Knoxville kicks off events honoring Martin Luther King, including a first youth award

Angela Dennis, Knoxville News Sentinel
·2 min read

This year's annual slate of events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Knoxville focus on a message of "Moving toward freedom, justice and equality."

A highlight will be an address by A.R. Bernard, considered a visionary and pastor of the Christian Cultural Center Megachurch in Brooklyn, New York, at this year's Leadership Awards Luncheon at the University of Tennessee's Student Union.

Those honored at this year's awards luncheon include community members who have shown exemplary service and commitment to upholding principles that reflect King's life. The award recipients are:

  • Donna Mitchell

  • Jacqueline Holloway

  • Nikitia Thompson

  • Links Inc., Knoxville chapter

  • Upsilon Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi

  • Rev. Benjamin Lewis

  • Katatra Vasquez

  • Dr. Amadou Sall

  • Hallerin Hill

  • Tylan Baker

This is the first year for inaugural youth award

Tylan Baker is the first recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission’s Youth Award. The 2023 MLK Celebration will include many January events, with the annual parade taking place on June 19th -- Juneteenth. Spring, 2022
Tylan Baker is the first recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission’s Youth Award. The 2023 MLK Celebration will include many January events, with the annual parade taking place on June 19th -- Juneteenth. Spring, 2022

This year, Tylan Baker will receive the new Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission’s Youth Award. Baker is a student at Austin-East Magnet High School and a Project GRAD scholar with a 4.1 grade-point average.

Baker was selected as an inaugural member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, is a member of Youth Leadership Knoxville, the Urban League’s National Achiever’s Honors Society and most recently was inducted into the National Honor Society. He is in 100 Black Men of Greater Knoxville and is an avid participant in the Young Life youth ministry.

In addition to these honors, Baker is a three-year starting player for the Austin-East Roadrunner’s Football team and was selected for the 2022 season’s athletic all-region team as well as all-region in academics.

Knoxville MLK 2023 event schedule

Noon Wednesday: Interfaith Prayer Service at Children of God Ministries, 309 Deadrick Ave.

8:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday: Leadership Educational Symposium at University of Tennessee Student Union, 1502 Cumberland Ave.

Noon-2 p.m. Thursday: Leadership Awards Luncheon at University of Tennessee Student Union, 1502 Cumberland Ave. (sold out)

7-8:30 p.m. Friday: Community Forum at Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Ave.

8:30 a.m. Jan. 14: Youth Symposium and Jack and Jill Oratorical ContestatAustin-East Magnet High School, 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

6 p.m. Saturday: Night with the Arts Tribute Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and MLK Celebration Choir at Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay St.

11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Monday: UT MLK Skate Day at The Change Center, 203 Harriet Tubman St.

Noon-2 p.m. Monday: Memorial Tribute Service at Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriet Tubman St.

8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. March 25: Teacher In-Service Training at Simpson Professional Training Center, 801 Tipton Ave.

The commission has been celebrating and serving the community since its first communitywide service in 1988 at the Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church.

Visit mlkknoxville.com or facebook.com/mlkknoxville for more information.

Angela Dennis is the Knox News social justice, race and equity reporter. You can reach her by email at angela.dennis@knoxnews.com or by phone at 865-407-9712. Follow her on Twitter @AngeladWrites; Instagram @angeladenniswrites; and Facebook at Angela Dennis Journalist.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Martin Luther King Jr. events honor 'freedom, justice, equality'