A two-part “Unity in the Community” event in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. is being hosted Monday by Owensboro Community and Technical College. It will feature a traditional in-person march at 9 a.m., followed by a virtual panel discussion and music beginning at 11 a.m.
This year the march will begin at Daviess County High School and conclude at OCTC’s Main Campus at 4800 New Hartford Road. Participants will meet at 8:45 a.m. at DCHS in the parking lot off of Southeastern Parkway and across from the district’s Central Office.
Following the march there will be a brief break in activities so that interested participants can return home and join in part two of the event via Facebook Live at Facebook.com/OwensboroCTC.
The musical performances feature the Cravens Chorus, singing Give Us Hope by Jim Popoulis and the Kentucky Wesleyan College Gospel Choir performing Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson.
The panel discussion features:
- Dr. Eunice Taylor, a United States Air Force officer and professional nurse. Taylor served as a chief nurse and chief flight nurse consultant to senior medical officers and the director of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.
- Brionna Greer, Chief Executive Officer and founder of Breaking The Cycle 2.0, whose mission is to conduct public education, community empowerment, and other charitable activities toward the goal of helping youth break cycles of gun violence and pursue higher education.
- Naheed S. Murtaza, a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and a licensed Illinois attorney. Since moving to Owensboro 19 years ago, Murtaza has worked with the local Owensboro community to improve the lives of marginalized groups, advance community education, and advocate for empowerment of socially disempowered in Owensboro and Daviess County.
- Susan Montalvo-Gesser, Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Owensboro, where she runs programming to address the social concerns of the Church, including Immigration Services and Disaster Relief Services.
Sharmy Davis, OCTC’s Director of Diversity, will serve as the moderator. The questions for the panelists will be submitted by students from Daviess County and Owensboro high schools.
This community MLK day event is held annually and is a collaborative partnership of the Owensboro Human Relations Commission and the Owensboro-Daviess County Education Community.
