The words of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a dream” speech echoed throughout Citizens Field Monday as people gathered in the stands for the King Celebration 2021 National Holiday Kickoff.
The event, held by the MLK Commission of Florida Inc., recognized the life and activism of King, as well as local leaders and activists and a musical performance by the Florida Fellowship Gospel Super Choir.
Community leaders took the stage to honor the late minister and activist, including District 20 state Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe, Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr., County Commissioner Ken Cornell, interim schools Superintendent Carlee Simon, Alachua County School Board member Dionne McGraw and Property Appraiser Ayesha Solomon, among others.
A free, masks-required event begins at noon at Citizens Field, 1400 NE Eighth Ave. in Gainesville.
There will be speakers and later in the afternoon, gospel performances by Canton Jones and the Florida Fellowship Super Choir.
Community activist Aeriel Lane will be celebrated for her work. She is the winner of the 2021 Hall of Fame Award from the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Florida Inc., a local nonprofit organization.
And Taylor Hill-Miles, an Eastside High School senior and the recipient of the 2021 Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Award, will also be celebrated.
Rodney Long, the commission s founder, said Lane is committed to racial, economic empowerment and social justice.
After serving in the United States Army, Gainesville resident and veteran Shane Breen has geared up once again to help fellow citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Breen, 41, originally from Dunnellon, started up a contracting business to help distribute COVID-19 antibody tests to residents in need around the country.
“It’s interesting to think that I can go from working in digital media and marketing to pivot and do something that can potentially save lives,” said Breen, who had previously been running an online lifestyle publication.
His company All Hands on Deck, or AHOD Co., and the Pennsylvania-based Megna Health Inc., a diagnostic device company, signed an exclusive partnership supporting government agencies to distribute coronavirus antibody tests in the effort to end the pandemic.