Springfield MLK speaker: Everyone can make a difference

Many Springfield residents gathered Friday to honor Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrate the diversity in the city.

The “Living The Dream: Where Do We Go From Here?” MLK luncheon was hosted by the city and Clark State Community College on Friday.

Springfield resident Ramona Henry said Martin Luther King Jr. Day is about all races coming together to celebrate equality.

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“We need unification,” she said. “We need unity, not just in our community but that’s where it starts. It starts at home.”

She said she tries to attend the lunch annually.

“It just helps us see what Springfield is all about and what it has produced,” Henry said.

Springfield native Rev. Darryl Simmons was the keynote speaker at the event. He spoke about equality.

“Yes, we have come a long way but we have a long way to go,” he said.

God has a plan for everyone, he said, and it’s important people come together so everyone can reach their potential. Everyone can make a difference, he said.

“Find your assignment,” he said. “It’s not what you are doing, it’s how you do it.

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No job is too small, he said.

“There is an opportunity for us to do the right thing,” he said. “We just need to get it in our minds and our hearts to do the right thing.”

Pastor Ricardo Warfield, of the House of Prayer in Springfield, said the event was good for the city.

“It is awesome to see the different people at this lunch representing all ethnicities and it shows that there is a camaraderie in this city in moving forward,” he said.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is more than just a day off work, Simmons said.

“Remember what he stood for, remember the things that he had to to do to even get through to that point.” he said. “It was not easy for him to be in that position.”

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Also, during the event, the city gave out Peacemakers awards to Clark County high school students. The awards went to Jenna Samosky, Ariana Glaser, Le’Jon Ratchford, Kaitlyn Gibson, Claire King, Kayla Burns, Madison Smith, Jackson Smith, Laney Hudson, Joshlyn Carter, Lahkim Carter and Abigail Adams.

Also, receiving the Conscious Connect Inc. award was Karlos Marshall and Moses Mbeseha.

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