Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services (MLKFS) has announced that this year’s Social Justice Awards will honor the organization’s former President & CEO Ronn Johnson, who passed away in January of this year. The organization also announced that the Justice Resource Institute has stepped forward as the first event sponsor.
“The Social Justice Awards generated the support every year that Ronn needed to help MLKFS continue to be keepers of the dream,” stated Dr. Calvin Hill, Chairman of the MLKFS Board of Directors. “Now, it is an opportunity for the community and area organizations to honor Ronn’s work and help keep that dream alive.”
The 2022 Social Justice Awards will continue to be a virtual event this year and will take place Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. Michael Weeks, President & CEO of the Providers Council, will be the keynote speaker. The Awards will honor the following individuals and organizations that met if not exceeded the answer to Dr. King’s question of “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
This Year’s honorees are
Barbara Gresham – Education
Bishop Bryant Robinson, Jr. – Lifetime Achievement Award
Bishop Talbert Swan, II – Race Relations
CMSS & Eileen McCaffery – Arts & Culture
Doris Harris – Health Advocacy
First Church of Christ in Longmeadow UCC – Faith Based Initiative
MassHire Springfield & Kevin Lynn – Economic Development
Thomas Morrow & Julius Lewis – Entrepreneurship
Individuals and organizations interested in supporting Ronn Johnson’s work at MLKFS through sponsorship or a donation should contact Lenise Williams at 413-736-3655 or lwilliams@mlkjrfs.org or visit mlkjrfamilyservices.org/donate.
