Harford County Human Relations Commission Recaps Martin Luther King Day Observances

From Harford County Government:

(Bel Air, MD) – The 9th Annual Harford County NAACP and Black Youth in Action (BYA) Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration was held on January 20, 2014 at the Temple Adas Shalom in Havre de Grace. Preceding the program was a breakfast hosted by Temple Adas Shalom.

Alondra Doobay, BYA Debutante Queen; Taylor Cole, BYA Debutante 1st Runner-up; Salina Williams, BYA Adults President; and Alexandra Goffin, NAACP Youth Council President extended greetings.

The Temple Adas Shalom Choir and BYA Debutante, Amber Eure provided musical selections on the bass clarinet. Youth from Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Havre de Grace performed a praise dance selection.

The NAACP Youth Council presented a special tribute to Nelson Mandela, humanitarian and former president of South Africa who fought long and hard to end apartheid in his country. Mr. Mandela passed away in December 2013.

Speaker Rabbi Gila Ruskin, entitled her message, “Remembering Gwynn Oak Park.” She shared the historical and collective efforts of several Jewish advocates in joining with the black community in Baltimore to break down racial barriers at the privately owned Gwynn Oak Park, as well as restaurants, theatres, and other establishments “little by little — one by one.”

Mr. Mark Wolkow, former president of the Harford County Board of Education and member of Temple Adas Shalom, shared comments on the subject “Our Ties,” the threads of history that bind us together. Mr. Wolkow collaborated with the NAACP and his congregation for this commemorative event.

After remarks from NAACP President, Zilpha Smith, and benediction from Rev. Lisa Ward, Unitarian Church, the celebration ended with everyone locked arm in arm singing “We Shall Overcome”.

Other King Holiday observances included the Joseph Bond/Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards Luncheon, sponsored by the Harford County Human Relations Commission on Tuesday, January 14th and Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration sponsored by U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) on Thursday, January 16th.