MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S BIRTHDAY

In service to others

Community leaders gather to support ‘A Day On, Not a Day Off’

Some of the state's congressional delegation and several high-profile politicians got an early start on the federal Martin Luther King Jr.'s Day with an interfaith prayer breakfast Monday.

The short program at St. Mark's Baptist Church was coordinated by the state's Martin Luther King Commission and featured reflections from commission executive director DuShun Scarbrough, Central Arkansas Transit Authority chief Jarod Varner, commissioner and Rev. Cornell Maltbia, several other preachers and a couple of politicians.

"When I reflect on Martin Luther King, I reflect on one of my favorite speeches that's ever been given," said freshman Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.). "It's a theme he had in late '67 and early '68 where Dr. King tried to inspire young people to a life of aspiration and hard work, and ... I call it the 'Parable of the Street Sweeper,' but it was, if your life is called to be a street sweeper, then be the absolute best one you can be. Clean that street, sweep it, like Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music. These are wonderful words to share with young people."

In total, a few hundred gathered at 7:30 a.m. Monday and had breakfast provided by a local Golden Corral restaurant. From there, the commission moved over to its signature event of the day, "A Day of Service -- A Day On, Not a Day Off" at the Benton Event Center, where legions of volunteers fanned out across the area serving the homeless, conducting public health outreach, giving blood and collecting coats for kids.

-- Photos and story by Bobby Ampezzan

High Profile on 01/25/2015

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