By State Senator Velmanette Montgomery
I attended two Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations in my district that were especially meaningful because they were symbols of what Reverend King stood for:  creating opportunities for a more just society in the future.
One was organized by Habitat for Humanity, the humanitarian organization that provides housing and was held at PS 54 in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The whole program was centered around commemorating Dr. King in word as well as in cultural expressions by recitations by students of PS 54, performances by the young dancers from the school and from the Restoration Dance Company, and music from the Brooklyn Steppers.  Habitat for Humanity has built thousands of affordable housing units mostly with volunteer labor organized in communities around the world.
The other event was a basketball tournament organized by the Brothers of the Alpha Upsilon Chapter “Brooklyn Omega,” that combines sports with social responsibility. All the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, a historically black fraternal organization, are college-educated and great role models for the young men who competed at MS 113 in Fort Greene.  Among them is Robert Cornegy, an elected official and Democratic State Committeeman. The fraternity promotes social and cultural programs that help to uplift communities.
These are not large events, but they are meaningful because they educate young people about the meaning of this special holiday, and Dr. King who fought for a better future for coming generations. I am grateful to having been part of these events.