Miss Sparkle."

At one point during her career, Stewart said she and her staff had to organize multiple shifts to keep the daycare open 24/7 — due to the number of working single parents who had children enrolled in Stewart's daycare.

Aside from Stewart's work caring for the community's children, urban league President and CEO Dr. Erin Houston thanked Stewart for supporting the urban league's Summer Youth Apprenticeship Program.

The program gives local youths an opportunity to work with area businesses.

Houston herself was one of the first students who participated in the program back in the 1990s, and since coming to work for the Urban League, Houston said Stewart was always willing to host some apprentices.

"Whenever I've called and asked her if she'll take anybody, she told me, 'Erin, just send them,'" Houston said of Stewart.

The breakfast's other speakers included students who shared their thoughts on King's life and legacy.

The program also included a video, courtesy of the American Red Cross, depicting a family's struggle with sickle cell disease.

Following the video, Farrell senior Hayven Hilton spoke on her senior project — organizing an upcoming Red Cross blood drive to support victims of sickle cell disease, who need regular blood transfusion treatments.

Hilton said one out of 12 African Americans — including a friend of hers — is born with the sickle cell gene. Despite being an otherwise normal seven-year-old kid, that friend was only recently able to enjoy their first full week of school just before Christmas break.

"This is going to be the first sickle cell blood drive for this area," Hilton said.

The drive will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 9 at Harriett Morrison Gym, Farrell High School, 1600 Roemer Blvd., Farrell.

Blood donors will receive a wellness check, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron level and sickle cell screening, according to an event flyer.

Those who donate will also receive a $20 egift card from Amazon; email will be required. Snacks, pizza, drinks and more will be available, while T-shirts will be distributed while supplies last, the flyer states.

Partnering with Hilton and the school district are Youngstown, Ohio chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., the Shenango Valley Urban League and the Mercer County unit of the NAACP.

More information, including the ability to set an appointment, can be found at redcrossblood.org.

Urban league officials recently launched a new program that will allow donors to support the organization through monthly donations, according to Urban League information.

Anyone interested in supporting the Shenango Valley Urban League can make a donation at www.donorbox.org/support-svul-2024.

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Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.