The 8th Annual MLK Community Celebration And Resource Fair is on Monday, January 20, at the High School at 225 E. Watson Street, Albion.
Doors open at 5:30 pm. Dinner begins at 6:00 pm.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Convocation and Comunity Celebration presents Dr. Ketwana D. Schoos, Vice President & Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Community College of Allegheny County.

“We are Only as Strong as our Roots”

Monday, January 27, 7:00pm, Bohm Theater, 201 S. Superior St., Albion, MI

For more information, please visit albion.edu/mlk

This program is free and open to the public. Co-Sponsors: Albion College and Albion Branch NAACP
There will be a free dinner and program, and a resource fair.
The post below is from January 2024.

By Dr. Wesley Arden Dick, Albion College Emeritus Professor of History
& Albion Branch NAACP Second Vice President

“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pulitzer Prize historian Taylor Branch labeled the period 1954-1968 in American history “the King years.” Historians have called King “a modern founding father.”

Albion became part of the King years in 1963 when Dr. King spoke from the pulpit at Goodrich Chapel on the Albion College campus. The City of Albion honored “the modern founding father” in 1985 by naming its central road “The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Highway.”In 2024, plans were underway in Albion to commemorate the January 15th Martin Luther King holiday. They included the “7th Annual MLK Community Celebration and Resource Fair” and a “Protecting Democracy & Elections” reception for Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State. Both events were to be hosted at the Marshall Opportunity High School.

Announcements and flyers went out. Then Mother Nature added a twist. On Dr. King’s birthday, Albion residents woke up to an Arctic Blast of snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures and windchills. Would anyone attend the celebration or reception?

The answer came at 4:00 p.m. as Albion citizens began to trickle into the high school. By 4:15, an audience of 100+ was there to greet Secretary Benson upon her arrival.

Close to 100 people braved wind chills of nine below zero to hear Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson speak about the different ways to vote in the 2024 Elections, and the importance of voting.

Jocelyn Benson has become a national figure in protecting democracy, the integrity of elections, and citizen voter rights.

On January 15th, she embarked on a tour of Michigan cities to call attention to the urgency of these issues. Albion was honored to be among the selected cities. Secretary Benson’s Albion visit was coordinated by Robert Dunklin, President of the Albion NAACP, and hosted by the Albion Branch NAACP. President Dunklin recognized City Clerk Jill Domingo, Mayor Vicky Snyder, City Council person Vivan Davis, and other political attendees. In a spirited presentation, Secretary Benson updated the Albion audience about the Michigan changes in the law that offer wider voting options.

She encouraged citizens to consider volunteering to serve as election officials and as poll watchers. Secretary Benson and President Dunklin spoke of honoring Dr. King by voting and continuing the fight to protect democracy.

Their presentations were enthusiastically applauded. Secretary Benson generously posed for photos with attendees and then was off to her next select-city.

Albion NAACP President, Robert Dunklin, far left; Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson; Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Mae Ola Dunklin, Albion Mayor Victoria Garcia-Snyder; Albion City Clerk Jill Domingo; 5th Precinct Council Member Vivian Davis; State Representative, Jim Haadsma; Calhoun County Clerk and Register of Deeds; Kimberly Hinkley;Albion College History Professor Emeritus Dr. Wesley Arden Dick pose for to commemorate for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration and Reception

At 5:30 p.m., it was time to open the doors for the “Community MLK Celebration.” Albion citizens once more braved the weather to visit the resource fair and to enjoy a splendid dinner in the high school cafeteria. A hearty crowd “broke bread together” at a meal made possible by support from the Albion Community Foundation’s “Boggan/Holland African American Community Fund” and other sponsors and by volunteers including Carolyn Amos, Julia Mulkey, and City Council Person Lenn Reid.

The meal from the MLK Community Celebratrion was well received on the cold day on Monday, Monday, January 15, 2024, which marks the 95th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the national holiday.
Albion College President Dr. Wayne Webster speaks with the Build Albion Bonner Fellows at the community meal prior to the presentations in the Marshall Opportunity School Auditorium.

At 7:00 p.m., the crowd moved over to the high school auditorium where City Council person Andy French emceed a program featuring opening remarks by Robert Dunklin and guest speakers Mayor Snyder, Marshall Public Schools Superintendent Rebecca Jones, and State Representative Jim Haadsma.

The speakers referenced Dr. King’s “beloved community” and described ways that citizens through volunteerism, action, and unity can make Albion a model city. The mood for this evening’s celebration was enhanced by the wonderful music of the “Tehilah Praise Team,” Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of Albion and the “4-H Creative & Expressive Arts” trio.

Emcee Albion City Council Member Andy French introduced the planners and coordinators for the event, Cressie Vargo and Marquetta Frost.
The Tehilla Praise Team from Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church lead the singing of “Lift Every Voice in the auditorium.

Maple Grove Apartments and recognized for their community volunteerism.

A group of young musicians were invited on stage to showcase the contributions of Walk the Beat, Cliff Harris, Donisha Brewer, Maurice Barry, and the Dickerson Music Company.

Executive Director Ari McCaskill introduced the Albion College Class of 2024 Build Albion Bonner Fellows who also graced the stage.

Malena Solis gave a heartfelt speech about the community connection of the Fellows program and about what Albion means to her personally.

All of this, the “7th Annual MLK Community Celebration,” was made possible by the vision, dedication, and hard work of Albion heroes Cressie Vargo and Marquetta Frost.

On January 15th, Albion once again invoked the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Jocelyn Benson highlighted the importance of voting and protecting our democracy and the “MLK Community Celebration” encouraged Albion citizens to continue to strive to make Albion a “beloved community.” The Albion citizens who braved the cold on King’s birthday exited Marshall Opportunity High School with challenges to action and warm hearts–what better way to honor Dr. King? January 15, 2024, was a great day in Albion, a proud day, a memorable day!

Learn about Albion’s elected representatives and this year’s elections.