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UM, I AM HERBERT BROWN AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR, FOR, UH, ATTENDING THIS, UH, 14TH ANNUAL REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, THE HOLIDAY BREAKFAST.
THERE SHOULD BE, UH, PROGRAM INDICATING THE VARIOUS ITEMS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR TODAY.
AND AS IS ARE CUSTOM, I'M GOING TO ASK ALEX CORNWELL TO COME TO THE PODIUM FOR THE OPENING REMARKS.
GOOD MORNING, HONORED GUEST KEYNOTE SPEAKER, MUSICIANS, RECIPIENTS OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, ESSAY AND ART AND, UH, SPOKEN WORD CONTEST PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
I WANNA WELCOME EVERYONE FOR COMING AND THANK YOU.
THIS IS THE 14TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS WONDERFUL EVENT, HONORING THE LIFE OF ONE OF MY HEROES, THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
EVERY YEAR ON THE MONDAY OF DR.
KING'S HOLIDAY, HASTINGS HOLD A MEMORIAL BREAKFAST IN HIS HONOR.
THE BREAKFAST IS ONE OF THE BEST LOVED EVENTS OF THE YEAR.
IT WAS THE IDEA OF JERRY AND MERL STERNBERG, WHO FELT PASSIONATELY ABOUT WHAT DR. KING MEANT.
THE DEARLY DEPARTED ENTERPRISE STATED.
JERRY AND MERLE PARTICIPATED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND WANTED TO RECOGNIZE DR. KING, ALONG WITH A NOBEL, UH, NOTABLE HASTINGS RESIDENT OR GROUP WHO WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
I STARTED OUT SIMPLY PUTTING UP FLYERS AND WAS ELEVATED TO THE POSITION OF FOOD DISTRIBUTOR.
THEN JERRY ASKED ME TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT HONORS OF MY LIFE.
THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE TO THANK MAYOR TOM DRAKE, WHO SENT A WONDERFUL MESSAGE ABOUT THE BREAKFAST, FORMER MAYORS NIKKI ARMACOST AND PETER ESKI, WHO ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELP ASSISTING US.
AND THANKS TO JEN SPROUL, OUR CHAIR.
AFTER JERRY AND MARA LEFT, A SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO LISA O'REILLY, WHO WILL BE RETIRING.
SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US EVEN BEFORE SHE BECAME CHAIR, AND WE'RE GONNA MISS HER TERRIBLY.
HASTINGS WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU.
THANK YOU TO COLBY JENKINS, THE HOMEFIELD DELI AND FOOD TOWN FOR PROVIDING THE FOOD.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE ALL OUR SPEAKERS IN FOOD, BUT IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT THE STUDENTS TRULY UNDERSTAND THE LEGACY OF DR. KING.
KING'S MESSAGE OF NONVIOLENCE AND CIVIL RIGHTS IS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS IT WAS THEN.
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S BREAKFAST IS WHAT WAS DR.
KING'S LEGACY? EACH YEAR, THE DR. KING HONORS BREAKFAST HONORS A COMMUNITY RECIPIENT OR GROUP WHO HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF HASTINGS.
THE WINNER THIS YEAR IS THE HASTINGS LIBRARY.
OUR LIBRARY HAS A, A NUMBER OF WONDERFUL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, INCLUDING MUSIC TIME WITH OUR MUSICIAN ADAM HART.
THEY HAVE ALSO HOSTED MANY GROUPS.
YOU CAN HELP THEM OUT BY BECOMING A FRIEND OF THE LIBRARY.
AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE LIBRARY HAS TO OFFER, TALK TO DIRECTOR DEBBIE QUINN OR ANYBODY ELSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LIBRARY.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE STUDENTS WHO SUBMITTED ART, WHICH IS ON THE WALLS WERE ESSAYS, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SPOKEN WORD.
FURTHERMORE, WE WILL WATCH A VIDEO OF THE DR. KING.
I'M ALWAYS AMAZED AT WHEN WE WATCH IT, WE STILL HANG ON EVERY WORD.
HE WAS FUMBLING AROUND A LITTLE BIT BEFORE HE GAVE IT, WHEN HE GET STARTED GIVING IT.
AND THEN THE GREAT GOSPEL SINGER MAHALIA JACKSON SAID, TELL HIM ABOUT THE DREAM MARTIN.
HE PROCEEDED TO GIVE ONE OF THE GREAT SPEECHES OF ALL TIME.
WE ARE HONORED THIS YEAR TO HAVE AS OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, NEWLY ELECTED TRUSTEE MALIKA SUNBURG.
THERE WILL BE MUSIC PROVIDED BY ADAM HART KENO AND DOUG AUD, AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL SURPRISE VIDEO.
KING'S HOLIDAY IS DESIGNATED THE DAY OF SERVICE.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO DO SOME SORT OF SERVICE IN HIS HONOR, AND NOT ONLY TODAY, MINUS TO PICK UP TRASH, WHICH I DO EVERY DAY.
HE HAD TWO ESPECIALLY NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THE TIME.
HE WAS THE YOUNGEST RECIPIENT OF THE NOBLE PEACE PRIZE EVER AND IS THE ONLY ORDINARY CITIZEN TO HAVE A FEDERAL HOLIDAY NAMED IN HIS HONOR.
INTERESTINGLY, DR. KING SPENT TIME IN HASTING AT THE HOUSE OF KENNETH AND MAMIE CLARK.
MY MOM MARCHED WITH DR. KING AND WAS INCONSOLABLE AFTER HE DIED.
HIS SECOND VISIT TO HASTINGS AGAIN, TO THE CLARK'S HOUSE WAS FOR A SECRET GATHERING OF MANY OF THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS OF HIS TIME.
SO, DR. KING CAME NOT ONLY TO RELAX, BUT STRATEGIZE.
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WHEN I GO BY THE CLARK'S HOUSE ON PINECREST, I'M IN AWE.HEARING THE I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH IS ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT.
ANOTHER HIGH POINT WAS HEARING THE ESSAYS AND SEEING THE ART BY THE STUDENTS.
I SAW NOT ONLY THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE STUDENTS, BUT WHAT DR. KING MEANT TO THEM.
KING'S QUOTES IN RELATED PERSONAL STORIES OF HOW THE RACE SITUATION IMPACTED THEM.
IN HER BOOK, MARTIN LUTHER KING, SANDY, UH, AUTHOR SANDY SMITH SUMS UP HIS LIFE.
WELL, MEMORIALS FOR DR. KING ARE NUMEROUS MONUMENTS, COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS AND STREETS, BEARING HIS NAME IN MUSEUMS, HONOR HIS MEMORY.
YET PERHAPS THE MEMORIALS THAT ARE MOST FITTING ARE THE LIVE IN MEMORIALS, THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO WALK AND MAKE WAVES IN THE SPIRIT OF HIS VISION FOR A PIECE THAT IS JUSTICE.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE THAT HAVE GONE OUT AND DONE EXTRAORDINARY THINGS AND OTHERS WILL IN THE FUTURE.
I READ A BOOK BY DR. KING, ENTITLED, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WHICH CONT CONTAINED THIS QUOTE, DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT.
DARKNESS ONLY LIKE CAN DO THAT HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.
THIS BRILLIANT BOOK AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHERS, GAVE ME A NEW APPRECIATION OF INTELLECT.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ IT.
FINALLY, LET US GIVE THANKS TO DR. KING, WITHOUT WHOM ALL THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
WHEN I THINK OF DR. KING DYING AT THE TENDER AGE OF 39, IT FILLS ME WITH SADNESS, BUT ALSO WITH AMAZEMENT THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SO MUCH AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
IN HIS FAMOUS DRUM, MAJOR INSTINCT SPEECH, DR. KING SIMPLY STATED, I WANNA LEAVE A COMMITTED LIFE BEHIND.
I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH A COUPLE OF QUOTES FROM DR. KING THAT EXEMPLIFY THE PERSON HE WAS LIFE'S MOST PERSISTENT AND URGENT QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR OTHERS? THE OTHER IS FROM A SPEECH IN SELMA, ALABAMA, OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END.
THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER.
THAT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TODAY.
AND NOW, TOM DRAKE WILL GIVE US A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM.
AS IS OUR CUSTOM, WE'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF THANKSGIVING BEFORE WE SERVE THE BUFFET.
UH, YOU MAY REMAIN SEATED, GRACIOUS AND ETERNAL GOD, CREATOR OF ALL PEOPLE IN YOUR IMAGE.
WE HAVE ASSEMBLED HERE TO HONOR THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF YOUR SERVANT, THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
WHO WOULD'VE BEEN 97 THIS MONTH THAT HE LIVED.
WE THANK YOU FOR HIS WITNESS TO PEACE, HIS COURAGE IN THE FACE OF BRUTAL AGGRESSION AND HIS VISION OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY.
WE ASK YOU TO BLESS THIS FOOD, BLESS ALL WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS PREPARATION, AND BLESS EACH ONE OF US FOR WHOSE BENEFIT IT WAS PREPARED FOR THE NOURISHMENT OF OUR BODIES SO THAT WE MAY WORK WITH RENEWED VIGOR FOR A WORLD WHERE HOOD AND SISTERHOOD TRANSCENDS RACE AND COLOR.
