United for the Common Good- King County

Featured speeches given by County Executive, Ron Sims

Talking Points for Executive Sims
Mt. Zion - Welcome Address Remarks
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Friday, January 12, 2007
Speak at 12:00 p.m. to 12:20 p.m.

Watch the video (Real Media format)

Thank you Chancellor Mitchell for your gracious introduction.

I want to give a very special thanks to members of the planning committee from Seattle Community Colleges and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. You all have made today's ceremony a wonderful tribute to the life of Dr. King.

I also want to thank Reverend Samuel McKinney and Reverend William Kate for their wisdom, guidance, leadership and unwavering support to our community. I am humbled to be your keynote speaker.

Finally, I wish to recognize my distinguished colleagues and friends who represent the people of Washington state. It truly is an honor to speak before you today.

Background

We gather here - as so many others are doing across the nation - to celebrate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A man, who inspired our community, transformed our nation and brought hope and justice to millions around the world. His name, his deeds, his words and, of course, his image continue to stir us today 38 years after Memphis. His presence continues as an eternal icon for equality and justice.

What is it about the image of one man that continues to call us forward, to churches and village squares around the globe?

What is it about the presence of a man that can cause a government of more than 1.8 million people to re-name itself in his honor, with near unanimous consent?

In King County, we are on the verge of unveiling our new county logo – an image of the likeness of Dr. King. I have seen samples of the logo and it is remarkable. Our new logo isn't just a drawing, it is a symbol of who we are as a people. It is a symbol of King County's solemn pledge to reflect the values of Dr King.

Our efforts to rename the county and redesign the logo date back 20 years. There are countless people who have contributed to our efforts but there are a few who I would like to personally acknowledge:

I want to thank the efforts of Eddie Rye Jr. who spearheaded the name change of Empire Way to Martin Luther King Jr. Way
I want to thank former Councilmember Bruce Laing who came to me and said, "Let's propose a motion to rename King County in memory of Dr. King."
I want to thank Councilmember Larry Gossett who, year after year, proposed legislation to change the logo from a crown to the image of our namesake, Dr. King.
I want to thank State Senator Adam Kline and Representative Eric Pettigrew for proposing legislation for six successive years and finally shoring up key votes in Olympia to get needed state sanction to officially recognize our county as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. County.
I would like to thank Governor Christine Gregoire for signing that piece of legislation into law and making our new county namesake official.
Finally, I would like to recognize Tony Gable and the Gable Design Group. They were chosen from a record 29 companies competing for the logo contract. We have never had so many companies apply for a design contract with King County. Tony and his team beat out local and national companies partly because of their heartfelt enthusiasm to work on this historic project.

We gave a mighty try at having all the work done so we could unveil the logo at our celebration. But we have a few more weeks of work and I believe that when we unveil our logo, you will all agree that Gable Design Group has done a remarkable job.

Importance of Symbols

So again, I ask, what is it about an image?

Very soon the image of Dr. King will adorn our stationary, business cards, deputies' badges, buses, and web pages. The logo might spark some debate and controversy in the beginning, but what will be the impact of the logo in the long-term? What does the face of Dr. King mean to us?

Just as the image of the Space Needle has become synonymous with Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, so too will the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. become permanently associated with King County.

Our new county will provoke many different thoughts and emotions. Some of us will see Dr. King's greater dream of equality and justice. Some will see his fight against unjust wars. Others might see him offer counsel and hope from a Birmingham jail. Still others may see his simple call for us to love one another.

Will our new logo transcend Dr. King's life and reflect King County's exceptional excellence and civility towards its people?

I for one believe our county's new likeness of Dr. King is a symbol that the dream endures.

How can we in King County not just symbolize Dr. King's dream but advance it?

Let me provide you with an example to illustrate my point. If we look at the Space Needle, not only did it physically change the Seattle skyline when it was built, it helped change how the city viewed itself and how the world viewed the city.

With the needle as the main icon of the science-and-technology themed World's Fair, the old image of Seattle as a logging outpost was transformed into a community that projected an ultra modern city of the future.

But no matter how vintage the Space Needle has become, Seattle is still known for all things cutting-edge. And companies like Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Boeing continue to uphold this image.

