Forsyth Tech kicks off series of community events honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Forsyth Technical Community College kicked off an event series on Monday commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The series began with a motivational speech from Allen Griffin, the lead pastor at Winston-Salem First. He spoke about the power of dreams, and working together to achieve them. 

“There's enough power in this room to shake the foundations of Forsyth County. There's enough wisdom in this building to shake the educational foundations of the academic system," Griffin said. "There's enough wisdom in this room to write journals and articles that will shift the focus of educators for decades.”

The events continue on Thursday with a Keynote Symposium about Black entrepreneurs, featuring the owners of Sweet Potatoes Restaurant in downtown Winston-Salem. The following week is the annual Read-In event in collaboration with Winston-Salem State and Wake Forest University.

The series is meant to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream of equality, according to Forsyth Tech President Janet Spriggs. 

“We’re here to honor that dream, but also to recommit ourselves to it," Spriggs said. "We are here to acknowledge our past, engage with our presents, and forge a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.”

Events will conclude with an exhibit opening on Jan. 20 produced by local nonprofit Triad Cultural Arts. It will include information about activism throughout history, and interviews with community members who participated in the Civil Rights and Black Liberation Movements. 

The exhibit will run through Feb. 22 on Forsyth Tech’s main campus. 

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.