AS WE CONSUME THIS MEAL FROM THE BUNK VIEW OF YOUR CREATION IN THE COMPANY OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS.
GIVE US A HUNGER FOR JUSTICE AND A THIRST FOR PEACE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE EXAMPLE OF DR. KING INSPIRE US TO LEAVE THESE TABLES WITH OUR HEARTS READY TO SERVE OTHERS AND THEIR HANDS OPEN TO OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE HAVE OUR HOT BUFFET OVER HERE.
I, I I DON'T MIND TO GO TO WORK.
UH, I DO HAVE TO GO TO WORK THIS MORNING.
UM, I APPRECIATE, UH, EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE TO PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THIS, UH, EVENT, AND ESPECIALLY ONE PERSON.
AND, AND THIS IS A CONTINUOUS THEME THAT'S BEEN STARTED, UH, STARTING THIS FALL AND, AND THROUGH TODAY, THROUGH THE END OF MARCH.
SO I'D LIKE EVERYONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, LISA O'REILLY ARE SOON TO
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BE RETIRING, IS NOT EVEN HERE.'CAUSE SHE KNOWS EVERY TIME I'M GONNA HAVE A SPEECH.
NOW, BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF MARCH, SHE'S GONNA GET ACKNOWLEDGED.
UM, BUT THANK YOU TO TRUSTEE DOUGLAS ALLGOOD, WHO'S GONNA BE ENTERTAINING EVERYONE TODAY, UH, WITH HIS GROUP AND TRUSTEE MALIKA SUNBURG.
UH, WHO'S YOUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER TODAY? I ONLY HAVE A FEW THOUGHTS.
AND, AND ONE OF THEM BEGAN THE OTHER DAY WITH MY, UH, FOURTH GRADER WHO CAME HOME FROM HILLSIDE SCHOOL HERE IN HASTINGS.
THEY HAD HAD A LESSON ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, JUNIOR.
AND HE WAS KIND OF DUMBFOUNDED 'CAUSE HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH BEYOND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL OF EDUCATION THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR THE TO THE STUDENTS.
AND HE SAID, DAD, HE WENT THROUGH A LOT.
THEY, YOU KNOW, TRIED TO BLOW UP HIS HOUSE.
THEY TRIED TO COMMIT ALL THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE UPON HIM.
AND HE CONTINUED TO DO WHAT HE WAS DOING.
IT ACTUALLY SURPRISED ME THAT HE WENT OUT ON HIS OWN AND DID MORE RESEARCH.
AND ALL I COULD EX, ALL I COULD SAY TO HIM WAS 'CAUSE HE BELIEVED TIMOTHY.
HE, HE, HE BELIEVED THAT'S, AND, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TOO DEEP WITH HIM 'CAUSE HE IS A FOURTH GRADER.
AND I JUST SAID BECAUSE HE BELIEVED, HE BELIEVED IN HUMANITY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD ALL BE BELIEVING IN AT THIS POINT.
UM, LISA, I ACKNOWLEDGED YOU, YOU LEFT THE ROOM.
NOW, IF EVERYBODY
SHE TURNED AND SHE SMILED AND SHE WALKED AWAY, DO SOMETHING TODAY THAT BRINGS YOU JOY.
LIKE THAT, THAT WHAT I SAW AS I DROVE DOWN THE HILL TODAY.
SHE JUST TOOK A PICTURE THAT MADE HER SMILE AND MADE HER HAPPY FOR TODAY.
SO DO SOMETHING TODAY IN ADDITION TO SERVICE TO OTHERS, WHICH IS MY LIFE.
UM, BRING JOY TO YOURSELVES TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR.
OKAY, NOW WE ARE GONNA OPEN THE BUFFET AND AS I WAS SAYING, WE, WE, WE'VE SET UP TWO SERVING LINES.
SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN, UH, SAME THING, RIGHT? THE SAME THING ON EACH SERVING LINE.
UH, YOU CAN GRAB YOUR PLATES AND CUTLERY FROM THE SIDE TABLE AND YOU CAN, UH, GRAB YOUR HOT FOOD FROM THIS END.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR BREAKFAST.
HOWEVER, WHILE YOU CONTINUE TO EAT, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF GUESTS WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, AND THEY'LL SAY A FEW WORDS WHILE YOU ARE CONTINUING TO ENJOY YOUR BREAKFAST.
UH, SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE IS CONGRESSMAN MR. GEORGE LATIMER, AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR STATE SENATOR AND MAJORITY LEADER, MRS. ANDREA STEWART COUSINS, I BELIEVE MRS. ANDREAS, HER COUSIN, HAS VISITED US EVERY YEAR SINCE WE STARTED THIS EVENT IN 2013.
AND IF SHE DOESN'T MIND, I'LL INVITE HER TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND SAY A FEW WORDS AT THIS TIME.
YEAH, SHE DID SAY I SHOULD ASK THE CONGRESSMAN TO GO FIRST.
THE CONGRESSMAN SAID, NO, I'LL LET THE STATE SENATOR GO FIRST.
OH, THANK YOU SO VERY, THAT'S SO FUNNY.
I, I SAID TO GEORGE, I SAID, WELL, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA GO FIRST.
HE SAID, YEAH, AND JUST WHAT YOU SAID, NO, I DEFERRED TO YOU, YOU KNOW, BUT HE'S ACTUALLY EATING A MUFFIN.
UH, I AM JUST ALWAYS SO PLEASED TO BE HERE AND FOR YOUR, YOUR INSISTENCE, INSISTENCE ON CELEBRATING AND LIFTING UP THE LEGACY AND THE MEMORY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AND I WAS JUST TALKING TO MS. HART, A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
I'M, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT,
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UH, WHAT SHE'S SEEN, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME TOO.I HAD THE HONOR, UH, AT LEAST, UH, IN MY LIFETIME ACTUALLY, UH, UNDERSTANDING OR NOT, PROBABLY NOT UNDERSTANDING, BUT AT LEAST SEEING, UH, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, YOU KNOW, CHANGING THE WORLD.
AND LITTLE DID I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS A TEENAGER AT THE TIME, THE IMPACT THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAVE ON MY LIFE, NOT ONLY MY LIFE, BUT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, THE LIVES OF WOMEN, THE MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE A RESULT OF DR. KING SAYING THAT WE HAD TO BE A SOCIETY THAT RESPECTED EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHAT THEY ARE AS PART OF THE BELOVED COMMUNITY.
AND NONE OF US, NONE OF YOU SHOULD BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY FOR THE OTHER OF US TO SEE YOUR HUMANITY, YOUR GREATNESS, AND YOUR REFLECTION OF GOD.
THE FAITH, THE, THE CONTINUED PERSISTENCE IN THE FACE OF WHAT HAD BEEN CONDITIONED TO BE THE WAY WE WERE TAUGHT.
AND SO, SO MANY PEOPLE, UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM, ACHIEVED POSITIONS BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ELECT PEOPLE LIKE ME BECAUSE OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
AND GENERATION AFTER GENERATION AFTER GENERATION, PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA TO REFLECT THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE BUILT IN OUR FOUNDING CONSTITUTIONS.
BECAUSE WE CAN MEET AT A TIME LIKE THIS.
WE SOMETIMES HAVE THE LUXURY OF FORGETTING WHY WE'RE HERE, HOW WE GOT HERE.
AND SO WHEN I SEE MILDRED HARD A HUNDRED YEARS, I KNOW SHE DOESN'T FORGET.
AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO A TIME LIKE THIS ALLOWS THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE FACT THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING ARTISTS FROM KENNETH B. CLARK AND CHILDREN'S VILLAGE WHO HAVE TAKEN TIME TO MEMORIALIZE THE LEGACY.
THE IMAGERY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING IS SO IMPORTANT.
AND THE FACT THAT A COMMUNITY, A BEDROOM COMMUNITY LIKE HASTINGS ON HUDSON TAKES THE TIME TO LIFT UP DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING GIVES ME REAL HOPE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT FAITH AND HOPE, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT A TIME OF GREAT DIVISION AND STRIFE IS ONLY PART OF IT, ACTION IS THE OTHER PART.
SO I HOPE WHEN WE LEAVE TODAY, WE REMEMBER DR. KING LEFT US A LEGACY.
HE LEFT US A BLUEPRINT OF NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE.
HE LEFT US THE COMMAND THAT WE SHOULD FIND A WAY TO LOVE EACH OTHER SO THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY PERISH TOGETHER AS FOOLS.
AND HE'S CHALLENGED US, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO BE THE LEADER THAT HE WAS IN ORDER FOR US TO MAINTAIN THE DEMOCRACY AND THE PROMISE THAT WE HAVE AS WE GO INTO OUR 250TH YEAR HAPPY KING DAY.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING MY BELOVED COMMUNITY.
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THANK YOU.I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DWELL ON WHAT ANDREA STEWART COUSINS JUST SAID.
AND LET ME START BY TALKING ABOUT ANDREA STEWART COUSINS, BECAUSE ANDREA NOW IS ENTERING THE EIGHTH YEAR WHERE SHE IS RUNNING THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE.
AND IF ANY OF YOU HAVE THAT HISTORY, UH, AND I'VE SERVED IN THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE, UH, WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT THREE MEN IN A ROOM THAT MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS.
