MLK celebration returns to Memorial Chapel with message: Let your work inspire next generation

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—seen in the ongoing work he helped inspire—was celebrated Jan. 15 as Lawrentians gathered with the Fox Cities community in Lawrence University’s Memorial Chapel for the 33rd Fox Cities Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.

The annual event, held on the federal holiday honoring the civil rights icon, applauded local advocates who provide leadership in the spirit of King’s teachings, featured inspiring music and words from Appleton youth and Lawrence students, and showcased local speakers who talked of the progress made and the need for diligence and stamina in the fight for equality for all.

Cainan Davenport, a small business owner in Appleton who has been active in building partnerships and encouraging community conversations, delivered a keynote address that urged those filling Memorial Chapel to look to the future as they build bridges in the name of unity and inclusion.

“As leaders in the community, we must understand that the work and leadership we put in now, we may not get to experience the fruits of our own labor, but the next generation will,” Davenport said. “Just as we as a nation have benefited from the things Martin Luther King fought for, the next generation will benefit from what we fight for.”

Photo gallery: See images from Monday's Fox Cities MLK Celebration

Monday’s MLK Celebration marked a return to an in-person gathering, the first time since it moved online during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is good to again feel the warmth and energy in this room,” President Laurie A. Carter said in welcoming the audience to Memorial Chapel.

Lawrence hosted the event, emceed by Dr. Kenny Yarbrough, vice president for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Antiracism, and Support Services (I.D.E.A.S.). It was organized by the 2024 MLK Celebration Committee, a collaboration of Lawrence, People of Progression, Appleton Area School District, United Way Fox Cities, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley, and the City of Appleton. That collaboration put the “we” in the night’s “We Have a Dream” theme, Carter said.

“A united community is a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community,” she said. “If we can dream together, we can thrive together. That’s a message I hope we all can take with us when we leave tonight.”

Dr. Adriana McCleer, community partnerships supervisor with the Appleton Public Library, gave the highlight speech, a nod to the history and advocacy of Casa Hispana, where she serves as board chair.

The 2024 Jane LaChapelle McCarty MLK Community Leader Award was presented to Ernesto Gonzalez Jr. for his 30-plus years of service with Casa Hispana.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Educator Award was presented to Alex Molitor, principal of Kaleidoscope Academy of the Appleton Area School District.

NOIR, a musical group featuring Lawrence students, provided music leading into the MLK Celebration and then closed the event with a stirring rendition of We Shall Overcome.

Davenport, who co-owns Taperz Barber Shop in Appleton and co-founded the nonprofit advocacy group People of Progression, encouraged the audience to do the work necessary in the Fox Cities to build a stronger, more empowered community.

“Let us fight with all we have in us to ensure our next generation thrives in this world,” he said. “Let us fight to ensure equality for every child growing up and coming behind us. Let us fight, not with violence but with love; let us fight with compassion; let us fight with understanding and empathy; let us fight with unity; let us fight with integrity; let us fight with all the things that make us great.”