With our new image of Dr. King, my hope is that our region remains "all things cutting edge" but is also known for the values that Dr. King preached. We can be known as the region of innovation and the region of racial harmony.

Adopting Dr. King's likeness is our covenant, our sacred promise to this and future generations to live out the values of Dr. King. Our new logo will be a constant affirmation of Dr. King's legacy and a constant reminder of our moral obligation – to have the courage of our convictions and the strength to take action.

George Washington represents our state. Chief Seattle represents our largest city. Both extraordinary individuals. Dr. King will soon take his rightful place among our state's icons as a symbol of our county – a symbol of peace, hope, justice and equality.

The Startling Reality

But the facts remain. With all the progress our county has made since the Civil Rights movement, we have much more work to do. The language of segregation still haunts the people of Seattle and King County. For most of its history, Seattle was a segregated city.

Until the late 1960s, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans were shut out of most neighborhoods, schools, many occupations, and sometimes stores and restaurants.

Racism and discrimination isn't as blatant as during the turbulent sixties but we cannot ignore that our communities are plagued with inequality. It just shows in more subtle ways.

Let me give you some examples. Nationally, high school dropout rates have increased for young men of color and college enrollment levels have declined. At the same time incarceration rates have grown. Almost 30 percent of African American males who are 15 years old today are more likely to go to prison at some point in their lives.

Education

Closer to home, we are not immune to these realities. It is no surprise to many of you here in academia there is a wide achievement gap that plagues our school systems. This gap shows up in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college completion rates and it has become a focal point for education reform.

In the Seattle School system, the graduation rate among blacks and Latinos is a disappointing 50 percent, while whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders are closer to 70 percent.

Dropout rates for blacks and Latinos hover between seven percent and eight percent, while whites have a five percent dropout rate.

There seems to be one pervading theme: Students of color are floundering. Our current system is fractured. We need to do more.

Healthcare

From a healthcare perspective, the statistics are also troubling. On a national level, Katrina emphasized the wide socio-economic gap that plagues our entire country. That storm revealed startling public health disparities.

In the wealthiest nation on earth, we still have over 46 million people uninsured. African Americans, Latinos, and certain Asian/Pacific Islander groups make up the majority.

The uninsured are less likely to receive preventative care, have regular checkups, get treatment for mental illness, and be admitted to the hospital for treatment on pre-existing conditions like heart disease or diabetes.

Here in King County the statistics tell a similar story. Health officials report that African-Americans nationally are less likely to:

receive diagnostic testing or adequate pain medications;
have early stage diagnoses of cancer and preventative asthma control measures; and
be placed on a kidney transplant waiting list.

Diabetes rates are also significantly higher among African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians compared to whites.

If Dr. King were alive today, he would admit his dream has a long way to go from being fully realized.

Economy

Finally with respect to the economy, I can't begin to tell you how many board meetings I attend where I am the only African-American man present.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the percentage of minorities in leadership positions remains staggeringly low. Of the 50 million Americans employed in management level positions, only eight percent are African American, while Asians and Latinos each comprise six percent of the demographic.

The percentage of minorities as Chief Executive Officers are even more dire – three percent of CEO's are African Americans, while Latinos and Asians hover around four percent.

Bottom line, we need more people of color in leadership positions.

These statistics are further exacerbated by standard economic measures. King County's economic data reveal that people of color have incomes about three-fourths that of whites; only a third of African-Americans and Latino households are homeowners, while more than half of whites and Asians own homes. But in the final analysis, there is only really one measure – that is of a life.

In today's America, many young men of color are less likely to simply live, to fulfill their potential, enrich their communities, and be part of the progress of our nation.

And that is a tragedy.

What can we do about it

So where does that leave us? My purpose in revealing all those statistics was not to leave you discouraged, depressed, and overwhelmed. My purpose is to call you to action. We have a lot of work to do and it's not going to be easy.

As Dr. King said, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle."

Dr. King understood what I know to be true; every day is a gift. There is no time for discouragement; there is only time for action.

Now is the time to call on new leaders – leaders that can tackle the problem at hand with faith and conviction. We need leaders who understand that the difficulty of success does not relieve you of the obligation to try.

