ANNAPOLIS — The 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Awards Reception and Dinner, the largest celebration of Dr. King’s birthday in Anne Arundel County will be held Friday, January 18, 2019 at 6 p.m. at La Fountaine Bleue in Glen Burnie.
A highlight of the program will be the world premiere of the documentary film, “The Dream Revisited, Civil Rights in Perspective,” directed by award-winning filmmakers and partners in Imagyn, Inc., Charles and May Love based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The documentary pays tribute to Dr. King and discusses the struggle for civil rights that still exists to this day.
“I watched this beautiful film and was deeply moved by it,” said Dr. William Ferris, former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C. “It is a powerful, timely reminder of how race continues to define our lives.”
Addressing guests at the dinner and reception will be Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman; Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley; Congressman Anthony Brown; and Steven McAdams on behalf of Governor Larry Hogan. Other speakers will include St. John’s College President Panayotis Kanelos and Captain Robert Dews of the United States Naval Academy. The Naval Academy Gospel Choir will also perform.
Designed to pay homage to the memory of Dr. King, the annual dinner honors local civil and human rights activists whose deeds, words and actions have helped keep his legacy alive. Proceeds from the event will be used to underwrite the annual Fannie Lou Hamer Reception and the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards Dinner to ensure their continued existence in the future, honoring Dr. King.
Midshipman First Class Aaron J. Lewis, Drum Major Award
Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Dream Keepers Award
M. Eve Hurwitz, Alan Hilliard Legum Civil Rights Award
Congressman John Sarbanes, Dream Keepers Award
George Craig “Lassie” Belt, Peace Maker Award
Alderman Marc Rodriguez, Morris H. Blum Humanitarian Award
Najiba Hlemi, We Share the Dream Award
Patricia Cole, Alan Hilliard Legum Civil Rights Award
Vivian Gist Spenser, Drum Major Award
Wandra Ashley-Williams, Courageous Leadership Award