The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission is seeking nominations of individuals and organizations for the 2017 “Living the Dream Awards.” The recognition of the winners will be part of the ecumenical service that will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017, at Asbury United Methodist Church in celebration of Dr. King’s continued and significant legacy. The mission of The Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission is to develop, promote, coordinate, approve, review and make recommendations for activities to commemorate the birthday and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the state of West Virginia. The Commission also encourages state, local and county governmental agencies, educational institutions, civic organizations and the general public to plan activities for observance of the holiday. “The Living the Dream Awards are an important component of West Virginia’s recognition of the lasting influence and legacy of Dr. King,” said Dr. Carolyn Stuart, chairperson of the Commission. “It allows us the opportunity to congratulate those individuals and organizations that continue to demonstrate, by word and deed, the lessons learned from an exceptional leader and activist.” Nomination categories for individuals include Advocate of Peace, Sharing of Self, Human and Civil Rights, Scholarship and the prestigious Governor’s Living the Dream Award. Organizations can be offered for nomination in the Service Organization Honor Roll category. The nomination form can be found at www.wvmlkholidaycommission.org under the MLK Commission tab. The deadline for submission of nominations and all support material may be sent via fax 304-558-2722 or mail no later than Tuesday, November 15, 2016. USPS mail can be sent to: Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission, Chairperson, Dr. Carolyn L. Stuart, State Capitol, Room 35, 1900 Kanawha Blvd., E., Charleston, WV 25305. More information about the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission and about the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority can be found at www.wvmlkholidaycommission.org or by calling 304-558-3179. Established by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in March 2012, the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs is committed to advancing equality for all minorities across West Virginia and developing innovative ways to address issues affecting minorities through integrity, leadership and collaboration.
