MALDEN — In addition to marking what would have been the 89th birthday of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the North Shore Black Women’s Association (NSBWA) will host its annual luncheon honoring the legendary civil rights leader for the 25th time.
The NSBWA has its roots in Medford and Malden and most of its members are residents of those two communities.
The milestone year event will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Anthony’s in Malden. The NSBWA will be honoring six individuals for their contributions and accomplishments which “embody (Dr. King’s) ideals, passion and commitment to service,” according to Association President Idiodiah Henry.
Malden Ward 7 City Councilor Neal Anderson will again act as master of ceremonies, reprising his role of many years. “This is a tremendous opportunity to honor those among us whose efforts have done a lot of good for people in the community and the region,” Anderson said.
In addition to the luncheon and the awards ceremony, there will be musical and vocal entertainment and opportunities for the whole group of attendees to join in song. Also, as is customary, a young person will read and deliver Dr. King’s most famous public addresses, the “I Have a Dream” speech, which was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial after the March on Washington, D.C., in August 1963.
Past honorees at this event include state Rep. Paul Donato, D-Medford, Malden; Malden Mayor Gary Christenson; and former Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn.
This year’s honorees include: Shannon Anderson (Law Enforcement); Jessica Johnson (Client Services Manager); Naomi E. Lawrence-Reid, MD (Board-Certified Pediatrician); Jordan Lebeau (Managing Editor, Complex Networks); Michael LoPresti (Master Carpenter); and Adam Weldai (Assistant Principal, Wright Middle School, Chelsea/Former Malden School Committeeman).