THE MEN ARE NOW KATHY HOLLE, ANDREA STEWART COUSINS, AND FROM NOT TOO FAR AWAY, UH, THE HONORABLE CARL HASTY A PERSON OF COLOR AS WELL.
SO THE WORLD HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE POWER STRUCTURE OF NEW YORK STATE.
AND ANDREA STEWART COUSINS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY.
AND, UH, AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ROOM, BUT, UH, I THINK IT TO MAKE A POINT AS WELL AS TO BE GRACIOUS TO MY COLLEAGUES, I THINK MARY JANE CHIMPSKY, YOUR ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHOULD STAND PAUL FINER.
I SAW DOUG FROM THE VILLAGE BOARD.
I WANT YOU ALL TO STAND UP AT ONCE.
DAVID IMMOR, 60 YEARS AGO, A DAVID IMMOR AS AN ASIAN AMERICAN COULD NOT GET ELECTED.
DOUG AS A PERSON OF COLOR, COULD NOT BE ELECTED, NOR ANDREA, NOR FOR THAT MATTER, A FEMALE.
YOU HAD, YOU HAD ONE OR TWO, BUT NOT MANY.
NOW YOU LOOK AT HOW MANY WOMEN ARE IN POSITIONS OF POWER, UH, IN ALL SORTS OF SETTINGS.
AND YOU REALIZE THAT THE CHANGE IN THE SOCIETY HAS HAPPENED.
A NUMBER OF REASONS, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLAYERS.
BUT NO PERSON MATTERED MORE TO THAT CHANGE THAN THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
NO ONE MADE MORE OF AN IMPACT.
AND AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, HE OPENED THE DOOR FOR AN ASIAN AMERICAN.
AND WHAT DR. KING DID IS HE LIBERATED WHITE PEOPLE TOO.
HE LIBERATED US FROM RACISM THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE.
AND HE MADE IT NOT ACCEPTABLE TO BE RACIST.
AND THEREFORE, YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN A WORLD THAT'S MULTICULTURAL AND THAT BENEFITS WHITE PEOPLE, THAT MAKES YOU MORE SENSITIVE ECONOMICALLY, SOCIALLY, MORALLY, BY DOING THAT.
AND HE DID IT NOT ONLY BY HIS GREAT WORDS, BUT HE DID IT BY WHAT HE DID AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER OVER THE YEARS WHEN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HIS DREAM SPEECH, UH, THAT DAY ON THE MALL AND WATCHING, I WAS A LITTLE KID WATCHING IT ON TV, AGE 10 OR, OR EVEN THE GREAT SPEECH HE GAVE THE NIGHT BEFORE HE DIED.
THE I'VE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP SPEECH.
IT'S AN EERIE SPEECH TO LISTEN TO IT.
AND HE SAYS, LONGEVITY HAS ITS PLACE, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO ME NOW, THE VERY NEXT DAY I HAVE BEEN TO LORRAINE MOTEL.
IT'S PART OF A NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO WALK INTO THE ROOM NEXT TO THE ROOM THAT HE WAS IN THAT DAY AND NOT CRY.
EVEN US MEN, WE DON'T LIKE TO CRY IN PUBLIC AND ALL THAT.
UM, HIS IMPACT ALL HAPPENED IN LESS THAN 40 YEARS ON THIS PLANET.
HE NEVER LIVED TO REACH AGE 40.
HAD HE BE LIVING TODAY, HE'D BE YOUNGER THAN MS. HART
SO WHEN, UH, I'M GOT A LITTLE POLITICAL HERE.
DO FORGIVE ME WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DECIDES IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM TO SAY THAT IF YOU GO TO A NATIONAL PARK ON A FEDERAL HOLIDAY, YOU CAN GO IN FOR FREE EXCEPT FOR DR.
AND JUNETEENTH LEGALLY ESTABLISHED NATIONAL HOLIDAYS.
BUT WE'LL GIVE YOU A HOLIDAY FOR FREE.
SOME OF YOU KNOW IT AS FLAG DAY, SOME OF YOU KNOW IT AS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BIRTHDAY.
SO THE POINT I WANNA MAKE SIMPLY BEFORE I SIT DOWN IS THAT HONORING DR. KING IS HONORING THE PRINCIPLES THAT HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR AT A YOUNG AGE THAT HAS TO THIS DAY CHANGED FOR THE BETTER THE LIFE OF ALL OF THE REST OF US IN THIS ROOM.
AND THAT IS WHY THIS MORNING IN WHITE PLAINS IN YONKERS, I PASSED BY AT ANDRE, I COULDN'T FIND A PARKING SPACE IMPOSSIBLE IN NE HAND
SO ARE THEY AT THE REFORMED CHURCH OF BRONXVILLE RIGHT NOW? AND THERE'S SOMETHING COMING UP AT EDGEMONT HIGH SCHOOL AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN TODAY, THE HANDFUL OF US THAT
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REPRESENT MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES.THIS IS A LUNATIC DAY GOING AROUND.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN THIS PLACE, EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS HIS LEGACY.
AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE A BREAKFAST IN BRONXVILLE AND A BREAKFAST IN WHITE PLAINS AND A BREAKFAST IN YONKERS AND A BREAKFAST IN HASTINGS IF HE WASN'T VALUED TO THIS DAY AS HE WAS THE DAY THAT WE LOST HIM.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DR.
AS WE KNOW, GET READY FOR A KEYNOTE SPEAKER TO SET THE TONE.
OUR MUSICIANS HAD OFFERED TO GIVE US A MUSICAL SELECTION THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE WHO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
AND FOR, UH, HASTINGS ON HUDSON, FOR ALL OF YOU PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP HASTINGS ON HUDSON, WE'RE A GREAT COMMUNITY.
UM, IT'S GREAT TO BE TOGETHER.
WHAT'S GOING ON? YEAH, A QUESTION.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH.THAT QUESTION POSED BY MR. MARVIN, WHAT'S GOING ON IS STILL PERTINENT TODAY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS IT IS MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER, MRS. MALIKA SANDBERG.
MALIKA SANDBERG IS A LIFELONG HASTINGS COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO RETURNED TO THE VILLAGE TO RAISE HER FAMILY.
AFTER COMPLETING HER EDUCATION AND BEGINNING HER CAREER, SHE HOLDS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK AND HAS OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVING NEW YORK CITY FOSTER CARE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH EXPERTISE IN REUNIFICATION, ADOPTION, ADOLESCENTS, FOSTER CARE HOMES, AND RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. SHE CURRENTLY LEADS TRAINING AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES FOR CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS.
MALIKA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF VOLUNTEERISM, INCLUDING WORK WITH THE JANSEN HOSPICE AND BEREAVEMENT CENTER OF WESTCHESTER, AND ALSO SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE HASTENS EDUCATION FOUNDATION WHERE SHE IS SECRETARY.
SHE COMES FROM A FAMILY COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE, AND IS DEDICATED TO ADVOCATING FOR RESIDENTS, PROMOTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, AND SUPPORTING OUR VILLAGES LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH.
SHE RECENTLY ENTERED LOCAL POLITICS AND WAS ELECTED TO THE HASTENS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LAKE STAN.
THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME, WELCOMING ME HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE VILLAGE, THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THANK YOU FOR CREATING A SPACE WHERE WE PAUSE AS A VILLAGE, AS NEIGHBORS, AS FAMILIES.
TO HONOR THE EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, WHO HAD TWO DOCUMENTED VISITS TO OUR LITTLE VILLAGE HERE OVER THE YEARS WHERE HE WAS, WHERE HE ACTUALLY AND HIS FAMILY WERE GUESTS OF THE CLARK FAMILY.
IT IS HUMBLING TO STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT ONLY AS A NEWLY ELECTED VILLAGE BOARD TRUSTEE, BUT AS A DAUGHTER OF A BLACK WOMAN AND A WHITE JEWISH MAN, WHICH WAS ONCE ILLEGAL IN MANY PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY.
AND YET HERE I STAND TODAY, ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE ENTRUSTED BY YOU, MY COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP GUIDE THE FUTURE OF OUR VILLAGE.
WHEN I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TODAY ON WHERE I SEE DR.
KING'S VISION AND DREAM ALIVE STILL TODAY, I KNEW I COULD NOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION WITHOUT GOING BACK INTO MY OWN HISTORY.
AND THE STORIES THAT SHAPED ME, CHALLENGED ME AND CONTINUE TO GUIDE THE WORK THAT I DO, MY FAMILY, THE LIVING PROOF OF THE DREAM.
I WAS BORN AT A TIME WHEN INTERRACIAL FAMILIES WERE MET WITH QUESTIONS, CONFUSION, AN OCCASIONAL SIDE EYE.
AND NOT EVERYONE CAME FROM A PLACE OF CURIOSITY.
SO REACTIONS WERE ALSO QUITE UNPLEASANT AT TIMES.
BUT MY PARENTS WERE STEADFAST.
THEY BELIEVED IN EQUALITY, INJUSTICE, AND IMPOSSIBILITY LONG BEFORE THOSE IDEAS WERE WIDELY ACCEPTED AS SOCIAL NORMS. MOST OF ALL, THEY BELIEVED IN THEMSELVES AND THEY BELIEVED IN EACH OTHER.
