Republic file photo Pastor Jane Sims will speak at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Breakfast Feb. 19 at The Commons.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events have been rescheduled in Columbus.
The annual free breakfast organized by the local African American Pastors Alliance has been rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 19 for a limited crowd of 250 people at The Commons, 300 Washington St. in downtown Columbus. Fred King, one of the organizers, said the Saturday date will still allow students to participate, since they would be in class on any other weekday selected.
People must have free tickets to be admitted because of crowd limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets can be obtained by leaving a message for the pastors alliance at 812-371-8624.
A city policy for The Commons requires masks to be worn when visitors are not eating.
“Should COVID numbers greatly increase, we will still have the program, but announce several days in advance that we are switching to virtual via Facebook Live,” King said.
Last year’s King day events were held virtually.
The Rev. Jane Sims of Calvary Community Church will be the speaker on the topic “We’ve Come This Far By Faith.” Sims has long been a voice for racial harmony and racial justice in Bartholomew County. Also, she and her husband, Bishop Charles Sims, have been recognized community leaders since the 1970s.
A youth-oriented King day program will begin at 9:30 a.m. following the breakfast, according to 0rganizer Paulette Roberts, a retired teacher and leader of the Columbus Enrichment Program.
The separate, free program coordinated by the Columbus/Bartholomew County Area Chapter of the NAACP, IUPUC and the African American Fund of Bartholomew County has been rescheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at The Commons with Dr. Woody Myers, the former governor candidate, as the keynote speaker.
Myers is expected to speak on the current racial climate and to salute the legacy of the late King, the celebrated civil rights leader who was assassinated in April 1968.
Reinhold Hill, IUPUC Vice Chancellor and Dean, will present the Diversity Awards during the gathering.
Stacy Myers, the wife of the keynote speaker, will participate in a panel discussion during the event. The discussion, facilitated by Stephanie Carmer and Women in the NAACP, will include a focus on women’s contributions to the NAACP and their role during the civil rights movement and beyond.
The local NAACP will distribute its own awards during the get-together, plus its four scholarship award recipients — two students and two continuing education adults. The top recipient in each category will receive $750 and each second-place recipient will receive $500.
