Martin Luther King service breakfast brings judge as speaker, plus awards for local doers

SOUTH BEND — Superior Court Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams, who has served in Atlanta courts for nearly 15 years while also staying civically involved, will give the keynote speech Jan. 15 at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Recognition Breakfast.

She earned her bachelor’s degree at Howard University and her law degree at the University of Notre Dame.

The event returns to Century Center from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on what will be King’s birthday. Tickets, at $25 each, must be must be ordered by Jan. 8 and won’t be sold at the door. They’re available at eventbrite.com under “2024 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration.” They may also be ordered through Jessica Kitchens at JessicaVKitchens@gmail.com.

The breakfast, under the theme "Keeping the Dream of Peace Alive: Don't Let it Die," also launches a day full of free events that will run until 5 p.m. at Century Center to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, including workshops and discussions, a youth cultural program at 3 p.m. and a traditional march from the County-City Building with ceremonies at 11:45 a.m.

Mayors will present the annual Drum Major Awards for community service at the breakfast. South Bend Mayor James Mueller will present the award to Dr. Scott Thomas of Beacon Medical Group, Pastor Ray Owens of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and Marion Fulce, who serves on the board of the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and helps to oversee its African American Community Fund.

Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood will present his Drum Major Awards to Danny Gann of VFW Post 360, retired Mishawaka fire chief Dale Freeman and the nonprofit Get Wet for a Vet.

Also, the annual Roland Kelly Award will go to Elizabeth Bennion, professor of political science and director of community engagement at Indiana University South Bend. She is also director of voter services and education for the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area and host of the weekly  “Politically Speaking” show on WNIT-TV.

Judge Adams, the speaker, has served on several boards for law- and youth-related organizations and collected several awards. She was executive producer of the documentary “Twenty Pearls” and editor of a companion book through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, of which she’s a lifelong member.

Email Tribune staff writer Joseph Dits at jdits@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Martin Luther King breakfast to host Judge Adams and community awards