Cinnaire was proud to join their partners from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan to host the 39th Annual MLK Day of Celebration at the Lansing Center. The event, one of the largest and longest running celebrations in the country, featured keynote speaker Ruby Bridges, a civil rights advocate, along with gospel icon Donnie McClurkin and the talented Mr. Wintley Phipps. Cinnaire CEO Mark McDaniel served as Honorary Chairperson for the event.
Bridges, a prominent civil rights advocate, author, and speaker, gained widespread recognition for her remarkable feat as a fearless six-year-old. She made history in 1960 by becoming the first African American child to integrate an all-white school in the South, playing a pivotal role in the subsequent desegregation of public education. Amid angry protestors and a vicious mob, Bridges was escorted by U.S. Marshalls on November 14th, 1960, as she walked into the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. The historical moment has since been captured in the Normal Rockwell Painting The Problem We All Live With as well as captured in the 1998 Disney production, Ruby Bridges, and The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles.
“It is an honor to introduce a living legend, a civil rights icon whose impact has shaped the course of our history,” said Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire President and CEO. “Ms. Bridges resilience and dedication to justice inspires us all. At Cinnaire, we are committed to labor and love based in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, and the enduring teachings of our history. We are grateful to Ms. Bridges for joining us today to share her experiences, wisdom, and energy. Her words today will serve as a source of inspiration in the pursuit for racial equality.”
More than 1,500 people attended the event to celebrate and honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, and East Lansing Mayor George Brookover. Cinnaire is proud to serve as a monumental partner of the commission, a nonprofit organization committed to fostering equality, justice, and unity.
Mark S. McDaniel and James Butler Legacy Scholarships
Cinnaire donates $50,000 annually to support the Mark S McDaniel and James Butler College Scholarship program. The competitive program is designed to inspire and empower students from all backgrounds to achieve higher education. Contestants write an essay reflecting the theme of the celebration. The theme this year is attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall: “The measure of a country’s greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis.” Since inception the scholarship program has provided more than $300,000 to youth scholarships through this event.
at the time of Cinnaire’s donation to this year’s event in the YouTube video shared here:
Friday, Jan. 12 at 10 a.m., MBN was on the road joining in to see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan receive $152,500 in donations at check presentation.
To kick off the 2024 MLK Day of Celebration activities, seven local businesses donate $152,500 to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan on Friday, Jan. 12 to support the commission’s work to promote equality, diversity and social justice.
The donations will be used by the MLK Commission of Mid-Michigan for annual scholarships for graduating seniors, essay contests for middle school students and to support several community agencies.
In this video, remarks by Mark McDaniel, President & CEO of Cinnaire as his company donated $50,000 to the cause.
He was joined that morning by Lansing Mayor Andy Schor
– East Lansing City Manager Robert Belleman
– Elaine Hardy, chair, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan
– Commissioners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan
– Representatives from donor organizations:
· Cinnaire – $50,000
· Jackson – $30,000
· Michigan State University Federal Credit Union – $20,000
· CASE Credit Union – $15,000
· LAFCU – $15,000
· Lake Trust Credit Union – $12,500
· Delta Dental of Michigan – $10,000
This all took place at Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, 500 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 200, Lansing, MI, 48912. The Chamber is in the Stadium District Building. Complimentary parking is available at the rear of the building.
The MLK Commission of Mid-Michigan hosts the nation’s largest MLK Day luncheon each year in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Information about the 2024 event can be found at mlkmidmichigan.com/day-of-celebration.
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Below is further information about this year’s MLK Day luncheon.
Ruby Bridges defied angry protesters to desegregate Louisiana school, became legendary changemaker, civil rights activist
LANSING, Mich. – Ruby Bridges will headline the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan’s 39th annual Day of Celebration signature event Monday, Jan. 15, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Lansing Center, 333 Michigan Ave., Lansing, Michigan.
Bridges, a prominent civil rights advocate, author, and speaker, gained widespread recognition for her remarkable feat as a fearless six-year-old. She made history in 1960 by becoming the first African American child to integrate an all-white school in the South, playing a pivotal role in the subsequent desegregation of public education.
“Ruby Bridges’ story will inspire and educate the audience about the importance of courage, resilience, and the pursuit of equality,” said Elaine Hardy, commission chair. “The Commission is elated to host Ms. Bridges, a living link to the past, to share a firsthand account of the challenges faced during the Civil Rights Movement. Her personal journey is a testament to the impact that individuals can have in challenging systemic injustice.”
Amid angry protesters and a vicious mob, Bridges was escorted by U.S. Marshals on Nov. 14, 1960, as she walked into the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. The historical moment has since been captured in the Norman Rockwell painting, The Problem We All Live With, as well as captured in the 1998 Disney production, Ruby Bridges, and The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan is the nation’s longest-running, continuously operating MLK commission, and its annual Day of Celebration is the nation’s largest MLK Day luncheon event.
