Los Medanos College hosted its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon Thursday, Feb. 29, in the Student Union, open to the college and community.
Dr. Tanisha Maxwell, LMC Vice President of Student Services, who served on the committee that organized the event, spoke about its significance.
The luncheon served as a space to “celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by recognizing the everyday heroes in our community who live and breathe his principles and walk the talk in their daily work,” Maxwell said.
“I would say to someone who has never been to this event before that this is a celebration of students and community members who follow in Dr. King’s vision,” Maxwell said. “A luncheon to fellowship and to the LMC community and the community which we serve, and an opportunity for fundraising for future scholarships.”
When asked how the nominees were selected, Maxwell said, “We have a selection committee and use a rubric based on the prompts of the nomination form to determine the selected awardees.”
The gathering was joyous, with the smell of food and sound of laughter filling the air. The feeling of community was strong in the room. The event opened with the Black national anthem sung by student Roxanne Williams, a strong opening to an event from and for the community.
As attendees ate, the Brothas of the Drum beat out soothing rhythms and jubilant songs, inviting all to participate in the performance.
The first two awardees were students from LMC who lead in and around the community in the vision of Dr. King.
Mina Jobe is a poet who leads through her art, using her voice for advocacy for the human dignity of all. She accepted the Emerging Leadership Award for her work in the community as an up-and-coming leader.
A theme of the event was opportunity, that given the chance this community holds immense power for good. Tara Sanders, director of the LMC Foundation, spoke to this point.
“There must be opportunity for all the work we do to create more opportunity,” said Sanders.
Chijioke Onyeagucha, the LMC Experience Editor-in-Chief and officer in the LMC Honors Program, was recognized for his contribution to the community. He received the Emerging Leadership Award for both his work on the paper and his effort put into creating opportunities for his fellow students in the Honors Program.
Last year’s Beloved Community Award winner Kolette Simonton, director of Recreation for the City of Pittsburg, returned this year to deliver a keynote speech centered around LMC as a village.
“Dr. King marched, protested and spoke powerful truths so that we could stand in opportunities once denied to us,” Simonton said. “His village poured into him provided for all of us. We are so blessed to have Los Medanos College as part of our village.”
The Beloved Community Award went to Tianna Hicks, vice president of Da Bigger Picture nonprofit foundation. DBP focuses on giving youth the things they need to live with dignity. Whether it’s prom clothes, youth camps or community drives, Hicks as a whole is focused on giving back to the community that created her.
“Their circumstances shouldn’t define their future, they are continuing to provide resources for the community,” said Hicks.
The Visionary Leadership Award went to Dennisha Marsh, executive director of the Parent of African American Achievement Collaborative Team (PAAACT), a community support organization dedicated to helping Black students achieve their academic goals.
When asked what Black History Month means to them and how this event ties into that, Kim Raynor Jones responded by saying, “Black History Month to me means to highlight the achievements of black people and getting them to understand that it’s really not just a month. Black people are embedded in American culture; we are American culture.”
Jones adds by explaining “This event highlights local people that have contributed to our culture, our communities, for example Mrs. Walker, who was nominated, helps our community by exposing young people to higher education with her college tours. You can change the trajectory of a whole family if at least one person goes to college. So that’s how this ceremony celebrates people that are doing this kind of work.”
The objectives of this award ceremony were to garner support from LMC to establish a sustainable event that supported and recognized Black excellence. A long standing request and point of advocacy for Black LMC employees thanks to our college’s president Pamela Rahlston for her support. To raise scholarships for LMC’s Black students, recognize and celebrate the Black community which LMC serves and to build stronger relationships with the Black community and its allies in East Contra Costa County.
For more information about future events at LMC, please view the LMC website under the calendar of events.
