Implementing Dr. King's Vision: What We Have Done in Montgomery County, and What We Need To Do in the Future.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE IKE LEGGETT TO SPEAK AT THE ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., SHABBAT SERVICE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 12
The Temple is honored this year to have Montgomery County Executive Isiah (Ike) Leggett as the guest speaker for our annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Shabbat Service, to be held Friday, January 12. The Service will begin at 7:30 pm.
Ike Leggett last spoke at our MLK Service in 2004. Elected as County Executive in 2006 and re-elected in 2010 and 2014, he is now completing his last year in office. This will be an appropriate time to both look back and look forward. His topic will be Implementing Dr. King's Vision: What We Have Done in Montgomery County, and What We Need To Do in the Future.
Growing up as the seventh of 12 children in a four-room house without indoor plumbing, Ike worked his way through Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was elected student body president and commanded the school’s Reserve Officer Training Corps, while at the same time organizing for civil rights. Following his 1967 graduation, he served as a Captain in the United States Army, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal in Viet Nam. Finishing first in his class at Howard University Law School in 1974, he worked as an attorney for the Department of the Navy and later joined the Howard Law faculty, where he served until 2006, taking time out in 1978 and 1979 to serve as a White House Fellow. In 1981, Ike was appointed to the Montgomery County Human Relations Commission, becoming its chair in 1983, and serving on the Commission until his election to the County Council in 1986. He served on the County Council through 2002, including three years as Council President, and then was chair of the Maryland State Democratic Party from 2002 through 2004.
The breadth of his commitment to social justice and the ideals of Dr. King are further illustrated by his participation on the boards of directors of the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes of Maryland, Metro DC PFLAG, the African American Business Council of Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Washington Area Housing Partnership, and the Montgomery County Boys and Girls Club. In 2007, he was the recipient of the first King-Heschel award from the Jewish Community Relations Council.
There is no one better in our community than County Executive Leggett to help us celebrate the life and work of Dr. King, and to discuss the challenges ahead as we work to create a better country and world. Please join us on January 12.
We ask that people bring to the service non-perishable food for Manna Food Center. As always a box for contributions is outside HaMakom.
THE TEMPLE IS LOCATED AT 10101 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, KENSINGTON MD, ABOUT A MILE NORTH OF THE BELTWAY.
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