MY MOTHER'S SIDE, THE WEIGHT OF SEGREGATION, MY MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS WERE BORN HERE IN THE STATES IN THE 1920S, LIVED IN A COUNTRY THAT WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE THEY RAISED THEIR CHILDREN IN.
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GENERATION HAS BEEN DIFFERENT ACROSS THE GENERATIONS.I GOT TO LISTEN TO STORIES OF SEGREGATION IN SCHOOL, NOT BEING ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS OF BEING A TUSKEGEE AIRMAN.
STORIES FROM THE FORTIES OF BEING THE FIRST BLACK TEACHER AT A SCHOOL SERVING IN THE MILITARY OF BEING THE ONLY BLACK PSYCHIATRY STUDENT, OF BEING THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO GRADUATE WITH AN MBA FROM A DISTINCTLY PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL OF BEING THE FIRST BLACK FRIEND TO SOMEONE AND THE FIRST BLACK COLLEAGUE AND THE FIRST OF MANY MORE MY FATHER'S SIDE, A WHITE JEWISH CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY.
MY FATHER'S STORIES WERE DIFFERENT THOUGH HE RARELY AND SPARINGLY SHARED STORIES OF HIS TIME IN COMBAT AS A YOUNG SOLDIER.
HE DESCRIBED BEING JEWISH IN THE ARMY IN THE FORTIES, AND HOW THE SEGREGATION IN THE ARMY IMPACTED EVERYONE.
HOW THE HIERARCHY OF VALUE PLACED ON DIFFERENT GROUPS DICTATED HOW MUCH RISK THEIR LIFE WAS PLACED AT BLACKS AND JEWS WERE MORE EXPENDABLE.
HE BELIEVED FIERCELY THAT THE WORLD COULD BE MORE JUST HE MARCHED ALONGSIDE DR. KING.
HE REPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS WHOSE RIGHTS WERE DENIED.
HE TRAVELED FROM STATE TO STATE, COURTHOUSE TO COURTHOUSE CHALLENGING DISCRIMINATION WHERE HE SAW IT.
I OFTEN THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT FOR HIM, A WHITE JEWISH MAN IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH A BLACK WOMAN AT A TIME WHEN THEIR LOVE ALONE WAS A POLITICAL ACT.
HE KNEW THE RISKS, BUT HE ALSO KNEW WHAT WAS RIGHT.
AND DURING ONE OF OUR MANY HEART TO HEARTS AS A TEENAGER, I REMEMBER MY FATHER EXPLAINING THAT EVEN HIS FRIENDS, FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES WHO SUPPORTED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MY PARENTS, WHEN MY PARENTS DECIDED TO HAVE A CHILD, THESE PEOPLE PAUSED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
MY FATHER WAS QUIETLY ASKED IF HE THOUGHT BRINGING A BIRACIAL CHILD INTO THIS WORLD WAS A GOOD IDEA.
AND TOGETHER THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN AND CREATED A FAMILY THAT IN MANY WAYS EMBODIES THE VERY DREAM DR. KING SPOKE OF ON THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
SO WHEN I STAND HERE TODAY, I DO SO AS THE LIVING INTERSECTION OF TWO HISTORIES.
ONE SHAPED BY ENDURANCE AND ONE SHAPED BY JUSTICE, BOTH SHAPED BY COURAGE.
ME BEING BIRACIAL CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT, WEIGHT OF A CROWN, WEIGHT OF A BURDEN, WEIGHT OF PRIDE, WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
I KNOW WHERE AND HOW I CARRY MY WEIGHT.
HOWEVER, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT BEING BIRACIAL CARRIES A WEIGHT THAT IS SOMETIMES PERCEIVED BY OTHERS TO BE PUT UPON THEM.
MOVING TO THE STATES IN THE EARLY 1990S, IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TEEN YEARS WAS QUITE AN ADJUSTMENT IN A LOT OF WAYS.
AND SOMETHING THAT WAS NEW TO ME WAS THE CONTINUOUS REQUEST TO CATEGORIZE MYSELF ON EVERY FORM I WAS BEING ASKED TO STATE MY RACE, MY HERITAGE.
I NEVER HEARD THE QUESTION, WHAT ARE YOU SO FREQUENTLY? FOR MANY, I AM NOT BLACK ENOUGH OR JUST A BIT TOO MUCH FOR MANY.
I AM NOT WHITE ENOUGH OR JUST A BIT TOO MUCH FOR MANY.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE I CHOOSE TO, TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH IN MY CIRCLE OF LIFE.
BUT THE LARGER WORLD IS AROUND ME, AROUND ALL OF US.
MY CAREER CARRYING THE DREAM FORWARD FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
I'VE WORKED IN THE NEW YORK CITY FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
I ENTERED THE FIELD WITH MY MASTER'S DEGREE AT A TIME WHEN THERE WERE VERY FEW MASTER'S DEGREE SOCIAL WORKERS OF COLOR IN THE MAJOR AGENCIES, ESPECIALLY THE LARGE HISTORIC JEWISH AGENCIES THAT HAD LONG SERVED COMMUNITIES WITH DEEP ROOTS AND DEEP TRADITIONS.
I REMEMBER WALKING INTO MY FIRST JOB, EXCITED, DETERMINED, AND AWARE THAT I WAS STEPPING INTO SPACES WHERE PEOPLE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME HAD NOT BEEN, AND STILL WERE NOT ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE ROLES AND TABLES I WAS BEING GIVEN TO SEE AT.
THIS IS WHERE MY WORK HAS BEEN.
THIS IS WHERE I HAVE BEEN A DRIVING FORCE FOR CHANGE.
BEYOND MY COMMITMENT TO THE WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, I FOUND A FOCUS AND PASSION IN MENTORING, UPLIFTING AND ADVOCATING FOR MY STAFF.
I MADE IT MY PRIORITY TO BE MORE IN TUNE TO THE BIASES IN THE FIELD, THE WORK AND MY OWN.
ONCE I REALIZED THAT I NOT ONLY HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BUT THAT MY VOICE WAS BEING HEARD, I BECAME AWARE OF MY ABILITY TO AFFECT THE ATTENDEES.
WHETHER I ADDED MORE CHAIRS, INVITED DIFFERENT PEOPLE, OR SHARED MY OWN CHAIR, I MADE IT MY BUSINESS TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS.
I CREATED INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN MY PROGRAM FOR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO HAD THEIR BACHELOR'S DEGREE BUT COULDN'T AFFORD TO SPEND THREE DAYS A WEEK IN AN UNPAID MSW INTERNSHIP ELSEWHERE.
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DUE TO MANY HAVING FAMILIES OR SECOND JOBS, I LED AN AGENCY-WIDE RACIAL EQUITY COMMITTEE TO ENGAGE EMPLOYEES IN DIALOGUE AND ON HOW OUR INTRINSIC BIASES IMPACT THE LIFE ALTERING DECISIONS WE MAKE ABOUT THE FAMILIES WE SERVE.I'VE COLLABORATED WITH HUMAN RESOURCES AND ENGAGED SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND MIDDLE MANAGERS IN A PROCESS TO RECOGNIZE HOW THEIR OWN INTRINSIC BIASES IMPACT THEIR INTERVIEWING PROCESS AND HIRING DECISIONS.
TODAY I LEAD A DEPARTMENT OF OVER 50 EMPLOYEES WHO HOLD HIGH SCHOOL, BACHELOR'S, MASTER'S, AND DOCTORAL DEGREES WITH PRIDE.
I SEE A GROUP OF SMART, PASSIONATE, AND CREATIVE PEOPLE WHO REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
WHY THIS MATTERS? BECAUSE WHEN A CHILD IN FOSTER CARE SITS ACROSS FROM A SOCIAL WORKER WHO LOOKS LIKE THEM, WHO UNDERSTANDS THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY, BUT CULTURALLY, SOMETHING POWERFUL HAPPENS.
REPRESENTATION DOESN'T MAGICALLY SOLVE THEIR CHALLENGES, BUT IT OPENS A DOOR.
AND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE NAVIGATING TRAUMA, INSTABILITY OR UNCERTAINTY, BEING ABLE TO DREAM REQUIRES AT LEAST ONE OPEN DOOR.
IN THE FACES OF OUR STAFF, IN THE TRUST OF OUR YOUTH, IN THE POSSIBILITY THAT REPRESENTATION CREATES REPRESENTATION IS NOT SYMBOLIC, IT IS TRANSFORMATIVE.
IN TIMES OF TRIAL, WE CHOOSE WHO WE ARE.
IN THE 22 YEARS SINCE MY FATHER PASSED AWAY, OUR COUNTRY HAS GONE THROUGH TREMENDOUS CHANGE.
POLITICAL STORMS, SOCIAL UNREST, RACIAL TENSIONS, MOMENTS THAT MAKE US MAKE MANY OF US STOP AND WONDER, WHAT WOULD DR. KING SAY TODAY? WHAT WOULD HE ASK OF US? WHAT WOULD HE DEMAND OF US? I'VE WONDERED THE SAME ABOUT MY FATHER, WHAT HE WOULD THINK OF THE DIRECTION OF OUR NATION, THE CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THE MOMENTS WHEN JUSTICE FEELS FRAGILE.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS BOTH MY FATHER AND DR. KING BELIEVED DEEPLY THAT WE MUST BEGIN WITH OURSELVES.
