(1) City of Aurora Commemoration — Guest Speaker Tim King

The city of Aurora will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Day at 6:30 p.m. Monday with a commemoration titled “Advancing the Mission Through Perseverance” at Waubonsie Valley High School, 2950 Ogden Ave., Aurora.

The guest speaker is Tim King, founder and CEO of Urban Prep Academies, Chicago’s first all-boys public school and the country’s first charter high school for boys.

Tim King is founder, president and CEO of Urban Prep Academies, a nonprofit organization operating a network of public college-prep boys’ schools in Chicago (including the nation’s first all-male charter high school) and related programs aimed at promoting college success. One hundred percent of Urban Prep graduates — all African-American males and mostly from low-income families — have been admitted to four-year colleges/universities.

King also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Northwestern University; has published in the Journal of Negro Education, Chronicle of Higher Education, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, and Huffington Post; and contributed to the book Building on Resilience: Models & Frameworks of Black Male Success Across the P-20 Pipeline.

King has been named 2014 BET Awards “Shine A Light” award recipient, ABC World News “Person of the Week,” Chicago Magazine’s “Chicagoan of the Year,” People Magazine’s “Hero of the Year” and to Ebony Magazine’s “Power 100” list; featured on Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The Moth/USA Networks’ Characters Unite series; and recognized by presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for his work with youth.

(2) Aurora University  — ‘A Legacy of Leadership, Service and Faith for Today’

A special opportunity to hear from state Sen. Kwame Raoul will take place at #aurorauniversity Jan. 15. Raoul will present “A Legacy of Leadership, Service and Faith for Today” during the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, in Crimi Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. To register, visit auartsandideas.com.

Contact: Office of Community Relations, artsandideas@aurora.edu, 630-844-4924.

Aurora — Day of Service

On Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 the Aurora community will come together to remember the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King by participating in the Day of Service. Community service hours can be earned by volunteering as well as attending the evening program at Waubonsee Valley High School.

Locations include:

• Countryside Care Center 2330 West Galena Boulevard
• Aurora Public Library Multiple locations
• Farnsworth Rehabilitation 1601 North Farnsworth Avenue
• Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry 834 North Highland Avenue
• Sci-Tech 18 West Benton Street
• Elmwood Nursing Home 1017 West Galena Boulevard
• Heartland Blood Center 1200 North Highland Avenue
• McCauley Manor 400 West Sullivan Rd
• Mutual Ground 418 Oak Ave
• Hesed House 659 South River Street

Shifts needed from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. in one hour increments or more.

Help needed with stocking shelves, washing books, helping patrons with self book check, sorting, packing, labeling, nail polishing, hair braiding, playing games, blood donations, assisting elderly in the dining room, organizing toys.

Registration is required. Go to this link and fill out the form.

 

(4) City of Elgin — ‘Dr. King’s Dream Continues’

Each year, the city of Elgin Human Relations Commission takes great pride in presenting a weekend of activities celebrating the life of one of our country’s greatest civil rights leaders, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tickets to the MLK Prayer Breakfast are available for sale at the cashiers’ desk in City Hall, 150 Dexter Court.

(5) Elgin’s Martin Luther King Jr. Community Food Drive

Again this year, during the weeks leading up to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, the Elgin Human Relations Commission and the Dr. King Holiday Committee are conducting a massive food drive.

Last year 9,000 pounds (4.5 tons) of food was collected that provided relief to local families that may have fallen upon tough times. Our goal for 2015 is to exceed 6 tons (12,000 pounds) of food and household goods that we will donate to Food for Greater Elgin and five other local food pantries. With your support, we can do it!

COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE – JAN. 2 – 18, 2015

Drop Off Sites Include:

• Jewel Stores
• Elgin Fresh Markets
• Butera Markets
• Elgin City Hall
• Most Elgin Churches
• Elgin Fire Houses
  
• Elgin Police Department

For more information, call Joe Wars at (847)-742-2228 or jwars@att.net. 

 

(6) Elgin Prayer Breakfast

Jan. 17, 2015 – Prayer Breakfast – ECC, Building E, University Business Center Dining Room

The Prayer Breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m.  Doors open at 8 a.m. Tickets are $15; children under 3 eat for free. The speaker will be Vincent Gaddis, Benedictine University. Tickets are available for sale at the cashiers’ desk of City Hall, 150 Dexter Court.

Vincent Gaddis holds a Ph.D. in history from Northern Illinois University with over 20 years of teaching experience in higher education.  He is currently Professor of History, and Chair of the Department of History, Philosophy, Global Studies and Theology at Benedictine University.  He is the author of Herbert Hoover, Unemployment and the Public Sphere: A Conceptual History, 1919-1933.

(7) Elgin — Public Forum at the Hemmens

4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Jan.18, 2015 – Public Program  at Hemmens Cultural Center

(8) Elgin — Day of Service

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19, 2015 at Centre of Elgin

The Day of Service will:

• Give young people across the Elgin area space to share about their service experience and be recognized for their service accomplishments. 
• Give adults who work with young people an opportunity to connect and share valuable mentoring resources with one another.
• Inspire young people to remember and honor the life of Dr. King.
• Inspire young people to make service a regular part of their lives.

The Centre of Elgin’s aquatic center, basketball courts and other activities will be available for all participating youth.

• Click here for an application to participate in the Day of Service.
• Click here for student group exhibit guidelines.