HOT SPRINGS, AR -- The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the 20th anniversary of the King Holiday. This year’s theme is entitled Why We Can’t Wait.



“When Dr. King authored Why We Can’t Wait, he appealed to the nation’s conscience with his account of the 1963 nonviolent campaign for civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama,” said Senator Tracy Steele, Arkansas MLK Jr. Commission Executive Director.



Hot Springs, Arkansas, was the host city for The Drum Majors Leadership Conference on January 12-13, 2006. Designed as a training forum for existing and emerging leaders, the leadership conference has assembled key dynamic speakers to help improve and develop characteristics of leadership for its participants.



This year’s keynote speakers include, Martin Luther King, III, Arkansas native, US Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Judge Wendell Griffen, Attorney General Mike Beebe, and Asa Hutchinson. There were also a Town Hall Meeting and Panel Discussion on “Bridging the Gap” with panelist representing the civil rights movement, baby boomers, and the hip hop generations. Bakari Kitwana, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, and Maura Lozano-Yancy were among the guest panelists. Live entertainment featured, Nikki Parrish and Genine Perez.



To climax the conference was the annual Salute to Greatness Community Service Awards Gala on Friday, January 13, 2006, at 6 p.m. at the Hot Springs Convention Center.



The ceremony highlighted Arkansans who have committed extraordinary humanitarian efforts espoused by Dr. King.



This formal dinner banquet was designed to honor and recognize individuals and organizations that are dedicated to helping humankind. The categories include Individual Achievement, Youth Achievement, Business, and the Drum Major Leadership and Josetta Wilkins Courage Awards. This year’s honorees were, Ozell Nelson, Rev. Leon R. Massey, ...