The Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services presented its 5th Annual Social Justice Awards during a virtual YouTube.com ceremony Saturday afternoon.
This year’s awards were presented in honor of the long-time president and CEO of the non-profit, Ronn Johnson, who passed away in January, to a group of individuals and one team. The final award, a lifetime achievement award, was presented to long-time Springfield educator and religious leader Rev. Bryant Robinson, Jr.
Mayor Dominic Sarno joined the presentation ceremony and said Johnson was a friend and that he was proud to be part of the award ceremony.
“This year’s event is special as we honor and pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Ronn Johnson. Ronn was a dear friend and a well-respected and beloved community leader who always gave back to his community. His family’s landmark initiative ‘The Brianna Fund’, named after his daughter, has aided numerous individuals and families faced with disability challenges to not only get by but to, more importantly, thrive. Truly, Ronn’s legacy is living strong through all of us.”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Board of Directors of Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services has elected Aieshya Jackson as Vice President and Darren James as Treasurer.
Ms. Jackson is a Business Manager for the City of Springfield, Library Department and has more than 15 years of financial services experience. She is a graduate of Bay Path University where she earned a Master of Science in Healthcare Management. Ms. Jackson also attended the Connecticut School of Finance and Management. She resides in Springfield.
Mr. James is a Financial Representative for Northwestern Mutual and has more than eight years of financial services and operations experience. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from American International College with a concentration in Communications and Business. Mr. James resides in Springfield.
About:
Since 1977, the mission of Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, Inc. has been to nurture and develop the skills, opportunities, and spirit of families in Greater Springfield and the surrounding communities.
MLKFS fully embraces the vision of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of the “beloved” community. As a multicultural and multiservice agency dedicated to being “Keepers of the Dream”, we nurture and empower the aspirations of individuals, families and youth to achieve new realities of peace, social and economic justice, self-determination, self-actualization, and self-sufficiency. MLKFS has served as a beacon for the multicultural inner-city community, offering Out of School Time programming, literacy promotion, college readiness, family supports, preventative health and nutritional services, community engagement initiatives, and cultural experiences through art, dance, and sports.