WE CANNOT CONTROL EVERY SYSTEM, EVERY LAW, OR EVERY HEADLINE, BUT WE CAN CONTROL HOW WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER.
WE CAN CONTROL HOW WE INTERRUPT HARM.
WE CAN CONTROL HOW WE CHOOSE TO RESPOND IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE.
THE ULTIMATE TRAGEDY IS NOT THE OPPRESSION AND CRUELTY BY THE BAD PEOPLE, BUT THE SILENCE OVER THAT BY THE GOOD PEOPLE.
SILENCE PROTECTS THE STATUS QUO.
SILENCE TELLS THE OPPRESSED, YOUR SUFFERING IS NOT WORTH MY DISCOMFORT.
SO IF WE WANT HIS DREAM TO STAY ALIVE, WE MUST USE OUR VOICES EVEN WHEN IT'S INCONVENIENT, EVEN WHEN IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE, EVEN WHEN WE STAND ALONE CARRYING LIGHT WITHOUT LOSING OURSELVES.
KING'S QUOTES THAT I CARRY WITH ME, ESPECIALLY ON HARDER DAYS, IS DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS.
ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE.
NOW, I DON'T INTERPRET THIS AS A CALL TO FORCE LIGHT ON LOVE WHO THOSE WHO REFUSE IT.
I READ IT AS A REMINDER, A GROUNDING TRUTH THAT MY LIGHT MATTERS.
THE LIGHT OF OUR ACTIONS, OUR COMPASSION, OUR COURAGE, OUR CHOICES MATTER.
WE ARE NOT TO LET SOMEONE ELSE'S DARKNESS DIM WHO WE ARE.
WE ARE NOT TO LET SOMEONE ELSE'S HATE HARDEN WHO WE ASPIRE TO BE.
THIS IS HOW WE KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE BY REFUSING TO LET THE WORLD PULL US INTO THE SHADOWS.
SO WHERE DO I SEE THE DREAM TODAY? I SEE IT IN THE INTEGRATION OF FAMILIES LIKE MINE.
ONCE ILLEGAL, NOW UNREMARKABLE.
I SEE IT IN THE YOUTH WHO MEET WITH THERAPISTS AND CASEWORKERS AND MENTORS WHO LOOK LIKE THEM.
I SEE IT IN A VILLAGE THAT HAS ELECTED BIRACIAL REPRESENTATIVES.
I SEE IT IN COMMUNITIES WILLING TO GATHER, REFLECT, AND RECOMMIT TO JUSTICE.
KING'S DREAM WAS NOT A MOMENT.
A MOVEMENT THAT CONTINUES EVERY TIME ONE OF US CHOOSES COURAGE OVER SILENCE, EMPATHY OVER APATHY AND COMMUNITY OVER DIVISION.
[00:45:01]
SO AS WE HONOR DR. KING TODAY, LET US REMEMBER THAT THE DREAM IS NOT SOMETHING WE POINT TO.IT IS SOMETHING WE PRACTICE, SOMETHING WE NURTURE, AND SOMETHING WE DEFEND.
MAY WE EACH LEAVE HERE TODAY WITH AT LEAST ONE RENEWED COMMITMENT, BIG OR SMALL, TO CARRY THE DREAM FORWARD BECAUSE THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE AND IT'S ALIVE IN US.
THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING OUR INVITATION TO SPEAK TO US TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES, SOME OF WHICH WERE QUITE PAINFUL.
YOU HAVE GIVEN US A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.
UM, THIS EVENT IS BEING RECORDED, SO YOUR SPEECH WILL BE BROADCAST TO A MUCH WIDER AUDIENCE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THIS TIME WE WOULD'VE EXPECTED TO HEAR FROM OUR MAYOR, BUT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT
SO WE GO INTO NOW INTRODUCE ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS CELEBRATION IS A RECOGNITION OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION FOR THIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, OFTEN WITHOUT FANFARE.
ELIZABETH WILL NOW INTRODUCE THIS YEAR'S COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD WINNER.
IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD TO THE HASTINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS LIBRARY HAS BEEN SERVING THE HASTINGS COMMUNITY FOR 114 YEARS.
THE LIBRARY SUPPORTS LIFELONG LEARNING FOR OUR CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND OUR SENIORS.
LIBRARIES SERVE AS A FOUNDATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND HELP US EXPLORE WIDER WORLDS.
THIS LIBRARY ALSO SUPPORTS LITERACY AND ALSO SERVES AS AN EARLY POLLING SITE.
IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD TO THE HASTINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY.
ACCEPTING TODAY IS LIBRARY TRUSTEE JACKIE WEITZMAN AND THE PLAQUE READS, REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD JANUARY 19TH, 2026, PRESENTED TO THE HASTINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO HASTINGS COMMUNITY SINCE 1912.
WE WILL DEFINITELY HANG THIS IN A PROMINENT POSITION IN THE LIBRARY.
ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY BOARD, FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND STAFF, WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECTIVELY HONOR DR.
THOSE WORDS, COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY ARE AT THE HEART OF THE LIBRARY'S IDENTITY.
IN THE NOTE TO LIBRARY DIRECTOR DEBBIE QUINN ANNOUNCING THE AWARD COMMITTEE MEMBER LISA RILEY CITED THE LIBRARY'S POSITIVE IMPACT.
THAT IMPACT IS FELT IN COUNTLESS WAYS, BUT INVARIABLY BECAUSE THE LIBRARY IS TRULY FOR EVERYONE IN A WORLD SORELY LACKING IN
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FAIRNESS AND IN LIFE, WHICH DOES NOT EQUALLY DISTRIBUTE LUCK OR BEAUTY OR TALENT.THE LIBRARY LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD.
RECOGNIZE WEALTH OR POWER, OR ASK MORE OF VISITORS THAN THEY RESPECT OTHERS.
TREAT PROPERTY WITH CARE AND DO THEIR BEST TO MAINTAIN THE TIME HONORED TRADITION OF SPEAKING QUIETLY.
THEY INFORM OUR COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS AND DECISIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF A, OF A DIVERSE PUBLIC.
WE CAST A WIDE NET, WE RECYCLE, AND WE EVER AND IN EVER EXPANDING TERMS, WE SHARE MATERIALS, IDEAS, QUIET SPACES, AND THAT MOST SPECTACULAR VIEW OF THE HUDSON RIVER AND THE PALISADES, THE LIBRARY OPERATES FROM AN UNSHAKEABLE BELIEF IN HUMAN POTENTIAL.
CONSIDER OUR BOOK CLUB FOR INTROVERTS, A MOVEMENTS CLASS FOR THE MOBILITY IMPAIRED.
WE ENCOURAGE DISCOVERY, FOSTER IMAGINATION, AND CHAMPION FREEDOM IN PARTICULAR, THE FREEDOM TO READ.
LASTLY, IN THE SPIRIT OF SERVICE AND BROTHERLY LOVE, A REMINDER THAT THE ANNUAL BLOOD DRIVE IS HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK AT THE MARTIN LUTHER.
UM, WE DO IT EVERY YEAR OF MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY.
AND IT'S IN PROGRESS UNTIL 12 2 30 THIS AFTERNOON IN THE OR ROOM, EXCUSE ME.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE SCHEDULE@DONATENYBC.ORG AND WALK-INS ARE AL ALWAYS WELCOME ON THAT NOTE, WHICH LIKEWISE SPEAKS TO THE LIBRARY'S POSITIVE IMPACT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS TRIBUTE.
IT VALIDATES AND INVIGORATES THE WORK WE DO AND OUR COMMITMENT, PRACTICAL AND IDEALISTIC TO THE GREATER GOOD.
WE'VE HAD ONE, UH, MUSICAL SELECTION.
THE PROGRAM INDICATES THAT WE ARE EXPECTING ANOTHER ONE.
UH, ALEX, WE WAS SCHEDULED TO INTRODUCE THE MUSICIANS AND I'M GONNA ASK HIM TO DO THAT NOW, IN CASE SOME OF YOU ARE WONDERING WHO THESE THREE GENTLEMEN ARE.
WELL, I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO, UM, DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN FRIENDS OF MINE FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE MUSICIANS.
DOUG IS A LONGTIME FRIEND AND PART-TIME FRISBEE PLAYER.
KEN IS A FREQUENT GUEST AT MY APARTMENT, AND WE JUKEBOX OR PICK DIFFERENT SONGS AND, UM, INCLUDING MY FRIEND SUZANNE IN, IN TEXAS.
I MET ADAM ON A BEACH FRONT IN MEXICO WHEN I WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PARTICIPATING.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPENING SONG THAT YOU GUYS DID TOO.
WHAT'S GOING ON IS, IS IMPORTANT.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THE CIVIL RIGHTS, UH, OF OUR LATIN AND, UH, LATINO BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH A REALLY HARD TIME NOW.
UM, AND, UH, THIS SONG KIND OF HAS A LATIN FEEL TO IT.
