A community collaboration will bring an official commemoration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to the Trotter Convention Center Monday, Jan. 20.
The partnership involves the City of Columbus, Columbus Air Force Base, Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lowndes County Board of Supervisors, Mississippi University for Women, Sodexo Food Services and the United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee counties working together to create a meaningful day of service that honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
Events will begin with an 8 a.m. breakfast that is free and open to the public as long as space allows.
Program highlights include a keynote address by Scott Colom, district attorney for Mississippi’s 16th Circuit Court.
Colom is the first African American district attorney to represent a majority white district in Mississippi history. A native of Columbus, Colom is a graduate of Columbus High School, Millsaps College and University of Wisconsin Law School. In 2011, Colom was appointed the youngest and first African American justice court judge in Lowndes County history. In 2012, he was appointed municipal court judge in Aberdeen and in 2013 he was appointed the first African American prosecutor for the city of Columbus. In 2015, Colom was elected district attorney for Circuit Court District Sixteen, which includes Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay and Noxubee counties.
Following the breakfast, participants are encouraged to participate in a community service project at the Trotter Convention Center where United Way of Lowndes and Noxubee will sort and distribute much-needed school supplies to teachers in Columbus, Lowndes and Noxubee counties.
The United Way needs volunteers to help sort and distribute supplies. To volunteer for this community service project, email [email protected] or call Golden Triangle Regional Hub for Volunteers and Nonprofits at 662-370-1922.
To register for the free breakfast or make a monetary donation to the service project, visit muw.edu/mlk.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.