MLK award nominations needed by Friday

Town of Normal Human Relations Committee members Albert Espinoza, Quincy Cummings, and Mondava Rao.
Town of Normal Human Relations Committee members Albert Espinoza, Quincy Cummings, and Mondava Rao.

By Terry James

NORMAL – Nominations are being taken for those who make an extra special effort to practice diversity and do good works in the community.

Youth and Adults will be recognized at the 41st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Luncheon in January.

Town of Normal Human Relations commission member Albert Espinoza tells WJBC’s Terry James the nomination process is easy and need to be made by Friday.

“These are some of the most giving people in our town with their time, their effort, and their passion,” said Espinoza.

Nominations can be made at the Town of Normal’s Website.

The awards luncheon is January 14th at the Bone student center. Speaking at the ceremony will be Monica Pearson – the first minority and first woman to anchor the evening news in Atlanta.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was recognized starting in 1977 in Bloomington-Normal. That was eight years before President Reagan declared his birthday a holiday.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…