CELEBRATING THE HISTORY
OF EASTERN OREGON
CULTURE & HERITAGE
7
JANUARY 13�19, 2022
MLK celebration features Peace March in Hermiston
those attending the program at
the church to wear a face cov-
ering at all times. A mask will be
ERMISTON — John Car-
provided for anyone who does
bage, president of the
not have one.
Hermiston Cultural Awareness
Carbage said the coalition al-
Coalition, is looking
ways chooses a person of
forward to hosting the
color who can share how
Martin Luther King Jr.
the legacy and work of
Day Peace March.
Martin Luther King Jr. has
“We call it a peace
impacted their life. Jordan,
march because we
who started preaching as
want to promote peace
a 14-year-old, became
Pastor
in the land,” he said.
the youth pastor in 1996
Marlando
“We don’t want to
at Word of Faith Center
Jordan
cause a divide — we
— now known as Sozo
want peace.”
Church — in Kennewick, Wash-
With planning underway to
ington. He was called as senior
host the in-person program,
pastor in 2015.
Carbage said the event will be-
Driven with passion and en-
gin Monday, Jan. 17, at 11 a.m.
thusiasm, Jordan shares a mes-
with a short walk through down-
sage of faith, hope and love. In
town Hermiston — starting and
addition, he urges Christians
ending at the Hermiston First
to unite in an eff ort to heal the
United Methodist Church, 191
racial divide in our nation.
E. Gladys Ave.
Pastor Patty Nance of the
After the march and some
Hermiston United Method-
words by city leaders, partici-
ist Church also highlights
pants are invited to enter the
the importance of peace and
church where the program will
inclusivity, which is why her
include a short scholarship
congregation readily opens its
presentation by the Hermiston
doors to host the Martin Luther
Cultural Awareness Coalition,
King Jr. Day program. King, she
followed by Pastor Marlando
said, preached hope for a better
Jordan’s keynote address.
tomorrow through nonviolent
COVID-19 protocols require
civil action.
By Tammy Malgesini
Go! Magazine
H
We thank these Chambers Members
for their continued support
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Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
John Carbage, president of the Hermiston Cultural Awareness Club, welcomes
speakers to the podium at the Hermiston First United Methodist Church
Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, as a part of the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. March.
King’s eff orts and the re-
sponse of people marching in
the streets, Nance said, helped
shine a spotlight on the teach-
ings of Jesus Christ. And, she
said, King’s legacy has had a
lasting impact.
“Faith communities began
to look at the inherent racism
within their own walls,” Nance
said. “While it has been a slow
and arduous journey, that glim-
mer of hope that King shared
so long ago still burns bright
in many of our faith communi-
ties.”
While Carbage said prog-
ress has been made in regard
to racial division, it’s important
to continue to be diligent in
promoting peace. Continuing
the work and remembering
the nonviolent and peaceful
leadership King stood for is
paramount, he said.
“We don’t want the past
to repeat itself,” Carbage
said. “We want peace, even in
Eastern Oregon and our small
community of Hermiston.”
People are invited to get
involved with the Hermiston
Cultural Awareness Coalition.
It meets the second Saturday
of each month at 2 p.m. at the
Hermiston United Methodist
Church. For more information,
contact Carbage at 541-701-
7073 or jcarbage@yahoo.com.
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