COVINGTON, Ga. - Planning for Newton County’s 33rd Annual Commemorative Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is underway. Through music, song and words of inspiration, this annual event offers motivation to continue to advance Dr. King’s dream of equality and justice.
For the 2018 event, The Honorable Judge Eleanor Ross, the first African American woman appointed to the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia, will deliver the keynote address.
Another key feature of the event is the recognition and celebration of individuals (adults and youth) and/or organizations who contribute to advancing peace and unity in the Newton County community. Specifically, the awards presented annually are the I Have A Dream Award, the Trailblazer Award and the Young Dreamer Award (added in 2014). Award nominees are solicited for each award based on the following criteria.
I Have a Dream Award Criteria: The nominee must have given at least two years of service to the Newton County Community; must be a registered voter; is affiliated with a church/synagogue/worship center; made contributions to the community that are non-profitable and visible to the community; made nondiscriminatory contributions; models a spirit of peace and unity; is one who will initiate and support change; must be endowed with a humble spirit; must be steadfast in his/her convictions; and must be one who fosters and supports education on all levels.
Trailblazer Award Criteria: The nominee must be a long time citizen of Newton County; must be a registered voter; must be a creator of change in the community and follow through to implementation; change facilitated by the nominee must be a benefit to the community; must be resourceful and committed to all aspects of the county; and the nominee must foster a cohesive spirit of PEACE, UNITY, DIVERSITY, and LOVE.
Young Dreamer Awards Criteria: The nominee must be a citizen of Newton County enrolled in one of the public schools of Newton County; must be in either grades k-5 or 6-12; must have demonstrated interest in fostering PEACE, UNITY, DIVERSITY, and LOVE among his/her peers; and must have made a difference in the lives of others who may have otherwise been overlooked, ignored, or disadvantaged.
Each nomination should include 1) the name, address, and contact phone number of the person making the nomination; the name and address of the nominee (include school and grade for Young Dreamer Award nominees); and a typed statement explaining how the nominee meets or exceeds the criteria for the award.
Nomination materials for each award should be mailed to MLK Awards, c/o Mrs. Josephine Brown, P.O. Box 185, Covington, GA 30015 or emailed to NewtonCoGaMLK@gmail.com. All nomination materials should be received by Jan. 5, 2018.
The Awards will be presented at the event which takes place on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at Newton High School.
For questions or concerns regarding this article, please contact the committee at NewtonCoGaMLK@gmail.com or Gail Slaton at 404-857-6412.
