The YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee will host its 19th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Breakfast on Monday, January 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Italian Conference Center, located at 631 East Chicago Street in Milwaukee. The breakfast program will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and recognize local organizations dedicated to serving others, just as Dr. King did.

“The Milwaukee Y is committed to strengthening communities by supporting values of social justice, diversity and service — the same values shared by Dr. King,” said Julie Tolan, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. “We believe that by partnering with other mission-driven organizations to bring our life-enriching programming outside our walls and into the communities we’re helping to create a stronger, healthier Milwaukee where families of all incomes and backgrounds truly thrive.”

This year’s Milwaukee YMCA Healthy Citizenship Award will be presented to the Milwaukee Center for Independence, while The Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Diversity and Inclusion Award will be presented to Bread of Healing Clinic. Both awardees provide much-needed health and wellness resources in some of Milwaukee’s most underserved neighborhoods, working to reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities in the central city.

The breakfast program will also recognize the winners of this year’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Spoken Word Contest, sponsored by Northwestern Mutual Foundation and Jammin’ 98.3 Radio. Three finalists in each age category (5-9 years, 10-13 years and 14-18 years) were selected after writing an original spoken word piece based on the theme, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?” A panel of judges then voted on the winning pieces. The first place in each category will present their original spoken word piece during the Celebration Breakfast and each will receive a prize.

Again this year, the Milwaukee Y encourages everyone to make the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, a “day on” instead of a “day off,” by participating in volunteer community service at locations across the city on Monday, January 18. To find a volunteer opportunity, visit http://www.volunteermilwaukee.org.

During the past year and a half, the Milwaukee Y has refocused its mission on its greatest areas of strength – health and wellness and youth development. In addition to its center-based programming, the Milwaukee Y is committed to being a vocal advocate for healthy families and partnering with other like-minded organizations to improve the greater good in Milwaukee. As such, the organization plans to increase its community partnerships and bring programming out of its centers and into the neighborhoods that need the Milwaukee Y the most.

Fundamentally, the new Milwaukee Y will be a champion for healthy living and will work to support families in their efforts to lead healthy lives.

Aurora Health Care is the lead sponsor for this event. The cost to attend is $35 per person or $350 for a table of 10.

For more information regarding this event, Jr., please contact Stephanie Allen at 414-274-0735 or by email at sallen@ymcamke.org.