Village of Matteson Celebrates Dr. King & Honors Others

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, January 22, 2014


The Village of Matteson is presenting its’ 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon sponsored by Mind and Body Chiropractic on Saturday, January 18 at the Holiday Inn Matteson, 500 Holiday Plaza Dr., from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.

The event is Matteson's the longest running Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in the state of Illinois. The late Village President Mark Stricker started the celebration in his first year in office.

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a brilliant man and leader who had an immeasurable impact on countless communities across our nation and world,” said Steven Hurley Jr., Communications Specialist in the Office of Community Affairs for the Village of Matteson. “His legacy will forever live on, and we are honored and excited to celebrate unity, equality, togetherness and his accomplishments as a community on this day.

The luncheon will feature the Good Neighbor Award presentation, the Colin Powel Middle School Choir, a live storytelling from Linda Gorham, and the unveiling of the Unity Project mural sponsored by the Home Depot.

The Good Neighbor Award is a distinction reserved for Matteson residents for their contributions to the village at large. Nominees are selected from residents’ nomination forms which can be obtained at the Matteson Village Hall, in the Matteson Avenue and online.

When asked about the legacy of Rev. Dr. King, Gorham explained, “I think it says to us that anybody can make an impact, even in a small way. He didn’t set out to be an international leader, he sat out to be a minister at the church but he got called to Montgomery, and he got called to lead a church in Montgomery, and he got called to lead a bigger issue in that there was this boycott. Who knew he’d be so eloquent? Who knew he’d be so intelligent and have such foresight and have such a solid foundation about how life should be and not just have it but be willing to speak about it and be willing to go to jail for it? Who would’ve known that this young minister would have all that he had?”

This is the first year the Village has done a Unity Project mural, which will be presented by Nisha’s Little Buddies Training Center, a facility for parents, children, and childcare providers with a commitment to total education in academic enrichment, safety, self-esteem, cultural exchange, creative growth, and positive interpersonal skills.

The mural was conceptualized and facilitated by by Nisha’s Little Buddies Training Center founder Nisha Marie Brown after village officials met with her last year. Brown also obtained a donation from the Home Depot in Matteson for the items necessary to complete the project. The mural consists of a quote that states “Dr. Martin Luther King Had a Dream…The Village of Matteson is Keeping the Dream Alive” and over 120 hand prints of families from Matteson. After it is unveiled, the mural will hang in the Matteson Village Hall.

“The mural is priceless,” said Brown. “We have to keep the Dream alive.”

Tickets are only available at the Matteson Village Hall and the Matteson Community Center in advance. For more information and questions, please call Community Affairs at (708) 283-4777 or visit http://www.villageofmatteson.org/

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