Portland’s “Empower The Dream” service honors Martin Luther King Jr. for Black History Month

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — After a delay of almost a month due to the January ice storms, Portland’s Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church hosted a Sunday service to honor Martin Luther King Jr. for his birthday.

This location holds a special significance to the local community as Dr. King spoke at that very same church in November 1961 as part of his trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Leading the “Empower the Dream” service was Rev. Dr. J.W. Matt Hennessee, the only godson of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. The event featured keynote speaker Dr. Jessica Taylor, the first Black female president of Multnomah University in Portland. They were joined by Portland politicians and city leaders, including Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson.

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In addition to the speakers, the event featured choir performances, scholarship recipients and more.

Dr. Hennessee in particular has been very passionate about this service.

“In times like these, it is imperative that we embody the spirit, character, and courage of Dr. King,” he said. “Now more than ever we must lift each other up. We must shine a bright light on the qualities that can heal the world, and on the women and men who embody these qualities. Together, we will keep the dream alive.”

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