Although the good news is slow in coming, it is coming. Just this past week in Olympia, lawmakers opened the 2007 legislative session. Their top priority: education.

There are proposals for major increases for early-childhood programs, day-long kindergarten, more schools, smaller classes, better pay for teachers better math and science programs and more than 8,000 new college slots. As you can see, it is a very promising start.

A few nights ago I attended Governor Gregoire's State of the State speech and I was pleased to hear that the governor continues to urge significant investments toward a renewed education system. It is exactly the type of leadership and decision-making we need to build a more just and equitable society.

However, we all know that funding programs does not guarantee a successful outcome. Personal responsibility and involvement in our children's future is necessary.

Educating our youth today demands a heightened level of urgent attention. Far too large a share of this region's young are about to enter the workforce without the skills, support, relationships or opportunities they need to succeed as adults.

Without a new resolve, wiser policies, and the participation of the people here today, many of our region's youngsters could fail to mature into successful, engaged citizens and responsible parents.

In the audience, we have lawyers, doctors, academics, government officials, parents, neighbors and friends. All of us must work together to solve our children's most vexing problems.

King County plays a significant role as a funder and partner with the Youth and Family Services Network in programs targeted at youth with identified social risk factors. Contracts with every school district in King County, as well as community based agencies, enables the Youth and Family Services Network agencies to more effectively respond to the varying needs in each community.

We can make real progress on education reform if we act thoughtfully to tap into the wide body of research that is available to us. We have a good idea of what works and we need to implement reforms based on "best practices" and the right measures to improve the current situation.

Partnerships with local schools make it possible to offer day treatment, agency offices in schools, classroom presentations, and special counseling and support groups. Community collaborations help to develop links and partnerships with other local community groups.

Do you see the trend? It's about working together. Collaboration must replace competition to solve 21st century problems.

I am proud to say that last week, King County became the first local government to promote federal goals for better health information. I signed an Executive order that will improve health care information in King County and help increase access to better, more affordable health care.

Our order mirrors efforts already underway in King County as part of the King County Health Reform Initiative, and the Puget Sound Health Alliance, a groundbreaking collaborative effort by public and private regional organizations to improve the quality, efficiency and costs of health care delivery in our region.

King County is gradually gaining recognition as a county that bridges gaps and realizes the importance of collaboration and partnerships – A fitting acknowledgement as we unveil the new county logo.

Dr. King realized that we are dependent on one another. Dr. King used to speak about how we were all bound together in a web of mutuality, which was an elegant way of saying, whether we like it or not, we're all in this life together.

But we have not yet arrived at this place of interdependence. For all of the progress we have made, there are times when our dream for peace and racial harmony eludes us – when we are lost wandering spirits, content with our suspicions and our angers, our long-held grudges and petty disputes.

And yet, our new county namesake and logo will remind us every day that a different, better place beckons us. We will not find it in distant lands or faraway places, but somewhere deep within our hearts.

We have a lot of work to do. But when you get tired and discouraged you will only have to look so far as our new county image to be inspired.

Dr. King was a man frequently racked with doubt, a man not without flaws, a man who was, at the end of the day, a human being, just like you and me. The dream he had was the dream we all had. Dr. King's genius was just to crystallize that dream into words, and from there, into action.

Because these words were spoken, the dream is alive, and it always will be. Each of us has the capacity – right here and right now – to dedicate a portion of our lives to Dr. King's dream. We just have to take that first step we must have faith.

As Dr. King reminds us, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable … Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."

I suspect that if Dr. King was here today witnessing us celebrate his life, he would remind us that the best way to honor him is to pursue his dream – to be faithful to our love for family, community, and nation. To open our hearts to all who seek to belong to communities of the common good.

Dr. King's dream lives strongly in the hearts of the people of King County and indeed the world. We must remember that each generation is beckoned anew, to fight for what is right, and to strive for what is just, to find within itself the spirit, and the sense of purpose to remake our communities and transform our world.

Thank you for having me here today.

