The People’s A.M.E. Church, led by the Rev. Dr. Sandra Whitley, and the Chelsea community honored the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the annual breakfast and awards ceremony Jan. 21 at Chelsea High School.
The Rev. Whitley and the Planning Committee
put together another impressive tribute to the late Dr. King, the civil rights
leader who dedicated his life to promoting unity and delivered one of American
history’s greatest speeches, “I Have A Dream,” on Aug. 28, 1963 in Washington,
D.C.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino, State Rep. Dan
Ryan, Council President Damali Vidot, Councillors Leo Robinson, Joseph
Perlatonda, and Enio Lopez, School Committee Chair Richard Maronski and member
Yessenia Alfaro, CBC President Joan Cromwell, Latimer Society Co-Director
Ronald Robinson, and Roca Executive Director Molly Baldwin led a slate of
dignitaries in attendance at the tribute that featured, singing, dancing, awards,
and inspirational speeches.
The Chelsea Hub, a network led by the
Chelsea Police Department and comprised of 27 different agencies, received the
prestigious Spirit Award in recognition of its ongoing efforts to help people
facing difficult challenges. Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes, Capt. David
Batchelor, Officer Sammy Mojica, Community Engagement Specialist Dan Cortez,
and Roca Assistant Director Jason Owens were among the award recipients.
The highlight of the program arrived when
Lucia Robinson-Griggs stepped to the podium and delivered the keynote address.
Robinson-Griggs, who holds degrees from
Bentley and Lesley and is a former high school and college scholar-athlete,
rose to the occasion with a heartfelt and eloquent address to the people of
Chelsea.
“I’d just like to start by saying thank you
so much for inviting me to be here today to celebrate Chelsea while honoring
the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Robinson-Griggs, adding that
she was honored to be the keynote speaker after receiving the Young Adult
Dreamers and Achievers Award in 2018.
She noted the “I Have A Dream” and “We are
all created equal” theme of the program, stating, ‘it’s incredible how relevant
[Dr. King’s famous speech in 1963] still is here in 2019.”
She encouraged members of the audience to
carry on Dr. King’s legacy “even when it isn’t easy to do so.” She said
everyone should work for a better Chelsea in the years to come.
“So
my words today are going to be a charge for the people in this auditorium to
reach beyond this room and change the perspective,” said Griggs-Robinson.
She singled out the Chelsea High student
choir (who performed at Gov. Baker’s inauguration), the Latimer Society (in
encouraging careers in STEM), and the award recipients, The Chelsea Hub and others,
as being positive influences in the city.
Briggs-Robinson cited her personal
experiences as an associate head coach of the MIT women’s basketball team,
relating how the coaching staff encourages its players to be “a part of the
solution and be a builder, to find the good somewhere and work to help build up
someone else.”
She said that people should be positive in
their actions and in their interactions with others, that even a small act of
kindness or an inspiring phrase or a compliment can have a profound effect on
starting to change another person’s life.
“Kindness catches on,” said Robinson-Briggs.
Strive to be someone’s builder every day. Be their bright spot and give hope
that we can be the generation to make Dr. King’s dream a reality.”
Robinson-Briggs received a warm, standing
ovation as she returned to her seat beside her parents, Councillor-at-Large Leo
Robinson and Linda Alioto-Robinson, and City Manager Tom Ambrosino in the front
row of the auditorium.
The Rev. Whitley concluded the impressive
program by having all audience members join hands and sing “We Shall Overcome.”
And in an unsung
but important gift to the community, CCCTV Executive Director Robert Bradley
and Technical Director Ricky Velez videotaped the entire two-hour program and tribute
to Dr. King, including Robinson-Griggs’ remarks, for broadcast on the local
television station.
More:
Chelsea Community Honors Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At Annual Celebration: Robinson-Griggs Delivers the Keynote Address