WE TUNE BECAUSE OUR INSTRUMENTS RIGHT NEXT TO THE HEATERS,
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BLOOD WILL FLOW THE THANK YOU.14 YEARS AGO, WHEN JERRY AND MERL STERNBERG STARTED THIS EVENT, THE COMMITTEE AGREED THAT FOR THIS TO BECOME AN ANNUAL SUCCESSFUL EVENT, IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT OUR YOUTH ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CELEBRATION.
WE DECIDED THAT AN ESSAY COMPETITION FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD AFFORD THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE THROUGH RESEARCH, DISCUSSION WITH PEERS AND TEACHERS ABOUT THE LEGACY OF DR. KING, AND TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THE WAY DR. KING CHANGED THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY.
THE INITIAL RESPONSE WAS NOT OVERWHELMING.
HOWEVER, A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, ONE OF OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER'S, BROTHERS, ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THAT A MONETARY PRIZE WOULD BE A POWERFUL INCENTIVE,
AND THIS PROVED TO BE AN ASTUTE OBSERVATION, AND MANY MORE STUDENTS SUBMITTED ESSAYS
AND A FEW YEARS LATER, WHEN ART TEACHER LAUREL BROWN, SITTING ON MY RIGHT EAR, JOINED THE COMMITTEE AND ADVISED US THAT MANY STUDENTS PREFER TO EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY THROUGH ART RATHER THAN AN ESSAY.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE HAD BOTH ESSAYS AND ART PIECES SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION THIS YEAR.
THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES BROADEN THE DEFINITION OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION.
AND YOU'LL NOTE ON THE PROGRAM THAT THERE'S A NEW CATEGORY, WHICH WE HAVE CALLED SPOKEN WORD.
I EXPECT THAT YOU'LL BE AS IMPRESSED AS THE COMMITTEE WAS WITH THE MATERIAL THAT WAS SUBMITTED.
THIS YEAR'S TOPIC WAS, WHO IS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AND WHY DO WE CELEBRATE HIS LEGACY? WITHOUT FURTHER INTERVENTION FROM ME, STEVE FRANKEL WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS, AN ESSAY OF THE ESSAY AND ART COMPETITION FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MARILYN FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND PAUL ELLA FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL.
FOLLOWING THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS, MARILYN WILL INTRODUCE THE WINNERS FOR THE NEW SPOKEN WORD CATEGORY.
WE HOPE THAT SOME OF THE STUDENTS WILL WANT TO READ THEIR ESSAYS, BUT THERE'S NO
[01:00:01]
PRESSURE TO DO SO.SOME OF THE WORK IS DISPLAYED ON THE WALL, BUT READING THE ESSAYS WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE VIEWING THE RECORDED BROADCAST.
STEVE, THE WINNER OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ESSAY THIS YEAR, 2026, IS ELLIOT L GRUEN.
ELLIOT, IF YOU COULD JUST STAND UP AND LET US KNOW.
CAN YOU, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? OKAY.
UM, WHOEVER IS HERE AND WANTS TO BE A GREAT PERSON, BE A GREAT PERSON.
WHERE'S HIS? WHERE'S HIS HIS? SO IT READS HERE, REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PROUDLY PRESENTED TO YOU, ELLIOT L GRUEN IT IN RECOGNITION OF AN OUTSTANDING ESSAY THAT REFLECTS THE EXCELLENCE AND ENDURING LEGACY OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
THIS IS YOURS WITH THE MONETARY AWARD, ALONG WITH THE MONETARY AWARD.
CHARLOTTE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP PLEASE? THEY NEVER INSIDE.
TAYLOR IS ELLIOT, IS HIS NAME ON IT? THIS IS CHARLOTTE'S NO.
MY NAME IS CHARLOTTE JANOWSKI.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE MY ESSAY ABOUT DR. KING.
AND WHY DO WE CELEBRATE HIS LEGACY? IT IS A HOT AUGUST AFTERNOON, AND I AM STANDING ON THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL LOOKING OUT OVER WASHINGTON DC THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS HURRY PAST ME AT MY FEET.
AN INSCRIPTION ETCHED ON THE STONE STEP READS, I HAVE A DREAM.
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM.
I LOOK UP A FOREIGN TOURIST STOPS TO POUR WATER OVER THE WORDS TO CLEAN IT AND TAKE PICTURES.
I THINK TO MYSELF, HIS GLOBAL IMPACT ON THE WORLD AND ON THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
WAS A LEADER WHO WORKED TO END RACISM AND MAKE THE WORLD A FAIRER PLACE.
HE WAS BORN ON JANUARY 15TH, 1929 IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AND EXPERIENCED RACISM.
HE BELIEVED IN PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND WANTED PEOPLE TO TREAT EACH OTHER WITH KINDNESS, NO MATTER THEIR SKIN COLOR.
HE WAS A PREACHER AND AN ACTIVIST.
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ASSASSINATED IN 1968, HIS WORK STILL CONTINUES TO INSPIRE.
TODAY I AM SITTING IN A NO PLACE FOR HATE MEETING.
AT FARGATE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE WERE DISCUSSING HOW TO BUILD A LEARNING COMMUNITY OF BELONGING, RESPECT, AND OPPORTUNITY AT OUR SCHOOL.
I THINK TO MYSELF, USING LOVE, NOT HATE TO GUIDE US, WE CELEBRATE DR.
KING'S LEGACY BECAUSE HE HELPED END SEGREGATION BY MOVING NONVIOLENT, BY USING NONVIOLENT PROTESTS.
DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS.
WE CELEBRATE HIS LEGACY BECAUSE HE LEFT A MARK ON ALL
[01:05:01]
WHO WALKED WITH HIM AND LISTENED TO HIS SPEECHES.WE CELEBRATE DR. KING BECAUSE HE NEVER GAVE UP ON HIS DREAM.
AND EVEN AFTER HE DIED, OTHERS CONTINUED WHAT HE STARTED.
OKAY, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR CHARLOTTE.
AND, UH, $100 THANK YOU GIFT CARD.
CAN YOU SO MUCH BEFORE WE MOVE ON, ELLIOT, IF HE HASN'T ALREADY LEFT THE BUILDING, HE GOT IT.
UH, MARILYN, WE HAVE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ART.
IS PARIS DOUGLAS HERE? PARIS IS NOT HERE.
CAN PARIS POST TASTE? CAN YOU COME UP? IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING IN ANY CASE, WE'LL GIVE YOU.
AND YOU HAVE HIS MONETARY THING.
AND THANK YOU FOR ENTERING THE ART EXHIBIT.
DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHERE YOUR ART IS? WHICH ONE IS ON THE WALL? YEAH.
UM, IF YOU, IF YOU LOOK TO YOUR LEFT, LIKE OVER THERE, YOU CAN SEE MY R MY R IS, IS A, IS A RE-IMAGINING OF MARTIN LUTHER KING'S TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING HERE FOR WYATT? HERE'S HIS CARD.
I, UH, I TEACH ART, VISUAL ART AT KENNETH B. CLARK ACADEMY, JUST DOWN THE ROAD HERE.
AND, UH, I'M WYATT'S ART TEACHER.
UH, AND, UH, WYATT WAS, UH, WAS DELIGHTED TO PARTICIPATE IN, UH, UH, IN THE COMPETITION.
UM, AND HIS WORK IS OVER THERE AND IT'S A, IT'S A PEACE SIGN, UH, THAT IS A PART OF A PORTRAIT OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
AND THAT WAS HIS INTERPRETATION OF, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE DREAM MEANT TO, UH, TO MARTIN LUTHER KING.
SO, UH, I I THANK YOU, UH, ON BEHALF OF WYATT BOY, UH, THE HIGH SCHOOL SANR.
MY NAME IS PAUL AQUAVELLA AND I DO A BEGINNING, AN APOLOGY 'CAUSE A NUMBER OF OTHER NAMES.
I HAVE A HARD TIME PRONOUNCING, SO FORGIVE ME AS I TRY.
THE FIRST IS THE HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY.
FIRST PLACE WENT TO MONTICELLO.
IS HE HERE TODAY? CAN SOMEONE COME FORWARD TO ACCEPT HIS AWARD? THANK YOU.
DO YOU WANNA READ THE ESSAY, PLEASE? SORRY? DO YOU WANNA READ THE ESSAY? UM, SURE IT'S NOT HERE.
[01:10:01]
HAVE AN ESSAY ON.I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE HER BECAUSE THIS IS THE ART TEACHER.
SO IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE STUDENTS OR THE ONES WHO ARE MOST INTERESTED.
I'M GONNA BE UP HERE A SECOND TIME AS WELL.
BUT, UM, MY NAME IS MADISON BRYAN.
I'M THE ART COORDINATOR FOR CHILDREN'S VILLAGE, UM, FOR THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
AND THEN YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT DAVID TOO.
HE ALSO GOT A CERTIFICATE, UM, DID THIS ALL ON THEIR OWN, BUT ALSO WITH THE HELP OF OUR OPEN DOOR LIBRARY TEACHER.
THESE KIDS ARE AMAZING AND GREAT JOB.
THE SECOND PLACE PERSON IN THE ESSAY COMPETITION IS MARISSA CARPENTER.
I DON'T BELIEVE SHE'S HERE, SO, OKAY.
IS SOMEONE HERE TO RECEIVE THE AWARD ON OUR BEHALF? BILL, COME AND PICK IT UP.
