Community members from across Knox County gathered Monday morning at Foster Hall in Ariel Arena on the Mount Vernon Nazareene University campus to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the annual Commemorative Breakfast.
Hosted by Mount Vernon Nazarene University in partnership with Kenyon College and the MLK Legacy Committee, the event featured Bishop Ronald Todd of the Ohio Department of Development and the Office of Governor Mike DeWine as the keynote speaker. Todd framed his address around the theme, "The Audacity to Believe."
In his keynote remarks, Todd connected King's legacy of faith-driven leadership to modern efforts in economic development and community empowerment. He challenged attendees to act where they are, to choose faith over fear, and to view service as the foundation of lasting impact.
“Dr. King was not just a dreamer. He was a believer,” Todd said. “He had the holy audacity to believe — through threats, through hate, through jail cells — and he still kept walking.”
MVNU’s Special Assistant to the President and Chief Ethics Officer, Rev. Tavaris Taylor, delivered the opening remarks. He pointed to the collaborative spirit that defines the community.
“Mount Vernon is a unique town — a unique expression — where unity is placed as a priority in the middle of difference, and that reflects every year when we come together from different sides of town, different beliefs, different expressions, and we come together under the banner of unity,” Taylor said “So with that in mind, let us sit in unity. We have plenty of time for difference. … It takes a lot more work for peace.”
MVNU President Carson Castleman underscored the breakfast as both a commemoration and a call to action.
“This morning is not only about remembrance, but also about renewal,” Castleman said. “It’s about renewing our commitment as people of dignity and people of justice and people of service. Our theme this year is ‘The Audacity to Believe.’ Dr. King modeled this belief — a belief that change is possible, that communities can heal, and that love truly can shape his public life."
The annual breakfast is a tradition that has brought together faith, education, and civic leaders for more than 20 years.
