By Roscoe Barnes III
The Natchez Democrat
Published Friday, January 3, 2025
The Natchez Democrat
Published Friday, January 3, 2025
 |
| Praise Dancers of Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church perform at an earlier "I Have a Dream Youth Luncheon." The next program will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, January 20, at the Natchez Convention Center. Photo courtesy of William Terrell of The Bluff City Post. |
NATCHEZ, Miss. -- After being on hold for several years,
the “I Have a Dream Youth Luncheon” will once again be held in recognition of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event, last held before COVID-19 in 2019, will
be held at 10 a.m. Monday, January 20, at the Natchez Convention Center. The
price of the meal is $11 per person.
The program is being organized by the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture (NAPAC) and the Natchez Business and Civic League.
Jimmy Ware, president of the Natchez Business and Civic League, said the program is a way for the volunteers and the community to live up to the ideas of King. He noted that for the past 30 years, attendance at the event actually grew from 75 guests to about 1,200.
The luncheon, which was held annually, shut down in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Mary White, a longtime member of the MLK Day Committee, said the program is exciting for everyone. It features children ages three to young adult who share their talent in presentations and a variety of performances, she said.
“We have kids from churches and schools participating,” she said. “They perform in dance groups. They give speeches, and some of them sing. After the performances, we feed them lunch and then they go to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade. All of the kids are talented.”
The music is provided by a professional musician, White said.
The MLK Day Committee is seeking sponsors for the event. Ware shared: “All sponsors are asked to make a monetary contribution, which will help offset expenses such as facility rental fees, food services, and publicity. Sponsors may also purchase tickets that will be donated so that local youths may attend the luncheon.”
Sponsorship levels include: Platinum Sponsor: $1,000; Gold Sponsor: $700; Silver Sponsor: $500; Bronze Sponsor: $250; Sponsor: $50; and donations of any amount.
Sponsors are asked to promote the event in their place of business, Ware said, adding the names of all of the sponsors will be listed in the luncheon program.
The 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, which will follow the luncheon, will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, January 20, with the line-up beginning at 2 p.m. on Broadway Street on the Bluff.
For more information, call Flora Terrell at 601-446-6288 or Jimmy Ware at 601-870-5088.
The program is being organized by the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture (NAPAC) and the Natchez Business and Civic League.
Jimmy Ware, president of the Natchez Business and Civic League, said the program is a way for the volunteers and the community to live up to the ideas of King. He noted that for the past 30 years, attendance at the event actually grew from 75 guests to about 1,200.
The luncheon, which was held annually, shut down in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Mary White, a longtime member of the MLK Day Committee, said the program is exciting for everyone. It features children ages three to young adult who share their talent in presentations and a variety of performances, she said.
“We have kids from churches and schools participating,” she said. “They perform in dance groups. They give speeches, and some of them sing. After the performances, we feed them lunch and then they go to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade. All of the kids are talented.”
The music is provided by a professional musician, White said.
The MLK Day Committee is seeking sponsors for the event. Ware shared: “All sponsors are asked to make a monetary contribution, which will help offset expenses such as facility rental fees, food services, and publicity. Sponsors may also purchase tickets that will be donated so that local youths may attend the luncheon.”
Sponsorship levels include: Platinum Sponsor: $1,000; Gold Sponsor: $700; Silver Sponsor: $500; Bronze Sponsor: $250; Sponsor: $50; and donations of any amount.
Sponsors are asked to promote the event in their place of business, Ware said, adding the names of all of the sponsors will be listed in the luncheon program.
The 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade, which will follow the luncheon, will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, January 20, with the line-up beginning at 2 p.m. on Broadway Street on the Bluff.
For more information, call Flora Terrell at 601-446-6288 or Jimmy Ware at 601-870-5088.
