Contact: Whitney Hale

With a theme of “Seeking Reconciliation in Our Violent World,” featured speakers will be two young adults who have experienced violence and war in their home countries. The two have found refuge, education, medical care and compassion in Lexington.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 30, 2005) -- The University of Kentucky College of Social Work is assisting the Lexington Commission on Race Relations (LCRR) in bringing back the popular “Reconciliation Breakfast.”

For the first time this year, the “Drum Major for Peace” award will be given to three individuals, two adults and one youth under 18 years of age. The award also will be given to one organization.

The peace award comes from the words of a sermon that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered on Feb. 4, 1968. King commented, “Yes, if you want to say I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace.”

Nominees should demonstrate reconciliation and peacemaking in their actions that impact the Lexington community, show concern or provide services to diverse audiences, and embrace the values of civility, compassion, non-violence, restoration, and advancing acceptance of diversity.

Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 15. The award program is Thursday, May 5.

With a theme of “Seeking Reconciliation in Our Violent World,” featured speakers will be two young adults who have experienced violence and war in their home countries. The two have found refuge, education, medical care and compassion in Lexington.

Abu Kargbo, of Sierra Leone, West Africa, a senior at Lafayette High School, and Renemsongla Ozukum, of Nagaland, India, a student graduating from Lexington Theological Seminary, will share their stories of reconciliation by relating it to the defining words of the event -- “Reconciliation is transforming our human community through building new connections and restoring broken relationships.”

Highlighting their stories will be a performance by the Drumming Corps from the West End Empowerment Center.

The breakfast buffet at 7:30 a.m., Thursday, May 5, will be held at the Embassy Suites on Newtown Pike. The cost to attend is $18 a person or $180 for a table of 10 people. Table sponsors also are needed for the youth who attend.

LCRR is still accepting nominees for the “Drum Major for Peace Award,” and is encouraging university submissions. To submit a nomination for the awards, contact Margaret Hazlette at (859) 619-8700. For further information on the event, contact Linda Harvey at (859) 333-8593.