King County Executive, Ron Sims County news Executive initiatives Speeches Executive offices Biography Contact information King County Executive Office Ron Sims, King County Executive 401 Fifth Ave. Suite 800 Seattle, WA 98104 P: 206-296-4040 F: 206-296-0194 TTY Relay: 711	KING COUNTY HOME \| NEWS \| SERVICES \| DIRECTORY \| CONTACT King County Executive, Ron Sims King County Executive You're in: King County Executive, Ron Sims » Speeches print Featured speeches given by County Executive, Ron Sims Talking Points for Executive Sims Mt. Zion - Welcome Address Remarks Mt. Zion Baptist Church Friday, January 12, 2007 Speak at 12:00 p.m. to 12:20 p.m. Watch the video (Real Media format) Thank you Chancellor Mitchell for your gracious introduction. I want to give a very special thanks to members of the planning committee from Seattle Community Colleges and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. You all have made today's ceremony a wonderful tribute to the life of Dr. King. I also want to thank Reverend Samuel McKinney and Reverend William Kate for their wisdom, guidance, leadership and unwavering support to our community. I am humbled to be your keynote speaker. Finally, I wish to recognize my distinguished colleagues and friends who represent the people of Washington state. It truly is an honor to speak before you today. Background We gather here - as so many others are doing across the nation - to celebrate the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A man, who inspired our community, transformed our nation and brought hope and justice to millions around the world. His name, his deeds, his words and, of course, his image continue to stir us today 38 years after Memphis. His presence continues as an eternal icon for equality and justice. What is it about the image of one man that continues to call us forward, to churches and village squares around the globe? What is it about the presence of a man that can cause a government of more than 1.8 million people to re-name itself in his honor, with near unanimous consent? In King County, we are on the verge of unveiling our new county logo – an image of the likeness of Dr. King. I have seen samples of the logo and it is remarkable. Our new logo isn't just a drawing, it is a symbol of who we are as a people. It is a symbol of King County's solemn pledge to reflect the values of Dr King. Our efforts to rename the county and redesign the logo date back 20 years. There are countless people who have contributed to our efforts but there are a few who I would like to personally acknowledge: I want to thank the efforts of Eddie Rye Jr. who spearheaded the name change of Empire Way to Martin Luther King Jr. Way I want to thank former Councilmember Bruce Laing who came to me and said, "Let's propose a motion to rename King County in memory of Dr. King." I want to thank Councilmember Larry Gossett who, year after year, proposed legislation to change the logo from a crown to the image of our namesake, Dr. King. I want to thank State Senator Adam Kline and Representative Eric Pettigrew for proposing legislation for six successive years and finally shoring up key votes in Olympia to get needed state sanction to officially recognize our county as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. County. I would like to thank Governor Christine Gregoire for signing that piece of legislation into law and making our new county namesake official. Finally, I would like to recognize Tony Gable and the Gable Design Group. They were chosen from a record 29 companies competing for the logo contract. We have never had so many companies apply for a design contract with King County. Tony and his team beat out local and national companies partly because of their heartfelt enthusiasm to work on this historic project. We gave a mighty try at having all the work done so we could unveil the logo at our celebration. But we have a few more weeks of work and I believe that when we unveil our logo, you will all agree that Gable Design Group has done a remarkable job. Importance of Symbols So again, I ask, what is it about an image? Very soon the image of Dr. King will adorn our stationary, business cards, deputies' badges, buses, and web pages. The logo might spark some debate and controversy in the beginning, but what will be the impact of the logo in the long-term? What does the face of Dr. King mean to us? Just as the image of the Space Needle has become synonymous with Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, so too will the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. become permanently associated with King County. Our new county will provoke many different thoughts and emotions. Some of us will see Dr. King's greater dream of equality and justice. Some will see his fight against unjust wars. Others might see him offer counsel and hope from a Birmingham jail. Still others may see his simple call for us to love one another. Will our new logo transcend Dr. King's life and reflect King County's exceptional excellence and civility towards its people? I for one believe our county's new likeness of Dr. King is a symbol that the dream endures. How can we in King County not just symbolize Dr. King's dream but advance it? Let me provide you with an example to illustrate my point. If we look at the Space Needle, not only did it physically change the Seattle skyline when it was built, it helped change how the city viewed itself and how the world viewed the city. With the needle as the main icon of the science-and-technology themed World's Fair, the old image of Seattle as a logging outpost was transformed into a community that projected an ultra modern city of the future. But no matter how vintage the Space Needle has become, Seattle is still known for all things cutting-edge. And companies like Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Boeing continue to uphold this image. With our new image of Dr. King, my hope is that our region remains "all things cutting edge" but is also known for the values that Dr. King preached. We can be known as the region of innovation and the region of racial harmony. Adopting Dr. King's likeness is our covenant, our sacred promise to this and future generations to live out the values of Dr. King. Our new logo will be a constant affirmation of Dr. King's legacy and a constant reminder of our moral obligation – to have the courage of our convictions and the strength to take action. George Washington represents our state. Chief Seattle represents our largest city. Both extraordinary individuals. Dr. King will soon take his rightful place among our state's icons as a symbol of our county – a symbol of peace, hope, justice and equality. The Startling Reality But the facts remain. With all the progress our county has made since the Civil Rights movement, we have much more work to do. The language of segregation still haunts the people of Seattle and King County. For most of its history, Seattle was a segregated city. Until the late 1960s, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans were shut out of most neighborhoods, schools, many occupations, and sometimes stores and restaurants. Racism and discrimination isn't as blatant as during the turbulent sixties but we cannot ignore that our communities are plagued with inequality. It just shows in more subtle ways. Let me give you some examples. Nationally, high school dropout rates have increased for young men of color and college enrollment levels have declined. At the same time incarceration rates have grown. Almost 30 percent of African American males who are 15 years old today are more likely to go to prison at some point in their lives. Education Closer to home, we are not immune to these realities. It is no surprise to many of you here in academia there is a wide achievement gap that plagues our school systems. This gap shows up in grades, standardized-test scores, course selection, dropout rates, and college completion rates and it has become a focal point for education reform. In the Seattle School system, the graduation rate among blacks and Latinos is a disappointing 50 percent, while whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders are closer to 70 percent. Dropout rates for blacks and Latinos hover between seven percent and eight percent, while whites have a five percent dropout rate. There seems to be one pervading theme: Students of color are floundering. Our current system is fractured. We need to do more. Healthcare From a healthcare perspective, the statistics are also troubling. On a national level, Katrina emphasized the wide socio-economic gap that plagues our entire country. That storm revealed startling public health disparities. In the wealthiest nation on earth, we still have over 46 million people uninsured. African Americans, Latinos, and certain Asian/Pacific Islander groups make up the majority. The uninsured are less likely to receive preventative care, have regular checkups, get treatment for mental illness, and be admitted to the hospital for treatment on pre-existing conditions like heart disease or diabetes. Here in King County the statistics tell a similar story. Health officials report that African-Americans nationally are less likely to: receive diagnostic testing or adequate pain medications; have early stage diagnoses of cancer and preventative asthma control measures; and be placed on a kidney transplant waiting list. Diabetes rates are also significantly higher among African Americans, Latinos, and American Indians compared to whites. If Dr. King were alive today, he would admit his dream has a long way to go from being fully realized. Economy Finally with respect to the economy, I can't begin to tell you how many board meetings I attend where I am the only African-American man present. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the percentage of minorities in leadership positions remains staggeringly low. Of the 50 million Americans employed in management level positions, only eight percent are African American, while Asians and Latinos each comprise six percent of the demographic. The percentage of minorities as Chief Executive Officers are even more dire – three percent of CEO's are African Americans, while Latinos and Asians hover around four percent. Bottom line, we need more people of color in leadership positions. These statistics are further exacerbated by standard economic measures. King County's economic data reveal that people of color have incomes about three-fourths that of whites; only a third of African-Americans and Latino households are homeowners, while more than half of whites and Asians own homes. But in the final analysis, there is only really one measure – that is of a life. In today's America, many young men of color are less likely to simply live, to fulfill their potential, enrich their communities, and be part of the progress of our nation. And that is a tragedy. What can we do about it So where does that leave us? My purpose in revealing all those statistics was not to leave you discouraged, depressed, and overwhelmed. My purpose is to call you to action. We have a lot of work to do and it's not going to be easy. As Dr. King said, "Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle." Dr. King understood what I know to be true; every day is a gift. There is no time for discouragement; there is only time for action. Now is the time to call on new leaders – leaders that can tackle the problem at hand with faith and conviction. We need leaders who understand that the difficulty of success does not relieve you of the obligation to try. Although the good news is slow in coming, it is coming. Just this past week