Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP continues its tradition of extolling the work and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrates the upcoming dedication of the official Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, the anniversary of Dr. King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech.
"Although harmful divisions haunt us still, we are uplifted by the timeless message of unity brought to us by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial," says Dwight Francis, co-chair of Gardere's Diversity Committee. "Gardere celebrates and champions all efforts to unite our country and to teach our children the vital human traits of compassion and justice."
In its effort to continue Dr. King's legacy throughout the communities of Dallas and Houston, the Firm sponsors the Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition for elementary school students. The 2012 Dallas and Houston events will be held on Jan.13. Gardere fully sponsors the Houston program and partners with the Dallas Independent School District for the Dallas competition.
Established in 1993 in Dallas and expanded four years later to Houston, this unique event encourages the development of research, writing and oratory skills of hundreds of Dallas and Houston elementary school children. The students' speeches not only address how Dr. King impacts today's world but also illustrate how his words continue to affect their lives and inspire their perspectives.
Previous topics have included "How Will You Carry Forward the Legacy of Dr. King in Your Personal and Professional Life?" and "What Will I be Able to Achieve in My Life Because of What Dr. King Achieved in His?"