SCI Celebrates MLK Day

“Rosa sat, so Martin could walk…
Martin walked, so Obama could run…
Obama is running, so our children can FLY!”

            - Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College

Woburn residents gathered Monday afternoon to celebrate the life and service of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monday at the annual  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Luncheon coordinated by St. John's Baptist Church in partnership with the City of Woburn and Social Capital Inc. (SCI).

The event featured a keynote address by Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President of Wheelock College.  Jenkins-Scott spoke about the significance of the election of Barack Obama in light of Dr. King, noting that, “we often think we got here by ourselves, none of us, including Barack got where we got on our own.  Each of us lives out someone’s hopes, dreams or aspirations.  Someone before us had hopes and sacrificed so that we might live out those hopes.”

Jenkins-Scott echoed President Obama’s call to service saying, “How will we use this time?  Will we choose to sit on our laurels or will we really use this time to take our country to the next level of greatness? This is not only Barack’s challenge…history will judge what we do…” Jenkins-Scott’s words remind us that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not only a time to remember Dr. King’s efforts but to renew our own commitment to service.  SCI, whose mission is to connect diverse citizens to strengthen the community, is proud to come together with all members of the Woburn community to advance Dr. King’s dream.

Woburn Memorial High School Principal Robert C. Norton was presented the fifth City of Woburn Community Drum Major Award by SCI President & Founder David Crowley who described Norton as "passionate about giving every student a great education."   Taryn Bernadette Johnson received the seventh St. John’s Baptist Church Drum Major Award.  Drum Major Award recipients exemplify the model of service defined by Dr. King.  High school seniors Jeremiah Johnson, Lacey Jones, and Cally Sands each received a scholarship to further their academic study.

The Scholarship Luncheon offered a time to reflect on the importance of Dr. King’s life and the legacy of his service to America.  SCI hopes that we can carry Dr. King's message beyond a single holiday and understand the importance of connecting with neighbors in order to build a strong social fabric that is richly diverse that and encourages participation among all members of our community.  SCI is committed to this goal in its four program areas, 1) Engaging Youth; 2) Uniting Diverse Individuals & Groups; 3) Developing Leaders; and 4) Connecting Citizens. Through a commitment to getting to know one another we can make our community thrive.  Dr. King’s words remind us of the importance of our commitment to understanding each other and serving one another:

"Men often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they can not communicate; they can not communicate because they are separated."