Department of Community Services to Host Humanitarian Awards Luncheon

From Harford County Government:

(Bel Air, MD) – – The Harford County Department of Community Services, Human Relations Commission will sponsor the annual Joseph Bond/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, January 14, 2014. The event celebrates the memory and service of local civil rights leader Joseph Bond and internationally renowned Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Water’s Edge Events Center, 4685 Millennium Drive in Belcamp.

This year’s guest speaker will be the Honorable Yolanda L. Curtin. Judge Curtin is the first Latino judge appointed to the Harford County Circuit Court. She is also involved in mentoring law students of Latino descent.

Another highlight of this year’s program will be the presentation of the winner of the 2014 Writing Contest sponsored by the Human Relations Commission that was open to Harford County high school seniors. Participants wrote about how they plan to use the opportunities given to them to make their community a better place inspired by Dr. King’s quote, “We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.” The roughly hour-long Luncheon, which includes words of encouragement and inspiration, musical talents of area students, and a meal, serves as the backdrop for honoring these young unsung heroes and to encourage attendees to become more involved in community service.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service: “a day on, not a day off.” Countless Americans of varying ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities plan to join together to complete community service projects.

Tickets for the Humanitarian Awards Luncheon are $30 each. For more information please call the Human Relations Commission at 410-638-4739. The Commission is one of five supporting the Department of Community Services. It works to bring harmony, equity and equality to the citizens of Harford County.