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Bishop Vashti McKenzie To Keynote Triangle MLK Interfaith Prayer Breakfast; More MLK Events

Bibi Miller

prayerRESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The late Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) would have celebrated his 93rd birthday this Saturday (Jan. 15), and the Triangle MLK Committee is planning its usual festivities, including the annual Triangle MLK Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, which will be virtual again this year.

The Committee’s itinerary kicked off Friday (Jan. 14) at 9 AM. There was a wreath-laying ceremony at the City of Raleigh’s MLK Memorial Gardens. Due to the pandemic, the ceremony will also be viewable remotely. The Committee has a presence on both Facebook and YouTube.

Friday will be a day of prayer and reflection for the Committee. A prayer session followed the wreath-laying.

Arguably, the biggest events will take place on Monday, starting with the 42nd annual Triangle MLK Interfaith Prayer Breakfast. It will commence Monday at 7 AM. The breakfast will stream on WRAL.com from 7-9 AM and will air on WRAL-TV at 8 AM.

prayerThe Keynote Speaker is Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the 117th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She is the first female elected to episcopal office in the more than two-decade-old AME Church and is the first female to serve as President of the Council of Bishops and President of the General Board. Bishop McKenzie currently serves as National Chaplin of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Director of Documentaries at Payne Theological Seminary.  Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon will render the music. 

At 11 AM Monday, the MLK Memorial March will depart from the State Capitol (Edenton St. side). March assembly and line-up begin at 10 AM. Masks are recommended.

Viewable on Facebook and YouTube, the Committee’s Noon Observation (12 PM) Panel Discussion, “Beloved Community Here and Now,” will be moderated by Angel Brown, Manager, Neighborhood Impact at UWGT. NC State Professor Dr. Terrance Ruth is the keynote speaker. Panelists are: 

  • Kerwin Pittman, Executive Director of Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services
  • Maria Mayorga, LatinX Civic Engagement Coordinator of Blueprint NC
  • Byron Laws, NC Counts Coalition

The (Virtual) Evening Musical Celebration will be hosted by John Clark, Melissa Wade, and Jerry Smith at 5:30 pm. The daylong observance concludes with a virtual musical event featuring local and national artists from around the Triangle

Watch on Triangle Dr. Martin Luther King Facebook Page and on the Triangle Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee YouTube Page at Noon and 5:30 pm.

In 2020, Committee brought in almost $125,000 dollars in contributions, gifts, and grants –  considerably more than in years prior (tax returns here). That same year, the Committee spent over $45,000 on events, so naturally, they welcome donations, sponsors, and volunteers.

All programs are free and open to the public!

About Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee 

The Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee exists to educate our community by expanding upon the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Among the principles of Dr. King’s legacy are respect, equality, opportunity, diversity, and a commitment to peace, justice, and non-violent solutions to conflict.  All of these principles at the heart of the civil rights movement are equally as relevant to our lives today as we seek to address and solve present-day social issues in our community.

It is the goal of the Triangle MLK Committee to organize, deliver and promote quality events and programming in the Triangle on the King national holiday, and expand the message of hope and healing in Dr. King’s philosophy through ongoing, community-engaging activities throughout the year.