Participants in Keeping the Dream Alive!
a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, channeled the leader's spirit through song, dance and speech tonight in the Baker University Center Ballroom.
Through sharing our talents with each other we improve and increase humanity Ohio University President Roderick McDavis said to a full ballroom. We have an opportunity to bring to the forefront the dream of Dr. King.
At the gala event, the Celebration Choir ' composed of students, faculty and Athens residents ' sang two pieces, joining the Athens Black Contemporary Dancers, the Divine Covering Praise Team and the Faculty Chamber Ensemble.
Newly elected Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann was scheduled to speak at the event, but he did not attend because of an unexpected schedule change.
OU student and spoken word artist Derrick Jones said that though King's birthday is celebrated once a year, people should carry out his dream daily.
It's not about what we do every third Monday in January
Jones said. It's what we do every day in between.
Athens Mayor Ric Abel said students and residents can act on a local level as models of King's vision.
By working to reduce poverty ' which has reached 27 percent in Athens County ' and attending City Council meetings, Abel said people can step outside of their comfort zones, something McDavis said he sees happening more and more.
On that judgment day
we will not be asked how many degrees we earned
we will not be asked how much money we earned
we will not be asked where we lived
McDavis said. We will simply be judged on how we treated one another.
Speakers at the event emphasized the theme throughout, including Winsome Chunnu, assistant director of OU's Multicultural Center.
Keeping King's dream alive means challenging all forms of intolerance, not just racial, Chunnu said.
Are you ready to dream with me tonight? she asked.
The crowd responded with a resounding Yes.
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