Nearly 800 Gather to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at YMCA’s 27th Annual Community Celebration

Milwaukee, WI – January 15, 2024 – Today, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee brought together hundreds of community members, public officials, business and faith leaders, and nonprofit representatives to Potawatomi Casino Hotel to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The theme of this year’s event focused on an excerpt from one of Dr. King’s most famous quotes, “What affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

This year’s event included a clear call to action for the community to join the YMCA’s upcoming Deliberate Dialogues Series happening throughout the week from January 16 – 18. These discussions, which will focus on different topics that address the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, are free and open to the community. To RSVP, visit www.ymcamke.org/mlk.

“In today’s polarized environment, it’s more important now than ever, to acknowledge and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and his commitment to social change,” said Leila Wright, Vice President, Mission Advancement. “This year marks the 27th year we’ve hosted our annual MLK Day celebration.

Our goal is to continue to bring people together and create safe spaces for the community to have thoughtful and informative conversations.”

The program recognized the work of local non-profits dedicated to serving others, and featured uplifting messages from Governor Tony Evers, Senator Tammy Baldwin, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, and a presentation from one of the student winners of the Youth Development Writing Contest, who wrote about the meaning and impact of Dr. King’s legacy.

African American Breastfeeding Network was announced as the recipient of the Healthy Living Award and Re-Imagine Education was announced as the recipient of the Social Responsibility Award.

In addition, Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin and Aurora Health Care were among the top health organizations that joined business leaders from Northwestern Mutual, Potawatomi Casino, GE Healthcare, Molson Coors, and other companies to connect, collaborate, and strengthen equity efforts across different sectors of the city.

About YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee

For more than 165 years, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee has strengthened the foundations of our community by “Putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.” There are three locations throughout the Milwaukee area, as well as YMCA Camp Minikani in Hubertus, along with over 80 program sites where we’re committed to being advocates for healthy families and partnering with others to improve the greater good in Milwaukee County.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.