Robinson to address MLK celebration

From staff reports

Clarion University of Pennsylvania will host its 24th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. campus celebration at 5 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23, at Gemmel Student Center, 108 Payne Street, Clarion.

This event is open to the public.

The guest speaker will be Rev. Michael Robinson, M.S. Counseling, of Temple University Lenfest North Philadelphia Workforce Initiative, Philadelphia.

Robinson has 20 years of progressive leadership experience serving in various management roles in corporate America, higher education, non-profit and government industry sectors.

Robinson’s award winning career expertise includes extensive work handling highly visible duties in: leadership training, career development, employer and government relations, college access, student affairs, academic support, media and public affairs, talent acquisition, instruction, and employee relations.

He has worked for prominent employers, such as:

Temple University;

Swarthmore College;

Community College of Philadelphia;

Deloitte;

Pegasus Communications;

INROADS/Philadelphia, Inc.; and

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)

He has empowered and launched thousands towards achieving their life, education, and professional goals.

Robinson also serves as a senior pastor at Greater Enon Missionary Baptist Church, 1854 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia Pa. 19121.

He is the recipient of many professional and civic awards that underscore his inspiring and impactful servant leadership style that affirms his commitment to serve, uplift and collaborate with others.

About MLK Day

It took 15 years to create the federal Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Democrat from Michigan, first introduced legislation for a commemorative holiday four days after King was assassinated in 1968.

After the bill became stalled, petitions endorsing the holiday containing six million names were submitted to Congress.

Congress passed the holiday legislation in 1983, which was then signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.

A compromise moving the holiday from Jan. 15, King’s birthday, which was considered too close to Christmas and New Year’s, to the third Monday in January helped overcome opposition to the law.