Annual King Commemoration & Awards
Held in January, the Annual King Day Commemoration and Realizing the Dream Awards are an opportunity for Martin Luther King III to honor the legacy of his father by calling for a renewed national commitment to his dreams and ideals. Each year Realizing the Dream presents awards to four outstanding individuals, both local and international, whose lives embody Dr. King's dream of a "Beloved Community" for all.
Past Celebrations
In 2008, at the First Annual Realizing the Dream Awards, Mr. King bestowed the organization’s highest honor to former President William J. Clinton, for his tireless humanitarian efforts through The Clinton Foundation. Held at the Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, the event played host to a number of well-known social and political leaders, all devoted to continuing the work of Dr. King.
Take a closer look by viewing the photos here.
A year later, the ceremony moved to Washington, D.C., where it was held the Sunday evening before President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Attended by scores of excited citizens in town for the festivities, the awards honored four dedicated public servants. The Realizing the Dream Award was granted to Senator Edward Kennedy for his lifelong work to ensure adequate health care and equal rights for all. Other awardees were Congressman and civil rights hero John Lewis, Burmese peace and democracy activist Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and the Reverend Claude Black, a longtime religious and social leader in San Antonio, Texas.
Take a closer look by viewing the photos here.
The Realizing the Dream Awards are:
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Testament of Hope – presented to an outstanding community leader or group striving to make a difference in their community despite hardships. This honoree is a testament to the hope that Dr. King’s dream is alive in communities around the USA.
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- 2009 Recipient: Rev. Claude Black (San Antonio, TX)
- 2010 Recipient: Isaura Mendes (Boston, MA)
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Trumpet of Conscience – presented to a person or organization whose present work trumpets the commitment to effecting Dr. King’s dream in communities around the world.
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- 2009 Recipient: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma)
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Drum Major - presented to an individual whose life champions the ideals established by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- 2009 Recipient: Congressman John Lewis (D-GA)
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Realizing the Dream – This recognition is the highest amongst the four, and is presented to an individual or group whose life’s work most ardently aligns with the vision and advances the work toward realizing the dream proclaimed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 2008 Recipient: President William J. Clinton
- 2009 Recipient: Senator Edward M. Kennedy
