Welcome from the Chair & Vice Chair

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission of Greater Knoxville welcomes everyone to the 2010 King Week Celebration!  The theme “Realizing His Dream Through Service: It Is Up To Us” reflects our passionate beliefs that social justice requires social responsibility.  Service is what life should be all about.  In the words of Dr. King, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

The MLK Commission is the largest consortium of MLK events in East Tennessee and draws support from more than forty community groups, the City of Knoxville and Knox County Governments, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College, The Tennessee Valley Authority, other businesses, and spiritual leaders.  The MLK Commission strongly believes that all Americans should have the opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage bestowed upon us by Dr. King and strives to keep the dream of Dr. King alive for everyone in the Greater Knoxville area.

Dr. King stated that “Everybody can be great… because anybody can serve.  You don’t have to have a college degree to serve.  You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.  You only need a heart full of grace.  A soul generated by love.”  Your attendance and active participation in the various events are opportune times for you, your families, and friends to celebrate the great legacy of Dr. King and join us in the service of others!  Together, we can help improve the world.  “It Is Up To Us!”

Blessings and Peace,

Renee Kesler, Chair

Vyrone Alex Cravanas, Vice-Chair