The theme of the 2024 MLK Day of Celebration event is, “The measure of a country’s greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis,” which is attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of compassion and embodying the spirit and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, particularly during challenging times.
Bridges will address Day of Celebration attendees in an informal fireside chat, creating a comfortable and engaging atmosphere. She will offer perspectives on civil rights and race-related issues, emphasizing the significance of history as both a cornerstone and a source of truth.
Tickets for the Day of Celebration can be purchased online at mlkmidmichigan.com/day-of-celebration.
“To truly make lasting positive change-to keep Dr. King’s dream moving forward-we need to think and act big,” Bridges is quoted as saying on biography.com.
Bridges established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to provide leadership training programs that inspire youth and community leaders to embrace and value the richness of diversity. Bridges has also received numerous awards, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and honorary doctorate degrees from Connecticut College, College of New Rochelle, Columbia University Teachers College, and Tulane University.
She is the author of Through My Eyes; This Is Your Time; I Am Ruby Bridges; and Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts, which will be released in January 2024.
2024 GUEST SPEAKERS
Ruby Bridges
Civil rights icon, first African American child to integrate white Southern school will be the special guest at the 2024 MLK Day of Celebration event
Ruby Bridges defied angry protesters to desegregate Louisiana school, became legendary changemaker, civil rights activist
Ruby Bridges (photo credit @tomdumontphoto)
Bridges, a prominent civil rights advocate, author, and speaker, gained widespread recognition for her remarkable feat as a fearless six-year-old. She made history in 1960 by becoming the first African American child to integrate an all-white school in the South, playing a pivotal role in the subsequent desegregation of public education.
“Ruby Bridges’ story will inspire and educate the audience about the importance of courage, resilience, and the pursuit of equality,” said Elaine Hardy, commission chair. “The Commission is elated to host Ms. Bridges, a living link to the past, to share a firsthand account of the challenges faced during the Civil Rights Movement. Her personal journey is a testament to the impact that individuals can have in challenging systemic injustice.”
Amid angry protesters and a vicious mob, Bridges was escorted by U.S. Marshals on Nov. 14, 1960, as she walked into the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. The historical moment has since been captured in the Norman Rockwell painting, The Problem We All Live With, as well as captured in the 1998 Disney production, Ruby Bridges, and The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles.
Bridges will address Day of Celebration attendees in an informal fireside chat, creating a comfortable and engaging atmosphere. She will offer perspectives on civil rights and race-related issues, emphasizing the significance of history as both a cornerstone and a source of truth.
Tickets for the Day of Celebration can be purchased online at mlkmidmichigan.com/day-of-celebration.
“To truly make lasting positive change-to keep Dr. King’s dream moving forward-we need to think and act big,” Bridges is quoted as saying on biography.com.
Bridges established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to provide leadership training programs that inspire youth and community leaders to embrace and value the richness of diversity. Bridges has also received numerous awards, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and honorary doctorate degrees from Connecticut College, College of New Rochelle, Columbia University Teachers College, and Tulane University.
She is the author of Through My Eyes; This Is Your Time; I Am Ruby Bridges; and Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts, which will be released in January 2024.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan is the nation’s longest-running, continuously operating MLK commission, and its annual Day of Celebration is the nation’s largest MLK Day luncheon event.
The theme of the 2024 MLK Day of Celebration event is, “The measure of a country’s greatness is its ability to retain compassion in times of crisis,” which is attributed to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of compassion and embodying the spirit and lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, particularly during challenging times.
Bridges will address Day of Celebration attendees in an informal fireside chat, creating a comfortable and engaging atmosphere. She will offer perspectives on civil rights and race-related issues, emphasizing the significance of history as both a cornerstone and a source of truth.
Tickets for the Day of Celebration can be purchased online at mlkmidmichigan.com/day-of-celebration.
“To truly make lasting positive change-to keep Dr. King’s dream moving forward-we need to think and act big,” Bridges is quoted as saying on biography.com.
Bridges established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to provide leadership training programs that inspire youth and community leaders to embrace and value the richness of diversity. Bridges has also received numerous awards, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and honorary doctorate degrees from Connecticut College, College of New Rochelle, Columbia University Teachers College, and Tulane University.
She is the author of Through My Eyes; This Is Your Time; I Am Ruby Bridges; and Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts, which will be released in January 2024.
About the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan works to support equality, diversity and social justice. It focuses on the area’s pressing issues of literacy, youth violence, hunger, mentoring, education and community enrichment. The nonprofit organization hosts speakers and concerts, supports community service agencies, and promotes youth initiatives, such as essay and art contests, college scholarships and an annual Y-Achievers tour for high school students. For more information visit mlkmidmichigan.com or follow the commission on Facebook, @MLKCommOfMidMI.
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Ruby Bridges (photo credit @tomdumontphoto)
