The Jefferson City Branch of the NAACP will host its Annual Prayer Breakfast and Founder's Day Celebration on Monday.
The event is held to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and to recognize community leaders, local business and emerging student leaders. It is an opportunity for the community to come together, according to Nimrod Chapel, Jr., president of the Missouri NAACP.
The breakfast will recognize Sandy Robinson for her many, many years serving the NAACP. It will also recognize Building Community Bridges, which has for the past five years has been striving to uplift youths living in poverty in Jefferson City.
The guest speaker is to be Michelle Smith, co-director of the Missourians for Alternatives to the Death penalty.
Chapel said Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision for communities is the prescription for the next generation.
Equality and justice are cornerstones of our society, including those wrongfully convicted and those facing the death penalty, Chapel said.
"We invite the community to join us in remembering a leader who gave his life while advocating for Black people's right to vote and speaking out for all who were disenfranchised or discriminated against, and asking all who join us at the prayer breakfast and the community -- what will you do for others?" he said.
King would not be in favor of the death penalty, Chapel said. Chapel added that it is morally offensive to his religion.
Glenn Bonner, an organizer of the event and treasurer of the Missouri NAACP, said the annual breakfast shares at least one goal every year -- keep awareness of King's struggles and vision in the public eye.
"We hope that people come out and support us," Bonner said. "And walk away with something that they didn't know before."
The breakfast is 9 -10:30 a.m. Monday at Quinn Chapel, 415 Lafayette St.
Tickets may be bought at the door or online here. Ticket cost is to be $20 per person, or $45 for those who join or renew their memberships with the NAACP.