Y to Celebrate Dr. King’s Legacy at 35th Memorial Breakfast January 12

The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County is set to host its 35th annual commemoration, paying tribute to the legacy and contributions of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

All are welcome to attend the memorial breakfast on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, featuring keynote speaker Maysa Akbar, Ph.D., the chief diversity officer and chief of psychology in the public interest at the American Psychological Association. The Y will also honor three local residents who reflect the spirit of Dr. King’s social justice work and present the winners of its annual MLK Essay Contest.

The event is scheduled for 7:30-9:30 a.m., at the Ocean Place Resort & Spa 1 Ocean Blvd, in Long Branch.

“The Y’s annual Dr. King celebration is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on our society,” said Laurie Goganzer, president and chief executive officer of the Y. “Dr. King's legacy continues to inspire us to strive for a more just and equitable world.”

“Inspiring young people to engage in social justice and civic engagement has always been an important focus of the Y’s annual MLK commemoration,” Goganzer said. This year, high school students from greater Monmouth County are encouraged to participate in the annual essay contest.

Two outstanding essays will be chosen as grand prize winners, and the talented students behind them will have the honor of presenting their work at the breakfast. Both winners will be awarded a $3,000 academic scholarship, sponsored by Hackensack Meridian Health, the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, New Jersey Natural Gas, PorterPlus Realty, and the VNA Health Group. The winners will also be given a one-year membership to a YMCA of Greater Monmouth County branch of their choice.

The essay theme revolves around vital lessons learned from overcoming obstacles that can lay the foundation for future successes.

“We invite students intrigued by the idea of delving into challenges, setbacks, or failures they've encountered in the context of racial equity, social justice, and the realization of Dr. King's dream,” said Michael A. Wright, chief volunteer officer of the Y and chairperson of the MLK event committee.

Interested students are invited to submit a 300- to 500-word essay to the Y by 5 p.m., Dec. 8, 2023. The essay application and details are available at https://ymcanj.org/mlk.

Wright expressed the Y's deep honor in having Akbar as the distinguished speaker for the 35th MLK commemoration. “Dr. Akbar is a widely respected advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion,” he said, noting that she played a pivotal role as the former CEO of a New Haven-based clinical practice specializing in race-based trauma.

Additionally, Akbar founded a consulting firm and educational network committed to driving organizational cultural transformation. Her areas of specialty include racial identity development, racism, urban trauma, and allyship, topics on which she has written books and authored research articles. She is also a master trainer in equity, diversity and inclusion for both the medical and broader community.

As part of the program, the following community members will be honored with awards for their dedication to embodying the principles and ideals of Dr. King:

YMCA MLK Human Dignity Award - Suzy Dyer, executive director of the Parker Family Health Center in Red Bank. The nonprofit clinic offers free health care to uninsured Monmouth County residents and people without means to pay for medical care.

YMCA Social Responsibility Award - Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy, founded by Ritesh Shah to provide pharmacy services to uninsured and underserved residents in the Red Bank area.

YMCA Togetherhood® Champion Award - Kelly Ellis-Foster, a dedicated supporter of the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County’s volunteer initiative, Togetherhood.

The commemorative event will begin with registration at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast at 7:30 and the MLK program will start at 8. Event tickets are $35 for adults, $10 for youth under 16 and $350 for a table of 10 and may be purchased online at https://ymcanj.org/mlk. Sponsorships for the event, ranging from $250 to $3,500 are also available online.

About YMCA of Greater Monmouth County
YMCA of Greater Monmouth County is here for all – to empower youth and teens, improve health and strengthen community. Over the past five years, our Y has provided more than $5 million in financial assistance and subsidies to Y participants throughout greater Monmouth County. Our life-changing programs and services are anchored in eight communities: health and wellness facilities in Freehold Township, Old Bridge and Red Bank; an outdoor day camp in Wall; counseling and social service centers in Eatontown, Matawan and Middletown; a childcare center in Freehold Township; and integrated in over 100 schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Named a New Jersey Top Workplace in 2023 and 2022 by New Jersey Advance Media, we’re based in Shrewsbury, NJ. Learn more at www.ymcanj.org.