(This article was originally published in the Jan. 22 print edition of the Herald)

Galen Kusic, Editor

Over the past week, the Bay Area, nation and world remembered the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with marches, tributes, sermons and celebrations.

On Mon. in Benicia at the Community Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, the fifth annual Martin Luther King Day Remembrance and Celebration was held to honor Dr. King’s legacy and fight for freedom, truth and justice.

The church was packed with attendees to share knowledge, memories and song to commemorate the legacy Dr. King left in his short 38, yet impactful years on earth.

Reverend Renie Stamm-Kirk eloquently led the celebration, followed by speakers including Benicia Mayor Elizabeth Patterson and NAACP Vallejo Chapter President Jimmie Jackson. Audience members shared memories of Dr. King, including a woman that attended Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. at the age of seven. Other reminisced about the impact King made on their future lives of activism and careers in social work.

Councilmember Steve Young remembered growing up in an all-white community in Los Angeles, the Watts Riots and the impact Dr. King made on his life.

“1968 was a very formative year for developing political consciousness,” he said.

Benicia artist and renowned sculptor Lisa Reinertson gave a talk titled, “An Artistic Vision” about the sculptures of King that she created, including one at UC Davis Law School completed in 1987. She also commissioned life size sculptures depicting King marching in Kalamazoo, MI, completed in 1989 and another in Riverside, CA ten years later. Reinertson also displayed a sculpture of King at the ceremony.

She noted she spent the most time working on his face to embody what King’s message was all about – his movement to mobilize thousands and eventually millions of civil rights activists for social justice that continues today.

“I thought he would want to be remembered for what he did,” she said.

Storyteller Linda Wright spoke from her own research, performing in the persona of a reflecting Coretta Scott King, describing major moments in the Civil Rights Movement from her perspective. She described the birth of the couple’s children and when Dr. King was brutalized by law enforcement in GA.

Dr. King’s letter from the Birmingham Jail was shared, and excerpts from his “I Have A Dream” speech were read by community members.

“He (King) was sent here to us to deliver a message,” said Jackson. “Look at your neighbor and say, ‘I believe in you, and we believe in each other.’”

To serve on the 2021 MLK planning committee, please e-mail msgast45@gmail.com. To view the celebration, visit www.facebook.com/CommunityCongregational

In the Name of Love

On Sun. in Oakland, the 18^th annual Living Jazz musical tribute “In the Name of Love” concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was held at the Oakland Scottish Rite Center.

The theme of the concert was “A Change is Gonna Come,” paying homage to the music of Sam Cooke, a brilliant songwriter, chart-topping recording artist and civil rights activist who was killed at the age of 32 in 1964. Before his death, Dr. King asked him to participate in a civil rights benefit concert, a request reserved for the artists having the greatest impact on the people.

“Sam Cooke was an artist who carried this burden of responsibility into his personal and public life and created pathways for truth, hope and inspiration,” said Stacey Hoffman, Living Jazz Executive Director. “This meant tremendous risk professionally and personally.”

The concert simultaneously serves as a benefit for Living Jazz, a non-profit organization that provides music education for 330 second and third graders each year. In 2018-19, Living Jazz employed 142 people and served over 3,400 people, providing music opportunities for six schools in Oakland that would not otherwise have a music program.

The concert featured performances by the Living Jazz Children’s Project and Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, followed by critically acclaimed vocalists Tony Lindsay, Tiffany Austin, Clif Payne and Tammi Brown, who performed music by Cooke as the feature performance.

But the highlight of the night went to Parent Voices Oakland Executive Director Clarissa Doutherd, the recipient of the Oakland Citizen Humanitarian Award. Doutherd was honored for her tireless work as a champion for child care  – fighting for social justice and policies that empower and educate Oakland’s most vulnerable populations through leadership training, legislative advocacy and education.

She was presented with the award and a certificate of recognition by Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

“We are here because we recognize the power of love and peace and justice,” said Lee to a packed house. “We are here because we share a desire to share and sow these seeds of change and understanding.”

Lee commended Doutherd for her dedication to changing a broken child care system that has repeatedly failed Alameda County residents.

“She is an affirmation of commitment to marching forward and being the change Dr. King dreamed of that we are fighting for,” said Lee. “Her work embodies love for children, their families and she has used her experiences to empower parents to change a system that was ineffective in providing support for child care for everyone who needs it.”

The award was created by Living Jazz to honor those citizens that work beyond the call of duty to help inspire others for the betterment of humankind. The award is chosen through the Oakland Department of Human Services.

Doutherd dedicated the award to her late grandfather, Richard Sydney Shortt and mothers everywhere.

“This is for the mothers who have courageously spoke out about their experiences taking critical risks – the mothers who have given so tirelessly to our movement,” she said.

Caption: (left to right) Stacey Hoffman, Executive Producer, Living Jazz, Clarissa Doutherd, Executive Director, Parent Voices, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, son Xavier Kusic, Pastor Clyde Oden, Jr.