On Friday, January 14, 2011, Anne Arundel County celebrated its 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Dinner.  Over 800 hundred attended this annual event at the La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie, Maryland to celebrate the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and to salute the 2011 honorees.

Nine prestigious awards were given to nine individuals for their commitment to the community, enhancing lives and carrying the dream of Dr. King forward.  They are Molly Nipe, executive director of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County who received the “We Share the Dream Award”; Christopher Nelson, president of St. John’s College received the Morris Blum Humanitarian Award; Senator Rob Garagiola, Maryland State Senate received the “Maryland Citizen’s Health Initiative,”  Courageous Leadership Award; Lambda Delta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority received the “Coretta Scott King Award”; Diane Allotey member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Anne Arundel County Chapter received the “Drum Major Award”; Captain Anthony P. Barnes, United States Naval Academy received the Drum Major Award; Rob Levit, musician received the Peace Maker Award and Gail E. Smith, Office of the Mayor received the “Dream Keepers Award.”  All of the awardees have made significant contributions to the community in their respective areas and those contributions were recognized on Friday evening.

 

The keynote speaker for the evening was Judge Alexander Williams, Jr. gave a powerful speech.  Everyone at dinner was pleased.

 

It was a wonderful evening complete with an high-tech advertisement for the upcoming Coretta Scott King Memorial to be developed at Sojourner Douglass College in Edgewater.

 

The two minute acceptance speech by each of the honorees was pre-recorded and drastically cut the time of introductions. It is nice to see the King Dinner step into the new age of technology while being respectful of everyone’s time.

 

Overall, this was a wonderful event, well attended by the community.  A Luta continua!