BY PAUL JUNOR
It was an: empowering, inspiring and entertaining experience for those who attended the 2025 Educational Foundation and Children’s Care Canada (EFCCC)/ MLK Connexus Awards on Saturday, January 18th, 2025.
The theme for the annual fundraising show and celebration was, “Unshaken, Unbroken and Unstoppable.” It was held at the spacious Canada Event Centre located in Whitby, Ontario. In many ways the recognition, acknowledgement and honoring of exemplary community leaders brought focus to a quote from MLK Jr., “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others.?”
Pauline Christian, Executive Director of EFCC states “We celebrate as a community, we push for Black excellence, we encourage resilience and fight for justice.”
“The recognition of outstanding academic achievements and exemplary community service reflects positively on the ongoing legacy and influence of MLK Jr.”
There were nine scholarships awarded to several outstanding students. Their names are:
- Lauren Gilbert: She plans to study Pediatric Therapy at Oakwood University
- Tahlia Burton: She plans on pursuing Gynecology
- Paige Hurton: She plans on studying Philosophy and Political Science and then to become a Policy Analyst
- Shae St. Rose: She will be pursuing a career in Physical Therapy
- Daniel Rowe: He intends to become an advocate for equity through teaching and policing
- Adriano Sherwood: She plans to become a lawyer and reform the justice system
- Keiden Thompson: He intends to start a business in sustainable refrigeration
- Jhordana Donaldson
- Rochelle Thompson
There were several MLK Community Leaders honoured that night. The community leaders include:
- Gervan Fearon (President of George Brown College, former President and Vice-Chancellor of Brock University)
- Tonya Williams (Canadian actress and producer, known for role as Dr. Olivia on “The Young and Restless”)
- Celia Chambers-Meikle (CPA, CA, Licensed Public Accountant)
- Nicholas Marcus Thompson (Human Rights Advocate and Executive Director of the Black Class Action Secretariat)
- Spider Jones (Canadian journalist, author and former amateur boxer and radio personality)
- Johnny G. Mack (Former Administrator at the Martin Luther King Centre in Atlanta, Georgia)
- Ron Cunningham (Founder and CEO of Citizen for the Advancement of Community Development)
- Reverend Dr. Wendell Gibbs (Pastor of First Baptist Church in Toronto)
- Pastor Mathew Feeley (Minister at New Life Adventist Church in Oshawa, Canada)
- Pastor Lovethpatra Ekufu
Dr. Mack spoke about the importance of honouring Dr. King’s vision where he envisioned a “world house.” He mentioned that the triple evils of: “Poverty, racism and militarism” need to be overcome which involves “Promoting dignity, liberty, and community.”
The event was beautifully hosted by Pastor Judith James of Revival Times Tabernacle. She is the Founder and President of the Beautiful Foundation.
There was a powerful poem titled, “Pathology of a Pandemic,” read by Canute Lawrence. For Lawrence, “Poetry is a powerful tool that can inspire, empower and effect change in mindset and behavior.”
There were performances by: Sharon Riley and the Faith Choral, the Crawford Adventist Academy Choir and the Next Generation Choir. The event culminated with a powerful speech by Dr. Mack. He concluded his speech by posing an important question, “What will we do when we leave here tonight? The work of justice and equity is far from finished.”
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