NEBRASKA – Sunday Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Rally & March planning committee members greeted attendees to the Arena Room located within Hudl Lincoln Corporate Headquarters (Lincoln). This tremendous space served as the backdrop for the kickoff of the Planning Committee My “Walk” Empowerment Series featuring Albert Maxey Sr.

“He did it and is still doing it today. Those are the footsteps you want to take some time. Somebody will be taking steps in your footsteps someday. It gets more powerful every day that I had the opportunity to walk with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I’m proud of him and what he has done.”

This was Albert Maxey, Sr. response to the question of how he saw his “walk” with Dr. King, Jr. Scholars, families, educators, community stakeholders and Rally supporters in attendance were galvanized by Maxey a respected civic leader, husband and fathers life’s “walk.”

Maxey inspired, educate and provide insight to the steps he’s taken along his “including” as a young scholar with dreams as a scholar in a segregated country; steps as a African-American scholar as a member of the famed Crispus Attucks High School team that made history in 1955 and became the first all-black team to win a state championship in any sport, anywhere in the country; he spoke to his “walk” as an officer for 34 years with the Lincoln Police Department wherein 1964, he was assigned to spend the day with the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a speaking visit to Lincoln (Nebraska) Pershing Auditorium; his steps as a scholar-athlete for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers and drafted by the Detroit Pistons; and as a respected civic leader, husband, and father.

Most importantly he provided attendees similarities to walks of yesterday and today. He challenged those in attendance and the community to do better and recall right is right, wrong is wrong.

Scholar Mallory Retzlaff co-facilitated the event is a six-year planning committee member and a junior at Waverly High School closed the engagement providing a challenge.

“We don’t want the “walk” to end as we leave here tonight. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated; “There is no noise as powerful as the sound of marching feet of a determined people.” You are those people. You are the ones that can help this community take steps toward kindness, civility, equity, and justice.”

The 2019-2020 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Rally & March line up offers insight to a variety of “Walks” within our community and their parallel to a shared life and dreams of civility, equity, kindness, and justice the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Leola Bullock strived for.

The next featured My “Walk” speaker is coach Samuel Dixon, head Nebraska Wesleyan University Women’s Basketball coach. Dixon will share his “walk” 6:00 p.m. Monday, October 21, 2019, in Snyder Arena on the Nebraska Wesleyan University. His walk on the sidelines puts him in a unique fraternity of a handful of minority head coaches across the country.

Special thanks to Albert Maxey Sr for his willingness to share his story and take steps for us. Thanks to the Pillar Restaurant Group My “Walk” presenting sponsor, Hudl for hosting the engagement and BHS/Pete Ferguson Productions for their support.

For additional information on the “Walk” series; 25th annual Youth Rally and March follow or contact us at pferguson88@yahoo.com or 402.730.8709; Facebook Page: @mlkyouthrally; Website: mlkyouthrallymarch.teamapp.com or Twitter: @mrally93.

Location

Lincoln, Nebraska