I'M IN HIGH SCHOOL ART FIRST PLACE WENT TO ELI FERNANDEZ.
DO YOU WANNA SHOW WHICH, WHICH PIECE IS YOURS? OH, SIR, I GOT BORROW RIGHT HERE.
AND SECOND PLACE WENT TO DOMINIC SECRETARY.
UH, I'M GONNA RECEIVE FOR DOMINIC.
YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? UH, DOMINIC, UH, DOMINIC IS MY ART STUDENT AS WELL.
UH, AND HE, UH, HE DID A, UH, A PORTRAIT OF, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, WITH, UH, AND, AND COPIED HIS SPEECH DOWN, UH, BACK BEHIND HIM.
AND, UH, YEAH, I WE'RE WORKING ON VALUE SCALE.
UH, AND SO, UM, HE INCORPORATED, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, REALLY KIND OF GROUNDBREAKING, UH, DRAWING FOR HIM, UH, IN, UM, IN REPRESENTING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
UH, AND, UH, UM, AND I THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF, UH, DOMINIC.
WE WERE IMPRESSED BY THE CREATIVITY OF THE SUBMISSIONS.
AND SO WE CREATE A NEW CATEGORY, UH, THE SPOKEN WORD AND POETRY.
FIRST PLACE IS MCKAY MYERS, WHO'S AN EIGHTH GRADER.
ARE YOU THE EIGHTH GRADER? AND CALEB SPRINKLES.
HE THE A THAT'S, AND HE'LL GIVE YOU THE, YOUR CHECK TO YOU.
AND DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE? I APPRECIATE IT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT? I APPRECIATE IT FOR ALL THE WHITE AND BLACK PEOPLE BEING HERE TO PRESENT FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING THROUGHOUT THE TIMES HE FOUGHT FOR, FOR US AND THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY.
AND YOU JUST GOTTA SAY AND AMEN THAT, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM, WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE IN HERE TO THE SOCIETY,
[01:15:01]
YOU KNOW? AND I JUST, YOU JUST GOTTA GIVE IT TO GOD AND GIVE IT TO MARTIN LUTHER KING.UM, WE, WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD CREATE A, A, UH, IT'S NOT A CERTIFICATE, BUT A, A LETTER TO THESE TWO STUDENTS TO CONGRATULATING THEM ON BEING THE FIRST SPOKEN WORD.
CONGRATULATIONS ON RECEIVING THE VERY FIRST MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SPOKEN WORD AWARD.
THIS HONOR WAS CREATED, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF YOUR INCREDIBLE ENTRY, AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE YOUR TALENT.
YOUR WORDS MOVED US DEEPLY AND TRULY CAPTURED THE SPIRIT, PASSION AND VISION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
THROUGH YOUR PERFORMANCE, YOU REMIND US OF THE POWER OF VOICE, COURAGE, AND CREATIVITY TO INSPIRE, CHANGE, AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR GIFT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE FUTURE.
ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION.
SO IT'S GONNA BE SHOWN NOW ON THE SCREEN.
UH, IT'S GONNA BE SHOWN NOW ON THE SCREEN.
I'M, UH, BUT BEFORE YOU GO, HERE IS YOUR, UH, YOUR MONETARY PHRASE.
I THINK, UH, RALPH IS GOING TO SHARE THE VIDEO.
TIRED MARCHING FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD TIRED.
I DON'T MIND THE CELEBRATING MLK HEER GREAT KING TRY TO GIVE US THINGS.
WE TRYING TO KILL OUR BROTHERS.
WE GOTTA STOP KILLING EACH OTHER.
VIOLENCE IS THE MEDICINE PRESCRIBED BY THE DOCTOR.
ALL HE EVER, WHEN IT WAS FOR EVERYONE TO PROSPER, BE JUDGED BY YOUR CHARACTER AND NOT BY THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.
WHEN WE ALL IS HATRED AND WHEN WE ALL HATRED AND RACIST, AND BERNARD FROM BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA TO ATLANTA TO NYC, THE USA, IT'S THE WHOLE WORLD TODAY, PEOPLE STILL TREATED LIKE SLAVES.
THEY USED FIRE HOSES LIKE WATER KING.
HE CHOSE, THEY USED ATTACK DOGS ON PEACEFUL PROTESTERS.
WE CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF DR. KING.
WE CELEBRATE, WE CELEBRATE, WE CELEBRATE.
WE CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF DR. KING.
WE CELEBRATE, WE CELEBRATE, WE CELEBRATE, WE DO LEGACY.
WHAT DOES DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DREAMS LOOK LIKE? LOOK LIKE FREEDOM.
WE FIND THE LIGHT AWARD WHERE EVERYONE HAS EQUAL VICE.
THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO RIGHT.
WE MUST LIVE TOGETHER AS BROTHERS ALL PARIS TOGETHER AS FOOLS.
WE ARE IN THE SAME SCHOOL LIFE LESSONS, LIVING BY GOD'S BLESSING.
IF I COULD ASK DOC A QUESTION, HOW'D YOU KEEP A FREE MIND? WHEN THE COPS ARE ALWAYS THE RESTING THAT GOT ME STRESS HIM, HOW COULD YOU TREAT US THAT WAY? IF I COULD DO GREAT THINGS, I COULD DO SMALL THINGS IN A GREAT WAY.
LET IT REPLAY, PREACH LOVE ALL DAY.
LET THE PEOPLE SAY WE CELEBRATE THE OF KING.
CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE.
[01:20:24]
IT'S THE LEGACY.I SAID, HEY CAN THROUGH THAT, HEY, JUMP OUT HERE THROUGH THAT.
IT'S THE LEGACY IT THE LEGACY.
WE THANK MACKAY AND CALEB WHO ARE AN EIGHTH GRADER AND A 10TH GRADER.
AND UH, THE LAST AWARD THAT WE'RE GIVEN IS FOR DAVID JIMBO AND AND HIS POEM.
YOU WANNA READ IT OR TALK ABOUT IT? SO HERE'S THIS CERTIFICATE AND THIS GIVES YOUR LET MOVE ON.
DOES ANYONE HAVE A COPY OF THE POEM? BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO READ IT INTO THE RECORD FOR THE, FOR THE, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THOSE.
WATCHING THE RECORDING, HUH? ALL RIGHT.
A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM, A POEM FOR MLK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM SEEING.
THIS CROWD CONVEYS A WEIRD FEELING.
THIS PLACE IN WAYS I LOOK AROUND AND LOOK DOWN AT MY WATCH FOR WHICH DAY I FEEL COLOR BEFORE COLOR, WHICH REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING I HEARD FROM ANOTHER.
I WAS HERE BEFORE IN DAYS OF OLD AND DAYS OF NEW, IT CAN'T BE TRUE.
THE CROWD IS SO ANGRY AT THE TIMES AND FOR SO LONG THAT MANY CRIMES 'CAUSE IN DAYS OF OLD, THEY WERE SOLD.
NOW ALL THEY ASK FOR IS FREEDOM.
I OPEN MY EYES, I'M IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
I LOOK UP AND THEY SEE MY FACE.
I HAVE A FEELING I DON'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP FROM DREAMING.
I DREAM OF A BETTER WORLD OF LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING.
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M DREAMING OF A DIFFERENT WORLD.
IF YOU UNDERSTAND ME, THEN YOU'RE PART OF MY FAMILY.
I'M SPEAKING HERE, SPREADING THE GOOD OF WORD OF A GOOD DREAM.
I HEARD THE DREAM THAT MLK MADE IT SEEM, I WILL REDEEM WHAT IT SEEMED RE COMPS IN THE PAST TENSE.
HENCE THE DENSE STUPIDITY THAT FALLS HUMANITY.
MISUNDERSTANDING IS ITS POISE.
I CARRY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SPEAKING MY TRUTH AND THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO TILL THE DAY THAT IT'S DUE.
GREAT JOB, DAVID, IN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT COMES TO THE PART OF OUR PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE VIDEO PRESENTATIONS.
STEVE FRANKLIN ANNOUNCED THE FIRST OF OUR VIDEO PRESENTATIONS, AFTER WHICH ELIZABETH WILL ANNOUNCED THE SECOND VIDEO.
STEVE, ON BEHALF OF MY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING BREAKFAST COMMITTEE, LET ME AGAIN
[01:25:01]
EXTEND OUR MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING WITH US TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDATE, THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.THIS YEAR'S OCCASION IS ESPECIALLY NOTEWORTHY AS IT ALSO MARKS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
ON JULY 4TH, 1776, DR. KING WELL UNDERSTOOD THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION AS THE FOUNDATIONAL PROMISE OF EQUALITY IN WHICH OUR NATION WAS BASED.
THAT WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.
HE SHARED HIS DREAM OF EQUALITY WITH A CROWD OF SOME 250,000 MEN AND WOMEN IN FRONT OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL THAT ACTED AS THE CAPSTONE FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS MARCH ON WASHINGTON, HELD ON AUGUST 28TH, 1963, AND CONCLUDED WITH THE SINGING AS WILL BE TODAY OF WE SHALL OVERCOME.
SO LET US NOW WITNESS ONCE AGAIN, REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
IF HE TRANSFORMS WHAT STARTED AS A SPEECH BUT ENDED AS A SERMON.