in Olympia, lawmakers opened the 2007 legislative session. Their top priority: education. There are proposals for major increases for early-childhood programs, day-long kindergarten, more schools, smaller classes, better pay for teachers better math and science programs and more than 8,000 new college slots. As you can see, it is a very promising start. A few nights ago I attended Governor Gregoire's State of the State speech and I was pleased to hear that the governor continues to urge significant investments toward a renewed education system. It is exactly the type of leadership and decision-making we need to build a more just and equitable society. However, we all know that funding programs does not guarantee a successful outcome. Personal responsibility and involvement in our children's future is necessary. Educating our youth today demands a heightened level of urgent attention. Far too large a share of this region's young are about to enter the workforce without the skills, support, relationships or opportunities they need to succeed as adults. Without a new resolve, wiser policies, and the participation of the people here today, many of our region's youngsters could fail to mature into successful, engaged citizens and responsible parents. In the audience, we have lawyers, doctors, academics, government officials, parents, neighbors and friends. All of us must work together to solve our children's most vexing problems. King County plays a significant role as a funder and partner with the Youth and Family Services Network in programs targeted at youth with identified social risk factors. Contracts with every school district in King County, as well as community based agencies, enables the Youth and Family Services Network agencies to more effectively respond to the varying needs in each community. We can make real progress on education reform if we act thoughtfully to tap into the wide body of research that is available to us. We have a good idea of what works and we need to implement reforms based on "best practices" and the right measures to improve the current situation. Partnerships with local schools make it possible to offer day treatment, agency offices in schools, classroom presentations, and special counseling and support groups. Community collaborations help to develop links and partnerships with other local community groups. Do you see the trend? It's about working together. Collaboration must replace competition to solve 21st century problems. I am proud to say that last week, King County became the first local government to promote federal goals for better health information. I signed an Executive order that will improve health care information in King County and help increase access to better, more affordable health care. Our order mirrors efforts already underway in King County as part of the King County Health Reform Initiative, and the Puget Sound Health Alliance, a groundbreaking collaborative effort by public and private regional organizations to improve the quality, efficiency and costs of health care delivery in our region. King County is gradually gaining recognition as a county that bridges gaps and realizes the importance of collaboration and partnerships – A fitting acknowledgement as we unveil the new county logo. Dr. King realized that we are dependent on one another. Dr. King used to speak about how we were all bound together in a web of mutuality, which was an elegant way of saying, whether we like it or not, we're all in this life together. But we have not yet arrived at this place of interdependence. For all of the progress we have made, there are times when our dream for peace and racial harmony eludes us – when we are lost wandering spirits, content with our suspicions and our angers, our long-held grudges and petty disputes. And yet, our new county namesake and logo will remind us every day that a different, better place beckons us. We will not find it in distant lands or faraway places, but somewhere deep within our hearts. We have a lot of work to do. But when you get tired and discouraged you will only have to look so far as our new county image to be inspired. Dr. King was a man frequently racked with doubt, a man not without flaws, a man who was, at the end of the day, a human being, just like you and me. The dream he had was the dream we all had. Dr. King's genius was just to crystallize that dream into words, and from there, into action. Because these words were spoken, the dream is alive, and it always will be. Each of us has the capacity – right here and right now – to dedicate a portion of our lives to Dr. King's dream. We just have to take that first step we must have faith. As Dr. King reminds us, "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable … Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." I suspect that if Dr. King was here today witnessing us celebrate his life, he would remind us that the best way to honor him is to pursue his dream – to be faithful to our love for family, community, and nation. To open our hearts to all who seek to belong to communities of the common good. Dr. King's dream lives strongly in the hearts of the people of King County and indeed the world. We must remember that each generation is beckoned anew, to fight for what is right, and to strive for what is just, to find within itself the spirit, and the sense of purpose to remake our communities and transform our world. Thank you for having me here today. Related information MLK Web site Seattle Community Colleges Martin Luther King, Jr. program (Real Media format) King County celebrates MLK day Essay award winners Dozens of events and programs are scheduled to commemorate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Seattle Times (external link)
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	Updated: Jan. 12, 2006