MLK 2025 Celebration WORTFM audio

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WORT FM 

Did you miss the many opportunities around the city to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy? The 40th Annual Madison & Dane County Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Observance was on January 20, 2025, hosted at the Overture Center, and WORT-FM has the recording waiting for you.

This year, the city honored our own Sheray Wallace. You can listen to Sheray's remarkable journey, starting with the mayor's introduction at marker 39:33. Sheray shares her Madison experience, which began at the 46:47 marker.

Sheray, we celebrate you and your dedication to the city, especially the Meadowood Neighborhood. Thank you for your service.

I had the privilege to join the community in celebration and reflect on MLK's legacy and connections to the honoree's stories, songs, music, and the powerful speech by the keynote speaker.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie was the keynote speaker. Her speech resonates with the lives of those around us. Her words ring true today here in Madison, here in District 10. Please make the time to listen to it starting at marker 1:07:34; this is an opportunity for self-reflection and action! I hope you find some inspiration.

Recording

 

WE LIVE . . .

We live in land of plenty, but for far too many, plenty is just beyond your reach.

We live in freedom, but for far too many people, that is always beyond your reach.

We live in land of plenty, but for far too many people, it is a system of systemic barriers that limit their access to healthcare, nutrition, food, and stable housing.

We live in a land of opportunity, but far too many people, the legacy of enslaving and colonialization has created profound social economic disparities affecting their overall well-being and community resources.

We live in a land with public education, but for far too many children, their schools are underfunded. That results in overcrowded classrooms, outdated material, and limited extra-curriculum activities just beyond their reach.

We live in a land of freedom, but for far too many people inequalities create challenges that prevent these Americans from accessing the same opportunities, other people take for granted.

Bishop Vashti McKenzie

WE SEE . . .

We see the privilege of democracy e pluribus unum out of many one, but it is beyond the reach of far too many.

We are able to see the potential but it’s just beyond reach.

We were able to see the possibilities but it’s just beyond reach.

Life, thus becomes an out of body experience, where you become an observer of the life you long for but cannot reach.

An observer of somebody else’s life.

An observer of somebody else’s Liberty.

An observer of someone else’s pursuit of happiness.

 

Bishop Vashti McKenzie

RED SEA JOURNEY TO THE PROMISE LAND . . . 

Liberty and Justice should be low hanging fruit that everybody can reach, ripe for the picking. But it is eaten by the place of insects called racism and sexism, while you’re reaching for it begins to disappear.

Well, it’s a Red Sea day, it is a Red Sea day you can see, where you wanna go but you can’t get there, mountains on the right, on the left; water is on the back and the enemies a breathing down your neck.

It’s a Red Sea day, where we have done all, we know how to do, it still can’t get it done.

We partner, we collaborated, we built collections, we wrote letters, we participated in amicus brief, we dialogue, gone out on a limp, but still can’t get there.

We raise funds, knocked on doors, and we still can’t get there.

We called Congress, we called out Congress, we chastised the Supreme Court, we researched it, produce the data, influence enemies, identify allies, we prayed and fasted, and fasted and prayed, and prayed and fasted, and still they are too many tiny coffins, too many children go to bed hungry at night, to many hate fills racism acts and actions over and covered that are shielded by the anonymity of cyberspace, too many, too many hate messages thru and across venues across multiple platforms.

Too many people living without help and hope, in a country where your ZIP Code can determine your lifespan, your quality of life, education and income. 

Bishop Vashti McKenzie

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Alder Yannette Figueroa Cole

Alder Yannette Figueroa Cole

District 10, Council President
Contact Alder Figueroa Cole

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