I LEFT ONE OF THE CERTIFICATES IN THE OFFICE, SO WE DON'T WANNA LEAVE ANYONE OUT.
SO WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT THE CERTIFICATE FOR ART TO SAYEED SIMMONS.
AND THE CERTIFICATE READS, THIS CERTIFICATE IS AWARDED TO SAYED SIMMONS IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING ARTWORK THAT REFLECTS THE EXCELLENCE AND ENDURING LEGACY OF THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
CAN YOU SHOW US YOUR ARTICLE? UH, RIGHT THERE.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
I AM HAPPY TO JOIN WITH YOU TODAY IN WHAT WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATION FOR FREEDOM IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION.
FIVE SCORE YEARS AGO, A GREAT AMERICAN IN WHOSE SYMBOLIC SHADOW WE STAND TODAY.
THE SIGN THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
AND THIS MOMENTOUS DECREE CAME AS A GRE BEACON LIGHT OF HOPE TO MILLIONS OF NEGRO SLAVES WHO HAD BEEN SEAD IN THE FLAMES OF WITHERING INJUSTICE.
IT CAME AS A JOYOUS DAYBREAK TO END THE LONG NIGHT OF THEIR CAPTIVITY.
BUT 100 YEARS LATER, THE NEGRO STILL IS NOT FREE.
100 YEARS LATER, THE LIFE OF THE NEGRO IS STILL SADLY CRIPPLED BY THE MANACLES OF SEGREGATION AND THE CHAINS OF DISCRIMINATION.
100 YEARS LATER, THE NEGRO LIVES ON A LONELY ISLAND OF POVERTY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS NATION WILL RISE UP AND LIVE OUT THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EACH I HAVE DREAM THAT ONE DAY ON THE RED HILLS OF GEORGE SONS OF FORMER SLAVES AND THE SONS OF FORMER SLAVE OWNERS, WILL THEY BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AT THE
[01:30:01]
TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD.I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY, EVEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A STATE SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT OF INJUSTICE, JUSTICE SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT OF OPPRESSION WILL BE TRANSFORMED INTO AN OASIS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
I HAVE A DREAM MY POOR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY DOWN IN ALABAMA WITH ITS VICIOUS RACISTS, WITH ITS GOVERNOR, HAVING HIS LIPS DRIPPING WITH THE WORDS OF INTERPOSITION AND NULLIFICATION.
ONE DAY RIGHT NOW IN ALABAMA, LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND BLACK GIRLS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS WITH LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND WHITE GIRLS AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS, I HAVE A DREAM TODAY, I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED AND EVERY HEALING MOUNTING SHALL BE MADE.
LOADS ROUGH PLACES WILL BE MADE PLAIN AND THE CROOKED PLACES WILL BE MADE STRAIGHT.
AND THE LORD, THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED IN ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER.
THIS IS A FAITH THAT I GO BACK TO THE SO WITH, WITH THIS FAITH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HUE OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF DESPAIR, A STONE OF HOPE.
WITH THIS FAITH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSFORM THE JANGLING DISCOURSE OF OUR NATION INTO A BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF BROTHERHOOD.
WITH THIS FAITH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER, TO PRAY TOGETHER, TO STRUGGLE TOGETHER, TO GO TO JAIL TOGETHER, TO STAND UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER, KNOWING THAT WE'LL BE FREE ONE DAY, THIS WILL BE, THIS WILL BE THE DAY WITH ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN.
BE ABLE TO SING WITH NEW MEANING MY COUNTRY.
TEARS BE SWEET, LAND OF LIBERTY OF DEE LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED.
LAND OF THE PILGRIMS. PRIDE FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE.
AND IF AMERICAS TO BE A GREAT NATION, THIS MUST BECOME TRUE.
AND SO LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE PRODIGIOUS HILLTOPS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE HEIGHTENING ALLEGHENY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE SNOW CAP ROCKIES OF COLORADO.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE KBA OF SLOPES OF CALIFORNIA.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, LET FREEDOM RING FROM STONE MOUNTAIN OF GEORGIA.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN OF TENNESSEE.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM EVERY HILL AND MOLE HILL OF MISSISSIPPI, FROM EVERY MOUNTAIN SIDE.
AND WHEN IT HAPPEN, WHEN WE ALLOW FREEDOM, RAIN, WHEN WE LET IT RAIN FROM EVERY VILLAGE AND EVERY HAMLET, FROM EVERY STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEED UP THAT DAY WHEN ALL OF GODS CHILDREN, BLACK MEN AND WHITE MEN, JEWS AND GENTILES, PROTESTANTS, AND CATHOLICS, WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS AND SING IN THE WORDS OF THE OLD NEGRO.
THANK GOD, NEVER GET TIRED OF THAT SPEECH.
I AM VERY HONORED TODAY TO INTRODUCE OUR VERY SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER.
YOU'LL ALL AGREE WITH ME THAT THIS PERSON NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, BUT WHO COMES BY WAY OF VIDEO.
SHE'S THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS, WITH A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR HASTINGS.
[01:35:01]
DAY TO EVERYONE AT HASTINGS ON HUDSON FOR THIS INCREDIBLE CELEBRATION.I THANK YOU ALL THE LEADERS WHO ARE THERE, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A MOMENT EVERY YEAR WHERE WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE VICTORIES OF FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM, FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE, FIGHTING FOR OPPORTUNITY, AND FIGHTING FOR THE IDEALS OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND AT THIS MOMENT, WE KNOW THAT SO MANY OF THOSE IDEALS ARE UNDER ATTACK AND THAT THERE ARE FORCES THAT ARE CHALLENGING THE VERY EFFICACY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, OF WHICH OF COURSE, DR. KING WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT LEADER.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER, JOINING ARMS, UNDERSTANDING THE BEAUTY OF COMMUNITY AND COALITION, AND THE SPIRIT OF DR.
KING'S WORK, WHICH WAS ALWAYS BORN OUT OF LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY, AND THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, AS PROMISED IN OUR FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS AND AS PROMISED IN THE SPIRIT OF WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS.
WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF OUR EVENT TODAY, BUT THERE IS ONE MORE PRESENTATION WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
I'VE NOTED HERE ON MY NOTE, SPECIAL PRESENTATION I'M LOOKING FOR, FOR RALPH.
HE'S DISAPPEARING UP THE STAIRS.
OUR FIRST BREAKFAST WAS HELD HERE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ON JANUARY 21ST, 2013.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED IT WILL REMEMBER THAT DAY AS THE PUBLIC INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SECOND TERM.
JERRY AND MER WERE THE DIVIDE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND THIS INITIAL EVENT.
AND WE ON THE COMMITTEE WERE SOMEWHAT APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE PUBLIC'S RESPONSE TO THIS NEW EVENT ON THE VILLAGE CALENDAR.
HOWEVER, WE WERE ENCOURAGED BY ONE PERSON NOT SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE, WHO INFORMED US THAT THIS WAS A GREAT IDEA AND EVERYTHING WILL BE IN PLACE HERE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO ENSURE THAT THE FACILITY WAS READY TO HOST THE EVENT THAT PERSON WAS LISA.
LISA HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SUCCESS OF THIS BREAKFAST CELEBRATION FROM ITS INCEPTION, SEEING IT GAIN MORE AND MORE PUBLIC SUPPORT EACH YEAR.
WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SHE HAS ASSUMED A LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THE COMMITTEE, COORDINATING WITH THE SCHOOLS TO EXPAND STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND WITH THE VILLAGE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENT PRIZES.
SADLY, AS WE'VE HEARD BEFORE, LISA WILL SOON BE RETIRING FROM HER POSITION HERE AT THE CENTER AND HAS ALREADY MOVED TO HER NEW HOME IN CONNECTICUT.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS MAY BE HER FINAL COORDINATION OF THE BREAKFAST.
THE COMMITTEE IS INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR HER TIRELESS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT EACH YEAR WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION OF DR.
LISA, WE WISH YOU A HAPPY, WELL DESERVED AND ENJOYABLE RETIREMENT.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND PRESENT YOU WITH THIS CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION AND THE SMALL GIFT TO REMIND YOU THAT WILL REMIND YOU OF US.
AND THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION READS.
THE FOLLOWING AWARD IS GIVEN TO LISA O'REILLY, THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, LISA, FOR YOUR ONTARIO YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMITTEE AND TO THE OVERALL COMMUNITY.
LISA EXEMPLIFIES MARTIN LUTHER KING'S QUOTE, LIFE'S MOST PERSISTENT AND URGENT QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR OTHERS? WE WISH HER ALL THE BEST IN HER RETIREMENT AND WISH HER WELL IN ALL HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
[01:40:04]
YES.OUR OUR MUSICIANS HAVE ONE MORE PIECE.
WE'RE JUST GONNA ACCOMPANY EVERYBODY IN ROOM JUST SINGING.
THIS IS A, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD SONG FOR EVERYONE TO STAND UP.
I SURE YOU WANT TO STRETCH YOUR LEGS AND IF YOU, UH, YOU'D LIKE TO HOLD SOMEBODY'S HAND, SHOULDER, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS, BY THE WAY, THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS WHO WORK WITH ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
UM, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND I'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR.