By Macy Meinhardt, Staff Writer, CA Local News Fellow
The 40th annual Jackie Robinson YMCA Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast brought together over 1,500 residents and community leaders on Jan. 17, uniting to honor King’s legacy and rally morale amid looming challenges to civil rights.
A dazzling blend of performances by local singer Carmelia “Toot” Bell, the Heart Beat Music and Performing Arts Academy, and the presentation of colors by the Buffalo Soldiers kickstarted the morning with a cheerful bang.
Shortly after California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber and District 4 County Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe gave a special presentation to the audience, commending the work the state and region has done in increasing African American representation in elected positions across the county.
“I am so proud today that for the first time in the history of San Diego there are nine African Americans in elected positions…who are not “DEI” but are hard working individuals who have credentials and degrees from our local institutions,” said Dr. Weber.
“When someone asks if I believe in DEI, I say, ‘I am D-E-I !’” said Weber, followed behind an enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience members.
Meanwhile, Carl Giovingo Hart, an 8th grader from Healing Journeys Academy read out loud his award winning poem written in honor of Dr. King.
“Only 12, but in a grown man’s body
African American, Mexican, Caucasian,
Those are the races in my family
Dr. King hoped would be a possibility” said Giovingo Hart in an excerpt of his poem.
Additionally, Voice & Viewpoint publisher Dr. John E. Warren was honored as this year’s esteemed Human Dignity Award recipient. Each year, a committee bestows the award to an individual or group who has exhibited a lifelong dedication in serving the San Diego community with the spirit and teachings of Dr. King. The late Rufus Dewit, who served as the first African-American executive director of the Jackie Robinson YMCA in the 1960s, was the inaugural recipient of the Human Dignity Award when the event began in 1986.
Other notable recipients within the community over the years have included Rev. George Walker Smith, Leon Willams, Dr. Shirley Weber, and Michael Brunker.
While accepting his award, Dr. Warren reflected on his time meeting Dr. King and hearing his infamous ‘I Have A Dream Speech’ live during the March on Washington.
“I believe as long as we come together and achieve the work that Dr. King spoke of in his dream, then it is up to us to make that dream a reality,” said Dr. Warren.
“I thank you for this opportunity and I invite all of us to make a prophecy of the dream into a reality in our own lives,” said Warren, as he closed.
As the publisher of San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, Dr. Warren was proud to contribute over 1,500 copies of the publication’s annual special Dr. Martin Luther King issue placed on each attendee seat. The annual issue is a labor of love for the publication, showcasing the in’s and out’s of the life and legacy of the adorned civil rights leader for the community to learn and reflect upon.
The response team is a coalition of eight community based organizations who came together to provide critical support services for flood victims after the January 2024 floods. Establishing a command center at the Jackie Robinson YMCA, the Southeastern Response Team mobilized in a time when local government was stalled—working together to bring the community essential supplies, debris cleanup assistance, hotel stays, food, clothing, and health services to residents of District 4. The group was honored during last year’s Voice & Viewpoint gala for their notable achievements, and a plaque for their recognition hangs at the JRYMCA today.
Overall, the annual breakfast serves as a staple in the community to not only celebrate the remarkable achievements of its honorees but also serves as a heartfelt reminder of the ongoing work needed to uphold King’s legacy.
As voices from local leaders, pastors, and community activists championing Dr. King’s cause echoed through the hall, the message of the breakfast was clear: the dream lives on, and it is through action, resilience, and togetherness that it will continue to thrive.
