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WILKES-BARRE — The Wilkes-Barre branch of the NAACP will hold its first annual “unity breakfast” on Monday to honor the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and to celebrate the closing of City Hall in observance of the MLK holiday.
“It’s been a lot of work,” NAACP branch president Guerline Laurore said.
In the past, the local branch has celebrated King’s birthday on the Friday before the holiday, but decided to do something different to mark the occasion this year.
The breakfast, which is slated for the Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel & Conference Center, will feature a keynote address from Cassandra Coleman, director of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Northeast Region office in Pittston. During the event, Ronald L. Felton will be honored with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Fighter Award. Felton served as president of the local NAACP for 18 years before stepping down at the end 0f 2014.
Laurore said there’s been a tremendous public response with help for planning the breakfast.
“It’s encouraging to get the support of the community,” she said.
“It means a lot to us.”
Some of the other local events set to honor the Rev. King:
• King’s College plans a program on the civil-rights leader for 11 a.m. Monday at the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, Snyder & Walsh rooms. For more: 570-208-5958.
• Wilkes University is hosting “Stick with Love — A Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration” from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Henry Student Center, second-floor ballroom.