King celebrated

CLOVIS - Students from all grades in Clovis spent weeks putting together art projects, essays and speeches in honor of one of the nation's most influential civil rights leaders, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Those projects were put on display Saturday morning at the annual Clovis MLK Scholarship Breakfast at Clovis High School alongside music and speeches highlighting the importance of King's vision.

The event opened with students from the Arts Academy at Bella Vista and La Casita Elementary singing and dancing along to songs from different cultures.

Afterwards, everyone took some time to eat breakfast and four students from grades K-12 gave their speeches in front of the crowd.

Representing students from kindergarten to first grade, Dorian Williams spoke first, calling King a superhero and praising his actions.

"Dr. King was brave and he wanted others to be brave," Williams said. "He lost his life in battle, but he did not lose the war."

Ally Deshoutel followed up for the second to fifth grade bracket with a speech about how King was more than just an influential speaker and paved the way for other important figures and for regular people to have a better life.

"Obama wouldn't have been president if Martin didn't speak. Michael Jordan couldn't have been great if Martin didn't speak," Doshoutel said. "And I would not have my two baby brothers if Martin didn't speak. He wanted everything to be equal and wanted everything to be fair. He had a vision and a dream."

For sixth to eighth grade, Laila Mirabal spoke about how King's work translated into "King's 2020 vision."

"We are a community. A united community is what we should strive for," Mirabal said. "Everyone should be together as a town here in Clovis, yet we are still separated. Not separated as we were when King was alive, but still separated. Labels like black, white, gay, straight are what stop us from truly being strong."

Wrapping things up, MaKenna Longley represented the ninth to 12th grade bracket and described how she would be able to see the world if done so through "King's 2020 vision."

"If I had 2020 vision, I could see how the world truly is," Longley said. "I could see the hurt in someone's eyes. I could see how one word could change someone's whole life and if someone needs help. If I had 2020 vision, I could see the anger in someone's fist and the weakness in a heart and how it can hurt someone no matter how it is."

Longley went on to say she doesn't want her generation to see themselves as horrible and meaningless, but instead powerful and righteous with knowledge they can work together to make her positive outlook a reality.

Another music performance by Marie Jones, Kenneth Kinney and Philips Landers followed the student's speeches before keynote speaker James B. Lewis, former treasurer of New Mexico, spoke.

Lewis talked about King's life and accomplishments for a time, as well as other influential civil rights leaders, but was sure to emphasize that his fight continues to this day.

Lewis brought attention to many on the injustices and issues King faced and that still plague our country today, including poverty, homelessness, climate change, voter suppression and more. He spurred everyone in the Clovis community to take action like King and his peers did to make the world a better place.

"I want to say to you, all of you. You must organize and call your community to action right now. Not tomorrow, not next week, but right now," Lewis said. "Some say 'It's not my business. I'm tired. I don't feel like getting involved", but you need to because it's going to affect you."

Lewis stressed that every vote and every person behind it counts and that community members are the ones who know their community best.

He ended by saying: "I want to commend all the leaders in this community and all these young people who came up in presentations. I think the world will be better when we leave it in their hands, but there's a lot of work left to do."

After presenting awards and the commission taking time to thank everyone for supporting the event, the breakfast concluded.

Afterwards, Clovis MLK Commission President Joyce Pollard said she was happy with the turnout, though last year's was larger. She estimates roughly 700 people attended this year's breakfast.

"I'm so thankful for this community and how we can always come together at this particular time," Pollard said. "We need to do this always and show concern for each other and do all those things we do here for Clovis."

The $2,000 scholarship component of the event will be awarded to one or two of the participating students in April.