Since the annual Dr. Martin Luther King luncheon is not taking place locally, a group of young girls have decided to not let the year go by without paying their proper respects to his dream.
After the Niagara Community Center shut down due to the passing of its executive director two years ago, the annual Dr. King Luncheon has lost its base and has only survived due to community involvement.
Sisterhood, a group of community-oriented young women, ranging in age from 14 to 23, have decided to pick up the cause and hold their own awards dinner: Keep Our Dream Alive.
“Sisterhood is a group of young girls we started in a church, and we help young girls of the community,” says Joi Robinson, the president of Sisterhood. “Since we started in the church, we have the value of community service in us already.”
Sisterhood was originally started by Robinson and her friend Quincy Dix at a church conference two years ago. Together, they decided they needed to form a group to help each other and the community.
The group, which consists of a tight-knit circle of friends, focuses on volunteer work at places ranging from the Falls Board of Education to the Housing Authority’s resource center.
“They do a lot of community things they don’t like to be recognized for,” explains Nicole Bass, a parent of one of the girls, “They try to stay positive and try to have knowledge about their community.”
When Sisterhood heard the King Luncheon was not happening, they were deeply disappointed. As young black women, they feel they are responsible for upholding their heritage and allowing for it to continue to grow.
To do this, Sisterhood took it upon themselves to set up the Keep Our Dream Alive Awards Dinner. The dinner will honor various community members who have shown strong leadership or benefited the community greatly in some way.
The people to be honored are: Alice T. Jordan, Owen Steed Sr., state Sen Antoine Thompson, Denise Easterling, Yolanda R. Walker-Price, Stephanie W. Cowart, Minister Kyron Averhart and Dolores Periera.
The event is free to the public and will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Niagara Falls Housing Authority Family Resource Building, 3001 Ninth St.
“I’m really proud that they go the extra effort to keep Dr. King’s dream alive.” Bass said.
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PATRICK MCPARTLAND/CONTRIBUTOR
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