QCC hosts the 34th Annual Worcester County Community Breakfast Honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Quinsigamond Community College once again was host to the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Worcester County Community Breakfast. This is the 34th year the breakfast has taken place, with each year bringing Dr. King’s message to those in the Worcester region.

This year’s keynote speaker was the Rev. Lester A. McCorn, a 1984 graduate of Doherty Memorial High School and current President of Clinton College in Rock Hill, SC. Reverend McCorn was given keys to the City by Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty.

Reverend McCorn discussed his time in Worcester, telling those in attendance, "I’ve literally gone from being a college janitor to being a college president,” after discussing his time as a janitor when he was a teen at Central New England College (now closed).  The Reverend noted that while Rev. King had called out America to account for several of its original sins, they have still not been redeemed. He went on to ask those in the audience to help join in the fight against racism and hatred.

“Listen, the fight is not over. It did not end with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act - I’ve been fighting all my life. The reason I’m here today is because Worcester taught me how to fight,” he said.

Other speakers included: Master of Ceremonies Susan Mailman, Chair of QCC’s Board of Trustees; Congressman James McGovern; Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito; QCC President Dr. Luis Pedraja and Executive Director for the ELM Action Fund Joseph O’Brien.

The invocation was performed by Reverend Dr. Esau Vance and the benediction was performed by Reverend Clyde Talley. There were also performances by the New England gospel Mass Choir, Knights of Zion Men’s Choir and a traditional folk song performed by the Worcester Choirs.

Numerous scholarships and awards were given out during the breakfast including a $1,000 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship to QCC student Nelly Medina.

“Although the mountain top may still seem quite far for us, I still believe that we will reach it. Last year when I spoke, I said that we must dare to dream and that the dream must go on. So I say to you that amongst all that we face nowadays, let the dream go on. Dare to believe; dare to hope that we will reach that mountain top,” Dr. Pedraja said.