Fitchburg State University Vice President for Personnel Services and General Counsel Stacey Luster will be the keynote speaker at the City of Fitchburg’s 27th annual Martin Luther King Celebration at noon on Monday, Jan. 19 at the Fitchburg Senior Center, located at 14 Wallace Ave.
Luster was elected to two terms on the Worcester City Council, and remains the only African-American female to represent Worcester residents.
“I am truly honored to be the keynote speaker for the Fitchburg community’s MLK celebration,” said Luster. “This is a full circle moment for me, having served as the emcee for the Worcester MLK breakfast for many years. As a newcomer to Fitchburg State University, I am humbled to be introduced to the Fitchburg community by the MLK Coalition.”
The program will also feature remarks from Fitchburg State Presidential Ambassador and student Geybrell Liriano, along with a performance from the newly formed Fitchburg State Drumline, under the direction of Associate Professor of Humanities Amy McGlothlin.
Fitchburg State Presidential Ambassador Sydney-Amelia Nortelus will introduce the Fitchburg State Dance Club. Featured performers for this piece include Alexis Toste, Ben Mulrenan, Adriana Padilla Salgado, Hanna Breault and Kaisha Serrano.
Reverend Doctor Martin Martin Luther King Jr. (Jan. 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968) dedicated his life to the nonviolent struggle for racial equality in the United States. The third Monday in January marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. holiday that honors King’s legacy and challenges citizens to engage in volunteer service in their communities.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration was officially recognized in 1983 – 15 years after his death. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia and attended Morehouse College at the age of 15, and went on to earn his doctorate at Boston University. He was a Baptist minister, married with 4 children.