The Y of Central Maryland is doing something different for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Historically, the Y has hosted one speaker,” said John K. Hoey, president and CEO of the Y of Central Maryland. “This year, we wanted to have more of a conversation.”
In celebration of King?s birthday today, the Y will host a memorial breakfast where a panel of community leaders, scholars and activists will discuss race relations and civil rights.
“For us, the need to talk about race and how it impacts the way people live is really important, and we don?t shy away from that discussion,” Hoey said.
The event will be hosted by Mark Steiner from WYPR. Panelists include Lea Gilmore, a blues singer and former deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland; Dante Wilson, founder of Reclaiming Our Children and Community Project in Baltimore City; Thibault Manekin, the former director of PeacePlayers; and Dr. Ben Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings are also expected.
“I remember vividly how Dr. King was adamant about the fact that God is the creator of everybody, how everyone is equal. I?ve grown up with that philosophy,” Carson said. “As I?ve grown, it?s become more apparent. I?m operating on people?s brains all the time, and I can?t tell whether the patient is white, black, Hispanic, Asian. It?s a shame with how incredibly impressive the human brain is that we can be duped into thinking that the superficial covering is what?s important.”
If you go
Y of Central Maryland?s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast
» Where: Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., Baltimore
» When: 7:30 to 9 a.m. Jan. 15
» Tickets: $75 Benefits the Y?s Black Achievers Program and other programming.)
» Info: www.ymcamd.org
